what does it mean to offload an app

To offload an app means to remove the app itself from a device while preserving its data and documents. This frees up storage space used by the app without deleting the app's data, so when the app is reinstalled later, all the user settings, documents, and data are intact and restored. The app's icon usually remains on the device, often with a cloud symbol to indicate that the app is offloaded and can be re-downloaded. This feature is useful for freeing up space on devices like iPhones or iPads without losing important app data or progress in apps such as games. Offloading an app can be done manually or set to occur automatically for unused apps. This contrasts with deleting an app, which removes both the app and its data entirely from the device, freeing the most space but losing app information.