# How Qwen Works Inside Apple Intelligence on Mac > Apple's Mac guide now documents Qwen as an optional extension for Siri and Writing Tools on eligible Macs, with macOS 26.6, region and account conditions, and explicit attachment controls. _Source: Apple Mac User Guide and Apple Support documentation · 2026-08-08 · 7 min read · Verified against primary sources_ Canonical: https://iyu.app/e/apple-intelligence-qwen-mac-guide ## The 60-second version Eligible Mac users can add Qwen to Siri and Writing Tools as an optional Apple Intelligence extension. **Key points** - The Qwen extension requires macOS 26.6 or later plus Apple's listed mainland-China account, location or purchase conditions. - Setup lives in System Settings under Apple Intelligence & Siri → Extensions → Qwen. - Writing Tools can compose text and images; Siri can hand selected questions, photos or documents to Qwen. - Text confirmation can be relaxed, but photos and files always require separate approval. **Verdict.** The integration is useful and controllable, but users should treat Qwen as an external service and review the data boundary before enabling it. ## Full explainer > **i** Qwen is an **optional extension** to Apple Intelligence. It is not a fully local feature: prompts and approved attachments are sent to Alibaba's Qwen service. ### What changed — Qwen becomes a Mac system extension Apple's Mac User Guide now explains how eligible users can connect Alibaba's Qwen to **Siri** and **Writing Tools**. Siri can use it for deeper answers or analysis, while Writing Tools can generate text and images from a description. The integration sits under Apple Intelligence rather than as a separate desktop app. You choose whether to enable it, whether ordinary Siri requests need confirmation, and whether a specific photo or file may be sent. ### Eligibility — Check these conditions first - **26.6+** — minimum macOS version listed for Qwen - **Apple silicon** — Mac hardware required for Apple Intelligence - **7 GB** — storage Apple lists for on-device models Apple lists three paths for Qwen availability on macOS 26.6 or later: being in mainland China with the Apple Account region set to mainland China; being in mainland China without an Apple Account signed in; or using a Mac purchased in mainland China. - **Mac hardware:** A Mac with Apple silicon that supports Apple Intelligence. - **Software:** macOS 26.6 or later for the Qwen extension; install the latest available update. - **Apple Intelligence:** Must be enabled, with supported device and Siri languages aligned. - **Qwen account:** Required; account creation or Sign in with Apple is available. - **If the menu is missing:** Check location, account region, purchase region, model and software version. > **⚑ Caveat:** Apple's broader availability article may retain older mainland-China rollout wording. For this specific extension, use the newer feature guide and the actual Qwen entry shown on an updated compatible Mac as the operational reference. ### Setup — Enable Qwen in four steps - **1.** Open **System Settings** on the Mac. - **2.** Select **Apple Intelligence & Siri** in the sidebar. - **3.** Under **Extensions**, choose **Qwen**, then select **Set Up**. - **4.** Follow the prompts and sign in to a Qwen account or use Sign in with Apple. ### Writing Tools — Generate inside a document Control-click in a document, choose Writing Tools, show the Writing Tools panel, and select Compose. Enter a description, then answer any follow-up request or continue without adding details. After generation, the panel can rewrite the result, apply a suggested change, undo, or add a photo or document. Notes, Mail and some other apps expose the same tools through contextual controls or a toolbar button. ### Siri — Ask directly or let Siri suggest it Siri can offer Qwen when it may help with a request, including creative writing, recommendations, an open photo, or a PDF in Preview. Normally Siri asks before handing the request to Qwen. Starting a request with **Ask Qwen** makes the handoff explicit. You can also disable Confirm Qwen Requests in Settings, but Apple still requires approval before any photo or file is sent. ### Privacy — What leaves the Mac - **Text request:** Sent to Qwen when you approve it, invoke Qwen directly, or disable routine confirmation. - **Photo or file:** Always requires a separate confirmation before sending. - **Model training:** Apple says Alibaba cannot use extension requests to improve or train its models. - **Logging:** Alibaba may still log requests, attachments and session history under applicable account settings and privacy policy. - **Turn it off:** System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → Qwen → disable Use Qwen. Use the extension selectively: keep confirmation enabled until the workflow is familiar, review attachments before approving them, avoid secrets and sensitive records, and verify important output. Convenience changes the interface, not the destination of shared data. ## Primary sources - [Apple Mac User Guide — Use Qwen with Apple Intelligence on Mac](https://support.apple.com/zh-cn/guide/mac-help/mchl46b3ab20/mac) - [Apple Support — How to get Apple Intelligence](https://support.apple.com/zh-cn/121115) - [Qwen privacy policy linked by Apple](https://terms.alicdn.com/legal-agreement/terms/privacy_policy_full/20231011201849846/20231011201849846.html) --- _Published by iyu (https://iyu.app) — the day's AI news, checked against primary sources and rewritten in plain language. Free to quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL._