A new open-source tool is making waves in the Mac user community, helping them reclaim valuable storage space taken up by Apple’s artificial intelligence models. It’s called “RemoveMacAI,” and it disables Apple Intelligence in macOS 27, removes its downloaded models, and prevents them from being reloaded.
See also: Apple Intelligence iOS 27: New Messages Features and Contextual Call
Apple, with the release of macOS 27, removed the option to completely disable Apple Intelligence, which caused concern for many users who want more control over their devices. Simply disabling individual features does not remove the models from your Mac's disk, leaving the files taking up valuable storage space. RemoveMacAI gets around this issue by using a configuration profile to disable Apple's resource management service and remove the models.
This tool works in a smart way, configuring the system so that attempts to download removed models are redirected to a closed local port, preventing them from being immediately restored. This allows users to maintain control over storage without having to disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) or manually delete files from protected system locations, which was necessary with some older tools.
RemoveMacAI can reclaim around 10GB+ of space, depending on the models on your Mac. However, some users report cases where Apple Intelligence take up much more space, making the tool even more valuable for those with devices with limited storage.
See also: Safari and Apple Intelligence: What was announced at WWDC 2026
By removing Apple's models, users lose all AI-related features like Siri, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, summaries, smart replies, inline text predictions, Photos Clean Up, Spatial Photos, and Xcode predictive integration. Still, many users seem willing to make this sacrifice to free up space, especially on Macs that can't be upgraded to 256GB of storage.
Notably, the profile remains active across updates, ensuring users don't have to repeat the process after every software upgrade. And in case you were wondering, dictation still works, providing a basic function without the need for full AI capabilities.
The project has attracted hundreds of stars on GitHub since its release last week, and there’s been a lot of discussion on Reddit and Hacker News about the need for such a tool. The Mac user community seems to appreciate the opportunity to regain control of their storage space, despite the restrictions imposed by Apple. However, it’s important to note that MacRumors does not endorse RemoveMacAI, and anyone using it does so at their own risk.
The developer has mentioned one drawback, and that is that some of the configuration profile restriction keys that the tool relies on have been removed by Apple in macOS 26.4. While they still work in macOS 27.0.1, a future release could always change that. Something to keep in mind, as Apple is known for its frequent updates and policy changes, which can affect the functionality of such tools.
See also: Apple Intelligence: It may offer a better Gemini experience than Google
The development of RemoveMacAI highlights the growing need for tools that give users more control over their devices, especially as manufacturers limit customization options. The open source community continues to play a critical role in providing solutions that meet user needs, offering alternatives not available from official manufacturers.
