Skip to main content

How to sign up for Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1

Apple Intelligence on iPhone 15 Pro.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

One of the biggest features in iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence. However, while the iPhone 16 line launched with iOS 18 out of the box, Apple Intelligence wasn’t ready quite yet. Now, the latest iOS 18.1 update finally brings those AI goodies to your compatible iPhone.

Of course, you may have updated and tried to use those Apple Intelligence features, but can’t seem to get them to work. That’s because you have to sign up for them before they’re available to you.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • A compatible iPhone

  • iOS 18.1 update

Here’s how to sign up for Apple Intelligence on your eligible iPhone. Remember, Apple Intelligence is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 lineup.

Apple Intelligence & Siri screen on an iPhone 16 Pro
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

How to join the waitlist for Apple Intelligence on your iPhone

In order to get Apple Intelligence, you need to make sure you update your iPhone to iOS 18.1. Then do the following:

Step 1: Launch Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2: Select Apple Intelligence & Siri.

Open Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri.
Digital Trends

Step 3: Select Join the Apple Intelligence waitlist.

Step 4: Select Join waitlist.

Select Join Apple Intelligence Waitlist, then Join Waitlist.
Digital Trends

Step 5: Once you are on the waitlist, you will receive a notification once it’s ready.

Apple Intelligence Summaries on an iPhone 16 Pro
Notification Summaries in Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 series Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

How to turn on Apple Intelligence

Once you are off the waitlist, you still have to manually turn Apple Intelligence on.

Step 1: Launch Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2: Select Apple Intelligence & Siri.

Step 3: Select Turn on Apple Intelligence.

Step 4: Select Continue.

Step 5: Select Summarize all notification previews if you want, or Not now if you don’t.

Step 6: Select Continue on the Siri screen.

Select Continue, select Summarize All Notifications or Not Now, select Continue.
Digital Trends

Step 7: Select Continue again.

Step 8: Select Continue on the Type to Siri screen.

Step 9: Make sure the toggle for Apple Intelligence is set to On. If you change your mind, just turn it off.

Select Continue, select Continue, then make sure the Apple Intelligence toggle is ON. Change it to off if you don't want to use it.
Digital Trends
Christine Romero-Chan
Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California…
Some iPhone 16 Pro units are plagued by a yellow display issue
An iPhone 16 Pro laying on the ground

The iPhone 16 Pro has won its fair share of plaudits, but two of its biggest strengths have also troubled users. Recently, there were reports of camera-related woes that resulted in a non-responsive camera app and other related bugs. Now, it’s the display that has left many users unhappy. 

“I noticed that my iPhone has a yellowish display tint. Even with True Tone off and night mode off. I love the feel of this phone but the whites being yellow throws my experience off,” says a user report on the official Apple community discussions forum. 

Read more
It’s the end of the road for these two iPhone models
Apple iPhone 6S Plus

Seeing your favorite handheld gaming device in a retro store has a unique way of making you feel old, but Apple might have topped it. According to the company, the iPhone XS Max and iPhone 6s Plus are now "vintage." They join the ranks of the iPhone 4 and even the iPad Pro 12.9-inch model.

It's not wholly unexpected. Apple declares a device vintage after five years, and that means it becomes more difficult to have that device repaired or to find replacement parts for it. Obsolete is applied to products that are more than seven years old, but sometimes certain variants get that label early.

Read more
The 10 best messaging apps for Android and iOS in 2024
best messaging apps.

Want to learn more about which messaging app best suits your needs? WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal are among the most secure picks, with end-to-end encryption to keep your chats safe. But there are also unique apps like Dust, where messages self-destruct after 24 hours, and Discord, which lets gamers easily chat while playing together. Meanwhile, Snapchat and Kik are popular for younger crowds with fun filters and the ability to join large group chats.

With so many messaging apps out there offering features like video calls, file sharing, and disappearing messages, it can be hard to choose the best one. That's why we've tested 10 of the most popular options on Android and iOS. Check out the full rundown with all the must-know details. They run on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, iPhone 16, and anything else that runs on Android or iOS.
WhatsApp

Read more