--- id: apple-intelligence-unavailable title: Apple Intelligence unavailable summary: What to check when Apple Foundation Models reports that Apple Intelligence is not available on this Mac, and which other provider to use instead. platforms: [macos] app_version: "1.39.0" review_basis: source-review reviewed: "2026-10-05" error_codes: [appleIntelligenceUnavailable] canonical: https://aivideotranslator.app/docs/apple-intelligence-unavailable.html order: 2 labels: [Apple Intelligence unavailable] aliases: [Apple model not ready, enable Apple Intelligence, Mac translation fails] --- # Apple Intelligence unavailable This help describes AI Video Translator 1.39.0. If you are helping someone and do not know which version they use, ask them to open Settings → About App and read App Version (for example `1.39.0+3`; use the part before `+`). Help for another version: https://aivideotranslator.app/docs//llms-full.txt (replace ; the list of published versions is in https://aivideotranslator.app/llms.txt) To translate with Apple Foundation Models, you'll need Apple Intelligence turned on and ready on your Mac. If it stays unavailable, you can use another translation provider and keep working. ## Understand the message This message means there's a problem using Apple's on-device language model to translate your text. It doesn't tell you whether Apple speech recognition is available. You'll see “Apple Intelligence isn't available on this Mac. Check that Apple Intelligence is enabled and ready in System Settings, or choose another translation provider.” The message doesn't say exactly what's wrong. The checks below help you check your Mac's support, settings and whether the model is ready. ## Check Apple Intelligence You'll need macOS 26 or later and a Mac that supports Apple Intelligence. Having the right macOS version doesn't mean the model is ready to use yet. 1. Check that your Mac runs macOS 26 or later. 2. Check that your Mac supports Apple Intelligence. 3. Open macOS System Settings. 4. Check that Apple Intelligence is on. 5. If macOS is preparing the model, wait until it is ready. 6. Start translation again. macOS manages the model and downloads it. The app can't start that download or add Apple Intelligence support to a Mac that doesn't have it. The app checks again each time you start translation. Once you've fixed the cause, you can try again without restarting the app. ## If the message stays You can also see this message if the app can't reach Apple's model or its resources stop being available during translation. That points to a system problem, so changing your video or text won't fix it. You can keep working by choosing another translation provider. 1. Open the project's settings. 2. Open “Translation”. 3. Choose a provider supporting both languages. 4. Choose its model. Once you've installed an on-device model, you don't need a key or internet to use it. If you see “Download required before use”, you can install it in “AI Providers”, under “Manage Models”; [Getting started](https://aivideotranslator.app/docs/1.39.0/getting-started.md) walks through the setup. If you choose a cloud provider, you'll need your API key and external-service consent in “Settings”, under “About App”. The provider receives the text for translation and charges your account. ## Check language or speech errors If the message is about language support, you'll need to check your language choices instead. Apple translation needs you to choose the source language; it can't detect it automatically. 1. If automatic detection is selected, choose the spoken language. 2. If either language is unsupported, choose another provider. 3. If the Apple Intelligence message then appears, use the checks above. If you see “Apple speech recognition isn't available on this Mac. Choose another speech provider.”, the problem is with transcription. Speech recognition has its own provider and availability check; [Apple features](https://aivideotranslator.app/docs/1.39.0/apple-features-on-mac.md) explains the different Apple options. ## Know what stays local When you use Apple translation, your text stays on your Mac. The app doesn't send it to Apple or use Apple's server-side processing; the [privacy policy](https://aivideotranslator.app/legal.html#privacy) describes this. ## Technical details This provider translates with Apple Foundation Models and reports availability problems as `appleIntelligenceUnavailable`. That code also covers a native-bridge failure or model assets becoming unavailable during a request. The app checks language support before it checks model availability. It only uses the on-device model, without Private Cloud Compute.