To free up the phone memory, you can configure your phone to automatically uninstall apps you haven’t used in a while. Offloading an app frees up space on your smartphone for other apps and content while retaining the app’s data.
However, when you reinstall the program from the program Store, all your settings and data will be restored.
We’ll explain what “Offload Unused Apps” is in this post, along with instructions on how to enable or disable it on your iPhone.
What is Offload App on iPhone?
On iPhones and iPads running iOS 11 and later, the Offload app is a function that enables you to free up storage space without erasing crucial data. When you unload an app from your smartphone, its data and documents are kept but the program itself is deleted. This implies that all of your settings, preferences, and data will be restored if you subsequently reinstall the program.
iOS will ask you to offload an app when it notices that you haven’t used it in a while to clear up space. Additionally, by default, iOS automatically uninstalls useless apps when your storage is getting low.
It’s important to remember that offloading an app is not the same as removing it. An app’s data and documents are completely deleted from your smartphone when you delete it. Consequently, you will lose all of your settings and data if you subsequently reinstall the program.
How to Turn Off Offload Unused Apps
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.
- Then scroll down and tap iTunes & App Store.
- Scroll down and go to the Offload Unused Apps.
- Toggle off “Offload Unused Apps”.
Note: When this functionality is disabled, iOS will no longer automatically offload unused applications. It will be necessary for you to manually uninstall any programs that you no longer require or use.
How to Automatically Offload Apps on iPhone and iPad
Use the automatic offload option to free up some space if your iPhone or iPad is running low on storage. When activated, this function will automatically uninstall any programs you don’t use very often, preserving all of their documents and data. To activate automatic app unloading on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- Launch your device’s Settings application.
- Tap on “General.”
- Then, choose “iPhone/iPad Storage.”
- Toggle on “Offload Unused Apps.”
When your device’s storage is low after you enable this function, iOS will begin automatically offloading unneeded apps. Your home screen will still display the symbol of an offloaded app, but it will be identified by a cloud icon.
How to Manually Offload Apps on iPhone and iPad
- On your device, open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Then choose “iPhone/iPad storage.
- Scroll down to find the app that you want to offload.
- Tap on the app.
- Then tap on “Offload App”.
- Tap on “Offload App” again to confirm that you want to offload the app.
Following your confirmation, iOS will delete the app from your device while keeping the app’s files and data. Later, you can reinstall the program from the program Store, and all of your settings and data will be recovered.
Simply press on an offloaded app’s icon on the home screen to have iOS reinstall it for you if you decide to do so later. Your entire data and app settings will be recovered.
How to Re-Download an Offloaded App
- Find the app on the home screen of your device. A cloud symbol will appear next to the icon to show that it has been offloaded.
- To begin the download, tap on the app’s icon.
- Await the download and installation of the software. This might take a few seconds or several minutes, depending on the size of the software and the speed of your internet connection.
- Tap the app’s icon to launch it after downloading. You should be able to use the app normally when all of your data and settings have been restored.
How to Re-Download Many Offloaded Apps at Once
- On your device, open the App Store app.
- In the upper right corner of the screen, tap on your profile image.
- From the selection that opens, select “Purchased”.
- Select the cloud symbol next to the app that you wish to re-download.
- Open the app when it has finished downloading and installing.
How to Increase iPhone Storage Space without Deleting Your Apps
- Use iCloud Storage: Apple’s cloud storage platform, known as iCloud, enables you to store data online and access it from any device. With iCloud, you can save your photographs, movies, documents, and other material on the cloud, freeing up space on your iPhone. Turn on the applications you wish to back up to iCloud by going to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage.
- Clear app cache: A lot of caches can build up over time in some apps, such as social media and messaging ones, taking up space on your device. You can delete the cache for an app by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, selecting the app, and then tapping on Delete Cache. The cache may then be cleared by tapping “Offload App” or “Delete App.”
- Delete unused apps: A large amount of space can be freed up on your iPhone by removing any applications you haven’t used in a while. Press and hold an app’s symbol on the home screen until it begins to wiggle, then hit the “X” in its corner to remove it.