Apple Intelligence might turn itself back on with the latest software updates

Updating a newer iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the latest software could have an unintended side effect of re-enabling Apple Intelligence. Users who turned off Apple’s AI features in iOS / iPadOS 18.3 or macOS 15.3 — the first set of updates to enable the features by default — have reported that the software suite turned itself on again after they updated to iOS 18.3.1 or macOS 15.3.1, which were released yesterday with notes about fixing a security flaw on iPhones and iPads.

Reports from MacRumors and on Reddit note that those who see the Apple “Welcome” screen after updating find they have to turn Apple Intelligence off again afterward, even if they had disabled it previously. Developer Jeff Johnson also noted inconsistent results, with it turning on for one laptop but not another while installing the same update.

The features didn’t turn on for any of our devices updating from iOS 18.3 or macOS 15.3, but it’s still something worth checking if you don’t want it on your device. We’ve asked Apple about the switch and will update this post if we receive any additional details.

You can turn Apple Intelligence off by heading to Settings (or System Settings on a Mac), then scrolling to Apple Intelligence & Siri — the toggle should be at the top of that page.

The next scheduled update with iOS 18.4 is expected to bring with it some of the more significant features, including what Apple says will be a better Siri and much deeper AI integration.