Have you ever noticed a cloud icon next to an icon’s program name on your iPhone or iPad screen? And if that’s the case, you’re not the only one who may be curious about what that white cloud sign denotes, what it accomplishes, and how to get rid of it.
It’s worth discussing the cloud symbol that occasionally displays with iOS program names on iPhone and iPad devices after fielding variations of this question a few times.
What is the Apple App Store?
People can purchase and download digital software and programs through the Apple App Store, a platform for digital distribution. Apps, which stands for “applications,” are software tools that give an operating system more functionality.
For convenient access from any signed-in device, apps purchased from the Apple App Store are saved in the company’s iCloud cloud storage and computing service.
The word “app store,” which is used to refer to any platform where programs are sold, is used despite Apple’s claim that it owns the trademark on the phrase.
Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Blackberry World, and Microsoft’s Windows Store are a few other examples of app marketplaces.
What Does the Cloud Symbol Next an App Name in IOS Mean?
On an iPhone or iPad, a cloud icon next to an app’s name indicates that the software has been offloaded from the device. The cloud symbol basically indicates that the software is in iCloud (really, the App Store), and that it is accessible for download and use as needed.
If this seems arbitrary, it usually means that you enabled automatic dumping of unused iOS apps in Settings on an iPhone or iPad before the device ran out of capacity.
When an iOS device’s storage is running low, with that setting enabled, it will start to offload apps that haven’t been used in a while.
Why is There a Cloud Next to an App in the iPhone App Store?
This indicates that the program was once yours (or was just downloaded, if it was a free app), but it is no longer present on your iPhone. This program is technically yours, so you can always download it again from the cloud.
The App Store’s cloud icon next to an app indicates that you own it but have not yet installed it on your iPhone.
Keep in mind that you might have downloaded the app previously, possibly on a different device. Alternatively, possibly the person you share an Apple ID with has downloaded the program to their phone.
One of the best ways to improve the amount of storage space on your iPhone is to delete apps, even online excel sheet.
How Do I Get Rid of the Cloud Icon?
Simply click the cloud-shaped app icon next to the app name.
We’ll concentrate on the “Calendar” app in these lists because it contains the cloud icon next to its name:
- The software will re-download from the App Store and re-install onto the iPhone or iPad when you tap to access it. The program name will temporarily display a “Loading” or “Installing” message as the icon changes to a loading wheel.
- The cloud icon will disappear from next to the app name once the app has finished downloading and installing again on the iOS device.
- If this doesn’t work, there may not be enough free storage space on the device or there is no internet connection.
How Can I Prevent the Cloud Symbol by Disabling App Offloading?
You can stop unused apps from being offloaded if you notice that several apps have the cloud icon next to their app name: You may do this in the iOS Settings.
- On iOS, open “Settings” and select “iTunes & App Store.”
- Find “Offload Unused Apps” and flip the setting to “OFF.”
- Apps cannot offload themselves automatically unless “Offload Unused Apps” is turned off.
However, if you like, you can still manually dump programs from an iPhone or iPad.
What Exactly is App Offloading?
Offloading apps essentially allows the iOS device to erase the app(s) while keeping all of the preferences and data that it had previously been storing, including any files, documents, or settings related to that app.
This makes space available without totally removing programs from iOS.
It’s worth mentioning that sometimes it’s not the app itself that is hogging storage space however, and sometimes it’s actually the related Documents and Data of an iOS app that is taking up significant storage.
