How to manage iPad system & temporary file storage

The system file took 2/3 of my storage. Is it normal?

No, it is not normal. On a 32GB iPad, iPadOS typically requires between 8 GB and 12 GB of space to function. If system files (often listed as "System Data") take up over 20 GB, it means the device has accumulated an abnormal amount of temporary files, streaming caches, system logs, or corrupted files that weren't automatically deleted.

Can apple make their system file smaller so I can still use my 32gb iPad?

Unfortunately, no. Modern operating systems require an increasing amount of resources, and Apple does not release smaller versions of iPadOS optimized specifically for older 32GB devices. 

To reduce temporary files and free up space

• Restart your iPad: a simple restart of the device can force the system to delete obsolete temporary cache files.

• Clear Safari cache: go to Settings > Safari and tap Clear History and Website Data.

• Reduce message history: If you use the Messages app frequently, go to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages and change the setting from "Forever" to 30 Days to delete old attachments.

• Remove unused apps: go to Settings > General > iPad Storage and enable the option to automatically offload unused apps while keeping your personal data.

• Perform a backup and restore (definitive solution): if "System Data" continues to take up a critical percentage, the only safe way to delete them is to perform a complete backup of your iPad (to iCloud or via PC/Mac), factory reset the device, and then restore from the backup. This process permanently clears all corrupted system temporary files.

Regrettably, you may struggle with an iPad that has so little internal storage. The 32/64GB devices generally used in Educational settings or in environments where the ability to store local data on the device is not required. Apple doesn’t now offer devices with so little internal storage.

System storage includes cached and frequently used data. Reported System Data can be expected to fluctuate. Your iPad will automatically and optimally manage its available system resources, using available free space to cache data and improve overall performance.

The only element of system storage that you can directly influence is perhaps your browser caches - which you can manually clear if you wish to do so.

For Safari:

Settings > Safari > Clear History & Website Data

For other browsers, you’ll need to find the relevant section of the App settings - which may be within the App itself.

Otherwise, transient system caches can be significantly reduced by performing a forced-restart of your iPad - although caches, by their nature, will again accumulate and be automatically managed by the operating system.

Force restart iPad - Apple Support

Cached system data can also be cleared with a restore. More information about clearing system/other data is outlined here:

Clear Other storage on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

It is generally recommended that you always maintain at least 4-6GB of free space at all times - as your iPad needs some temporary space to complete many tasks. When performing system software updates, you may temporarily require more...

A system software update requires sufficient space to be downloaded, unpacked and verified prior to installation - major version updates requiring considerably more space than an incremental point-update. The required space, to perform an OTA update, is typically double the stated space for the installed 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

If you are critically short of internal storage, and cannot manually release system storage by other means, a workable temporary remedy is to ensure that you have either an iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPad - and then completely erase the iPad - and then restore your backup to the iPad. Your backup does not include cached system data.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Erase all content and settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content & Settings

Finally, restore the backup to your iPad:

Restore all content to iPad from a backup - Apple Support

ERRATA CORRIGE: Remove unused apps: go to Settings > App > App Store and enable the option to automatically offload unused apps while keeping your personal data