How/when does "Automatically Offload Unused Apps" really work?

[John Greer]

Months ago, I enabled the "Automatically Offload Unused Apps" settings. When, exactly, does iOS offload unused stuff?

My phone filled up a few weeks ago and no apps offloaded. I've even tried forcing it by filling the phone up with useless data, but it never seems to automatically offload anything.

 

[IWT]

Hi John

I sure don't know; I can only quote what the pundits tell us:

https://www.payetteforward.com/offloading-apps-on-iphone-what-it-means-why-you-should/
https://ios.gadgethacks.com/how-to/...11-free-up-storage-space-your-iphone-0177987/
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/16/how-...om-your-iphone-by-turning-off-app-offloading/
https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/7/15752132/ios-11-storage-deleting-apps-messages-photos

If all your settings are correct, this should be "automatic" as it says on the label.

You could resort to the tried and tested - turn off the setting, reboot the iDevice, turn it back back on again.

Wiser counsel may come from my colleagues.

Ian

 

[Rod]

Since I have only used 44Gb out of 128Gb offloading "Unused Apps" is hardly an issue for me, especially since it only removes the app not the data it has stored on the phone. This usually makes up the majority of the storage space used so the advantages of this feature are marginal. What it does mean is that at a later date you could download it again from the app store and still have all of it's data. I imagine if you only have 16Gb of storage this could be of some advantage but anyone who buys a smart phone with less than 32Gb of storage these days is asking for trouble.

 

[pm-r]

I imagine if you only have 16Gb of storage this could be of some advantage but anyone who buys a smart phone with less than 32Gb of storage these days is asking for trouble.

A good case for "Jailbreaking" comes to mind for such users.

And even those with larger storage capacity for that matter and delete what they don't need and more.




- Patrick
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[Rod]

Gosh Patrick, that's a bit radical. I don't see how that would help. I have a 1st gen iPad mini and I have looked into jailbreaking options but I can't see any real advantages.

 

[Rod]

Of course I may have misunderstood the objective here. I assumed it was about space saving.

 

[pm-r]

Gosh Patrick, that's a bit radical. I don't see how that would help. I have a 1st gen iPad mini and I have looked into jailbreaking options but I can't see any real advantages.

Of course I may have misunderstood the objective here. I assumed it was about space saving.

That's exactly what the jailbreak suggestion was aimed at Rod.

Deleting all the surplus stuff that one doesn't need, and an almost critical need for those who ended up with the 16GB units and available storage space approaching zero.

IE: All the surplus languages, apps or whatever that the iOS doesn't normally allow the removal of. But I will admit I haven't kept up with the current jailbreaking stuff since iOS 7 & 8 days.

PS: And add the benefit of adding some apps that Apple doesn't supply or allow.





- Patrick
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[IWT]

I think the "bottom line" was perfectly alluded to by Rod in post #3, when he pointed out that

offloading "Unused Apps" .... only removes the app not the data it has stored on the phone.

If one looks at the data stored on an iPhone, the greatest chunk is that which is associated with an app - not the app itself. In fact, I think the concept of "Offloading Apps" is both misleading and somewhat pointless in most cases, if reducing storage is the aim.

Not one of Apple's better ideas, in my view.

Ian

 

[pm-r]

I think the "bottom line" was perfectly alluded to by Rod in post #3, when he pointed out that

If one looks at the data stored on an iPhone, the greatest chunk is that which is associated with an app - not the app itself. In fact, I think the concept of "Offloading Apps" is both misleading and somewhat pointless in most cases, if reducing storage is the aim.

Not one of Apple's better ideas, in my view.

Ian

+1.

Definitely — Not one of Apple's better ideas,…




- Patrick
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[John Greer]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Work does not seem to allow access to this site.
It kept making me change my pw… Anyway, I'm back now.

Thanks Ian, Rod, and Patrick for posting over the last 3 weeks. Here's my responses:

• I know it should be automatic, but it’s not.
• At the moment, I do not need the space, but when I do I would like this feature to work ;-)
• Thanks, I know how it should work. When it works, it's supposed to work just like the manual Offload App feature, but automatically.
• My question is not about a current need, rather it’s about being prepared for the eventuality of needing space.