Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
For iPhones running iOS 18.3 and higher, the notification summary feature promises to smartly condense your alerts. The issue, however, is that it turns into your most literal-minded friend when tackling text messages.
The problem isn't just that Apple Intelligence lacks a sense of humor — it's that it approaches your bestie's "I'm literally dying" text like a medical emergency, rather than commentary on an embarrassing moment.
1. Open Settings
Navigate to your iPhone's Settings app — the gear icon typically found on your home screen.
2. Find Apps
Scroll down until you locate the Apps section in your Settings menu.
3. Select Messages
Within the Apps section, tap on Messages to access your text messaging settings.
4. Disable Summarize Messages
Look for the Summarize Messages toggle and switch it to the off position.
That's all it takes! Your text messages will now appear in their full, uninterpreted glory, with all the sarcasm, inside jokes, and exaggerations intact — exactly as intended to be read.
You'll still benefit from Apple Intelligence summaries in apps where they're more useful, like Mail or News, but your iPhone conversations will remain free from AI's well-meaning but often comically literal interpretations.
Now that you've learned how to disable AI message summaries on your iPhone, why not check out some of our other others?
Check out iOS 18.4 has dropped — 5 new iPhone features to try first, to get the most of iPhone's smartest update yet. And for help with documents and messages, Writing Tools is one of Apple Intelligence's most useful features.
For less well-known features, check out the changes to iOS 18 Notes, including how to summarize audio notes and phone call transcripts.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
