Apple has made it easier for users outside the U.S. to explore its Apple Intelligence feature, though significant restrictions remain for those in the European Union and China.
The recently released iOS 18.1 Beta 3 no longer mandates users to set their device region to the U.S. Instead, users simply need to configure both their device language and Siri language to U.S. English.
However, while this change simplifies access for users globally, AI features are still exclusively available in U.S. English. Users outside the U.S. can now test new features without altering their device’s region and affecting other settings like the clock and calendar.
According to Apple’s release notes for iOS 18.1 Beta 3, to participate in the Apple Intelligence beta, users must join the waitlist through Settings and ensure both device language and Siri are set to U.S. English.
Despite the excitement surrounding this development, restrictions for users in Europe remain. The release notes confirm that “Apple Intelligence is not currently available in the EU or China.” Testing the latest developer beta confirms that restrictions still apply for these regions.
This limitation is not unexpected, given the recent regulations pertaining to artificial intelligence in Europe, which have prompted delays in the rollout of AI features in the region.
While there are workarounds for users in Europe to access Apple Intelligence features, these are complicated. Users would need to change their device region to U.S. and also set their Apple ID country to the U.S., which involves a cumbersome process of canceling subscriptions and re-downloading all apps and media. Moreover, using a VPN may yield inconsistent results, making this approach impractical for most users.
