Tuhi on a Mac without Apple Intelligence

Tuhi works on every Mac that runs Storage Studio. Apple Intelligence only changes how Tuhi words its answers. Without it, Tuhi answers from Storage Studio's built-in replies and still finds your files, downloads links, opens support tickets and takes you to the right screen. In the app's own words: "Everything works the same — wording and tips are just a little simpler."

When Tuhi uses Apple Intelligence

Tuhi uses Apple Intelligence only when all of these are true:

• your Mac is running macOS 26 or later and Apple Intelligence is available for it;
• Apple Intelligence is turned on in System Settings, and its on-device model has finished downloading;
• Use Apple Intelligence when available is on in Preferences → Interface → Smart suggestions. It's on unless you turn it off.

%% caption: How Tuhi decides whether to use Apple Intelligence
flowchart TD
  A[You ask Tuhi a question] --> B{Can this Mac run Apple Intelligence?}
  B -->|No| F[Built-in replies]
  B -->|Yes| C{Turned on in System Settings and ready?}
  C -->|No| F
  C -->|Yes| D{Use Apple Intelligence when available is on?}
  D -->|No| F
  D -->|Yes| E[Apple Intelligence writes the answer]

How you can tell

• The Ask box and the conversation header say On-device assistant under Tuhi's name, instead of Powered by Apple Intelligence, and show a sparkle instead of the Apple Intelligence mark.
• Answers carry the small box badge. Hold the pointer over it to see the reason, such as "Apple Intelligence is off or not available on this Mac". See Where Tuhi's answers come from.

What the Smart suggestions status means

The line under Use Apple Intelligence when available tells you which case you're in:

If your Mac can use Apple Intelligence but it's switched off, the notification bell on the Home screen also shows Apple Intelligence isn't turned on, with an Open Settings button.

What works exactly the same

These never depend on Apple Intelligence:

• finding where a file or folder is, and what's in the Recycle Vault;
• what each Storage Studio feature is, and your Mac's name, model and macOS version;
• lists of what you've moved, backed up and connected;
• downloading a link you paste, with the live download card showing progress, Pause, Resume, Show in Finder and Cancel;
• opening a support ticket form and checking your tickets;
• the button to the right screen, and Run Tuhi.

What changes

• Answers to open questions, such as "why is my Mac slow?", come from curated answers and the help library rather than being written fresh, so they're shorter and less tailored.
• The summary after a Tuhi run is a plain sentence with the figures, rather than a friendlier rewrite.

Your privacy is the same either way: with or without Apple Intelligence, Tuhi runs on your Mac. See Tuhi runs on your Mac.

See also: Meet Tuhi · Asking Tuhi a question · Interface settings · Apple silicon and Intel Macs