Apple Intelligence Eligibility Plist File

eligibility.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_DOMAIN_CALCIUM</key>
	<dict>
		<key>os_eligibility_answer_source_t</key>
		<integer>1</integer>
		<key>os_eligibility_answer_t</key>
		<integer>2</integer>
		<key>status</key>
		<dict>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_CHINA_CELLULAR</key>
			<integer>2</integer>
		</dict>
	</dict>
	<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_DOMAIN_GREYMATTER</key>
	<dict>
		<key>context</key>
		<dict>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_CONTEXT_ELIGIBLE_DEVICE_LANGUAGES</key>
			<array>
				<string>en</string>
			</array>
		</dict>
		<key>os_eligibility_answer_source_t</key>
		<integer>1</integer>
		<key>os_eligibility_answer_t</key>
		<integer>4</integer>
		<key>status</key>
		<dict>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_DEVICE_LANGUAGE</key>
			<integer>3</integer>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_DEVICE_REGION_CODE</key>
			<integer>3</integer>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_EXTERNAL_BOOT_DRIVE</key>
			<integer>3</integer>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_GENERATIVE_MODEL_SYSTEM</key>
			<integer>3</integer>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_SHARED_IPAD</key>
			<integer>3</integer>
			<key>OS_ELIGIBILITY_INPUT_SIRI_LANGUAGE</key>
			<integer>3</integer>
		</dict>
	</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

does this work for Tahoe too?

@OmChachad

💬 English Version (Bản Tiếng Anh)
Title: "Hey Siri" (Listen For) option disappears on macOS 26.1 with this patch

Comment: Thank you so much for this amazing guide! I successfully followed the steps and enabled Apple Intelligence on my Mac mini M4, which is booting macOS 26.1 from an external SSD.

However, I've run into a significant side effect: The "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" option has completely disappeared from the System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri menu. This happens even when I switch my system and Siri language to "English (United States)".

It seems that while the .plist hack successfully forces AI to enable, it unintentionally breaks the voice activation feature.

For context, my other Mac (a MacBook Air M2 on its internal drive) is also running macOS 26.1 and has "Hey Siri" working perfectly, even with Vietnamese language support. This confirms the issue is specific to the modified .plist on the external drive.

Do you have any ideas for an updated .plist modification that could keep Apple Intelligence enabled and restore the "Hey Siri" functionality?

Thanks again for your work!

In mac mini m4 on ssd out my mac

In mac air m2 on ssd in my mac

@Rowan-Strang

does this work for Tahoe too?

Hi, this is not ideal for Tahoe.

I just posted a new version of the blog post with Tahoe support.

https://www.itecheverything.com/post/how-to-enable-apple-intelligence-on-an-external-drive-macos-tahoe-and-newer

@7zism3

@OmChachad

💬 English Version (Bản Tiếng Anh) Title: "Hey Siri" (Listen For) option disappears on macOS 26.1 with this patch

Comment: Thank you so much for this amazing guide! I successfully followed the steps and enabled Apple Intelligence on my Mac mini M4, which is booting macOS 26.1 from an external SSD.

However, I've run into a significant side effect: The "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" option has completely disappeared from the System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri menu. This happens even when I switch my system and Siri language to "English (United States)".

It seems that while the .plist hack successfully forces AI to enable, it unintentionally breaks the voice activation feature.

For context, my other Mac (a MacBook Air M2 on its internal drive) is also running macOS 26.1 and has "Hey Siri" working perfectly, even with Vietnamese language support. This confirms the issue is specific to the modified .plist on the external drive.

Do you have any ideas for an updated .plist modification that could keep Apple Intelligence enabled and restore the "Hey Siri" functionality?

Thanks again for your work!

Hi, thanks for reaching out.

Please check out this new version of the tutorial: https://www.itecheverything.com/post/how-to-enable-apple-intelligence-on-an-external-drive-macos-tahoe-and-newer

If this still does not help, please let me know here. I have a slight hunch of where the underlying problem might be, but I would like you to try this updated tutorial first.