To erase a game’s local data on an iPhone or iPad, use Delete App—not Offload App and not Remove from Home Screen. Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage), select the game, tap Delete App, and confirm. Then reinstall it from the App Store if you want to play again.
That removes the game and its related local data, but it may not erase progress stored in iCloud, Game Center-related services, the game’s own account, or the publisher’s servers. If you only want to reclaim space while keeping your save, choose Offload App instead.
Before deleting anything: find out where the save lives
“Game data” can mean several different things on iPhone and iPad:
- the installed game application;
- local save files and settings;
- downloaded maps, textures, language packs, updates, and voice files;
- cache and temporary files;
- login tokens and account information;
- progress synchronized through iCloud;
- Game Center achievements and leaderboards; and
- an account or save stored on the game publisher’s servers.
Deleting the app removes the app and related data stored locally, but it does not automatically delete Apple Account purchases, Game Center achievements, a publisher-account save, or data that could later be restored from iCloud or a device backup. The game developer decides which service stores playable progress. Game Center is not a guarantee that the complete save is stored there.
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Before resetting, open the game and check for menus such as Account, Cloud Save, Sync, Restore Progress, Sign Out, or Delete Account. Also check whether you are signed in with a publisher account, Facebook, Google, Game Center, or another service. If another Apple device uses the same game, decide whether you want a fresh start on one device or on every synchronized device.
If the save matters, take a screenshot of the current account and save status first. Do not delete a cloud save or publisher account until you are certain you no longer need it.
Check how much storage the game uses
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage or iPad Storage.
- Select the game.
Apple’s storage screen generally separates:
- App Size: the installed program itself.
- Documents & Data: saves, settings, downloaded assets, and other app-managed files.
- Total: the amount currently attributed to the game.
The number may change after the game cleans up or iOS recalculates storage. Apple also notes that cached and temporary data may not always be fully represented in the displayed usage, so the amount of space reclaimed may not exactly match the number shown.
For a detailed explanation of the storage controls, see Apple’s iPhone and iPad storage guidance.
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Delete the game and its local data
This is the standard method for removing the game’s local installation and related local data.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage or iPad Storage.
- Tap the game.
- Tap Delete App.
- Read the warning, then tap Delete App again.
Apple says Delete App removes the app and its related data. This is the better route when your goal is to clear local progress, remove a large collection of downloaded assets, or reclaim the most space possible before reinstalling.
Delete it from the Home Screen or App Library
You can also delete a game without opening Settings:
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- Touch and hold the game icon.
- Tap Remove App.
- Tap Delete App.
- Tap Delete to confirm.
Do not choose Remove from Home Screen. That only hides the app and leaves it installed in the App Library with its data intact. Apple describes the difference between these options in its app removal and deletion guide.
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Use offloading when you want to remove the game’s program and recover some installation space while preserving its documents and data.
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage or iPad Storage.
- Select the game.
- Tap Offload App.
- Confirm.
The game application is removed, but its documents and data remain on the device. Its icon usually stays visible with a cloud-download symbol. Tap the icon later to reinstall the application and continue with the retained data.
Offloading is therefore a storage-saving option, not a clean reset. It is the wrong choice if you want the game to forget its local progress.
iPhone can also offload unused apps automatically. On current software, look under Settings → Apps → App Store → Offload Unused Apps. Labels and menu placement can vary by iOS or iPadOS release.
Delete the game’s iCloud data, if it uses iCloud
Deleting the app is not always enough for a fresh start. A compatible third-party game may store documents or progress in iCloud, where the data can return after reinstalling.
To investigate:
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name.
- Tap iCloud.
- Open Storage, Manage Account Storage, or See All, depending on the interface on your device.
- Look for the game or its app data.
- If Apple provides a deletion control, read the warning carefully and confirm only if you want the cloud data removed.
The game may not appear there. It might not use iCloud, its data may be grouped under another entry, or progress may live on the publisher’s servers instead. Do not delete an unrelated iCloud entry just because the game is not listed by name.
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Deleting iCloud app data can affect other iPhone, iPad, or Mac devices using the same Apple Account. The data may also not appear as a normal folder in the Files app. Apple explains how third-party apps can use iCloud and how their stored data may be managed in its iCloud user guide.
iCloud sync is different from an iCloud backup
A live iCloud-synchronized save and an iCloud device backup are separate mechanisms.
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- iCloud Backup is a backup of device content that may include app documents and data, depending on the app and backup configuration.
That distinction matters if an old save returns after you delete and reinstall the game. A previous backup may still contain app data, and restoring that backup can bring it back.
To review backup contents, open Settings → your name → iCloud → Storage or Manage Account Storage → Backups, then select the relevant device. Review the apps included in the backup and follow the wording shown on your device if you choose to turn off backup data for the game. Removing backup data is separate from deleting the live app and separate from deleting synchronized iCloud app data.
Apple documents the limitations around app documents, data, and backups in its backup and restore guidance. Treat backup deletion as a separate, potentially irreversible decision.
Use the game’s own reset controls
For an online or account-based game, the developer’s own controls are often the cleanest solution. Search the game’s settings and support pages for:
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- Reset Progress
- Delete Save
- New Game
- Clear Local Data
- Sign Out
- Switch Account
- Delete Account
These options are not interchangeable:
- Reset Progress may erase only the current save.
- New Game may create another save slot while retaining the old one.
- Sign Out may stop account synchronization without deleting local data.
- Switch Account may be enough to start a different profile.
- Delete Account can permanently affect multiplayer identity, purchases, friends, and every linked device.
There is no universal Apple setting that can reset every game’s server-side progress. If the game is online, deleting the app may have little or no effect on the account save.
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Reinstall the game after deleting it
To redownload a deleted game:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your account or photo button.
- Tap Apps & Purchase History.
- Tap Your Apps.
- Tap Not on this [device].
- Find the game and tap the redownload button.
Apple Arcade titles may not appear in the ordinary purchases list. Search for the game through the applicable Apple Arcade experience, and remember that an active subscription may be required to download or play it. Apple’s current redownload instructions are available at Apple Support.
After reinstalling, the game may:
- open at the beginning;
- restore an iCloud save;
- restore progress after you sign in;
- ask whether to use a local or cloud save; or
- download its maps, textures, updates, and other assets again.
If you want a genuinely new profile, do not automatically sign back into the old publisher account or accept an old cloud save. If the game offers a choice, select the new or local option only when you understand what will be discarded.
If the old progress returns after reinstalling
Old progress can return for several reasons:
- iCloud synchronized it again.
- The game downloaded a save from its own server.
- You signed into the same publisher account.
- An iCloud, Finder, or iTunes backup restored the app data.
- The game stores data outside the ordinary local save location.
Try this order:
- Delete the game again.
- Review its in-game cloud-save and account settings.
- Check iCloud storage for an entry belonging to the game.
- Sign out of the publisher account, if appropriate.
- Reinstall without restoring an old save when the game gives you that choice.
- Contact the developer if progress is stored on its servers.
If the game has no iCloud entry, that does not prove the data was erased. It may use local storage, a publisher service, or a different cloud system. Conversely, do not delete unrelated iCloud data while searching for it.
Free space without wiping a save
If storage is the only problem, start with the least destructive option:
- Check the game’s storage breakdown in Settings → General → iPhone/iPad Storage.
- Use the game’s own download manager to remove optional packs, videos, maps, or language files.
- Offload the app if you want to preserve its documents and data.
- Delete the game if you no longer need its local save.
- Remove large downloads, media, attachments, or unused apps elsewhere in storage.
For files stored in iCloud Drive, use Remove Download when you want to remove only the local copy while keeping the file in iCloud. Choosing Delete removes the file from iCloud Drive and synchronized devices. Apple explains this distinction in its iCloud Drive storage guidance.
iOS and iPadOS manage many caches and temporary files automatically. General-purpose “cleaner” apps cannot freely inspect and erase another app’s sandboxed game data, so Apple’s storage controls and the game’s own settings are the safer choices.
What not to do
- Do not choose Remove from Home Screen and assume the game was erased.
- Do not choose Offload App when you want a clean save.
- Do not use Reset All Settings to clear one game. Apple says it preserves apps and app data while resetting settings such as Wi-Fi passwords, privacy settings, Apple Pay cards, and Face ID or Touch ID settings. See Apple’s reset guidance.
- Do not delete iCloud data before confirming that the save is no longer needed.
- Do not delete the publisher account when you only want to remove a local save.
- Do not assume Game Center contains the complete playable save.
- Do not restore an old device backup if your goal is to keep the game reset.
- Do not use jailbreak tools or unofficial file-management methods for this routine task.
Purchases, subscriptions, and deleted data
Deleting a game normally does not cancel an in-app subscription. Cancel an unwanted subscription separately through Apple’s subscription controls; Apple also warns users to cancel subscriptions before deleting an app when appropriate.
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Purchases and progress are different. Non-consumable purchases and subscriptions may be linked to the Apple Account or the game’s account, while consumable purchases may not be restorable. Reinstalling does not guarantee that every purchase or entitlement will return; the game’s restore-purchases feature and support system determine what is available.
Do not promise that deleted local data can be recovered. A cloud save or backup may provide a recovery route, but a local save can be permanently lost. Erase All Content and Settings is for wiping the entire device—not for clearing one game—and is unnecessary for this task.
Quick decision guide
| Your goal | Best first action | Main warning |
|---|---|---|
| Start the game from the beginning locally | Use the game’s reset control, or delete the app with Delete App | Cloud or server progress may return |
| Free space but keep the save | Use Offload App or remove optional downloads inside the game | Offloading keeps documents and data |
| Erase an iCloud save | Check iCloud storage for the game and delete its data only if listed | The change may affect multiple devices |
| Reset an online game | Use the game’s account, profile, or reset controls | Deleting the app may not affect server data |
| Hide the icon only | Choose Remove from Home Screen | The game remains installed with its data |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an iPhone or iPad game delete its progress?
It deletes the game and related data stored locally, but progress held in iCloud, a publisher account, Game Center-related services, or the developer’s servers may remain and return after reinstalling.
Is offloading the same as clearing game data?
No. Offloading removes the app while keeping its documents and data. It is intended to free installation space without removing the save.
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Does Game Center save my game progress?
Not necessarily. The developer decides whether playable progress uses Game Center, iCloud, a publisher account, or local or server-side storage. Game Center achievements and leaderboards are not automatically the same as the game save.
Can I recover deleted game data?
Only if the game, an online account, or a backup retains it. Local data deleted without a cloud or backup copy may be permanently unrecoverable.
Will deleting a game cancel its subscription?
No. Deleting the app does not by itself cancel an in-app subscription; cancel the subscription separately through Apple’s subscription controls.
How do I clear Apple Arcade game data?
Use the same game-specific reset, delete, offload, and iCloud checks described above. Apple Arcade download availability depends on the title and your subscription, and save behavior remains game-specific.
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