A cloud icon next to an app means one of two things. In the App Store, it means you downloaded that app before with your Apple Account, but it isn’t on your iPhone now; tap the cloud to download it again. On your Home Screen, a cloud next to an app’s name means the app was offloaded to save space while your data was kept; tap the app to reinstall it.
This guide explains both, how to stop automatic offloading, and what to do if a cloud app won’t reinstall. The details come from Apple’s iPhone User Guide pages See your purchases and subscriptions, Manage storage on iPhone, and Remove or delete apps.
What the Cloud Icon Means in the App Store
When you see a cloud instead of a Get or price button, the App Store is telling you the app is tied to your Apple Account from an earlier download. It’s the redownload button.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the My Account button or your photo at the top of the screen.
- Tap Apps & Purchase History, then tap Your Apps. If you use Family Sharing, you can tap a family member’s name to see their purchases.
- Tap Not on this iPhone, find the app, and tap the Redownload button (the cloud icon).
The app downloads to your iPhone. Apple’s Redownload apps from Apple article says this works for any app you downloaded before, as long as it’s still in the App Store. You aren’t charged again.
What a Cloud Icon Means on the Home Screen
Apple says that when storage is low, iPhone can automatically remove unused apps while keeping your data. The app icon stays on your Home Screen with a cloud symbol. Offloading deletes the app itself but keeps its documents, data, and settings.
- Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.
- Tap the app with the cloud next to its name.
You’ll briefly see “Loading” or “Installing,” and the cloud disappears once the app reinstalls. Your saved data comes back with it, if the app is still in the App Store.
How to Turn Off Offload Unused Apps
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then tap App Store. On iOS 17 and earlier, tap App Store in the main Settings list.
- Turn off Offload Unused Apps.
Your iPhone stops removing apps on its own. Apps that were already offloaded keep the cloud until you tap them. You can still offload apps by hand if you want to.
Offload one app yourself
You can offload a single app from Settings > General > iPhone Storage: tap the app, then choose to offload it instead of deleting it. That frees space for an iOS update without losing the app’s data.
Offloading vs. Deleting an App
- Offloading removes the app but keeps its documents and data, and leaves the icon with a cloud on your Home Screen.
- Deleting removes the app and its data from your iPhone, Apple says. Our guide shows how to delete an app on iPhone step by step. Data stored in iCloud, such as photos or documents saved through the app, isn’t deleted.
- Removing from Home Screen just moves the app to App Library. It’s still installed.
Troubleshooting
- The app won’t reinstall: This usually means no internet connection or not enough free storage. Check both and try again.
- The cloud keeps coming back: Offload Unused Apps is still on, and your iPhone is low on storage. Turn the setting off or free up space in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- The app is gone from the App Store: Apple notes you can only redownload apps that are still available. An offloaded app that was pulled from the store may not reinstall.
- Still stuck: restart your iPhone, then search for the app in the App Store and tap its download button. If nothing happens, check that app installs aren’t blocked in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my data if an app shows a cloud?
Not if it was offloaded. Apple says offloading keeps your data, and it returns when you reinstall the app.
How do I check how much storage I have?
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Apple says your available storage is shown at the top of the screen.
More iPhone Guides
- How to get rid of the number on the App Store icon
- How to turn on the Driving Focus from Control Center
- How to turn off or restart an iPhone
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.