If you own a Pixel smartphone, you might be curious about the disappearance of your storage capacity. The root of the issue could be a pre-installed system application named AICore, which occupies up to 7 gigabytes of storage and consumes several gigabytes of RAM, even when it’s not in active use. Below, we clarify what AICore is and how to disable it to recover space and enhance speed on your device.
What is AICore and why does it consume such substantial storage?
AICore is a system app present solely on Google Pixel smartphones. Its primary function is to facilitate local AI models like Gemini Nano, keep them updated, and link them with other applications. These expansive language models (LLMs) enable functionalities such as Magic Compose, Call Notes, Pixel Screenshots, summaries in the Recorder app, and image recognition within Pixel Studio.
John Brandon / Foundry
The drawback is that AICore continuously reserves multiple gigabytes of storage and RAM, regardless of your usage of the AI functionalities. For instance, on the Pixel 10 (see our review), Google allocates approximately 3GB of RAM solely for AICore and the AI processor of the Tensor chip. This memory is not accessible to other applications. So if you notice apps closing in the background more often than usual or your device appears slow under pressure, AICore might be responsible.
Since it is a system application, AICore cannot be fully uninstalled, but it can be deactivated.
What occurs if you deactivate AICore?
Deactivating AICore means losing all functionalities that leverage Gemini Nano locally on the device: Pixel Screenshots ceases to function, the Recorder app will no longer summarize recordings automatically, Pixel Journal will be stripped of its AI-driven suggestions, and Magic Compose will stop offering text rephrasing.
The Gemini app itself remains unaffected, as it uses Gemini 3 through the cloud and does not depend on local processing. All other applications that do not utilize on-device AI will continue operating as normal. If you seldom or never utilize your Pixel’s AI functionalities, opting for deactivation brings negligible loss.
Another beneficial effect: the occasionally disruptive AI notifications will entirely cease after deactivation.
Steps to deactivate AICore on your Pixel smartphone
- Access the Settings application.
- Select “Apps” from the Settings menu.
- Scroll down to locate “AICore” or utilize the search feature to find it, then select the entry.
- Tap “Disable” and confirm by selecting “Disable app” in the new window.
- Next, tap the three-dot menu located in the top right corner and choose “Uninstall updates”. Only then will the occupied storage be completely freed.
Reactivating AICore
If you discover that you miss one of the features that have been disabled, it’s simple to revert your decision. Just return to Settings → Apps → AICore and tap “Enable”. AICore will then automatically download its updates and restore all AI functionalities.
On the other hand, to fully utilize your Pixel’s AI features, here are 6 amazing capabilities you likely were unaware it could perform.
Conclusion: Create Space for More Essentials
So, that’s the scoop! If your Pixel seems to be under the weather, it could very well be that overzealous AICore consuming all the resources. Give it a nudge and free up space for what truly matters—more memes and snapshots of Greggs pastries. Cheers!
