How to Uninstall iPhone Update and Delete Documents and App Data

Many users search for how to uninstall iPhone update after noticing that an iOS update has been downloaded automatically. And some users also want to remove the update because it takes up too much space, or they don't like the upgraded version and want to downgrade.

Then, can you remove the update on the iPhone? Can you downgrade an iPhone update? There are two scenarios:

If only the system update file has been downloaded to your phone but not yet installed, you can delete it:

iOS 16/17/18: To delete a downloaded iOS update:

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to General > iPhone Storage.

3. Locate the iOS update file. (e.g., iOS 18.x)

4. Tap it and select Delete Update.

This only removes the installation package. Your current iOS version will remain unchanged, and this can free up several GB of space.

Generally: You cannot freely downgrade.

Once a new iOS version has been installed, downgrading becomes much more difficult.

Apple controls which iOS versions can be installed through a signing system. When Apple stops signing an older version, users can no longer officially install it, even if they have the firmware file.

In most cases, iPhone users cannot freely return to any previous iOS version they choose.

A downgrade may be possible if:

Apple is still signing the previous iOS version.

The downgrade is performed shortly after a newer version is released.

The correct firmware file is available for the device.

When these conditions are met, users can downgrade through a computer using Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows.

However, Apple typically stops signing older versions within days or weeks after a new release, making the downgrade window relatively short.

You can go to: IPSW.me

After selecting your iPhone model:

Green ✔️ = Apple is still signing iPhones; downgrading is possible.

Red ❌ = Signing has stopped; downgrading is not possible.

Many tools advertise one-click iOS downgrades, including 3uTools, ReiBoot, Fixppo, and similar utilities.

These tools can simplify tasks such as:

• Downloading firmware files

• Entering recovery mode

• Flashing the device

• Managing backups

However, they cannot bypass Apple's signing verification.

This means:

• If Apple is still signing the target version, third-party tools may help perform the downgrade more easily.

• If Apple has stopped signing the version, these tools generally cannot install it.

In other words, the limitation comes from Apple's servers rather than the software being used.

Many downgrade guides leave out important details.

In some cases:

• The target version was still being signed by Apple.

• The downgrade involved a beta release.

• The device was an older model affected by specific hardware vulnerabilities.

These situations are exceptions rather than the rule. For most modern iPhones, downgrading remains restricted by Apple's signing policy.

You can turn off automatic updates:

Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates > Off:

• Turn off Download iOS Update

• Turn off Install iOS Update

This way, newer versions of the system won't be downloaded automatically in the future.

If you need a lot of space because of an iOS upgrade, and your iPhone doesn't have enough space, you can try deleting some infrequently used or unimportant documents or app data to get more space.

Besides system updates, app data is another common cause of storage issues. Users often search for how to delete iPhone app data when apps consume large amounts of space.

To delete app data:

1. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

2. Select the app you want to manage.

3. Choose Offload App to remove the app while keeping its data.

4. Choose Delete App to remove both the app and its associated data.

For some apps, you can also clear cached files directly within the app's settings.

How to Delete iPhone Documents and Data

If you're looking for how to delete iPhone documents and data, start by checking which apps use the most storage.

Common storage-heavy items include:

• Downloaded videos and movies

• Offline music files

• Messages and attachments

• Social media caches

• Browser data

To remove documents and data:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

2. Review storage usage by app.

3. Delete unnecessary downloads, attachments, or cached content.

4. Reinstall apps that do not offer a built-in cache-clearing option.

Regularly removing unused files and app data can help recover significant storage space without affecting your iPhone's performance.

For Windows users, an iOS downgrade requires PC-assisted iOS downgrade via iTunes on Windows computers under strict Apple official signing limits. However, redundant and corrupted Apple update files on PCs often trigger connection failures and interrupt the iPhone downgrade process. This makes a professional cleanup tool necessary for completing iPhone update uninstallation, such as IObit Uninstaller.

IObit Uninstaller Free

Batch uninstall and deep scan to remove stubborn programs and residual files, including Windows apps & browser extensions.

Free Download

As a mature cleanup tool for Windows programs and system updates, IObit Uninstaller features Force Uninstall and deep leftover scanning functions. It specializes in thoroughly deleting stubborn Apple Software Update clients, residual folders, and hidden registry traces that the system’s built-in uninstaller cannot remove. By cleaning up all Apple-related update leftovers, it eliminates PC-side errors, helping users smoothly finish iPhone update, downgrade, and uninstall operations.