iPad seriously needs help with storage

My iPad 7th gen has 32 gbs of storage and I need to update due to some apps not working my iPad is currently running on iOS 18 beta and I want to get rid of beta as it made my iPad slow and laggy, I deleted several apps in order to free up storage and my iPad won’t allow me to update to a Non-beta os because I need 15 gk of free storage am lost and dont know what to do right now because I am stuck at 20 gk and all of the apps that’s left are the un-deletable apps from apple and I still need to free up 5 more gb of storage. Is my iPad done for?


iPad (7th generation)

Posted on Mar 26, 2025 1:44 AM

Reply
1 reply
Sort By: 

Mar 26, 2025 3:37 AM in response to Mohammed_I79

You will always struggle with an iPad that has only 32GB of internal storage - these models being principally intended for educational environments where very little data will be stored on the iPad. For many users, 32GB is simply insufficient. Many seasoned owners of iPad would council against purchasing an iPad with any less than 256GB of internal storage.


It is generally recommended that you maintain 4-6GB of free space at all times - as your iPad needs some temporary space to complete some tasks - such as performing system software updates.


A system software update requires sufficient space to be downloaded, unpacked and verified prior to installation - major version updates (such as updating from iPadOS 17.x to iPadOS 18) requiring considerably more space than an incremental point-update. After the update is successfully completed, temporary files are automatically deleted - returning free space.


If your internal storage is full, or is insufficient for the task that you need to perform, 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. Depending upon your iPad model, the iPad will either have a Lightning or USB-C port - and may therefore require either an Adapter or USB hub to connect the USB Storage device. If your iPad has a Lightning port, you’ll need an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter:


  • Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

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


This Apple Support Page details recommended methods to uninstall beta versions of iPadOS from your iPad:

How to uninstall iOS or iPadOS beta software - Apple Support

Reply

iPad seriously needs help with storage

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.