Apple Intelligence setup and use: update your device, turn it on in Settings, then use Writing Tools, Image Playground, and the upgraded Siri.
Why This Guide Matters
You want quick wins, clean steps, and proven tips. This walkthrough shows setup, hands-on examples, privacy notes, and fixes for common hiccups.
Using Apple Intelligence On iPhone, iPad, And Mac — Setup Steps
- Update the OS: open Settings (or System Settings on Mac) > Software Update. Install the latest release.
- Check availability: on a compatible device, open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri. On many devices, it’s already on.
- Pick features: switch on Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, and the upgraded Siri. Turn on “show on-screen items” where offered.
- Try it: use prompts in Messages, Mail, Notes, Safari, and Photos.
Start with short prompts; grow detail as you learn what works. Save a few reusable prompt lines.
Everyday Actions And Where To Try Them
| Task | Where | How To Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Rewrite text | Messages, Mail, Notes | Select text > Writing Tools > Rewrite or Proofread |
| Summarize text | Notes, Pages, Safari Reader | Select text > Writing Tools > Summarize |
| Create fun images | Image Playground, Messages | Describe the scene > Create |
| Custom emoji | Messages | Type a short description in Genmoji |
| Visual lookup | Photos | Tap Info or use the Info panel |
| Siri help with what’s on screen | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Invoke Siri while a page or app is open |
What You Need
- An eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac with the latest software.
- Language and region where the features are offered.
- A stable internet connection for server-level requests; many tools run on-device.
Apple lists device, language, and region details here: How to get Apple Intelligence.
Turn Features On (Step-By-Step)
iPhone Or iPad
- Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Turn on Apple Intelligence.
- Pick Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Genmoji.
- In Siri settings, allow on-screen awareness if you see the toggle.
Mac
- System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Turn on Apple Intelligence.
- Enable Writing Tools across apps.
- Allow on-screen awareness, then test in Notes or Mail.
Tip: Feature names and placement can vary a bit by region and version. When in doubt, search inside Settings for “Apple Intelligence.”
Start Strong: Writing Tools
These tools help with rewrites, grammar cleanups, tone shifts, and summaries.
- Open Messages or Notes.
- Type a rough sentence.
- Select the text > the Writing Tools button.
- Choose Rewrite, Proofread, or Summarize.
You’ll see suggested edits with a glow. Accept, reject, or tweak. Try a few tones: friendly, concise, formal. Keep prompts tight: “shorten to 2 lines,” “change to a polite reply,” “bullet points.”
Need finer control? Add rules to your prompt: “keep names as initials,” “headings in Title Case,” or “no emojis.” You can also ask for two variants and pick one. When tone feels off, steer it by naming the reader and the goal, like “client update, calm tone,” or “reply to a friend, cheerful tone.”
Create And Play: Image Playground And Genmoji
Image Playground lets you describe a concept and get artwork in seconds. Pick a style, add subjects, and fine-tune with short descriptors.
For better images, add a subject, action, and style in that order. Short words beat long fluff. If a scene looks busy, remove one element and try again.
Genmoji turns a short phrase into custom emoji. Keep descriptions short (“sleepy panda with coffee mug”) and test a few variants.
Smarter Siri With Context
- “Rewrite this as a polite reply,” while a draft is open.
- “Summarize what’s on this page,” while viewing an article.
- “Set a reminder to follow up on this email,” while Mail is visible.
Dictate longer ideas and let Siri shape a clean draft. Say “make that shorter,” “change tone to formal,” or “add a subject line.”
When you need structure, add constraints: “3 bullets,” “past tense,” “under 120 words.”
Privacy And Data Protections
Most actions run on your device. For large requests, Private Cloud Compute can process them on Apple-controlled servers built on Apple silicon with a hardened OS model. The system is built to keep personal data isolated and verifiable.
The company also publishes a page that explains which features are available and how to get them on eligible devices. Check that page if a toggle is missing or greyed out.
Setup Checklist Per Device
iPhone And iPad
- Update software first.
- Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > turn it on.
- In Writing Tools, allow suggestions in Messages, Mail, and Notes.
- Enable on-screen awareness for Siri if offered.
- Try a quick round: rewrite a text, make a Genmoji, and create an image.
Mac
- Update macOS.
- System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > turn it on.
- Enable Writing Tools in Notes, Mail, Pages, and Safari Reader.
- Test Image Playground (in the app or where available in Messages and Freeform).
- Ask Siri for a summary of a web page that’s open in Safari.
Notes And Documents
Keep one master note per project. Paste rough thoughts and links. When it grows, ask for a tidy outline with sections. Add a line like “todo at top” to shape the result.
Prompting That Works
Good prompts balance task, context, and limits.
- Task: “Rewrite as friendly and concise.”
- Context: “Reply to a client about a schedule slip.”
- Limits: “60 words max, 3 short sentences.”
Mix these three and you’ll get cleaner output with less cleanup.
Practical Use Cases
Inbox Triage
Ask Writing Tools to shorten long messages, suggest a reply, or fix tone. Insert specifics as needed.
Meeting Notes
Paste rough notes into a document, then request a tidy summary with action bullets and owners.
Student Life
Use summaries to review chapters. Ask for a short recap in simple wording or a set of study bullets.
Photo Fun
Make stickers or quick art in Image Playground for a class event, club poster, or party invite.
Personal Writing
Polish a blog draft, craft a resume line, or tighten an application letter.
Speed Moves With Shortcuts
Shortcuts can tie actions together. You can build a chain: grab selected text, pass it through a rewrite step, then send the result into Notes.
Starter ideas:
- One-tap rewrite: take clipboard text, run “concise rewrite,” copy the result.
- Page digest: fetch the current Safari tab, produce 5 bullets, save to a daily note.
- Image batch: take three prompts and produce three images in a chosen style.
Controls You Should Check
- Writing Tools: choose where they appear and what tones are offered.
- Siri & Search: decide how data is used to improve responses.
- Photos: confirm if you want on-device analysis.
- Screen awareness: pick if Siri can read what’s visible.
Troubleshooting And Quick Fixes
| Symptom | Quick Check | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No toggle for Apple Intelligence | Device or region may not be eligible | Update the OS; check the official availability page |
| Writing Tools missing in apps | Feature not turned on for that app | Turn on per-app switches; restart the app |
| Siri ignores what’s on screen | Screen awareness off | Turn on in Apple Intelligence & Siri settings |
| Images fail to generate | Network hiccup or content filters | Try again, shorten the prompt, or switch networks |
| Summaries are off | Source text too short or too long | Provide a better passage or add a word count |
| Battery drain feels high | Background indexing after update | Give it a day; most devices settle after initial setup |
Safety And Good Use
Keep personal data out of prompts you share in chats or shared notes. Check draft output before you send it. For school or work, follow your own policy and ask a teacher or manager where needed. Keep software current so you get fixes and feature updates.
Hands-On Mini Walkthroughs
Rewrite A Text In Messages
- Open a conversation.
- Type a rough reply.
- Select the text > tap the Writing Tools button.
- Pick a tone (friendly or concise). Insert names or dates if needed. Send.
Summarize A Web Page On Mac
- Open the page in Safari.
- Select the main content or switch to Reader.
- Tap the Writing Tools button and pick Summarize.
- Ask for “5 bullets” or a “2-sentence recap.”
Create An Image In Image Playground
- Open Image Playground or start inside Messages.
- Type a short prompt with the subject and style.
- Tap Create, then adjust background, color, or character.
- Save as a sticker or share in the chat.
When To Use Third-Party Models
Some regions offer an option to send a prompt to a partner model for certain tasks. You control when this happens. Read the disclosure that pops up; it explains what is shared and what is kept local. You can turn that option off anytime in Settings.
What Stays Local
Many actions stay on the device. Rewrites, short summaries, and Genmoji often run without leaving your phone or computer. Bigger tasks can move to a private compute cluster built by Apple, designed so the system cannot read your personal content. Logs are locked down, and the code images used for the compute nodes are open for inspection by the research world.
Plan Your First Week
- Day 1: set it up and try a rewrite in Messages.
- Day 2: make a Genmoji for a friend.
- Day 3: build a Shortcut that saves a page digest to Notes.
- Day 4: ask Siri to schedule a reminder from an email.
- Day 5: tidy a CV line in Pages.
- Day 6: make a sticker in Image Playground.
- Day 7: review what helped; pin the features you use daily to your Dock or Home Screen.
Recap And Next Steps
Keep features turned on. Use short, plain prompts. Add limits like word count and tone. Keep software current. When something seems missing, check the availability page and the privacy write-ups linked above, then try again. Pin Writing Tools to your keyboard toolbar for faster access.