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Apple Forced iOS7 update on my iPad2 !

Apple has forced the iOS7 update file onto my iPAD2 and this update is sitting in the "other" folder indicated by the yellow bar in iTunes. I never wanted to upgrade - how do I get rid of this 2.3 GB file that has eaten away my iPAD capacity? This is very frustrating as I had spent a lot of time cleaning my iPAD to free up some space and now this !

Posted on Sep 27, 2013 4:08 AM

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72 replies

Sep 27, 2013 5:00 AM in response to ggggggggg

Apple is indeed automatically pushing (to some, but not all devices) the iOS 7 update. My iPad mini got it somewhere between Sept 18 (iOS 7 release date) & Sept 20. I had NO access and did NOT use that device until Sept 20 where the auto-pushed download was already loaded and waiting to be run. The device was however on the charger and connected to the internet via Wi-Fi. For many reasons, I don't wish to update to iOS 7 on any of my devices yet so this auto-pushed update remains on the iPad mini, using ~1.2 GB - 1.5 GB with *no way to remove it*, except by running it and updating it. Note that the update is only auto-pushed to the device but it's up to the user to push the "Install" button that appears and replaces the "Download & Install" button. Restoring the iDevice as new will remove the file off the iDevice, but *only temporarily*. The minute the iDevice is connected to external power (either via connection to the PC or via the wall charger) and has a solid Wi-Fi (in my case) internet connection, the download is again auto-pushed to the iDevice. I know for a fact that the update is sitting on the device because I kept track of what exactly was installed to it after it was restored as new. I knew the exact size of "Other" and when this download was auto-pushed to the device, "Other" grew to the above stated ~1.2 GB - ~1.5 GB.


It is also NOT being pushed to all devices...I have multiple devices:


iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPad 3 & iPad 4 and the only device that it was auto-pushed to (for reasons unknown to me) is the iPad mini. Auto update has always been disabled on ALL devices, both on the devices themselves and in iTunes (but of course, none of the auto-update settings apply to OTA updates).


There is a CNET article on it here:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57604701-37/ios-6-holdouts-complain-about-larg e-unwanted-ios-7-download/


There is also discussion of it here at the Apple forums where out very own "KiltedTim" states (beginning on page 2 of the topic) that it's impossible for Apple to do this but then experiences the auto-pushed update first-hand for himself on page 3

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4373924


What is irking me and most of the others that have experienced this auto-pushed OTA update is that (as I mentioned before) you cannot remove it and just sits on the iDevice using up ~1.2 GB - ~1.5 GB (& possibly more, depending on the device and it's update size). If it's removed (as I again mentioned above by restoring the iPad as new, NOT using a backup, from the device itself), it returns to your device, conveniently auto-pushed to you again (and again) by Apple when you're connected to the internet under external (not battery) power.

Sep 27, 2013 5:05 AM in response to SergZak

In addition, I have not yet been able to check the iPad mini (I will later today) to see if the newest iOS v7.0.2 OTA update has also been auto-pushed to it as well and if so, if BOTH updates are now sitting on the device taking up twice the amount of space. I still choose NOT to update ANY of my devices at this time.

Sep 27, 2013 5:59 AM in response to Michael Black

Michael Black wrote:


SergZak wrote:

taking up twice the amount of space

No, they won't do that.

I would hope not. I know my iPad 3 and iPad 4 show the iOS 7.0.2 update size as 955 MB (neither have had the update auto-pushed to them so they remain "clean"). If the device (my iPad mini) already has the 7.0 955 MB update on it, it would make sense that the device only get the smaller 21 MB update. What I'm hoping for is that the 7.0.2 update cancelled out the first and that no updates have been pushed to it. I guess I'll find out later. 😐

Sep 27, 2013 6:21 AM in response to ggggggggg

ggggggggg wrote:


How can you say nothing will change when free space has reduced by almost 2.3 GB. I am using a 16 GB iPad and 2.3 GB is a lot of real estate for me. I don't want this source file sitting on my iPad eating up memory resource.

Your operating system and firmware will not be changed, nor will any of your apps or data.


Okay, yes, the download will be taking up space, but OTHER than that single fact, nothing will change on your device.


As to changing that, submit feedback to apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback Otherwise, it is what it is at least for now.

Sep 27, 2013 8:28 AM in response to ggggggggg

As Michael stated, please send feedback to Apple on this issue. It's a simple unwanted & uncalled for waste of the user's space. I feel if I want to install it, I will do so on my own, when *I want to install it*. Forcing the update on devices and continuously re-pushing the update despite the user getting rid of it (by restoring the device as new) as I have done is uncalled for. Voice your opinion to Apple...they are the only ones that can correct this.


http://www.apple.com/feedback

Sep 28, 2013 12:52 PM in response to SergZak

For those interested, I've created a work-around. The idea is to fill up the memory on the device with *your own files* so the auto-pushed download will see that there's not enough room on the device and won't begin the download at all. The approx max size you need to leave *free* on the device is ~2.45 GB. The download will not initiate if this size (or less) is on the device. If more memory than this is free, the download will begin again when the device is connected to Wi-Fi and is externally powered.


1. Create a video file on the iPad's video camera of about 5 minutes in length (~684 MB) which you use as "padding", taking up space on the iPad.


2. Copy that file multiple times into a folder on your HDD, renaming each one sequentially IMG_01.MOV (IMG_01 - IMG_20. I have 20 copies on mine.


3. Restore the iPad as new from the iPad itself (Settings>General>Reset>Erase All Content and Settings) to keep the device at iOS 6.x


4. Setup the iPad with Wi-Fi and activate it.


5. Disable Wi-Fi on the iPad.


6. Take one picture with the iPad (to create the Camera folder on the iPad)


7. Download & install iFunBox (Google it)


8. Run iFunBox with iPad connected and access the Camera folder on the iPad


9. Fill the Camera folder with the video padding files you created above. On my 16GB mini, I filled the folder with 17 of the video padding files, leaving ~2.45 GB free on the mini.


10. Re-enable Wi-Fi on the device.


11. Copy your apps/music/etc to the iPad as you would normally. As your memory size reduces on the device, simply delete one or two of the video padding files using iFunBox being careful not to leave *more than* ~2.45GB free. This way, *you* have control over what is being pushed (or NOT pushed) to the device and when you need more memory, you free it up yourself as needed.

Sep 29, 2013 8:43 PM in response to GryphonLA

Hey, Gryphon!


Regarding step 3...*you have to* perform the Settings>General>Reset>Erase All Content and Settings from the iPad itself. This method is needed to keep the iPad at its current iOS level. Using this will NOT install the newest iOS level...it keeps the iOS level on the device intact. However, restoring as new from the PC *will* download/install the newest iOS. If you want to remain on the iOS that is currently on the device, use step 3. in confidence that it will keep the current iOS. Wishing you much luck in your endeavor! I'm happily still purring away on iOS 6...at least for now!

Sep 29, 2013 8:58 PM in response to SergZak

SergZak wrote:


In addition, I have not yet been able to check the iPad mini (I will later today) to see if the newest iOS v7.0.2 OTA update has also been auto-pushed to it as well and if so, if BOTH updates are now sitting on the device taking up twice the amount of space. I still choose NOT to update ANY of my devices at this time.

Mine did auto download the iOS 7.0.2 update, however, like stated above, it did not do anything till I told it to go ahead. I got a message telling me it was available, and it did show downloaded but until I clicked on the button to update, nothing happened. In fact, until I plugged in my iPad (it was lower than 50%) it wouldn't even let me click on the update button. Apple does not push this update on anybody, I have an iPhone 4 through work that we cannot update as the apps that we need to use for our daily work are not fully functional with iOS 7 yet so until they are they will not let us update. If Apple were to push it through and make the phone update even though we aren't ready for it, then there could be some issues. I'm pretty sure that Apple is aware of this since our company works directly with Apple on many of our Apps and Security. They don't push the update on your phone or any device, you have to still check that you want it to run. It will automatically download, but it's not going to start updating anything till you tell it to.

Sep 29, 2013 9:39 PM in response to ZintainUSA

Did you read the CNET article I linked to above? It is in fact being pushed to some devices automatically...it was pushed to my iPad mini without my knowledge nor permission. I hadn't used the mini for a week and the update was on the device (taking up at least 1.5 GB) when I checked it on Friday (after iOS 7 was released on Wed). There is no way to delete the update so it sits on your device taking up that space until you press the Install button. No, it is NOT *automatically installed* unless you push that Install button. That is well known and we are not disputing that at all. The issue is that this update is being pushed to devices, eats up well over 1.5 GB of your memory and you cannot delete it to regain that storage space back without actually installing it or using some other means to thwart (as I've posted above) the automatically pushed download.

Apple Forced iOS7 update on my iPad2 !

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