Delete Documents & Data on iPhone (iOS 11)

This guide shows you how to clear the “Documents & Data” storage that apps accumulate on your iPhone running iOS 11. You’ll learn which apps are taking up space, how to offload or delete their data, and how to free up storage without losing important files. No special tools are needed—just your iPhone and a few minutes.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone running iOS 11
• Your passcode (if enabled) to confirm changes
• Optional: a computer or iCloud backup if you want to preserve any app data before deleting

Step-by-Step

1. Open Settings. Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen.
2. Go to General. Scroll down and tap “General.”
3. Tap iPhone Storage. This is usually the second option in the list. Wait a few seconds while iOS calculates your storage usage.
4. Review the list of apps. You’ll see a bar chart showing categories (Photos, Media, Apps, etc.) and below it a list of apps sorted by size. Tap any app to see its details.
5. Check “Documents & Data.” On the app’s info page, you’ll see two numbers: “App Size” (the app itself) and “Documents & Data” (cached files, downloads, saved content). This is the part you want to reduce.
6. Offload the app (if you don’t need its data). Tap “Offload App.” This deletes the app but keeps its documents and data. Confirm with “Offload App” again. The app icon will remain but with a gray cloud icon; tapping it will re-download the app from the App Store and restore your data if it’s still available.
7. Delete the app (to remove everything). If you want to erase both the app and its Documents & Data, tap “Delete App” and confirm. This permanently removes the app and all its local files. You can reinstall it later, but the data will be gone unless you have a backup.
8. Clear data within the app itself. For apps that you can’t delete (like Settings or Safari) or for apps where you want to keep the app but clear cached files, open the app and look for a “Clear Cache,” “Clear History,” “Log Out,” or “Delete Downloaded Content” option. For example, in Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
9. Delete downloaded files. If an app like Podcasts or Netflix stores downloaded episodes, go into the app and delete those downloads. This often frees up the most space.
10. Check other apps. Repeat steps 4–9 for any other apps that show a large “Documents & Data” number.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting an app without checking if you need its data. Some apps (like games or note-taking apps) store important information locally. If you delete the app, you may lose that data permanently unless you have a backup.
• Confusing “Offload” with “Delete.” Offloading removes the app but keeps data; deleting removes both. Many people tap “Delete” when they only meant to offload.
• Not clearing in-app caches. Some apps (like web browsers or social media) accumulate cache files that can be cleared without deleting the app. Ignoring these leaves a lot of space wasted.
• Assuming “Documents & Data” is always safe to delete. For some apps (like Notes or WhatsApp), that data includes your actual messages and notes. Deleting the app or its data will erase those.
• Forgetting to check “iPhone Storage” after deleting. The storage bar may not update instantly; wait a few seconds or restart the phone to see the real change.

Tips

• Use “Offload Unused Apps” automatically. In Settings > General > iPhone Storage, you can enable “Offload Unused Apps.” iOS will automatically offload apps you haven’t used in a while, keeping their data intact. This is a great way to free space without losing anything.
• Clear Safari’s cache regularly. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. This can free up hundreds of megabytes if you browse a lot.
• Delete old messages and attachments. In Messages, you can set “Keep Messages” to 30 days or 1 year (Settings > Messages > Keep Messages). This will automatically delete old attachments and texts.
• Review your photo library. Photos and videos often take up more space than apps. Use “Optimize iPhone Storage” in Settings > Photos to keep full-resolution versions in iCloud and smaller versions on your phone.
• Restart your iPhone after deleting. This helps iOS recalculate storage and can sometimes clear residual cache files.

Troubleshooting

“Documents & Data” doesn’t shrink after deleting the app. This can happen if the app is still running in the background. Force-quit the app by swiping it away from the app switcher, then check storage again. If it still shows the same amount, restart your iPhone.

You deleted an app and now can’t find your data. If you have an iCloud or iTunes backup from before the deletion, you can restore that backup to get the data back. Note that restoring a backup will replace your current data with the backup’s data.

iPhone Storage shows “Other” taking up a lot of space. “Other” includes system files, caches, and logs. You can’t delete it directly, but restarting your phone, updating iOS, or resetting all settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings) can help. Be aware that resetting settings will erase your Wi-Fi passwords and other preferences, but not your data.

An app won’t offload or delete. Some built-in apps (like Safari, Settings, or Photos) cannot be deleted. For those, you can only clear their data via the settings inside the app or in Settings > Safari, etc.

Storage doesn’t update immediately. Wait a minute or two after deleting. If it still shows the old number, restart your iPhone. iOS can be slow to recalculate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is “Documents & Data”? It’s the space an app uses for saved files, downloaded content, caches, and user-generated data. It does not include the app’s code itself.

Will deleting “Documents & Data” delete my login information? For most apps, yes—it will remove saved passwords and tokens. You’ll need to log in again after clearing the data.

Can I clear “Documents & Data” without deleting the app? Yes, but only if the app provides a “Clear Cache” or “Clear Data” option inside its own settings. Not all apps do.

Does offloading an app always keep its data? Yes, offloading is designed to keep the app’s documents and data so you can restore them when you reinstall the app. However, if the app’s data is stored only in iCloud, it will be restored; if it’s only local, it will be restored as long as you don’t delete the app.

Why does “Documents & Data” come back? Many apps regenerate caches and temporary files as you use them. That’s normal. To keep space free, you may need to clear caches periodically.

Is there a way to see which app is using the most “Documents & Data”? Yes, in Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap each app to see its individual breakdown. The list is sorted by total size, so the biggest offenders are at the top.

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