Wondering how to get more storage on iPad without investing in a new device? That frustrating "Storage Almost Full" notification can disrupt your productivity and enjoyment at the most inconvenient times.
The good news is you don't need to purchase a new iPad to solve storage problems. With a few simple strategies, you can reclaim significant space on your current device. This guide walks you through practical, effective methods to free up storage and optimize your iPad's performance—all without spending money on hardware upgrades.
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First: Check Your Storage Usage
Before tackling your iPad storage issues, you need to understand what's currently using up your space. Taking a few minutes to analyze your storage breakdown will help you make smart decisions about what to keep and what to remove.
How to View Storage Breakdown
To check your iPad storage usage, go to Settings > General > iPad Storage.
Your device will display used and available storage at the top with a color-coded graph showing how space is divided among Apps, Photos, Videos, System, and Other categories.
iOS provides storage optimization recommendations like offloading unused apps or enabling iCloud features. Allow a moment for this screen to fully load as your iPad analyzes all files.
Identifying Storage-Hogging Apps
On the iPad Storage screen, you'll see all apps sorted by size, making it easy to identify storage-hungry applications.
Tap any app to view its App Size (application code) and Documents & Data (created/downloaded content).
Gaming apps often consume substantial space—games like Call of Duty can take over 50GB. Social media apps accumulate cached media over time, while streaming apps may store forgotten downloads.
Delete Unused Apps and Games
Apps and games can take up significant space on your iPad. Finding and removing those you no longer use is a quick way to free up storage without losing anything important.
Identifying Rarely Used Applications
Your iPad storage breakdown also shows when you last used each app, helping you identify rarely accessed applications.
Look for these commonly abandoned apps:
- Fitness trackers
- Travel apps
- Photo editors
- Games
- Shopping apps
- Educational apps
- Weather apps
- Document scanners
- Social media platforms
- Utility apps
Offloading Apps vs. Deleting Apps
You have two options when removing apps: offloading or deleting.
Offloading an app removes the app itself but keeps all your data and documents. When you reinstall the app later, your data will still be there. This is perfect for large apps you use occasionally.
To offload manually, go back to your iPad storage breakdown, select an app, and tap "Offload App."
Deleting an app removes both the app and all associated data. This provides more space but means you'll start fresh if you reinstall.
To delete, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until it wiggles, then tap the "X" or minus sign.
Your iPad can also automatically offload unused apps when storage is low. Enable this in Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps.
Clean Up Photos and Videos
Photos and videos are often the biggest storage hogs on iPads. Managing them effectively can free up significant space without requiring you to purchase more storage.
Using iCloud Photos Optimization
iCloud Photos saves space while keeping your entire photo library accessible. When using "Optimize iPad Storage," full-resolution media stays in iCloud while smaller versions remain on your device.
Enable this by going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos. Turn on "iCloud Photos" and select "Optimize iPad Storage."
This setting automatically manages your photo storage, replacing full-resolution media with optimized versions when space runs low. You'll still see your complete library while using significantly less storage.
Deleting Duplicates and Screenshots
iPads often accumulate duplicate photos and unnecessary screenshots that waste storage space. Removing these can free up considerable storage.
Open Photos app and tap Albums. Find the "Duplicates" album to identify and merge identical images. Check the "Screenshots" album and delete unneeded captures.
Also review space-wasting categories like screen recordings, burst shots, and downloaded images. Remember to empty "Recently Deleted" afterward, as photos remain there for 30 days.
Backing Up to External Services
Moving photos to external services frees up iPad storage while keeping your memories safe. Several reliable options exist beyond iCloud.
Google Photos offers 15GB of free storage across Google services. The app can automatically back up your photos and videos, allowing you to delete them from your iPad afterward.
Amazon Photos provides unlimited full-resolution photo storage for Prime members. It's an excellent option if you already subscribe to Amazon Prime.
Other good choices include:
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- External hard drives (using Files app)
After backing up, verify your photos appear in the service before deleting them from your iPad. Then select multiple photos in the Photos app, tap the trash icon, and confirm deletion.
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Clear Safari Cache and Browsing Data
Safari stores temporary files and browsing history that can take up valuable space on your iPad. Clearing this data regularly helps free up storage and can improve performance.
Removing Website Data
To clear Safari's cache and history, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. This removes browsing history, cookies, and cached data occupying storage.
For a targeted approach, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data to see which sites store data and how much space each uses. Swipe left on individual sites to remove them or tap "Remove All Website Data."
Clearing cache files not only frees space but helps Safari run more smoothly. Consider doing this every few weeks.
Managing Downloaded Content
Safari may store forgotten downloaded files. Check your Downloads folder by opening Safari and tapping the download icon (arrow pointing down) in the top right corner.
Delete unnecessary downloads by swiping left on files and tapping "Delete." Manage download settings at Settings > Safari > Downloads, where you can change storage locations or set automatic removal.
Safari also stores offline reading list articles. Clear these at Settings > Safari > Reading List. Toggle off "Automatically Save Offline" or tap "Clear" next to "Offline Reading List."
Manage Messages and Attachments
Text messages and their attachments can quickly fill up your iPad storage without you noticing. These files accumulate over time as you share photos, videos, and documents through the Messages app.
Deleting Old Conversations
Removing entire message threads can free up significant space. Open Messages app and swipe left on any conversation, then tap "Delete."
For a thorough cleanup, go to Settings > General > iPad Storage > Messages to see space usage. Set auto-deletion by navigating to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages and selecting 30 Days or 1 Year instead of Forever.
Remember that deleted messages cannot be recovered without a backup, so save important conversations first.
Removing Large Attachments
Large media files sent through Messages often consume the most storage space. To find and remove these:
- Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage
- Tap on Messages
- Select "Review Large Attachments"
This displays attachments sorted by size. Tap "Edit," select unwanted files, and tap "Delete" to remove them.
Alternatively, delete attachments directly in conversations by long-pressing a photo or video, tapping "More," selecting items, then tapping the trash icon. Save important attachments first by long-pressing and choosing "Save."
Use Cloud Storage Solutions
Cloud storage helps your iPad work with more files without using up internal storage. Your files live safely online, and you only download them when needed.
iCloud Storage Options
Apple's iCloud gives you 5GB of free storage to start. When you need more space, you can upgrade to iCloud+ with larger plans. Current options include 50GB, 200GB, and 2TB of storage.
To upgrade your iCloud storage:
- Open Settings on your iPad
- Tap your name at the top
- Tap iCloud
- Select "Manage Account Storage" or "Manage Storage"
- Tap "Change Storage Plan"
- Choose your preferred plan size
- Confirm your purchase
Third-Party Cloud Services (Dropbox, Google Drive)
Many cloud services offer generous free storage and paid upgrades. Google Drive gives you 15GB free, while Dropbox starts with 2GB.
Popular cloud storage options include:
- Google Drive: Great for document collaboration
- Dropbox: Simple file sharing and syncing
- Box: Business-focused with strong security
- Microsoft OneDrive: Works well with Office documents
External Storage Solutions
Your iPad doesn't need to run out of space thanks to external storage options. These devices connect directly to your iPad and provide instant storage expansion without complicated setup.
Compatible External Drives
iPads work with various external storage devices. USB-C iPads (Pro models since 2018, iPad Air 4th+ gen, iPad mini 6th gen) support standard external drives from Samsung, Western Digital, and Seagate.
Lightning port iPads (standard iPad up to 9th gen, older models) require specialized drives like SanDisk iXpand or adapters with MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad) certification.
To use external drives with iPad:
- Connect the drive to your iPad's port
- Open the Files app
- Look for the drive under "Locations"
- Tap to browse, copy, move or open files
- Eject safely by long-pressing the drive name and selecting "Eject"
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Conclusion: How to Get More Storage on iPad
Maximizing your iPad storage doesn't require purchasing a new device. With the strategies outlined above, you can reclaim significant space and optimize performance through regular maintenance and smart storage decisions.
Remember that digital decluttering is an ongoing process. Schedule monthly cleanups to prevent storage issues from recurring. If you've tried these methods and still need more space, external storage solutions provide an excellent alternative to upgrading your entire device.
Want to dramatically expand your iPad's capacity? Check out our guide on how to add 2TB of storage to your iPad for advanced storage solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions: How To Get More Storage on iPad
Can you increase storage on iPad?
You can't physically increase the internal storage of an iPad. However, you can free up space by deleting unused content and offloading apps. Cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox can extend your effective storage capacity.
Can you add external storage to an iPad?
Yes, you can connect external storage devices to modern iPads with USB-C ports or Lightning ports using appropriate adapters. Compatible SSDs and flash drives work with iPads and can be accessed through the Files app. Always check compatibility before purchasing external storage solutions.
Is a 64GB iPad enough?
A 64GB iPad suffices for web browsing, streaming services, and basic apps if you store most content in the cloud. This capacity works well for casual users who don't download many large games or create extensive media. Power users who download numerous apps or store photos and videos locally will find 64GB restrictive.
How to update iPad when storage is full?
Free up space by removing unused apps and media files in Settings > General > iPad Storage. Enable the "Offload Unused Apps" option to remove apps while keeping their data intact. Alternatively, connect to a computer and update through iTunes/Finder, which requires less free space on the iPad itself.
