How to fix Apple Intelligence not working on iPhone issue

Learn how to fix the problem if Apple Intelligence is not working on your iPhone.

By Tom Griffin - Executive Editor
3 Min Read

Apple Intelligence can help you refine your writing; summarize notifications, mail, and messages; experience a more natural and capable Siri; remove distracting objects from images with Clean Up; and more. Available in iOS 18.1 on all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Intelligence requires that your device and Siri languages are set to a supported language. Currently, it’s available in English (US) in most regions, and in December, support will expand to include English (Australia), English (Canada), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa), and English (UK). Over the next year, Apple will add more languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and more.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to fix the problem if Apple Intelligence is not working on your iPhone. Let’s get started!

Note: Apple Intelligence is currently in beta. Apple Intelligence uses generative models, and outputs may be inaccurate, unexpected, or offensive. Check important information for accuracy.

1. Make sure your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is compatible with these iPhone models:

  • iPhone 16A18
  • iPhone 16 PlusA18
  • iPhone 16 Pro MaxA18 Pro
  • iPhone 16 ProA18 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro MaxA17 Pro
  • iPhone 15 ProA17 Pro

2. Update your device

Apple Intelligence is available on iOS 18.1. You need to update your iPhone to iOS 18.1 if you haven’t already. Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.

3. Make sure your iPhone language and Siri language are set to a supported language

Apple Intelligence is only available in U.S. English at this time, and it is not available to in the European Union (‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌) or China. Device region and language need to be set to the United States.

To change the language on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Tap General
  3. Select Language & Region
  4. Tap Add Language
  5. Select English (US).
  6. Select English (US) as your primary language

To change Siri language:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
  2. Tap Language.
  3. Select English (United States)

4. Make sure Apple Intelligence is turned on

Apple Intelligence will not work on your iPhone without setting it up. Thankfully, enabling Apple Intelligence on an iPhone is simple.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apple Intelligence & Siri.
  3. Tap Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist to get started.

iOS 18 Settings for Apple Intelligence & Siri, with a waitlist option available

Once you join the waitlist, Apple will notify you when Apple Intelligence becomes available on your device. After it’s activated, you’ll start receiving personalized suggestions and insights that make daily tasks easier.

It may take several hours for activation. You can see the status by going to Settings > Siri or Apple Intelligence & Siri. It may say things like Preparing etc.

See also: How to fix Apple Intelligence not downloading on an iPhone

For me, it took about 2 hours for activation. After activation, you will need to set it up. Tap or click the notification or open Settings and then click or tap Set Up Apple Intelligence and then follow the onscreen instructions.

5. Check your Wi-Fi connection

Apple Intelligence features work best with an internet connection, as they rely on data to provide accurate suggestions and insights. If you don’t have an internet connection, this may be the reason Apple Intelligence won’t work on your iPhone. If this is the case, then you may want to troubleshoot your internet connection. Here are a few tips you may try:

  • Turn on Airplane Mode and wait about 10 seconds and turn back off (Settings > Airplane Mode).
  • Restart your Wi-Fi router/modem.
  • VPN connections may cause issues. If you are using a VPN, turn it off and check if your problem is fixed.
  • If possible, try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network and check if Apple Intelligence works. Sometimes this simple change makes all the difference.

6. Restart your iPhone

If Apple Intelligence still doesn’t work, I suggest that you restart your iPhone and then try again. Here is how:

  • Press and hold the Side and volume up (or down) buttons together until the power off slider appears.
  • Drag the slider.
  • Wait for your iPhone to turn off completely. Then press and hold the Side button to turn it on again.

7. Force restart your iPhone

If restarting does not help, force restart your iPhone. A force restart can help resolve Apple Intelligence problem you are experiencing. Here’s how:

  • Press and release the volume up button,
  • Press and release the volume down button,
  • Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
Executive Editor
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Tom Griffin is the editor-in-chief at GeeksChalk where he oversees all of site’s evergreen content to ensure it’s up to date with the latest information. Hailing from London in the UK, he has over seven years of experience in the tech journalism space and holds a degree in English Literature. In his spare time, Tom can found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, and petting every dog he comes across in the outside world.
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