Having to re-download the same apps on your iPhone or iPad? Here’s how to disable Offload Unused Apps and fix this once and for all.
If you’ve noticed apps with a cloud icon next to their name on your screen, forcing you to download them repeatedly, the explanation could be a simple one: the Offload Unused Apps feature.
The intent of this feature is to help save storage space by offloading apps you don’t use. You might have this feature enabled on your iPhone or iPad without even realizing it.
What Offload Unused Apps does
As explained in another article about this feature:
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.
If an app is offloaded and you reinstall it from the App Store (assuming it’s still available), the data will be restored, allowing you to use the app just as before.
An offloaded app remains on your Home Screen with a cloud icon next to it. To reinstall it, simply tap the app icon.
Disable Offload Unused Apps
To stop this from happening automatically, follow these steps to disable the feature:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap Apps.
- After that, select App Store from the next screen.
- Turn off the toggle for Offload Unused Apps.
Once you disable this feature, your iPhone or iPad will no longer offload apps automatically. However, you can still manually offload apps to save on storage space if needed, and our tutorial shows you how simple it is.
Does this solve the mystery of your disappearing apps? If so, let us know below!
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