Offload App vs Delete App on iPhone
Offload removes the app but keeps its documents and data. Delete removes the app and its data. Offload is good for an app that you will use again. Delete also frees the space of its data. To delete many apps at once, use iUninstall on your Mac: select the apps and confirm one time.
- Offload
- Removes the app, keeps its data
- Delete
- Removes the app and its data
- More space
- Delete
The difference
| Offload App | Delete App | |
|---|---|---|
| The app | Removed | Removed |
| Documents and data | Kept on the iPhone | Deleted from the iPhone |
| Space you get back | The app size only | The app size and the data size |
| Icon on the Home Screen | Stays, with a cloud symbol | Goes |
Sources: Apple Support: How to check the storage on your iPhone and the Apple iPhone User Guide (the cloud symbol). Data in iCloud stays in both cases.
When to offload, when to delete
- Offload an app that you will use again and that has data you want to keep, for example a game with saved progress on the iPhone.
- Delete an app that you do not need. Its data often uses more space than the app itself.
iUninstall shows both sizes for each app: the app size and the data size. So you can see where the space goes before you decide.
How to delete many apps at once
- Connect and open. Connect your iPhone to your Mac and open iUninstall.
- Find the big data. Click the "Large data" filter to see the apps that keep the most data.
- Select and delete. Select the apps that you do not need, click Delete, and confirm.
iUninstall deletes the apps; it does not offload them. The scan is free, and deleting costs $9.99, one time.
Frequently asked questions
Does Offload keep my data?
Yes. Offload removes the app but keeps its documents and data on the iPhone. When you install the app again, the data is still there (Apple Support).
Can I install a deleted app again?
Yes, if the app is still in the App Store. The data that the app kept on the iPhone does not come back. Data in iCloud stays.
Does iUninstall offload apps?
No. iUninstall deletes apps, so you also get back the space of their data. Use Offload on the iPhone for an app whose data you want to keep.
Keep reading
How to Delete Multiple iPhone Apps at Once
Select some or all of your iPhone apps on your Mac, and delete them in one batch with one confirmation.
How to Delete iPhone Apps from Your Mac
Finder cannot remove iPhone apps. iUninstall lists every app on your iPhone and deletes the ones you select.
How to Find and Delete Unused iPhone Apps
Use the Screen Time information that your iPhone shares with your Mac to find the apps you have not opened in weeks.