ipad air 2 memory usage

Your problem is that you have/own a low storage 16 GBs internal,storage iPad model.

A 16 GBs storage iPad starts out, after initial drive formatting, at approx. 14.5 GBs of free, internal storage.

After the installation of iPadOS, at approx. 6.5 GBs, leaves 8.0 GBs of of free, internal data storage space.

iOS/iPadOS needs a minimum of 2-4 GBs of constant remaining storage, that MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES, to insure/ensure nominal, acceptable operation of all iOS/iPadOS functionalities.

This leaves a 16 GBs iPad with ONLY a practical, usable storage space of between 5 and 6 GBs AND THAT IS IT!

This is virtually NO internal data storage to do much of anything with that iPad!

This is why Apple quietly, silently did away with all 16 GBs iOS device back sometime in 2016.

There is nothing more to be done to be able to eek out anymore usable storage out of a 16 GBs internal, data storage device, now, in 2021.

You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted sources, like other Apple product/device retailers/resellers, locally or online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions, that has a much larger internal data storage capacity.

There are PLENTY of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

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

Minus approx. 6.5 GBs for iOS/iPadOS leaves between 23-24 GBs.

Minus 2-4 GBs, for iOS/iPadOS system operational reserve, that MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES, to ensure/insure normal, expected operation of iOS/iPad OS, leaves approx. between 20-21GBs of actual, usable data storage space.

While 32 GBs data storage devices are, now, ,more quickly becoming the “new” low storage 16 GBs internal data storage space devices, a 32 GBs Apple iOS/iPadOS device has 3-4 times the internal data storage space of a 16 GBs. internal data storage devices

64 GB and 128 GB internal data storage space devices are actually the real base minimum devices anyone should even cinsider today, in 2021.

I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these older iOS devices with baseline 16 GBs of internal data storage.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

Look, in 2021, 16 GBs devices are just about useless.

Due to the growing size of iOS/iPadOS on iPads.

Even 32 GB devices are quickly moving in that same direction.

Out of 30 GBs of internal data storage space, a 32 GBs iPad ONLY has between 20-21/22 GBs of actual usable storage space.

You possibly CAN get by with this little storage space, but with a 16 GBs Apple iPad with between 5-7 GBs of actual, usable internal storage space? There is really NO way to really do much with such a low amount of usable space left on a 16 GBs device.

That is why Apple discontinued them in 2016 with the arrival of the 64-bit iOS/iPadOS systems and hardware.

Apple knew that 64-bit iOS/iPadOS were going to get much bigger in operational data file size and 16 GBs Apple devixes simply were NOT going to be up to the challenge to be able to handle the larger file size demands that iOS/iPadOS would bring to these low storage devices.

Even 32 GBs base model iPad, in this day and time, is, quite frankly, a joke.

Even with “cloud” data storage/backup services and now external drive support, a 32 GBs device is really a very bare minimum of storage to have on a much more sophisticated device, like an Apple iPad.

The iPad versions of iOS/iPadOS are much bigger in data file size.

iPads have a different UI arrangement and do some things an iPhone can’t.

That is why.

Your system should be around 15 or GB, which usually means the iPad is being used for other functions (like iCloud).

This link should address your questions:

https://macreports.com/system-storage-and-what-can-you-do-to-clear/