Apple Intelligence no longer understands only English: 16 languages, including German, are supported, the system automatically recognizes texts in various languages, and Live Translation adds real-time translation. However, there's still a catch with Siri – and iOS 27 exacerbates it. One setting is the key to determining where multilingualism works seamlessly today and where limitations remain.
Those who use multiple languages in their daily lives quickly encounter limitations with AI functions – or perhaps not. Apple Intelligence has evolved significantly since its launch: from initially supporting only English, it has developed into broad language support that automatically recognizes texts and processes them in the appropriate language. However, for these functions to work, Apple Intelligence must first be set up and activated – and the correct language combination must be selected. The following sections show what's possible and what's important if you regularly switch between languages.
These languages are supported by Apple Intelligence
Since its launch, Apple has continuously expanded the language list. With iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence works in these 16 languages:
- English (Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Great Britain, USA)
- German
- French
- Italian
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Dutch
- Danish
- Norwegian
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Japanese
- Korean
- Vietnamese
- Chinese (simplified)
- Traditional Chinese
These languages allow you to analyze texts, summarize content, and perform generative functions. The selection is somewhat smaller on Apple Vision Pro; the Apple Watch uses the languages of the paired iPhone.
The basic requirement: the device language and Siri language must be compatible
One condition is crucial and often overlooked: the device language and Siri language must be set to the same supported language. If the device language is set to German while Siri is running in an unsupported language, Apple Intelligence will remain inactive. You can find the device language under "Settings > General > Language & Region," and the Siri language in the Siri settings - in iOS 26 under "Apple Intelligence & Siri," and in iOS 27 under "Siri." Additionally, Apple Intelligence reserves approximately 7 GB of storage for the local language models; therefore, sufficient free space is required.
The system automatically recognizes multilingual texts
Users who regularly switch between languages don't need to constantly switch back and forth. Apple Intelligence automatically detects the language of a text: one note can be written in English, the next in German, without having to change anything beforehand. The writing tools process input in multiple languages and deliver appropriate results. Summaries also adapt to the source language: a German message is summarized in German, an English one in English – this applies to messages as well as summaries in Safari and Mail.
Live Translation: Real-time translation
iOS 26 introduced a feature that takes multilingualism to a new level: Live Translation translates directly in Messages, Phone Calls, and FaceTime calls. In the Messages app, incoming and outgoing texts are automatically translated, while in Phone and FaceTime, spoken words can be transcribed or read aloud. When used with AirPods - AirPods 4 and later with active noise cancellation, as well as AirPods Pro 2 and later - translation even works during conversations. The supported language pairs vary depending on the function; for German, Messages, Phone, FaceTime, and AirPods are supported.
Genmoji and Image Playground: narrowed language selection
Not every feature covers all 16 languages. Genmoji and Image Playground are available in a smaller selection – including German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), and Japanese. For a specific language to be available for these generative features, it must be selected under "Language & Region"; only then will your iPhone download the necessary language models.
Siri and the one-language limit – and what iOS 27 changes
Siri's limitations remain: only one language can be set at a time, and this language must match the device's language. Users who use Siri in German cannot issue voice commands in English or French. This is the key limitation for voice-only operation – unlike the text functions, which can recognize multiple languages simultaneously.
With iOS 27, another dimension is added. The completely rebuilt Siri generation, called Siri AI, will initially launch exclusively in English, with support for several English language variants. More languages will follow later. For German-speaking users, this means that the classic Apple Intelligence features will remain available in German, but the new Siri generation will not be available for the time being – and it is initially blocked on iPhones and iPads in the EU anyway. The basic Siri functions, as they can currently be used with Apple Intelligence, remain unaffected.
Here's how to set up Apple Intelligence for multiple languages
A few settings will help to ensure the best possible multilingual experience:
- Under "Settings > General > Language & Region" you can select your preferred languages.
- Set the device language and Siri language to the same supported language to keep Apple Intelligence active.
- For Genmoji and Image Playground, check if the desired language is set and the language model is loaded.
- Plan for sufficient free storage space, as the language models are stored locally.
Apple Intelligence then automatically recognizes texts in the registered languages and processes them accordingly.
Multilingualism today – and the special case of Siri
Apple Intelligence has arrived in multilingual territory: 16 languages, automatic text recognition, and live translation for conversations across language barriers. For German, this covers everyday use. The one real exception remains voice control: Siri works in one language at a time, and the new Siri generation launches with iOS 27 initially only in English. However, those who use the text and translation functions already have access to the full range of languages.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Apple Intelligence and Languages
Apple Intelligence is already available in Germany and throughout the EU – since iOS 18.4 in April 2025. German is fully supported, both for text recognition and generative functions.
With iOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence works in 16 languages, including German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, as well as simplified and traditional Chinese.
First, update your device to the latest iOS version and enable Apple Intelligence under "Apple Intelligence & Siri" (iOS 26) or "Siri" (iOS 27). Important: The device language and Siri language must be set to the same supported language; otherwise, the feature will remain inactive.
Apple Intelligence runs on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as on all models from the iPhone 16 onwards. Older iPhones are not supported.
The settings are located under "Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri" (iOS 26) or "Settings > Siri" (iOS 27). The functions themselves are integrated into apps such as Messages, Mail, Notes, and Safari.
No. Siri can only be set to one language at a time, which must match the device's language. Apple's AI text features, on the other hand, automatically recognize multiple languages. With iOS 27, the new generation of Siri AI will initially launch in English only.
The integrated features include: writing tools for rewriting, summaries in Mail and Safari, Genmoji and Image Playground for images, and live translation for translations. Many of these work automatically in multiple languages.
