The Disappearing Software
To help users manage the limited storage space on their iPhones, Apple introduced a feature called “Offload Unused Apps.” When your hard drive is almost full, the operating system silently monitors which applications you haven’t opened recently and automatically deletes the heavy application files to free up space. It leaves the app icon on your home screen with a tiny cloud symbol next to it. While this preserves your saved data, it is disastrous if you are boarding a 10-hour flight and discover that iOS has silently deleted your favorite offline game, requiring an internet connection to redownload it. You must disable this automated deletion.
How to Turn Off App Offloading
You can revoke the operating system’s permission to manage your storage via the App Store settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down the main list (past General and Privacy) and tap on App Store.
- Scroll all the way down to the very bottom of the page.
- Look for the master toggle switch labeled Offload Unused Apps.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the green background will disappear).
Manual Control
The change is instantaneous. Your iPhone will immediately stop deleting software in the background. If you download a massive 5-Gigabyte game, it will remain permanently installed on your hard drive until you explicitly hold down on the icon and choose to delete it yourself, ensuring your offline applications are always available when you need them.