Need to free up storage space on your iPhone or iPad? Learn how to offload apps to regain space while keeping the app data safe.
The Offload App feature can be a handy solution to manage space if you are tired of seeing the Storage Almost Full popup alert on your iPhone. You can use the Offload App option to free up local storage automatically or manually.
Also see: 50+ tips to free up storage space on iPhone and iPad
What is Offload App on iPhone and iPad?
In the earlier days of iOS, you had two options for an app: you either kept it on your iPhone or you deleted it. If you kept it, the app and its data continued to occupy local storage space. If you deleted the app, the app itself and all its data were gone.
Apple introduced the option to offload apps way back in iOS 11. This is somewhat of a middle ground between keeping and deleting an app.
When you offload an app, the app itself is deleted, which clears local storage, but the app documents and data are still saved locally on your iPhone. Once you reinstall the offloaded app, you can keep using it like before, as the app data is still saved.
In other words, as opposed to deleting an app, which nukes its binary and data out of orbit, offloading ensures that app data, along with user settings and documents, remain on your device.
Given the increasing app sizes, it is sensible to offload apps to keep local iPhone storage unoccupied. And thanks to the availability of Wi-Fi and fast 5G cellular data, downloading an app is quick and easy.
So, whether you have a 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB iPhone or one that’s full, offloading apps is a great way to optimize its storage. You can offload apps manually or have your iPhone do it automatically.
Note that offloading apps is also available on Apple TV to help you manage its local storage.
Manually offload apps on iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings app and tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage and give it a while to load.
- From the list of apps, select the app you want to offload.
- Tap Offload App and confirm.
Can I offload all apps?
You can offload all third-party apps you downloaded from the App Store and several Apple apps like TV, Music, Mail, Files, Maps, Books, Reminders, Podcasts, Contacts, Calendar, Shortcuts, Measure, Home, Compass, Stocks, FaceTime, Tips, iTunes Store, Translate, Calculator, Weather, Voice Memos, Notes, Magnifier, iMovie, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, Apple Support, and Apple Store.
You cannot offload or delete Photos, Phone, Safari, Wallet, Messages, and Health apps.
One interesting thing to note is that if you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, you cannot delete or offload the Watch and Fitness apps. But if you don’t have an Apple Watch paired, you can offload or delete the iOS Watch app.
If you offload or delete the FaceTime app, you can continue to make FaceTime calls from the Phone or Contacts app.
Automatically offload apps on iPhone and iPad
Manually finding and offloading apps can be a chore. If you struggle to keep local space free, you can let your iPhone offload apps automatically to optimize storage. Once you enable it, your iPhone will automatically offload apps you have not used in a while.
- Open the Settings app and tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Tap Enable next to Offload Unused Apps. If you don’t see this option, tap See All next to Recommendations.
Caution: Some people enable this, forget about it, and then worry as they have to re-download the app again.
How to re-download an offloaded app
Even after you offload an app, its app icon stays on the Home Screen and App Library. You’ll see a download arrow before the app name, which signifies that this app is offloaded. Tap the app icon to download it again. As mentioned, the app data is still on the device.
Alternatively, you can also go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > app name > Reinstall App.
Finally, you can also search for the app in the App Store and tap the download button.
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