Goodnotes can appear in several storage sections on an iPad because each section measures different data. You cannot compare the values directly. Check the location shown in Settings before deciding what to remove.
Do not delete Goodnotes data to troubleshoot storage until you understand which copy will be removed and confirm that your documents are backed up.
Identify which storage value you are viewing
- Open the device Settings app.
- Note whether the value appears under iCloud Storage, iCloud Backup, or iPad Storage.
- Use the matching section below to understand what that value includes.
Goodnotes in iCloud Storage
Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Storage > Goodnotes shows the size of your Goodnotes documents stored in iCloud.
Selecting “Delete Data from iCloud” removes the iCloud copy and frees iCloud storage. It does not remove documents currently stored in your local Goodnotes library. When you reopen Goodnotes, you can choose to upload local data to iCloud again.
Goodnotes in iCloud Backup
Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > iCloud Backup > This iPad shows the space used by the Goodnotes app and its documents in the device backup.
Turning Goodnotes off in this list does not remove documents from iCloud Sync or your local library. It stops including the app in the device’s iCloud Backup. If you restore the device later, you may need to download Goodnotes from the App Store again.
See Apple’s guide to managing an iCloud Backup.
Goodnotes in iPad Storage
Settings > General > iPad Storage > Goodnotes shows local device storage used by the app, your locally stored documents, and temporary files. This number can differ from both iCloud Storage and iCloud Backup.