Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Tech Advisor reveals that disabling AICore, a system app powering local AI features on Google Pixel phones, can free up several gigabytes of storage and RAM.
- This matters for users experiencing performance issues, as AICore reserves around 3GB of RAM and causes device sluggishness on some Pixels.
- Disabling AICore stops local Gemini Nano features like Magic Compose and Recorder summaries, but eliminates intrusive AI notifications while keeping cloud-based Gemini functional.
If you have a Pixel smartphone, you may be wondering where all your storage space has gone. A pre-installed system app called AICore could be the culprit. It uses up to 7 gigabytes of storage and several gigabytes of RAM, even when you’re not actively using it. Below, we explain what AICore is and how to disable the app to reclaim space and speed on your phone.
What is AICore and why does it use so much storage?
AICore is a system app found exclusively on Google Pixel smartphones. Its main task is to enable local, on-device AI models such as Gemini Nano, keep them up to date and connect them with other apps. These large language models (LLMs) allow features such as Magic Compose, Call Notes, Pixel Screenshots, summaries in the Recorder app and image recognition in Pixel Studio.
John Brandon / Foundry
The downside is that AICore permanently reserves several gigabytes of storage and RAM, regardless of whether you use the AI features or not. On the Pixel 10 (see our review), for example, Google allocates around 3GB of RAM exclusively to AICore and the Tensor chip’s AI processor. This memory is simply not available to other apps. So if you notice that apps are closing in the background unusually frequently or your device seems sluggish under load, AICore could be the cause.
As it is a system app, AICore cannot be completely uninstalled, but it can at least be disabled.
What happens if you disable AICore?
By disabling AICore, you forgo all features that use Gemini Nano locally on the device: Pixel Screenshots stops working, the Recorder app can no longer automatically summarise recordings, Pixel Journal loses its AI-powered suggestions, and Magic Compose no longer suggests text rephrasing.
The Gemini app itself, however, is not affected. It uses Gemini 3 via the cloud and does not require local processing. All other apps without on-device AI will also continue to run as usual. If you rarely or never use your Pixel’s AI features anyway, you lose practically nothing by disabling them.
Another positive side effect: the sometimes intrusive AI notifications will stop completely after deactivation.
How to disable AICore on your Pixel smartphone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “Apps” in Settings.
- Scroll down the list or use the search function to find “AICore”, then tap the entry.
- Tap “Disable” and confirm by tapping “Disable app” in the new window.
- Then tap the three-dot menu in the top right-hand corner and select “Uninstall updates”. Only then will the occupied storage be fully freed up.
Re-enable AICore
If you find that you do miss one of the disabled features, it’s easy to change your mind. Simply navigate back to Settings → Apps → AICore and tap “Enable”. AICore will then automatically download its updates and restore all AI features.
Conversely, to make the most of your Pixel’s AI features, here are 6 incredible things you probably didn’t know it could do.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and adapted from German.
