Foundation Model Framework

I see similar questions asked in the forums. To sum up, here is check list I'd go through:

1. Your app runs on iOS / iPadOS / visionOS / macOS 26, with Apple Intelligence enabled.

2. If you use a simulator, be sure that your Mac is on macOS 26, with Apple Intelligence enabled.

3. Apple Intelligence is available for your system language and region. If not sure, set the system language of your device to English and the region to United States.

4. Always check the availability when using Apple Foundation Models, as demonstrated in the Apple sample.

I am super curious if this list helps in your case.

Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
 Worldwide Developer Relations.

Thanks for the reply!

1. It's a brand new app on iOS 26 in Xcode beta. But the simulator does not have much to "say" in the "Apple Intelligence & Siri" settings. I've got the language set to English (United States) and that matches the language and region settings.

2. Xcode beta and the simulators are running in the restored ipsw macOS 26 in UTM. Within macOS settings, there is only a "Siri" item. It doesn't say "Apple Intelligence & Siri" like the iOS simulator does. Not sure why (possibly because of virtualization?).

3. It's English-US, so I think I'm good.

4. Due to English-US, I think I'm good.

So ... myeah. Still struggling with this. If the answer is that Apple Intelligence doesn't work on virtualized hardware for macOS 26, then where would I learn how to install the ipsw on a real volume so I can boot into it?

Update: I installed macOS 26 on real metal and the Foundation Model Framework still gives the same error in the simulator.

I can now report that the only way I have been able to use this so far is on:

• macOS Sequoia 15.5
• Xcode 26 beta
• Real iPad Pro running iPadOS 26 beta

It has NOT worked for me in the following stacks:

1. macOS 26 beta on real metal using iPhone 16 Pro Max simulator
2. macOS 15.5 with Xcode beta using iPhone 16 Pro Max simulator
3. macOS 26 beta in a VM using iPhone 16 Pro Max simulator

Has anyone else had any other successes? Sure would be great to get a simulator working.

@Merano, thank you for posting this issue and detailing your steps. I receive a very similar error:

'InferenceError::inferenceFailed::Error Domain=com.apple.UnifiedAssetFramework Code=5000 "There are no underlying assets (neither atomic instance nor asset roots) for consistency token for asset set com.apple.modelcatalog" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=There are no underlying assets (neither atomic instance nor asset roots) for consistency token for asset set com.apple.modelcatalog}'

This is while running:

• macOS Sequoia 15.5
• Xcode 16 beta
• iOS Simulator - iPhone 16 iOS 26.0

Per your experiences, I'll try a real device rather than updating to macOS 26.

Thanks for providing all the details. It is a good news that the framework now works on your physical device.

Regarding the configurations you mentioned:

1 macOS 26 beta on real metal using iPhone 16 Pro Max simulator

2 macOS 15.5 with Xcode beta using iPhone 16 Pro Max simulator

3 macOS 26 beta in a VM using iPhone 16 Pro Max simulator

I believe 2 and 3 are not supposed to work because:

• The simulator uses the models on macOS, and macOS 15.5 doesn’t have them. (This also explains the issue @hbcondo described.)
• Apple Intelligence doesn’t support running on VM.

Now the only problem is that configuration 1 doesn't work for you. To get to the bottom, would you mind to share the following info:

1. Did you mean a physical Mac and not a VM by "on real metal"?
2. Is Apple Intelligence available and enabled on your Mac? Concretely, is it an Apple Silicon Mac, and are the system language and region supported by Apple Intelligence? Note that I am asking the configuration on your Mac, and not on your simulator.

If the answers are yes, and the issue is still there, I'd suggest that you reproduce the issue, capture a sysdiagnose, and file a feedback report with it – If you do so, please share your report ID here. I'd route it to the right team to hopefully get a quick investigation.

Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
 Worldwide Developer Relations.

Thanks Ziqiao. I got the sysdiagnose and was all ready to file the report with a screenshot of the macOS Apple Intelligence settings when I saw this for the first time:

"Apple intelligence is not available when starting your Mac from an external volume."

I am running it off of a NVMe connected via Thunderbolt.

I suppose that the only way I could get this to work is to install it on an internal volume :(

"Apple intelligence is not available when starting your Mac from an external volume." I am running it off of a NVMe connected via Thunderbolt.

OK, I believe this points to the culprit.

I suppose that the only way I could get this to work is to install it on an internal volume

Yes, macOS 26 on an internal volume has been the configuration I use.

Now I am worrying that, if you use an internal volume, Apple intelligence will be available, and you won't be able to reproduce the issue.

Would you mind to file a feedback report for us with the sysdiagnose and screenshots you already have? Even in the case where Apple intelligence is unavailable, we don't expect that you get the error message, and so the framework folks will be interested in looking into your sysdiagnose. Thanks!

Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
 Worldwide Developer Relations.

Will do. It DOES work for me when I create a volume on my internal drive and install macOS 26 there.

Still, though - not working because it's an external drive? 😬

Xcode is telling me Foundation Models is not available on Mac Catalyst, but the docs say it's supported. Lack of support as a known issue is not listed in Xcode 26's release notes.

Works with Designed for iPad.

@Meran: Yeah, the error message makes it clear that "Apple Intelligence is not available when starting your Mac from an external volume." The framework won't work unless Apple Intelligence in available.

Would you mind to share the ID of your feedback report that has your sysdiagnose? Thanks.

@Lightandshadow:

Xcode is telling me Foundation Models is not available on Mac Catalyst, but the docs say it's supported. Lack of support as a known issue is not listed in Xcode 26's release notes.

This sounds like a documentation issue worth a feedback report as well. Would you mind to file a feedback report for folks to track? Thanks.

Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
 Worldwide Developer Relations.