How to get more Apple Intelligence features early — and in the EU

You can get Apple Intelligence right now on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. The first round of features are in iOS 18.1, but if you want even more, you can upgrade to the iOS 18.2 beta. You’ll get access to Visual Intelligence, Image Playground, Genmoji and more. It also adds support for additional dialects of English.

It’s also possible to enable it in the European Union by switching your region — although you’ll lose access to EU-region features, like alternative app marketplaces.

Apple Intelligence is compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and the new iPhone 16 lineup. Unfortunately, older devices (or even the iPhone 15) don’t have enough RAM to support Apple’s Foundation models. Luckily, you can also try it out if you have an iPad or Mac with an M-series or A17 Pro chip.

Here’s how to get it all.

How to get Apple Intelligence

Table of Contents:

1. Compatible devices
2. Switch region, if necessary
3. Switch language, if necessary
4. Update to the iOS 18 beta
5. Enable Apple Intelligence
6. What features are available
7. What features are missing

Devices compatible with Apple Intelligence

Because Apple Intelligence runs using an on-device Foundation model that requires a lot of memory and neural processing power, the features are only available on the latest iPhones and relatively new iPads and Macs. Apple Intelligence runs on:

• iPhone
  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPad
  • iPad Pro (M4)
  • iPad Air (M2)
  • iPad mini (A17 Pro)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
  • iPad Air (5th generation)
• MacBook Air
  • MacBook Air (M3, 2024)
  • MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
  • MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
• MacBook Pro
  • MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch, M4, 2024)
  • MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)
  • MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch, M3, 2024)
  • MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)
  • MacBook Pro (14- and 16-inch, M2, 2023)
  • MacBook Pro (M2, 2022)
  • MacBook Pro (14- and 16-inch, M1, 2021)
  • MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)
• iMac
  • iMac (M4, 2024)
  • iMac (M3, 2023)
  • iMac (M1, 2021)
• Mac mini
  • Mac mini (M4, 2024)
  • Mac mini (M2, 2023)
  • Mac mini (M1, 2020)
• Mac Studio (all models)
• Mac Pro (2023)

Switch region, if necessary

Due to Apple’s ongoing spat with the European Union, the feature isn’t officially launching in EU member countries. This can be easily circumvented. In Settings > General, scroll down and tap Language & Region. Tap Region and set it to United States.

Bear in mind that switching your region will also remove some features that are only available in the EU, like alternative app marketplaces. You have a thirty-day grace period to keep using third-party apps you’ve downloaded from AltStore PAL, but you’ll have to decide whether you want Apple Intelligence or Fortnite.

Switch language, if necessary

Apple Intelligence only supports a limited number of languages. In iOS 18.1, it’s only in U.S. English. iOS 18.2 adds support for English localized to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

If you need to add a language, go to Settings > General > Language & Region, tap Add Language… and add English (US) then set it as your primary language.

If you still want to type in your own region-specific version of English or your native language, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and make sure your preferred keyboard is on the top of the list.

Update to iOS 18.2 Public Beta

First, you need to update your device to the iOS 18.2 public beta. Of course, you should make sure your device is fully backed up.

To get the beta, go to Settings > General > Software Update. After it checks for updates, tap Beta Updates and tap iOS 18 Public Beta.

Swipe to go back and you’ll see the update available. Tap Update Now to download the iOS beta and Install Now when it’s ready.

On a Mac, you can install the macOS Sequoia 15.2 Public Beta from System Settings. Open System Settings > General > Software Update. Next to Beta Updates, tap the ⓘ button. In the Beta Updates dropdown menu, select macOS Sequoia 15.2 Public Beta. Click OK then install the update.

Enable Apple Intelligence and join the Image Creation waitlist

To turn on the Apple Intelligence features, open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri. Tap Join the Apple Intelligence waitlist to reserve your spot in line. The feature is being rolled out gradually, likely to test the impact it will have on Apple servers.

At the moment, the wait time isn’t very long — just a matter of minutes. That may change as more people sign up. When you’re let in, you’ll get a notification. Downloading the models that power Apple Intelligence may take a while.

If you’re on iOS 18.2, there’s an additional waitlist you need to join for Image Playground, Genmoji and other image-based features. In Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, you’ll see a new button next to “Image Creation,” Request Early Access. The waitlist for this feature is much longer and selective — a few days.

What Apple Intelligence features are available

Apple Intelligence is a brand that refers to a whole collection of new features that will be released separately. The following features are available in 18.1:

• Improved Siri can better understand natural language if you stumble over your words and stay aware of the context if you ask multiple questions.
• Siri’s Apple product knowledge can answer your questions about Apple products and software features.
• Text to ask Siri by double-tapping the Home Bar at the bottom of the screen. Handy if you don’t want to talk aloud to your iPhone.
• Image Clean Up in Photos lets you remove items from a picture just by circling them.
• Writing Tools will rewrite text to match a particular style and proofread your work for clarity. Appears automatically above the onscreen keyboard.
• Inbox prioritization will put the important messages on the top of your inbox. It appears automatically at the top of your email.
• Email summaries in the inbox describe the contents of an email rather than show the first two lines.
• Smart Reply will suggest how to reply to a text message or email and make sure every question is answered.
• Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus mode that intelligently chooses which notifications to let through.
• Search for photos and videos and create memory movies in the Photos app by using natural language prompts.
• Create transcripts of audio recordings and phone calls in Notes and Voice Memos.
• Summarize an article from Safari Reader Mode.

iOS 18.2, currently available in beta, adds more features:

• Visual Intelligence lets you point your camera at something, press the Camera Control button, and take action on it.
• Image Playground can generate images based on a prompt or people in your Photo library.
• Genmoji lets you create your own Apple-style emoji in Messages and other apps.
• Image Wand can create artwork based on your notes and sketches.
• ChatGPT integration with Siri can answer your questions.
• ChatGPT writing tools can generate text based on a prompt.

What Apple Intelligence features are missing

The following features aren’t in the 18.1 beta. They will probably roll out over the course of the year, in 18.3, 18.4 and so on.

• Siri personal context for answering questions relevant to you and your life, drawing on information currently on-screen and stored inside apps, messages, contacts, mail and more.
• Siri app integration for taking action inside third-party apps on your behalf.
• Support in European Union countries, as Apple is in an ongoing legal battle with the European Commission regarding the company’s anticompetitive business practices.
• Other languages, as Apple Intelligence is only available in English.
• Support on other devices, like Vision Pro, Apple Watch, HomePod and Apple TV.

This article on how to get Apple Intelligence was originally published on August 15, 2024. It has been updated with the latest information.