Deleting apps from iCloud is different from deleting them from your device
When you delete an app from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it removes the app itself — but iCloud may still hold onto the app's data, backups, and settings. To actually free up iCloud storage space, you need to go into iCloud settings and remove the app's stored information. The steps differ depending on whether you want to delete the app from your device, remove its iCloud data, or both.
iCloud stores app data in two places: in your iCloud backup (which includes everything on your device) and in app-specific storage (which some apps use to sync information across your devices). Deleting the app from your phone does not automatically delete either one. You have to remove them separately if you want to reclaim that storage.
Key Takeaways
- Removing an app from your device does not delete its iCloud data — you must go to iCloud settings and turn off storage for that app separately.
- On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and toggle off the app you want to remove from iCloud storage.
- On Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and uncheck the app from the iCloud storage list.
- Deleting an app's iCloud data is permanent and cannot be undone, so make sure you have backed up anything you need first.
- Some apps store data in iCloud Drive or Photos instead of having their own iCloud toggle, so check the app's settings if you do not see it in the main iCloud list.
How to remove an app from iCloud on iPhone and iPad
Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top. Then tap iCloud. You will see a list of apps that have iCloud storage turned on. Scroll down to find the app you want to remove and tap it.
Tap "Delete Data" or "Turn Off" — the exact wording depends on the app, but both options will remove that app's data from iCloud. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Tap "Delete" or "Turn Off" again to confirm. The app's iCloud data is now gone, and that storage space is freed up.
If you do not see the app in the iCloud list, it may not use iCloud storage, or it may store data in iCloud Drive or Photos instead. Check the app's own settings to see where it saves information.
How to remove an app from iCloud on Mac
Click the Apple menu and select System Settings. Click your name in the sidebar, then click iCloud. You will see a list of apps with iCloud storage enabled.
Find the app you want to remove and uncheck the box next to it. A dialog will appear asking if you want to keep or delete the data stored in iCloud. Click "Delete" if you want to remove it completely, or "Keep on My Mac" if you want to save a local copy. Once you confirm, the app's iCloud data is removed and the storage is freed up.
Removing app data stored in iCloud Drive or Photos
Some apps do not have their own iCloud toggle. Instead, they store files in iCloud Drive or use your iCloud Photos library. To remove this data, you have to delete it from those services directly.
For iCloud Drive, open the Files app on iPhone or iPad, or Finder on Mac. Look for a folder with the app's name and delete it. For Photos, open the Photos app, find the images or videos the app created, select them, and delete them. Empty the Recently Deleted album afterward to permanently remove them from iCloud.
What happens to the app itself when you remove iCloud data
Removing an app's iCloud data does not uninstall the app from your device. The app will still be on your phone, tablet, or computer and will still work normally. You are only removing the data that was synced to iCloud, not the app itself.
If you want to uninstall the app completely, you need to delete it separately. On iPhone or iPad, press and hold the app icon and tap "Remove App," then tap "Delete App." On Mac, drag the app to the Trash or use an uninstaller. Deleting the app and deleting its iCloud data are two separate actions.
How to check how much iCloud storage an app is using
Before you delete an app's iCloud data, you can see exactly how much storage it is taking up. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and look at the storage breakdown. Apps are listed with the amount of data next to them. On Mac, the same information appears in System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
If an app is using a surprising amount of storage, it may be backing up large files or caches. Removing it will free up that space when ready. You can also see your total iCloud storage used at the top of the iCloud settings page, which helps you decide which apps to remove if you are running low on space.
Recovering deleted app data from iCloud
Once you delete an app's iCloud data, it cannot be recovered. iCloud does not keep a trash bin or recovery option for deleted app data the way some services do. If you think you might need the data later, back it up first by exporting it from the app or saving it to iCloud Drive or your computer.
If you accidentally deleted data and need to restore it, your only option is to restore from a previous iCloud backup — but this will restore everything on your device to an earlier point in time, not just that one app's data. For this reason, it is worth taking a moment to confirm deletion when iCloud asks you to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an app from my phone also delete it from iCloud?
No. Deleting an app from your device only removes the app itself. The app's data, settings, and backups remain in iCloud until you manually remove them through iCloud settings. You must delete the app and its iCloud data separately.
Will removing an app from iCloud delete it from my other devices?
Yes. If you remove an app's iCloud data, that data is deleted from iCloud entirely, so it will no longer sync to any of your other devices. However, the app itself will still be installed on your other devices — only the synced data is removed.
What if I do not see the app in my iCloud settings?
The app may not use iCloud storage, or it may store data in iCloud Drive or Photos instead. Check the app's own settings to see where it saves information. You can also look in iCloud Drive or the Photos app and delete folders or images the app created.
Can I recover app data after I delete it from iCloud?
No, deleted app data cannot be recovered. If you need to keep the data, export it from the app or save it to your computer before deleting it from iCloud. Your only recovery option is to restore from a previous iCloud backup, which restores your entire device to an earlier date.
How much storage space will I free up by deleting an app from iCloud?
The amount varies by app. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on iPhone or iPad to see exactly how much storage each app is using. On Mac, check System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. This shows you which apps are worth removing if you need to free up space.