Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPad Pro IOS update for an iPad constantly without enough storage

Ralfi

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Original poster
Any tips for someone with an iPad that can’t update to the latest IOS due to not having enough space?

It’s a constant battle to clear storage prior to any update & it seems when I finally work out a way to do it (can’t recall how), the next update appears & I need to go through the whole process again….But I haven’t worked out a sure-fire method of doing it yet.

If only Photos could be offloaded. This is the one App that could clear enough GB for the update to commence (& I have optimised storage enabled).

Tia!
 
  • Like
Reactions: T'hain Esh Kelch
The obvious answer, of course is to buy a new iPad with a decent amount of storage. That’s the easy answer money allowing.

The only other thing I can suggest is if you cannot remove any more apps etc to recover more storage, make sure you’ve got everything backed up, wipe the iPad, set it up as new without signing into an Apple ID (so it doesn’t download anything) and then see if you can get it updated that way. Just a reminder you’re going to keep having this problem every time there is an update.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Funny Apple Man, I7guy and Ralfi
Yeah, I think I may need to consider finally upgrading this 2018 iPad. Storage has brought me undone! Although typing feedback delays has become frustrating.

It was a solid device for so many years that it shouldn’t surprise that it’s finally reached its limit.

In my subconscious, I was hoping the iPhone Fold could replace the need for an iPad completely, but it’s still too early for that as 1st iterations are usually a bad investment strategy.

So what Pro model should I hold out for?
 
You could purchase additional storage in the form of an external usb a or c removable flash drive. Off load (copy to the flash drive). Confirm the success of the transfer then delete the phots from the photos app. You even store an extra backup to this drive as well just in case, do that if you choose so prior to deleting any photos or app data.

apple.news

4 Ways to Free iPad Storage Without Upgrading — Lifewire

These practical tips help you reclaim space even on older or lower-capacity models
apple.news apple.news
 
Last edited:
Well I just managed to offload enough apps to get the update done. I may have cracked the code…
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy
rui no onna said:
Instead of OTA updates, how about updating using Mac/PC? I think that gets around the low storage.

Unfortunately, 32GB is too little nowadays. I expect 64GB will have the same problem soon.
Click to expand...
This is the case for me. Not too bothered though as I am happy with the performance of my Mini 6 and expect it to worsen were I to upgrade past 17.7.1 (occasionally have some battery issues already) and intend to upgrade to the OLED version.

I had to delete a load to upgrade to 17.7.1 when I did.

OPs 2018 iPad Pro will be 64GB as only the 1st Gen came in a 32GB variant.
 
rui no onna said:
Instead of OTA updates, how about updating using Mac/PC? I think that gets around the low storage.

Unfortunately, 32GB is too little nowadays. I expect 64GB will have the same problem soon.
Click to expand...
That was also a challenge a couple of updates ago - it failed repeatedly on my home PC with both iTunes & Apple Devices Apps. So I tried it with my work laptop after installing Apple Devices on it & it eventually worked after a number of failures.

Yeah even 128GB might be pushing it. I just realised that my iPhone X has double the storage of the iPhone 15…Apple went backwards with the minimum capacity of iPhones eh.

*~Kim~* said:
OPs 2018 iPad Pro will be 64GB as only the 1st Gen came in a 32GB variant.
Click to expand...

Yep 64GB.
 
*~Kim~* said:
OPs 2018 iPad Pro will be 64GB as only the 1st Gen came in a 32GB variant.
Click to expand...

Ah, OP didn't mention in his first post that it was the Pro model. The regular 2018 iPad 6th gen had 32GB base.

Indeed, 32GB was the base storage for regular iPads until the 2020 iPad 8th gen. I guess one good thing about that is lack of storage prevents accidental updates to iPadOS 26.
 
I think the last IOS update made future updates easier - I had installed a few Apps since the previous update so thought I’d need to manage my Apps again for the current update, but I was given the option to temporarily offload Apps (as opposed to being rejected the update & forced to offload Apps manually). Hope that continues.
 
Ralfi said:
I think the last IOS update made future updates easier - I had installed a few Apps since the previous update so thought I’d need to manage my Apps again for the current update, but I was given the option to temporarily offload Apps (as opposed to being rejected the update & forced to offload Apps manually). Hope that continues.
Click to expand...

That's been an option for a while now. Alas, I have apps that have been completely removed from the App Store and I don't want to take the risk of those getting offloaded from my device so I can only go the manual offload/delete route.
 
rui no onna said:
That's been an option for a while now. Alas, I have apps that have been completely removed from the App Store and I don't want to take the risk of those getting offloaded from my device so I can only go the manual offload/delete route.
Click to expand...
I’ve not noticed it before on iPad, only on iPhone.

It may’ve shown up this time because the storage wasn’t as full as it was prior to the last IOS update (due to many Apps still being offloaded since then)…ie. There may have only needed to be minimal Apps requiring offloading this time…?
 
I got tired of the lack of storage on my iPad 8th generation, even though connecting it to my Mac always worked for updates. So I replaced it last year. Now I can load it with lots more stuff, and still have storage issues! (Not a problem, yet.)
 
rui no onna said:
Instead of OTA updates, how about updating using Mac/PC? I think that gets around the low storage.

Unfortunately, 32GB is too little nowadays. I expect 64GB will have the same problem soon.
Click to expand...
Huh, I completely forgot that I could do that, since I essentially never attach any modern iPad's to a Mac. Thanks for reminding me. Updating my 64Gb iPad Air 4 as we speak!

That being said, I think it is amazing that Apple doesn't allow you to remove iCloud Photo Library images so one can update the machine. My iPad is 25% OS, 25% system files, 25% iCloud images I can't remove, and 25% small things or empty space, leaving me next to no room for updating. 64 GB doesn't cut it anymore, which is pretty far out.
 
Ralfi said:
Yeah, I think I may need to consider finally upgrading this 2018 iPad. Storage has brought me undone! Although typing feedback delays has become frustrating.

It was a solid device for so many years that it shouldn’t surprise that it’s finally reached its limit.

In my subconscious, I was hoping the iPhone Fold could replace the need for an iPad completely, but it’s still too early for that as 1st iterations are usually a bad investment strategy.

So what Pro model should I hold out for?
Click to expand...
To be fair that's not unique to such an old model. I get the same keyboard lag with my m4 pro plugged into a Studio Display.
 
PegLegDreg said:
To be fair that's not unique to such an old model. I get the same keyboard lag with my m4 pro plugged into a Studio Display.
Click to expand...
That’s a 2024 model? Do you also get lag on the iPad itself (not connected to an external display)?

P.S. I was able to upgrade to the latest IOS update using the Devices App on my laptop. This was after many unsuccessful attempts on my desktop PC.
 
Ralfi said:
That’s a 2024 model? Do you also get lag on the iPad itself (not connected to an external display)?

P.S. I was able to upgrade to the latest IOS update using the Devices App on my laptop. This was after many unsuccessful attempts on my desktop PC.
Click to expand...
Yeah it’s clearly powerful enough to run a display lol. Occasionally, yes. Not as repeatable. It’s lagging right now as I type this!
 
T'hain Esh Kelch said:
Huh, I completely forgot that I could do that, since I essentially never attach any modern iPad's to a Mac. Thanks for reminding me. Updating my 64Gb iPad Air 4 as we speak!

That being said, I think it is amazing that Apple doesn't allow you to remove iCloud Photo Library images so one can update the machine. My iPad is 25% OS, 25% system files, 25% iCloud images I can't remove, and 25% small things or empty space, leaving me next to no room for updating. 64 GB doesn't cut it anymore, which is pretty far out.
Click to expand...
How many GB do you have between iPadOS and System data?

My 64GB iPad Air 5 is running iPadOS 15 and I have about 13GB of iPadOS and System data

I have an 11th-gen iPad (A16) on iPadOS 18, and it’s about 11.8GB IIRC.

I heard repeated reports that iPadOS 26 ballooned system data and iPadOS storage requirements (to add yet another drawback for updating to 26 from 18 or earlier, but I digress), and that even 64GB iPads were seeing like 30+GB of system requirements, absolutely ridiculous.

This apparently only started with 26, and I can confirm that earlier versions are far better.
 
FeliApple said:
How many GB do you have between iPadOS and System data?

My 64GB iPad Air 5 is running iPadOS 15 and I have about 13GB of iPadOS and System data

I have an 11th-gen iPad (A16) on iPadOS 18, and it’s about 11.8GB IIRC.

I heard repeated reports that iPadOS 26 ballooned system data and iPadOS storage requirements (to add yet another drawback for updating to 26 from 18 or earlier, but I digress), and that even 64GB iPads were seeing like 30+GB of system requirements, absolutely ridiculous.

This apparently only started with 26, and I can confirm that earlier versions are far better.
Click to expand...
Interesting. This is ridiculous. I wonder if a total reset would fix it.

IMG_8065.jpeg
 
T'hain Esh Kelch said:
Interesting. This is ridiculous. I wonder if a total reset would fix it.

View attachment 2646427
Click to expand...
A total reset would lower the storage used, and it is in fact the only solution.

I have no idea how much storage a clean install of iPadOS 26 uses, though.

Just for reference, this is my iPad Air 5 running iPadOS 15:
IMG_0495.jpeg


10.86GB of iPadOS + System data

Just as a direct comparison, 8.2GB of that is iPadOS 15 itself. How large is your iPadOS installation?
 
FeliApple said:
A total reset would lower the storage used, and it is in fact the only solution.

I have no idea how much storage a clean install of iPadOS 26 uses, though.

Just for reference, this is my iPad Air 5 running iPadOS 15:View attachment 2646434

10.86GB of iPadOS + System data

Just as a direct comparison, 8.2GB of that is iPadOS 15 itself. How large is your iPadOS installation?
Click to expand...

The reset will help with the System Data. On my M5 Pro, iPadOS is 17.5GB, System Data is 1.07GB.
 
sparksd said:
The reset will help with the System Data. On my M5 Pro, iPadOS is 17.5GB, System Data is 1.07GB.
Click to expand...
1.07GB is rather abnormal, but I think Apple should offer a solution. They can’t expect people to keep resetting devices and setting up as new.

I don’t really care anymore, but my iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12 has like 23GB of system data and I can’t do anything about it. I obviously can’t restore and set up as new, I’d lose iOS 12.

This has plagued iOS from the beginning. It is ludicrous, appalling and ridiculous that Apple offers no solution.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back