8 Best Ways to Free Up Storage on iPad
Once you know what’s taking up space, it’s time to reclaim it. We’ve tested nearly every method, and these are the strategies that actually work. Whether you need a major storage cleanup or a quick pre-trip tidy, these steps will help.
Method 1: Clean Up Photos and Videos
For most iPads, the Photos app is the biggest storage culprit.
You probably already know the manual method — scroll, select, delete — but that can take forever. Instead, let’s focus on smarter, faster ways to clear out photos and videos.
We recently tested a bunch of iPad cleaner apps and found some great ones. For this guide, we’ll show you Clever Cleaner: AI CleanUp App, which earned a top spot in our rankings thanks to its impressive performance and cleanup power. On top of that, it’s completely free. No hidden fees, no credit card required—absolutely anyone can try it without strings attached. It also has a bunch of tools designed specifically to tidy up your photo library:
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Similars – Finds and removes not just duplicates, but visually similar photos using AI. While your iPad’s built-in Duplicates album only merges exact matches (and sometimes takes forever to show anything), this tool spots any near-duplicates with ease.
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Screenshots – Clears out all those random screenshots in one tap.
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Lives – Converts Live Photos into still images. You keep the photo, lose the extra video clip, and save serious space. We haven’t seen this feature in many other apps.
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Heavies – Sorts your photos and videos by file size, biggest to smallest. You can target just a few massive 4K videos and free up gigabytes without touching the rest of your library.
Here’s a short guide on how you can, in seconds, clean your iPad’s library from duplicates and similar images:
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Download Clever Cleaner from the App Store. It’s free, no signup needed.
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Go to the ‘Similars’ tab. Tap ‘Smart Cleanup’. The app will detect similar and duplicate images in seconds.
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Review the suggested deletions. If there’s a photo you want to keep, tap ‘Restore’ to remove it from the selection—or tap ‘Restore All’ if you’ve changed your mind.
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If everything looks good, use ‘Slide to delete’ and confirm to remove all the unwanted files.
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You can also, tap on a group to manually choose which photos to keep or delete. The app automatically picks the “Best Shot” in each group, but you can change it if you prefer another one.
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When ready, tap ‘Move to Trash’ to delete the selected photos—or tap ‘Skip All’ to move on to the next group.
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Once you’re done, tap ‘Empty Trash’ and confirm the deletion to remove the files.
According to the Clever Cleaner official website, the app supports iPads in compatibility mode, since it was originally designed for iPhones. In our experience, it runs smoothly on iPads — no glitches, no crashes, and everything is fast. Considering it’s 100% free and ad-free, it’s hard to find any downside.
Using an app like this is a quick and easy way to free up significant storage on your iPad. Even better, it helps keep your storage organized long-term — just run the app occasionally, and you’re set.
Important: Whether you delete photos manually or with an app, they first go to Recently Deleted. To free up space immediately, open the Photos app, scroll down to Recently Deleted, tap Select, then Delete All. This permanently removes the files and instantly frees up storage.
Method 2: Review and Delete Unnecessary Apps
Another major storage hog on iPads is Applications. Many apps, especially games, video editors, design tools, and streaming platforms, can take up far more space than expected. Deleting apps you no longer use can free up gigabytes in just a few taps.
Some games alone can occupy 3–5 GB, and with cached data, it’s easy to lose 10+ GB on apps you haven’t opened in months. Removing these is one of the fastest ways to reclaim iPad storage.
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Open the Settings app. This is where you can manage all your device settings, including storage.
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In the Settings menu, tap ‘General’ and then ‘iPad Storage’.
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Give it a moment to load and then scroll through the list to see which apps are using the most space. Consider how often you use each app and whether it’s worth the space it’s taking up.
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Tap on an app that you want to remove, then choose “Delete App” on the app’s info page.
When you delete an app, it removes the app itself and all its cached data, making it the most effective way to free up space in one step. Don’t worry — you can always reinstall important apps later if you only deleted them to clear cached data.
Some apps, like Snapchat, WhatsApp, or Telegram, allow you to clear temporary files inside the app — cached videos, chat media, or downloaded files — which can often take up gigabytes. You’ll usually find these options under Data or Storage in the app’s settings.
Most apps don’t provide that option, so deleting them is a sure way to wipe everything. In Settings > iPad Storage, you can also sort apps by Last Used date, helping you spot not only the largest apps but also those you haven’t opened in months. If storage is tight, removing rarely used apps is a smart move.
Tip: Instead of fully deleting an app, consider the “Offload App” feature. It’s right next to “Delete App.” The difference:
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Delete App removes the app and all its data.
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Offload App removes only the app but keeps documents and data. Reinstall it later, and everything will be just as you left it.
Method 3: Clear Safari Cache and Website Data
If you want to free up space without deleting apps, your Safari browser is a good place to start. Safari stores temporary files like browsing history, cookies, cached images, and saved website data.
You can’t delete Apple’s native browser, but you can clear its cache to free up iPad storage in seconds:
Tap the Settings icon on your iPad’s home screen.
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Scroll down and select Safari from the list to access its settings.
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Find the “Clear History and Website Data” option and tap it, then confirm your choice.
That’s it — clearing Safari’s cache won’t affect your bookmarks or saved passwords, just the temporary junk it collects over time.
For other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or any third-party app, you can’t clear cache through iPad settings. You’ll need to open the app, go to its settings, and find the option to clear cached data manually.
Many users have freed over 2GB of space this way — especially if they browse frequently or haven’t cleared it in a long time. It’s a small step, but it adds up.
Method 4: Clear Up Downloads
Another often-overlooked way to free up iPad storage is the Downloads folder. Over time, it can fill up with large files — PDFs, ZIPs, images, videos, and other random downloads from the web.
To find them:
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Open the ‘Files’ app.
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Tap ‘Browse’.
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Go to ‘On My iPad’.
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Open the ‘Downloads’ folder (or any app folder where you save files).
From the Downloads folder, sort by size or date and delete anything you no longer need. You might be surprised how many old school files, invoices, or duplicate documents have piled up over time.
Many third-party apps — like VLC, Adobe Reader, or even messaging apps — can store downloaded content as well. If you’ve saved videos to watch offline or opened large documents in another app, it’s worth checking their folders inside Files.
A quick cleanup here can free up more space than you’d expect, and it only takes a minute.
Method 5: Clean Up Media and Music
If you like having movies, music, or podcasts available offline — for travel or poor Wi-Fi — these files can quickly eat up your storage. A single TV episode can easily take over 500MB, making media one of the biggest hidden culprits for storage buildup.
To free up space, check your downloaded media files and remove anything you no longer need.
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Open the Music or TV app to see what you have downloaded.
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Delete any music, movies, or TV shows that you no longer need offline.
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Consider using streaming services instead of storing files directly on your device. Streaming content requires less storage, keeping your device’s memory free for other uses.
Tip: Start with videos first — they’re usually the biggest space hogs compared to music. Just a few full-length movies or HD shows can take up several gigabytes. Clearing those alone might free up enough space that you don’t even need to touch anything else.
Method 6: Utilize Cloud Services for Storage
Another smart way to free up iPad storage is by using the cloud. You don’t need to store everything locally — photos, videos, and documents you rarely access can live in the cloud instead.
Cloud storage can help unburden your iPad while keeping your files accessible whenever you need them. You can use Apple’s iCloud or other third-party cloud services.
Use iCloud to Free Up Physical Storage
iCloud is built into every Apple device and provides a seamless way to manage your storage directly from your iPad. You can move photos, videos, and documents to iCloud to free up local space without losing access to them.
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Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, and toggle on iCloud Drive. iCloud Drive stores your documents and data in the cloud, reducing the need for local storage on your device.
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In the same iCloud settings, select Photos and then choose ‘Optimize iPad Storage’. This setting automatically replaces full-resolution photos and videos with smaller, device-sized versions on your iPad, while full-resolution originals are kept in iCloud.
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Use iCloud to back up data from apps that support iCloud integration. This can be managed under the Apps Using iCloud section. By storing app data in iCloud, you keep your device’s internal storage free for other important uses.
Note: Apple only provides 5GB of free iCloud storage, which can fill up quickly if you have years of photos, videos, and device backups. You can upgrade to a paid plan, but it’s something to keep in mind. Also, because iCloud stores full-resolution files online, you’ll need a reliable internet connection to access them when they aren’t saved locally. It’s convenient, but not perfect for every situation.
Alternative Cloud Storage Solutions
If iCloud isn’t enough—or if you want other options—there are plenty of third-party cloud services that offer competitive features and larger storage plans.
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Google Drive: A flexible pick if you work with all kinds of files and like using Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides. You get 15GB of free space, and it’s great for backing up photos, documents, and random downloads you don’t need sitting on your iPad.
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Dropbox: Simple, reliable, and easy to use. You start with 2GB of free space, but you can earn more with referrals. Works well for both personal and work files, and syncing across devices is smooth.
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Microsoft OneDrive: Perfect if you’re already using Office apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. OneDrive connects with those apps directly and gives you 5GB of free storage to start. A great option if you’re deep in the Microsoft world.
Note: Third-party cloud alternatives can be a great way to free up iPad storage, but they aren’t as seamlessly integrated as Apple’s iCloud. You may need to manage files manually, and they won’t sync as smoothly across all apps. Still, for backing up large files or offloading content, they get the job done.
Method 7: Check and Clean System Storage
If you peeked at your iPad Storage screen and noticed a large chunk labeled System, you’re not alone. No details, no breakdown—just a big block of storage.
Before iPadOS 15, this category was called Other, but it’s the same concept under a new name.
The System category includes a mix of:
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System files
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App caches
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Safari data
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Siri voices
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Voice Memos
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Logs
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Leftovers from iOS updates
It can take up a surprisingly large amount of space without showing up under any individual app.
There isn’t a single button to clear it all, but you can chip away gradually. For example, cleaning up Voice Memos is one way to free up storage on your iPad
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Open the ‘Voice Memos’ app.
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Tap ‘Edit’ in the top-right corner.
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Select the recordings you no longer need.
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Tap ‘Delete’.
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Then go to ‘Recently Deleted’ and clear them from there too.
We’ve seen iPads with years’ worth of forgotten Voice Memos, some over 100MB each. If you record often or keep long clips, cleaning out old memos alone can free up several gigabytes. And that’s just one example—you can apply the same idea to Safari caches, app leftovers, and other system storage areas.
We also have a full guide on clearing iPad system data if you want more detailed options.
Method 8: Reset iPad to Factory Settings
If all else fails or you’re thinking, “I still need more space!”, this is the ultimate solution. Resetting your iPad to factory settings wipes everything and restores it to its out-of-the-box state.
When do we personally recommend a full reset? Only if you have no important data left on the iPad. If your photos, videos, and documents are safely backed up to a Mac, PC, or cloud service, a reset gives you a clean slate to start fresh.
Important: Before doing this, make sure to back up your data. You can use iCloud or back up to a Mac or PC via Finder or iTunes.
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Tap on the Settings app on your home screen.
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Scroll down in the Settings menu and tap on ‘General’, then select ‘Transfer or Reset iPad’.
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Confirm your choice and if prompted, enter your device’s passcode or Apple ID password. This step initiates the process of wiping your iPad completely, which includes all apps, files, and personal data, thereby freeing up all the storage.
After completing the reset, your iPad will restart like it’s brand new, with all storage restored and ready for fresh use. This method is ideal if you want to thoroughly clear out space and start over without leftover clutter.
Once the reset is done, you can restore your data from a backup—either via iCloud or your computer—and you’re all set. Your system is clean, storage is fresh, and all unnecessary files are gone. It takes a little effort, but for an overloaded iPad, it can feel like a completely new device.
Final Words
We’ve listed these methods in the order that worked best for us—starting with the ones that usually free up the most iPad storage. For most people, the first three methods—cleaning photos and videos, removing unused apps, and clearing Safari cache—will immediately free a significant amount of space. Almost everyone has leftover media, forgotten apps, or cached browser data, even if they don’t realize it.
The other methods depend on your usage. If you download movies, shows, or podcasts for offline use, that can be a gold mine for freeing up storage. The same goes for Voice Memos, heavy downloads, and managing cloud files.
We’ve also seen rare cases where storage numbers don’t add up—for example, an iPad showing nearly full when it barely has anything stored. These glitches are uncommon but can happen. Usually, a full backup and restore fixes the issue.
If you have more questions, check the FAQ section—we’ve covered common scenarios there. Still stuck? You can contact us directly or start a discussion in our forum.
Other helpful communities include the Apple Support Community or r/ipad on Reddit—someone there has almost certainly faced the same problem and can offer advice.