How Disabling AICore on Google Pixel Phones Freed Up 10GB of Storage

How Disabling AICore on Google Pixel Phones Freed Up 10GB of Storage

Google Pixel smartphone users have reported reclaiming up to 10GB of internal storage by disabling a background system service known as AICore — a core Android component designed to host on-device artificial intelligence models. While the feature aims to enhance AI-driven functionalities such as real-time translation, voice assistants, and photo enhancements, its substantial storage footprint has prompted many to question its necessity for everyday use.

According to ZDNet, the AICore service, which downloads and maintains local AI models including Google’s Gemini Nano, can consume up to 7GB of storage space on some devices. Tech.yahoo.com corroborates this, noting that these large language models are stored locally to ensure privacy and reduce latency, but their size often becomes a burden on devices with limited storage capacity, particularly on mid-range Pixel models like the Pixel 8a or Pixel 9a. Android Police adds that after disabling AICore and uninstalling its updates, users observed no degradation in core phone functions, with many opting not to reinstall the service.

The AICore service operates silently in the background, automatically updating AI models to improve performance over time. However, these updates are often large and occur without user consent, contributing to storage bloat. For users who do not frequently utilize advanced AI features — such as live transcription, generative photo editing, or real-time language translation — the service provides minimal benefit while occupying space that could be used for photos, apps, or media.

Disabling AICore is a straightforward process. Users can navigate to Settings > Apps > See all apps, locate “AICore” (sometimes listed under “Google AI Core” or similar), and select “Disable.” To fully reclaim space, users should also go to “Storage” within the app’s settings and tap “Uninstall Updates,” which removes the downloaded AI model files. A reboot may be required to complete the cleanup.

Despite concerns that disabling system services might impair functionality, multiple users documented their experience over a week, as reported by Android Police. They found that essential features like Google Assistant, camera enhancements, and voice typing continued to function normally. The primary loss was in advanced AI capabilities — for instance, the “Magic Eraser” in Google Photos became less effective, and real-time call translation no longer operated offline. However, these features remain accessible via cloud-based services, which require an internet connection anyway.

Security and privacy experts note that removing AICore may even enhance device security by reducing the attack surface of a complex, always-on AI engine. Google has not officially recommended disabling AICore, but the fact that it can be uninstalled without triggering system warnings suggests it is not critical to Android’s core operation.

For Pixel owners with 64GB or 128GB storage variants — particularly those who have filled their devices with high-resolution photos and videos — this simple adjustment can be transformative. One user on Reddit reported freeing up 9.7GB after disabling AICore, enough to install dozens of additional apps or store hundreds of photos.

While Google continues to push on-device AI as a competitive advantage, the trade-off between convenience and storage efficiency remains a practical concern for many. Until Google optimizes the size of these models or introduces user-controlled storage quotas, disabling AICore stands as a viable, low-risk solution for those prioritizing space over speculative AI enhancements.