Apple Intelligence: How the writing tools work

Correct, rewrite, summarize, or completely rewrite: Apple Intelligence's writing tools are integrated system-wide into almost every text field - from email and notes to third-party apps and websites. Knowing where each function is located and what its individual options do saves noticeable time and typing in everyday use. This overview goes through each function individually and shows the quickest way to access it.

The writing tools are one of the most practical parts of Apple Intelligence: Instead of switching between apps or using external services, selected text can be edited directly on the device. This requires a compatible device on which Apple Intelligence is set up and active, and whose language matches Siri's language. Once this is done, the tools are available without further installation wherever text can be entered or edited. Since iOS 18.4, this also works fully in German.

Requirements and where the writing tools are located

The writing tools require an Apple Intelligence-enabled device. These include:

• iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as all iPhone 16 models and newer (including iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air)
• iPad mini with A17 Pro and all iPad models with M1 or newer
• all Macs with Apple Silicon, i.e., M1 or newer

With iOS 26, Apple Intelligence became an integral part of the system; on devices with iOS 27, the AI is enabled by default. The writing tools are available virtually everywhere text can be selected – in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Pages, as well as in Safari or third-party apps.

The way there is quickly explained:

• On iPhone and iPad: Select the text, tap the forward button in the bar that appears, and then tap "Writing Tools." Alternatively, you can access the function via the Apple Intelligence button in the top right corner of the keyboard.
• On a Mac: Select the text, Control-click it, and choose "Show Writing Tools." In apps like Notes and Mail, simply click the corresponding icon in the toolbar.

Apple uses the terms "Writing Tools" and "Writing Tools" for the same function, depending on the context - both refer to the same thing. This menu-based access applies to iOS 26; in the EU, it remains in place for iPhones and iPads in iOS 27 due to regulatory requirements. iOS 27 also introduces a new method called Write with Siri, which is explained in the section below.

Have texts proofread

Proofreading takes care of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. After opening the writing tools, tap "Proofreading": Apple Intelligence checks your selected text and underlines each change with a bright line. Several options are then available:

• Show changes and the respective explanation
• Accept individual corrections or discard them with "Use original"
• Switch between edited and original versions via "Original"
• restore the unedited text

Tapping "Done" completes the revision. This ensures that every change is traceable before it is incorporated into the text.

Rewrite texts and adjust the tone

If a sentence sounds too awkward or a message too harsh, the "Rewrite" function can help. It rephrases the selected text without changing the content. In addition to a neutral version, fixed tones of voice are available:

• "Friendly" for a warmer, more approachable sound
• "Professional" for business or formal texts
• "Short and to the point" for a more concise version

For more precise control, select "Describe change" and enter your own instruction – for example, "Turn the text into a poem" or "Write it more enthusiastically." The rewritten version appears immediately and can be further refined by rewriting it again or reverted to the original.

Summarize and structure texts

For longer texts, the summary provides a quick overview. After highlighting the text and opening the writing tools, four options are available:

• "Summarize" condenses the content into a short paragraph
• "Main points" extracts the most important statements as a list
• "List" arranges the text in a bulleted list
• "Table" presents the content in a tabular form

The result can be copied, replaced with the original text using the "Replace" function, or shared. The "Replace" option only appears if the source text is editable. This is particularly useful for reports, notes, or long articles – the same summarizing function can also be applied to entire web pages.

Write new texts with ChatGPT

While proofreading, rewriting, and summarizing work with existing text, "Compose" creates entirely new content. This option utilizes the optional ChatGPT integration: Tap "Compose" and describe in your own words what you want to create - for example, "Write an invitation for a birthday party." ChatGPT then provides a draft that can be further edited or discarded. The ChatGPT extension must be enabled in the settings for this to work. Its use is optional and you will be asked for your consent before each request, ensuring that no information is sent to ChatGPT without your explicit permission.

Automate writing tools in keyboard shortcuts

Since iOS 26, the writing tools can also be used in the Shortcuts app. Actions such as summarizing text, proofreading, adjusting tone, creating lists, or creating tables can be combined into fixed workflows and started with a tap, the action button, or automatically. A recurring task - such as summarizing a long note - thus becomes a single action. For anyone who regularly goes through the same text-related steps, this is a noticeable shortcut.

Write with Siri: the writing tools in iOS 27

With iOS 27, the way writing functions are used changes. The classic writing tools menu is replaced by an approach called Write with Siri: Instead of fixed buttons, you describe in your own words - via a symbol on the keyboard or by voice - what you want to happen to the text, and Siri AI generates, corrects, or rephrases it. The changes then appear in a direct before-and-after comparison, complete with an undo button. Because Write with Siri accesses the user's personal context, the suggestions are often more accurate than with the previous solution. Additionally, iOS 27 displays a running spell and grammar check as you type.

For use in the EU, one restriction is crucial: Write with Siri works directly with Siri AI, and Siri AI will not be launched on iPhones and iPads in the EU for the time being. Therefore, the writing tools menu described above remains the primary interface on iPhones and iPads in the EU – the functions explained there continue to apply unchanged. Siri AI, and thus Write with Siri, is available on Macs and Apple Vision Pros in the EU, as well as in regions outside the EU.

What matters when using writing tools

The writing tools are intended as writing aids, not an autopilot. Because Apple Intelligence uses generative models, the results can vary - especially with names, numbers, commitments, or technical details, it's worth taking a closer look before accepting a suggestion. Sensitive content should only be used with these features consciously and with as little context as possible. That said, the clearer the task - correcting, shortening, changing tone, or summarizing - the less rework will be required. With each new system generation, the underlying models improve, so the quality of the suggestions continues to increase over time. In the Mail app, dedicated AI features like summaries and prioritized messages further enhance the writing tools with app-specific assistance.

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