Why iOS 18.1 Users in India Aren't Seeing Apple's New AI Features—and How to Access Them

Apple’s new iOS 18.1 update introduces a suite of AI-driven tools under the name Apple Intelligence, announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June and now globally available. However, in India, many users are encountering challenges accessing these features, even after updating to iOS 18.1. Compatibility plays a key role in this: Apple Intelligence is only available on newer devices, including the iPhone 16 series, iPhone 15 Pro models, recent iPads equipped with the A17 Pro chip, the latest iPad mini, and Macs with the M1 chip or later. This means that users with older devices will need to upgrade to experience the new tools.

For those with eligible devices, access to Apple Intelligence isn’t automatic. Users must adjust their device settings, specifically by setting their language to English (US), as the feature currently only supports this language. Additionally, within the Apple Intelligence menu, the language setting must also be switched to English (US) for the AI tools to appear.

Even after these adjustments, users won’t have instant access. They must join a waitlist, located within the Apple Intelligence settings, to eventually unlock the features. Apple indicates that downloading these tools takes time and typically starts only when connected to Wi-Fi.

This waitlist may be linked to the backend processing requirements of Apple Intelligence. The generative AI functions rely on remote servers to handle complex computing tasks, and the staggered rollout is likely intended to manage server demand. This gradual process, however, may prove frustrating for users who anticipated immediate access to the AI capabilities.

Accessing Apple Intelligence, therefore, involves more than a simple software update. It requires a compatible device, language adjustments, and time spent on a waitlist while Apple allocates backend resources. For Indian users eager to explore Apple’s new AI features, these extra steps may feel discouraging.

To use Apple Intelligence, Indian users will need a compatible device like the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, the latest iPads with the A17 Pro chip, or a Mac with M1 or newer. They must change their device language to English (US) and join the waitlist. Until Apple expands language options and streamlines access, these requirements will continue to create challenges for many users in India.