Enable Apple AI on Mainland China Macs with This Script

Unlock Apple Intelligence on Your Mainland China Mac with This Open-Source Script

For Mac users in Mainland China, accessing Apple Intelligence features can be a challenge due to regional restrictions. However, an innovative open-source project dubbed 'enableAppleAI' offers a practical solution to bypass these limitations, allowing users to enable Apple AI on their M1 (or newer) Macs, even with System Integrity Protection (SIP) active.

What is 'enableAppleAI'?

enableAppleAI is a shell script designed to permanently and stably enable Apple Intelligence on Mac devices sold in Mainland China. It's been tested successfully on macOS 15.5 beta and does not require long-term background services or disabling SIP permanently. The project is continuously updated, with version 2.0 already supporting the 'Clean Up' function in Photos.

How Does It Work?

The script ingeniously bypasses Apple's enablement checks through a multi-step process:

1. Temporary Injection: It executes an external third-party script that temporarily injects into eligibilityd, causing it to output information to the system database indicating that the machine supports AI.
2. System File Modification: It modifies the /private/var/db/eligibilityd/eligibility.plist system file. Specifically, it adjusts values related to OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_DEVICE_REGION_CODE (device region code) and OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_EXTERNAL_BOOT_DRIVE (external boot drive), preventing the system from using these parameters as preconditions for enabling features.
3. File Locking: It locks the modified database file's state by changing file permissions and setting a uchg (immutable) flag.

Prerequisites for Success:

Before you embark on enabling Apple AI, ensure your system meets specific requirements:

• Compatible Mac: An M1 or newer Mac running macOS 15.1 or later.
• Administrator Privileges: The script requires sudo for privileged commands.
• Apple ID Region: Your iCloud Apple ID must not be a Mainland China region ID (US region is confirmed to work; other regions are unknown).
• System Settings: Set your system region to "United States" and system language/Siri language to Simplified Chinese (Mandarin)/China or English (USA). Incorrect regional settings will prevent AI activation.
• Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is needed to download the script.
• SIP Disabled (Temporarily): System Integrity Protection must be disabled before running the script. It can be re-enabled after the process is complete without affecting AI functionality.

Step-by-Step Execution Guide:

Follow these steps precisely to enable Apple AI:

Step 1: Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP)

• Restart your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button during startup until you enter macOS Recovery Mode.
• From the menu bar, select Utilities > Terminal.
• In the Terminal, type csrutil disable and press Enter. Confirm by pressing y.
• Type reboot or restart your Mac from the Apple menu.

Step 2: Download and Run the Script

Option A: Single Command (Recommended if you trust the script)

For the latest 2.11 script:

curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kanshurichard/enableAppleAI/main/enable_ai.sh | bash

curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kanshurichard/enableAppleAI/main/enable_ai_old.sh | bash

curl -sL https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/kanshurichard/enableAppleAI@main/enable_ai.sh | bash

Option B: Manual Execution (for review and control)

• Open your Terminal application.
• Download the script:

  curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kanshurichard/enableAppleAI/main/enable_ai.sh
  

• Review the script content using a text editor or cat enable_ai.sh.
• Grant execution permissions:

  chmod +x enable_ai.sh
  

• Execute the script:

  ./enable_ai.sh
  

Step 3: Follow Script Prompts

The script will display its progress and may prompt you to check System Settings for Apple Intelligence status. If it appears enabled, press Y to continue; otherwise, press N to revert changes and troubleshoot.

Step 4: Restart and Final Confirmation

• Restart your Mac.
• Verify Apple Intelligence status in System Settings > General > Apple Intelligence.
• Highly Recommended: If Apple Intelligence is working, re-enable SIP by going back into Recovery Mode and executing csrutil enable for enhanced system security.

Troubleshooting and FAQs:

• Uninstallation: If you wish to uninstall, disable SIP, re-run the script, and when prompted if AI functions are visible, press 'N'. The script will unlock files, and upon reboot, original system files will be restored.
• iCloud with China Account: Currently, the script does not enable AI for iCloud accounts associated with a Mainland China region. This is an ongoing challenge.
• eligibilityd Injection Errors: If you encounter errors, it might be due to remnants from previous AI enabling attempts (e.g., XcodeLLMEligible). Try uninstalling any such modifications, or consider a system reinstallation as a last resort.
• Siri/ChatGPT/Image Playground Issues: Siri's behavior (e.g., using Baidu) is often IP-based. Consider using a proxy for relevant URLs. Image Playground currently doesn't support image creation in Chinese; switch your system language to English (USA) for full functionality. Traditional Chinese AI is not supported by Apple as of May 2025.

This project provides a valuable resource for Mac users in Mainland China to overcome regional barriers and experience the full potential of Apple Intelligence on their devices.