Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To remove Apple Intelligence model assets from a Mac, you need a third-party utility: Apple documents how to turn features off, but not a supported control for deleting the models. RemoveMacAI is an unofficial project whose maintainer says it can request model removal on supported Macs; the amount reclaimed and the timing vary, so 12 GB or more is not guaranteed.
Check how much space Apple Intelligence uses on your Mac
First check your Mac’s storage rather than assuming a particular amount is recoverable. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then General and Storage. Review the displayed categories and available space. The Storage display may not immediately reflect a model-removal request.
Apple lists different maximum storage requirements for supported devices; these figures describe requirements, not space every user can reclaim:
- Up to 14 GB — Apple, 2026, for specified higher-memory current devices.
- Up to 8 GB — Apple, 2026, for other supported devices.
- 12 GB or more — MacRumors, 2026, as reported storage for models targeted by the utility. This is not an Apple guarantee or a universal before-and-after result.
Apple’s figures are device-dependent system requirements. MacRumors’s figure is a report about model storage. Neither establishes how much a particular Mac will actually recover.
#1 Best Overall
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Choose between turning features off and removing model assets
Apple’s Mac guide describes feature controls, not a supported way to delete the underlying model assets. Apple says, “You can turn off Apple Intelligence features like Siri AI (Beta),* summarization features, and more.” Apple’s Mac guide covers controls for Siri AI, Messages and Mail summaries, notification summaries, personalized Smart Replies, voicemail suggestions, and Journal writing prompts.
Turning features off is the Apple-documented option when you want to stop using them while retaining Apple’s normal management of model assets. Removing or blocking model downloads is a different, third-party action. According to the RemoveMacAI README, disabling Apple Intelligence can affect features that rely on its models, including Writing Tools, Siri-related AI features, Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, summaries, smart replies, inline predictions, Photos Clean Up, Spatial Photos, and Xcode predictive completion. The README also notes potential effects on apps using Apple’s on-device models, Visual Intelligence, and natural-language Calendar editing.
Rank #2
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Consider those dependencies before proceeding: a storage reduction may come at the cost of features you use. Apple’s feature controls and RemoveMacAI’s stated undo behavior are distinct approaches, and neither promises a specific reclaimed amount.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCheck compatibility and understand the utility’s limits
RemoveMacAI’s official repository describes an unofficial app and command-line interface. Its README says it supports Apple silicon Macs running macOS 27 and does not support macOS 26 or earlier. Confirm both your Mac’s processor and macOS version before obtaining the project.
Rank #3
- Capacity Display Variance: 500GB external ssd often appears as around 465GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 500 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
The maintainer says the utility previews changes, allows users to apply or undo selected changes, and sends a request through Apple’s asset service to release models. The README says macOS removes the files on its own schedule; the Storage display may continue counting them until deletion and its next update. These are maintainer descriptions, not independently verified results, and they do not establish a fixed completion time or reclaim amount.
The README describes both a native app and a CLI, notes that the app is not notarized, and says its project-specific installation path checks a SHA-256 checksum. Obtain the software only from the official repository or its releases, read the README and preview carefully, and do not run unreviewed remote shell code by piping it straight into Terminal. Do not confuse RemoveMacAI with the separate apple-intelligence-remover shell project; they are different projects.
Rank #4
- NONSTOP SPEED: Race through projects with our fastest SSD for creators; Load, edit and transfer with sustained read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s1; The T9 Portable SSD performs at high speeds even during longer processes
- DYNAMIC THERMAL GUARD: When you’re elbow-deep in a passion project, the T9 Portable SSD stays cool; Its advanced thermal solution withstands and controls heat to keep the SSD at ideal temperatures—even in heavy use2
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether you’re using a desktop, camera or a gaming console3, count on the T9 Portable SSD for extensive compatibility; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- STRONG. SOLID. STABLE: From concept to completion – the T9 Portable SSD gives you the longevity to last through heavy use with one convenient drive that dares to go the distance
- WORKS LIKE MAGIC: Your T9 Portable SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software; With firmware updates, extra encryption and continual monitoring of your drive health, it works like a charm
Use RemoveMacAI cautiously
- Verify prerequisites. In the Apple menu, open About This Mac and confirm the Mac has Apple silicon. Check the installed macOS version in System Settings > General > About. Continue only if it meets the project README’s macOS 27 requirement.
- Obtain the project. Use the official RemoveMacAI repository or its releases, and follow the README’s instructions for the app or CLI version you choose. Review the project’s security notes, including its notarization status and checksum procedure for the described install path.
- Inspect the preview. Before applying anything, review the utility’s proposed changes and consider which Apple Intelligence-dependent features may stop working. Do not proceed if you cannot tell what a proposed change will do.
- Choose whether to apply or undo. The maintainer describes an option to apply the selected changes and an undo path. Follow the project’s current instructions; do not assume undo restores every feature immediately or that a later macOS update will preserve the same behavior.
- Allow macOS time to update storage. Recheck System Settings > General > Storage later. The maintainer says file deletion and the Storage display’s refresh can lag the request, so an immediate unchanged reading does not establish the final result.
What to expect after removal
The utility’s request to Apple’s asset service is not the same as an instant file deletion. Per the README, macOS controls when the files are removed and when Storage settings stop counting them. The recovered space and elapsed time therefore depend on the device and system behavior; the available sources do not establish a universal before-and-after figure or deadline.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Capacity Display Variance: 250GB external ssd often appears as around 232GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 250 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
