26.x upgrades on smaller-flash iPad

[BSDnostalgia]

Just upgraded a 9th gen iPad (64GB) to 26.3.1 - very tedious because the iCloud Sync function and app offload don't function correctly to reduce local storage usage enough to make room for the upgrade. In particular, if least-recently-used apps are offloaded, iCloud photos actually increases its usage. The only alternative seemed to be to turn off iCloud Photos and manually delete local iPad photos.

The reason that I have the iPad is that I like to use it to display photos in my medium-sized (< 500GB) iCloud Photos library. (iCloud Photos and Photos on a Mini hold the library). The iPad is the right size to show people photo albums. (iPad, Mini, and iPhone are all 26.3 at this point.)

This has not been a problem on a 128GB iPhone SE2. There, the storage manage/iCloud cache functionality ("optimize storage") works as expected, which is to say, the Photos cache on the iPhone grows and shrinks as necessary without my doing anything. So, I wonder why the "optimize storage" cache function won't behave properly on the similar iPad. Bug or feature, I couldn't say, but, it would be nice if the iPad worked like the iPhone.

 

[DCBassman]

Just upgraded a 9th gen iPad (64GB) to 26.3.1 - very tedious because the iCloud Sync function and app offload don't function correctly to reduce local storage usage enough to make room for the upgrade. In particular, if least-recently-used apps are offloaded, iCloud photos actually increases its usage. The only alternative seemed to be to turn off iCloud Photos and manually delete local iPad photos.

The reason that I have the iPad is that I like to use it to display photos in my medium-sized (< 500GB) iCloud Photos library. (iCloud Photos and Photos on a Mini hold the library). The iPad is the right size to show people photo albums. (iPad, Mini, and iPhone are all 26.3 at this point.)

This has not been a problem on a 128GB iPhone SE2. There, the storage manage/iCloud cache functionality ("optimize storage") works as expected, which is to say, the Photos cache on the iPhone grows and shrinks as necessary without my doing anything. So, I wonder why the "optimize storage" cache function won't behave properly on the similar iPad. Bug or feature, I couldn't say, but, it would be nice if the iPad worked like the iPhone.

I've had no trouble with point releases on my lightly-loaded 8th gen 32GB, but getting it from 18 to 26 was a much more difficult job, basically a full reset. It was even necessary to offload a fair bit to go from 17 to 18, come to that...

 

[BSDnostalgia]

I've had no trouble with point releases on my lightly-loaded 8th gen 32GB, but getting it from 18 to 26 was a much more difficult job, basically a full reset.

The way it played out, a full reset would have been easier. My complaint is that on the iPhone SE, iOS/iPadOS 26.x Photos iCloud-backed "optimize storage" works automagically exactly as to be expected, but, doesn't on the iPad.

 

[BSDnostalgia]

I was able to update the 9th gen 64GB iPad to 26.5, but only by leaving the iPad photos disconnected from iCloud photos and deleting most of the photos. For some time, even with 12 GB free, it wouldn't upgrade. Finally with more than 14 GB free, it finally updated. In iPad Storage, it shows 12.GB iPadOS, and 11.71 GB System Data***, with 14 GB free. That is, after I've reloaded my news &etc apps. Clearly something is broken with both the update process itself, and, more generally, if "System Data" is backup snapshots and logs, etc, why isn't that being cleared out better over time? I've seen "System Data" as high as 25 GB*** during all these upgrades. What is all that space and why isn't it getting squeezed down much more aggressively? iPadOS is supposed to be the simplest to own and manage, and, you don't have all the tools you have in a full OS like MacOS, but, iPadOS is not working correctly, automatically, in this case. "It just works" isn't working, and there aren't any tools to manage it by hand. As I stated above, my main use case for this iPad is as a Photos display device, which means it needs to be connected to iCloud Photos. Frustrating.

*** I just checked an 18.7.8 iPadOS system and "System Data" was 7 GB. Certainly not trivial, but, for some reason, "System Data" is allowed to get very bloated on 26.x, to the point where it prevents iPadOS upgrades and maintenance. Apparently I'm not the only one: System Data issue

 

[Steve Adams]

I was able to update the 9th gen 64GB iPad to 26.5, but only by leaving the iPad photos disconnected from iCloud photos and deleting most of the photos. For some time, even with 12 GB free, it wouldn't upgrade. Finally with more than 14 GB free, it finally updated. In iPad Storage, it shows 12.GB iPadOS, and 11.71 GB System Data***, with 14 GB free. That is, after I've reloaded my news &etc apps. Clearly something is broken with both the update process itself, and, more generally, if "System Data" is backup snapshots and logs, etc, why isn't that being cleared out better over time? I've seen "System Data" as high as 25 GB*** during all these upgrades. What is all that space and why isn't it getting squeezed down much more aggressively? iPadOS is supposed to be the simplest to own and manage, and, you don't have all the tools you have in a full OS like MacOS, but, iPadOS is not working correctly, automatically, in this case. "It just works" isn't working, and there aren't any tools to manage it by hand. As I stated above, my main use case for this iPad is as a Photos display device, which means it needs to be connected to iCloud Photos. Frustrating.

*** I just checked an 18.7.8 iPadOS system and "System Data" was 7 GB. Certainly not trivial, but, for some reason, "System Data" is allowed to get very bloated on 26.x, to the point where it prevents iPadOS upgrades and maintenance. Apparently I'm not the only one: System Data issue

I have noticed this too on many older phones coming into the store. Hopfully there is a fix soon. My son has the 128gb 9th gen so it's fine for now. But, I am probably going to have to replace that iPad sooner than later for more storage for him. This time he's getting the max storage model of the 12th gen (if it arrives).

 

[winxmac]

If your device is 128GB, 64GB, or 32GB and you are looking to upgrade the iOS or iPadOS version, the best way is to either use iTunes [Windows and older macOS] or Finder, but if you do not have a desktop/laptop, Erase All Content and Settings then upgrade is the way to go.

 

[Steve Adams]

If your device is 128GB, 64GB, or 32GB and you are looking to upgrade the iOS or iPadOS version, the best way is to either use iTunes [Windows and older macOS] or Finder, but if you do not have a desktop/laptop, Erase All Content and Settings then upgrade is the way to go.

What if they only have an iPad? You would loose all content if you did this. You should not have to pay Apple to create a full backup of your iPad or other device.