Trying to free up storage, but can’t seem to get anywhere

Updating your iPad would be a sensible place to start. Once installed, the “other” category (that currently consumes a considerable proportion of your already limited storage space) may resolve itself.

Here's the thing.

A 32 GBs storage iPad starts out with approx 30 GBs.,after initial internal flash drive formatting.

Minus approx. 4-5GBs for your iOS 12.5.1 version, leaves 25-26 GBs.

Minus 2-4 GBs, for iOS/iPadOS system operational reserve, that MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES, leaves approx. between 21-23 GBs of actual, usable data storage space.

Your apps appear to be using half of that space, leaving approx. 11-12 GBs of actual usable internal data storage space.

Other looks like it is taking up less than half of your remaining storage.

That isn't too unusual.

Something in your Files app is taking up a lot of space,

You have any videos stored in the Files app?

You need to check all the folders in the Files app.

There must be somethng in there eating up all your remaining internal data storage space.

BobSn wrote:

WOW. I can't believe what just happened. I installed the update, then magically, my storage freed up big time. I now only have 9.2 GB out of the total 32 GB used. Thanks!

You’re very welcome. I’m delighted that the solution worked for you.

A significant proportion of the consumed space was the update, already downloaded and unpacked, was awaiting installation.