• Source:JND
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Apple seems to have quietly ironed out an annoying glitch that stopped new iPhone owners from using its flagship AI system—Apple Intelligence. The issue, which cropped up shortly after the iPhone 17 lineup hit stores, left some users unable to download key features that define the iOS 26 experience.

The Bug That Blocked Apple Intelligence

Reports first surfaced on Apple’s community forums, where early buyers of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and even the lightweight iPhone Air said Apple Intelligence wasn’t showing up on their devices. The problem prevented downloads of features like Genmoji, Image Playground, and Writing Tools—the very tools Apple showcased as the future of its ecosystem.

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Apple’s Quiet Fix

According to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, Apple has since rolled out a server-side update that quietly restores access to these features. There was no flashy announcement, no patch notes, and no software version bump—just a silent fix that seems to have done the job.

A few affected users said Apple’s support team had acknowledged the issue and promised a quick turnaround, which now appears to have been delivered. The fix is rolling out automatically in the background, meaning users don’t need to manually update their phones.

Apple hasn’t officially commented on what caused the glitch, though this kind of behind-the-scenes tweak isn’t unusual for the company.

Temporary Workarounds Before the Patch

Before the fix went live, users had been experimenting with workarounds—switching from cellular to Wi-Fi, toggling language settings, or even changing regions to get Apple Intelligence to appear. Others went to extremes, wiping their devices, reinstalling backups, or resetting network settings.

Now, those steps shouldn’t be necessary. To confirm Apple Intelligence is active, users can open the Settings app and look for the dedicated “Apple Intelligence” menu.

Not the First Post-Launch Bug

Interestingly, this isn’t the first hiccup for Apple’s 2025 lineup. Earlier, the company had to address a camera bug affecting the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro. CNN Underscored reviewer Henry Casey spotted the issue—black boxes occasionally appearing in photos—particularly when shooting bright LED screens. Apple said it only occurred under rare lighting conditions and promised a fix through a future software update.

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With Apple Intelligence now restored, the iPhone 17 lineup appears to be back on track, ensuring users finally get the full suite of AI tools Apple promised back in June.