What "Documents and Data" means on your iPhone

Documents and Data is the storage space your apps use to store files, settings, cache, and other information they need to run. It is separate from the app itself. When you install an app, the app takes up some space, but then as you use it — saving photos in a photo editor, storing login information, downloading files to read offline — that app creates a "Documents and Data" folder that grows over time.

On your iPhone, this storage shows up in Settings under General > iPhone Storage, listed separately from the app size. A messaging app might be 50 MB, but its Documents and Data could be 500 MB if you have years of conversations cached. Clearing it means deleting those cached files and stored data while keeping the app itself installed and ready to use.

The reason to clear it: your iPhone has a fixed amount of storage, and Documents and Data can grow large enough to slow down your phone or prevent you from taking photos and installing updates. Unlike a computer hard drive, you cannot add more storage to an iPhone, so managing what takes up space matters.

Key Takeaways

  • Documents and Data is the files and cache your apps store, separate from the app itself, and it can grow to several gigabytes over time.
  • You can see exactly how much space each app's Documents and Data uses by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tapping the app name.
  • Offloading an app removes the app but keeps its Documents and Data, so you can reinstall it later without losing your data — the opposite of what most people want.
  • Deleting and reinstalling an app clears both the app and its Documents and Data, but you will lose saved files, login information, and cached content unless the app syncs to iCloud.
  • Some apps let you clear their cache and data from within the app's own settings, which is faster than deleting the whole app.

Check how much space Documents and Data is using

Before you delete anything, see which apps are taking up the most space. Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap General. Scroll down and tap iPhone Storage.

You will see a list of apps ranked by total size. Tap any app name to see a breakdown: the app size itself, plus Documents and Data below it. An app that shows 2.5 GB might be 100 MB of app code and 2.4 GB of Documents and Data — that is what you can clear. Apps like Messages, Photos, and Safari often have the largest Documents and Data because they store years of conversations, images, and browsing history.

Write down the apps using the most space, or just remember the top three. That tells you where to focus first.

Clear Documents and Data by deleting and reinstalling the app

The most complete way to clear Documents and Data is to delete the app entirely, then reinstall it. This removes both the app and everything it stored.

Press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in the App Library. Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App. Confirm by tapping Delete. The app and all its Documents and Data are now gone.

To reinstall, open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (or the Get button if you have never installed it). Wait for it to finish installing. When you open the app, it will start fresh — no old cache, no old login sessions, no old files.

The catch: you lose anything the app stored locally. Messages you had saved, files you downloaded, login information — all gone. If the app syncs to iCloud or the cloud (like Google Drive or Dropbox), your data will still be there when you sign back in. But if it only stored things on your phone, they are deleted.

Clear cache and data from within the app itself

Some apps let you clear their cache without deleting the whole app. This is faster and safer because you keep your login information and settings.

Open the app and look for Settings or Preferences, usually a gear icon or three horizontal lines. Look for options like "Clear Cache", "Clear Data", "Storage", or "Manage Storage". The exact name and location varies by app.

For example, Safari has Settings > Clear History and Website Data. Chrome has Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data. Instagram has Settings > Account > Storage > Clear Cache. Facebook has Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites > Remove. If you do not see an option, the app does not offer this feature and you will need to delete and reinstall it instead.

When you clear cache from within the app, you usually keep your login and settings. The app just forgets temporary files it downloaded, like images it cached so they load faster next time. This is the gentlest option if you want to free up space without losing your account access.

Understand the difference between offload and delete

iPhone offers two options when you press and hold an app: "Remove App" and "Offload App". They sound similar but do opposite things.

Offload App removes the app itself but keeps its Documents and Data. You get back the space the app code used, but the stored files stay on your phone. This is useful if you want to reinstall the app later and have it remember everything — your settings, your saved files, your login. When you reinstall, it picks up where it left off.

Delete App removes both the app and its Documents and Data. You get back all the space. When you reinstall, the app starts fresh.

For clearing Documents and Data, you want Delete App, not Offload App. Offload actually keeps the data you are trying to get rid of.

Free up space without losing photos and messages

If you use iCloud, you can clear local Documents and Data while keeping your actual content safe. Messages, photos, and files stored in iCloud will still be there even after you delete the app.

Before you delete an app, make sure it is synced to iCloud. Open Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and check that the app is toggled on. For Messages, go to Settings > Messages > Message History and make sure "Keep Messages" is set to a reasonable time period, not "30 Days" if you want to keep older messages. For Photos, make sure iCloud Photos is on in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.

Once you confirm the app syncs to iCloud, you can safely delete it and reinstall it later. Your messages, photos, and other synced data will reappear when you sign back in.

Manage storage for specific app types

Some apps need special attention because they store large amounts of data by design.

Messaging apps (Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram) store every conversation and every image sent to you. Clearing Documents and Data deletes all of this. If you want to keep messages, export them first or rely on iCloud sync. Otherwise, delete and reinstall.

Streaming apps (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube) often cache downloaded videos and music. Clearing Documents and Data removes these offline files, so you will need to read them again if you want to watch or listen offline. Use the app's own settings to manage downloads instead — most let you delete individual downloads without clearing the whole app.

Social media apps (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) cache images and videos you have scrolled past. Clearing Documents and Data makes the app reload everything the next time you open it, which uses data and takes longer. If you just want to free up space, this is fine. If you want to keep your experience smooth, clear cache from within the app if it offers that option.

Web browsers (Safari, Chrome) store browsing history, cookies, and cached web pages. Clearing Documents and Data removes all of this. Use the browser's own "Clear History and Website Data" option if you only want to clear history, not the whole app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing Documents and Data delete my photos and messages?

Only if they are stored only on your phone. If you use iCloud Photos or iCloud Messages, they stay in iCloud even after you delete the app. If you do not use iCloud, deleting the app deletes the messages and photos stored in it. Check your iCloud settings before you delete.

Can I clear Documents and Data without deleting the app?

Some apps let you clear cache from their own settings menu — look for "Clear Cache" or "Storage" in the app's settings. Not all apps offer this. If yours does not, you have to delete and reinstall the app to clear Documents and Data completely.

Why does Documents and Data keep growing back after I clear it?

Because the app creates new cache and data every time you use it. Clearing it is temporary. If an app is using too much space regularly, consider whether you actually need it, or use the app's own cache-clearing option periodically instead of deleting the whole app.

What happens to my login information when I delete an app?

It gets deleted along with the Documents and Data. When you reinstall, you will need to log in again. If the app syncs to a cloud service (like Google or Facebook), you can log in with those credentials. If it only stored login locally, you will need to remember your password.

Is it safe to delete Documents and Data from apps I use every day?

Yes, it is safe. The app will work normally after you reinstall it. It will just take a moment to read and set up again, and you will need to log in. The only risk is losing data that is not backed up to iCloud or another cloud service.