What offloading actually does
Offloading removes the application binary — the program itself — while leaving every document, setting and saved file exactly where it is. The icon stays on the Home screen with a small cloud symbol beside the name, and tapping it downloads the app again and restores it to precisely the state you left it in.
Deleting, by contrast, removes both. That is the entire difference, and it is why offloading is the safe option and deleting is not.
Offloading one app
Settings → General → iPhone Storage, tap the app in the list, then Offload App. The freed space appears immediately. You can also press and hold the icon on the Home screen, choose Remove App, and pick Remove from Home Screen or Delete — but only the Settings route offers offload explicitly.
Do this to the top few entries in the storage list and you will usually free more space in a minute than an hour of deleting photos would.
Turning on automatic offloading
Settings → Apps → App Store → Offload Unused Apps does it for you: when the iPhone runs low on space, iOS removes apps you have not opened in a long time, keeping their data, and puts them back when you tap them.
It is a good default for most people. The one caveat is that it can offload an app you need while travelling with no connection, and it cannot come back until you are online again.
When offloading will not help
If an app's Documents & Data figure is much larger than its App Size, offloading frees very little — you are removing a small program and keeping a large cache. Streaming apps holding downloaded video are the classic case.
For those, delete the downloads inside the app itself, or delete and reinstall the app entirely. Tapping the app in iPhone Storage shows both numbers so you can tell which situation you are in before you act.
What happens when you reinstall
The app downloads again from the App Store and reopens with your data intact — logins, saved games, documents, settings. Nothing is lost, provided the app is still available in your region and still supported by your iOS version.
That last point is the real risk. If an app has been pulled from the App Store, an offloaded copy cannot be restored, and its data goes with it. For an irreplaceable app, delete nothing and offload nothing — back it up instead.
Offloading before an update
This is the fastest way to reach the free space an iOS update needs. Offload three or four large apps, run the update, and tap the icons afterwards to bring them back.
Our storage guide covers the other levers, and our update storage guide covers the specific case of an update refusing to install.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does offloading an app delete my data?
No. Offloading removes only the app itself. All documents, settings and saved data remain, and reinstalling restores the app exactly as it was.
How do I offload an app?
Settings → General → iPhone Storage, tap the app, then Offload App. Or turn on Offload Unused Apps under Settings → Apps → App Store to automate it.
What is the cloud icon next to an app name?
It marks an offloaded app. Tapping it redownloads the app and restores your data.
When is offloading not worth it?
When the app's Documents & Data is much larger than its App Size — a streaming app full of downloads, for instance. Clear its content instead.