What clearing app data does and when you need it
Clearing app data removes the information an app has stored on your phone — login details, saved preferences, cached files, and temporary data. The app itself stays installed. This is different from deleting the app, which removes the whole thing.
You clear app data when an app is misbehaving, running slowly, or taking up too much storage space. It is also useful if you want to start fresh with an app without losing other apps' data. After you clear the data, the app will behave as if you just installed it for the first time.
The process varies depending on whether you want to clear data for one app or multiple apps at once, and whether you are using an iPhone with Face ID or an older model with a home button. Both paths are straightforward once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing app data removes cached files and saved information but leaves the app itself installed on your phone.
- You can clear data for a single app through Settings > General > iPhone Storage, then select the app and tap "Offload App".
- Offloading an app removes its data but keeps your login information, while deleting the app removes everything including login details.
- If an app is crashing or freezing, clearing its data often fixes the problem without needing to reinstall.
- Some apps store data in iCloud or the cloud, which requires signing out of that service separately to fully remove it.
Clear data for a single app using Offload App
The fastest way to clear one app's data is to use the Offload App feature. This removes the app's cached files and temporary data while keeping your login information intact, so you do not have to sign back in.
Step 1: Open Settings on your home screen.
Step 2: Tap General.
Step 3: Tap iPhone Storage. You will see a list of all your apps sorted by size.
Step 4: Scroll down and tap the app you want to clear data for.
Step 5: Tap "Offload App". A popup will ask you to confirm. Tap "Offload App" again.
Step 6: Wait a few seconds. The app will disappear from your home screen, but it is still on your phone. Tap "Reinstall App" to bring it back with its data cleared.
The app will reappear on your home screen and you can open it immediately. You will still be logged in, but the app will have removed all cached files and temporary data that may have been causing problems.
Delete an app completely if offloading does not work
If offloading does not fix the problem, you can delete the app entirely and reinstall it fresh. This removes everything — cached data, temporary files, and login information. You will need to sign back in after reinstalling.
Step 1: Find the app on your home screen or in the App Library.
Step 2: Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
Step 3: Tap "Remove App".
Step 4: Tap "Delete App" to confirm.
Step 5: Open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon or "Get" button to reinstall it.
Once the app finishes installing, open it and sign in with your username and password. The app will now have no cached data or previous settings.
Clear Safari data and browser cache separately
Safari stores its own cache, cookies, and browsing history separately from other apps. If Safari is running slowly or you want to clear your browsing data, you clear it through a different menu.
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Safari.
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom and tap "Clear History and Website Data".
Step 4: A popup will ask what time period to clear. Tap "All time" to clear everything, or choose a specific range.
Step 5: Tap "Clear History and Data" to confirm.
This removes your browsing history, cookies, and cached website files. You will stay logged into websites you visit frequently, but Safari will no longer remember pages you visited or store temporary files from those pages.
Check storage to see which apps are using the most space
Before you start clearing data, it helps to see which apps are taking up the most room. The iPhone Storage menu shows you exactly how much space each app uses.
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Tap General.
Step 3: Tap iPhone Storage.
The list shows apps sorted from largest to smallest. Apps at the top are using the most space. Tap any app to see a breakdown of how much space the app itself takes up versus how much space its data takes up. This tells you whether clearing data will actually free up meaningful space or whether the app is just large.
If an app shows a large data size but a small app size, clearing its data will free up noticeable space. If the app size is large and the data size is small, clearing data will not help much — you would need to delete the app entirely.
Handle apps that store data in iCloud or the cloud
Some apps — like Photos, Mail, Notes, and cloud storage apps — store data on iCloud or another cloud service rather than just on your phone. Clearing app data on your iPhone will not remove this cloud data. You need to sign out of the cloud service separately.
For iCloud-connected apps, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. You will see a list of apps that sync to iCloud. Toggle off any app you want to stop syncing. A popup will ask whether to keep or delete the data on iCloud — choose based on what you want to do.
For third-party cloud apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive, open the app itself, find the account or settings menu, and sign out. Some apps have an option to delete local copies of files when you sign out. After signing out, you can offload or delete the app from your phone without affecting the files stored in the cloud.
Restart your phone if an app still misbehaves after clearing data
Sometimes an app continues to have problems even after you clear its data. A full restart of your phone can help because it clears temporary files and resets how your phone is running apps in memory.
For iPhone with Face ID: Press and hold the volume up button and the side button together until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
For iPhone with a home button: Press and hold the top button (or side button on iPhone 6s and earlier) until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
After your phone restarts, open the app again. If the problem was caused by temporary files or memory issues, the restart combined with clearing the app's data should fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing app data delete my login information?
Using Offload App keeps your login information, so you stay signed in. If you delete the app entirely and reinstall it, you will need to sign back in. Check the app's settings before clearing data if you are unsure which method it uses.
How much storage space will I free up by clearing app data?
It depends on the app. Check iPhone Storage in Settings to see how much data each app is using before you clear it. Apps like social media, streaming services, and games often store large amounts of cached files, while productivity apps usually store very little.
Can I clear data for multiple apps at once?
iOS does not have a built-in option to offload multiple apps at once. You have to clear them one at a time through the iPhone Storage menu. If you want to clear everything and start fresh, you can back up your phone and then erase it entirely through Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, but this removes all apps and data.
What is the difference between offloading and deleting an app?
Offloading removes the app and its cached data but keeps your login information and any documents you created in the app. Deleting removes everything. Use offload first if you want to keep your settings; use delete if you want a completely fresh start.
Do I need to clear app data regularly?
You only need to clear app data if an app is misbehaving, taking up too much storage, or if you want to reset it. There is no benefit to clearing data on a schedule for apps that are working normally.