PruneoApple Intelligence on Mac: turn off what you don't use, free its space
macOS downloads Apple Intelligence models even if you never use its features, and turning them off in Settings doesn't delete them. Pruneo shows how much space they take, you pick in plain words which features you don't use, you approve a profile in Settings and Pruneo deletes their models through Apple's own service. Everything can be undone in one click.
Since Apple Intelligence arrived, macOS downloads several GB of models even if you never use Siri, Writing Tools or Genmoji. And turning those features off in Settings doesn’t delete them: they keep taking space. Pruneo lets you see how much they take, choose what you don’t use and free it without touching the system.
What Pruneo does
In Cleanup › Apple Intelligence, Pruneo measures how much each model takes on your Mac and groups the features in plain words, each with what you lose if you turn it off:
| Group | What stops working |
|---|---|
| Siri and summaries | Siri, and summaries in Mail, Messages, Safari, Notes and notifications |
| Writing Tools | “Rewrite”, “Proofread”, “Summarize” and suggestions as you type |
| Genmoji and Image Playground | Creating emoji and images with AI |
| ChatGPT and other extensions | Siri and Writing Tools asking ChatGPT for help (takes no space) |
| Photos: Clean Up and spatial photos | Removing objects from a photo and turning photos into spatial photos |
| Xcode: AI code completion | Xcode’s code suggestions (only if you have Xcode) |
Nothing comes pre-selected. Siri, Writing Tools and Genmoji share the main model: it’s only deleted if you turn off all three.
How it works, in three steps
- You approve a profile. It turns off the features you ticked. macOS requires you to approve it yourself in Settings: Pruneo can’t do it on its own.
- Pruneo deletes the models. It asks Apple’s model service to do it. It doesn’t touch anything inside
/Systemor turn off its protections. - They don’t download again. The same profile stops macOS from downloading those models again.
Settings › General › Storage can take a while to show the freed space: macOS deletes the files at its own pace.
Going back
“Turn everything back on” removes the profile (macOS asks for your password). The features come back right away, and macOS downloads the models again when they’re needed.
If it says “not available”
macOS only enables Apple Intelligence if your Mac’s language and Siri’s language match, and in the languages and regions where it’s available. If your Mac doesn’t meet that, Pruneo tells you the exact reason and takes you to Settings, instead of saying the model is “downloading” forever.
Where it comes from
Pruneo’s Apple Intelligence section follows the work of the open-source projects RemoveMacAI and pared, under the MIT license. Pruneo brings it to a screen made for everyone: no Terminal, every feature explained, and going back in one click.
FAQ
How much space do Apple Intelligence models take?
It depends on the Mac and the features. Press coverage of macOS 27 mentions about 12 GB. Pruneo measures the real size on your Mac, feature by feature, before you decide anything.
Isn't turning Apple Intelligence off in Settings enough?
No: turning the features off leaves the models on disk. Pruneo turns off what you choose, asks Apple's model service to delete them, and stops them from downloading again.
Is it safe? Does it touch system files?
It doesn't touch anything inside /System or turn off System Integrity Protection. It uses a configuration profile that you approve in Settings, and Apple's own model service.
How do I undo it?
In Pruneo, click "Turn everything back on". Pruneo removes the profile with your password, the features come back right away, and macOS downloads the models again when they're needed.
What do I lose if I turn everything off?
Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji and Image Playground, summaries in Mail, Messages, Safari, Notes and notifications, the AI features in Photos, and apps that use Apple's models. You can turn off only what you don't use.