How do you turn off or disable the “Offload Unused Apps” feature? Well, that’s simple; through the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. This feature deletes applications that haven’t been opened in a while, requiring you to re-download them when you need them. So, disabling the feature prevents this from occurring. But how do you go about this? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. In this article, we will go over how to turn off the Offload Unused Apps feature and how to manually offload apps from an Apple device.
Quick Answer
- Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
- Go to the App Store > Offload Unused Apps menu item.
- To turn off the “Offload Unused Apps” feature, deactivate it.
- Delete apps manually by navigating to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Tap an app, then tap Offload App.
What Does It Mean to Offload an App on an iPhone or IPAD?
Typically, an app uses device storage in two ways—the size of the app and any local data or documents it stores on your device. Now, when you offload an app, the app is removed from your device, but its data and settings are preserved.
Offloading an App Only Deletes the App, Not Its Data
For example, offloading iMovie will only remove the application, while the projects will remain intact. But you can free up storage space without deleting the app permanently. Additionally, you can re-download the app whenever necessary and pick up where you left off without re-downloading the projects.
What Happens When You Offload an App?
Since an offloaded app is not entirely removed from your device, its icon will remain on your Home Screen and in your App Library. However, a cloud-shaped icon will appear next to the file name to indicate its offloaded status.
When you offload an app, it remains on your iPhone or iPad.
Which Applications Can I Offload?
Not all applications can be offloaded. Phone, Messages, and Safari are system applications that cannot be offloaded. However, you can offload nearly all third-party applications.
It is recommended to delete seldom-used or infrequently-used applications. Gaming applications, social media applications, and applications with large file sizes are frequently good candidates for offloading.
How to Turn Offload Unused Apps
- Launch the App Settings. This is the grey gears icon on the home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
- Select App Store. It is adjacent to a white “A” on a blue background icon.
- Tap the switch next to “Offload Unused Apps.” This turns off the Offload Unused Apps feature on your iOS device. The toggle should be grey and positioned to the left.
How to Re-Download Offloaded Apps to Your iPhone and iPad
There are multiple ways to reinstall an offloaded application, but they all begin with searching for the application. If the app is not on your Home Screen, you can search for it using Spotlight, the App Store, or the App Library.
Next, tap the cloud icon next to the app you wish to download. It will begin downloading from the App Store again. As soon as the download is complete, you can open the app, log in (if necessary), and immediately begin using it.
Alternatively, you can navigate to Settings → General → iPhone Storage. Then, scroll down, find the app, and click “Reinstall App.”
How to Turn off Offload Apps Feature Manually
- Launch the App Settings. This is the grey gears icon on the home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
- Select General. This option has a grey background with a light grey gear icon.
- Select iPhone Storage. This will open a new page displaying your device’s storage capacity and distribution. Note that on an iPad, this button will be labelled iPad Storage.
- Tap the app you wish to offload. This will open a page with information about the app.
- Tap Offload App on the page for the app. This removes the application from your device. The app will be deleted, freeing up space on your device, but its data and documents will remain installed. This allows you to reinstall the application in the future while retaining the same settings and data.
How to Turn on Offload Unused Apps Feature To Save Space
To enable automatic offloading, go through the steps below:
- Step 1: Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Step 2: Tap Enable next to Offload Unused Applications.
- Step 3: If the option is enabled, a green checkmark will appear next to it.
Now onwards, your iPhone or iPad will automatically offload unused applications when storage space is running low.
Cons of Turning on the Offload Unused App Feature on an iPhone or iPad
Re-downloading a previously offloaded app can be challenging if your Wi-Fi or mobile data is malfunctioning. You may also be travelling and require the app but cannot access an internet connection.
In addition, specific applications can be quite large and may incur additional fees if downloaded using cellular bandwidth. Even though it is uncommon, there is a possibility that the application will become stuck during reinstallation.
Another point of contention is that local documents and data consume more space than the application itself. Consequently, you may save as much space as you anticipate.
Is it Wise to Offload Unused Apps?
Offloading unused applications is a fantastic feature, as it declutters your iPhone and frees up storage space without erasing local files. However, there are also a number of drawbacks. Therefore, you should not make this decision hastily; instead, you should give it some thought, carefully select which apps to offload, and then make your choice.
Why did my iPhone delete applications?
iPhones with iOS 11 or later will offload apps that are deemed too large or infrequently used to remain on the device. This is done to conserve storage space.
Can the iPhone’s automatic app offloading be turned off?
Yes, you can turn off the iPhone’s automatic app offloading through the device’s settings.
When did the iPhone begin automatically offloading applications?
With iOS 13, automatic app offloading began in 2017.
Can apps be offloaded manually from an iPhone?
Yes, you can manually offload apps from the storage settings menu.
What is the distinction between offloading and uninstalling an iPhone application?
Offloading maintains the app on the home screen and saves all user data while removing everything else until the app is re-downloaded. In contrast, uninstalling removes everything from the iPhone and home screen.
How do I get my offloaded apps back on my iPhone?
You’ll notice a download arrow below the app icon, indicating that this app has been uninstalled. Tap the app icon to re-download it. As already know, the app data remains on the device. You can also navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > App Name> Reinstall App.
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