iPad very low on storage. I need guidance.

There is not enough available storage on my wife’s iPad (6th Gen) to upgrade the OS, nor to download movies for

offline viewing. I need guidance on safely releasing storage. The iPad is a 32GB model, with 29.4GB currently used.


It looks like Photos is taking up a lot of space. Over 39K files, more than 5GB of storage used. I would like to (a) make sure that all photos are backed up to iCloud, and then (b) SAFELY remove them from local storage on the iPad. Can anyone assist, and will that release the storage?

iPad (6th generation)

Posted on Jun 7, 2023 8:35 PM

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3 replies

Jun 8, 2023 4:26 AM in response to janefromspringboro

If storing large data or video files, your 32GB iPad6 is always going to struggle with available storage. Subtracting the space required for the installed iPadOS Operating System - and space required for caching, you’ll typically only have ~20GB of space for all your local storage needs. Downloaded video files can present significant storage challenges, in particular resource constrained devices with minimal internal storage.


It is impossible to increase the amount of RAM or internal storage in your iPad - as this is fixed during manufacture; what you have is fixed for the life of your device. You can, however, subscribe to a higher tier of iCloud storage - but this is not a substitute for internal storage.

Upgrade to iCloud+ - Apple Support


If your internal storage is full, your only option is to better manage the storage that you have - and delete unused Apps or unneeded data. 


These support pages should prove to be helpful:

About storage on your device and in iCloud – Apple Support

What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? – Apple Support

Manage your iCloud storage – Apple Support

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – Apple Support

Clear Other storage on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


“Offloading” Apps can be a helpful method of creating temporary space for a software update.

https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/21/how-to-offload-apps-in-ios-to-save-space-without-deleting-their-data/


Additional information about creating sufficient space for installation of a software update can be found here:

If you need more space for an update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


External storage options can often help with managing limited internal storage. For an iPad with a Lightning port, you would need an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter:


  • Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MK0W2ZM/A


Updating your iPad using a Windows PC (with iTunes for Windows installed) or Mac computer (using iTunes or Finder - as appropriate for the installed version of macOS) can reduce the amount of free-space necessary to perform the update - as the initial download, unpacking and verification is performed on the computer prior to installation. However, even this method is not possible if your iPad has too little free space.


Download and use iTunes for Windows – Apple Support

Update to the latest version of iTunes – Apple Support

Update software on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch in iTunes on PC - Apple Support


Jun 7, 2023 8:55 PM in response to janefromspringboro

It should. But that amount should be fine for updating iPadOS as long as you use a Mac or PC to update the OS. The computer will use its own storage to unpack a lot of the OS package and usually requires less than 1 GB of available storage on the iPad.


Another thing you might try is offloading apps, but just the apps and not the app data. Then when the update is complete you can download the apps again.

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iPad very low on storage. I need guidance.

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