Storage space on an iPad is a premium commodity. To help users manage their storage automatically, Apple includes a feature called “Offload Unused Apps.” When this feature is active, iPadOS will silently monitor which apps you haven’t opened in a long time. When your device starts running low on space, it will delete the app itself (the core application files) while leaving your personal data, documents, and the app’s icon intact on your home screen. While this saves space, it is incredibly frustrating to tap an app you desperately need right now, only to realise you have to wait for a 2GB download to finish before you can use it. If you want absolute control over what stays on your device, you can disable this feature.
How to Stop Automatic App Offloading
You can turn off this storage management feature in the main App Store settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down the left-hand sidebar menu until you find App Store.
- Tap on App Store.
- Look at the main panel on the right and scroll to the very bottom.
- Locate the toggle switch labelled Offload Unused Apps.
- Tap the switch to move it to the Off position (the green background will turn to grey).
Your iPad will no longer delete apps in the background. If you run out of storage space in the future, you will receive a standard “Storage Full” warning, and you will have to manually decide which photos, videos, or apps to delete to make room.