iPad and tablets: free up storage space
If your iPad or Android tablet says Storage Almost Full, it can stop updates, photos and apps working. The good news is that you can usually find a lot of space without losing anything important.
See what is using the space
- iPad: go to Settings then General then iPad Storage. Wait a moment for it to load. It lists apps by size and gives suggestions.
- Android tablet: go to Settings then Storage. On Samsung it may be under Battery and device care then Storage. Wording differs between makes.
Look at the biggest items first. Usually this is photos, videos, downloaded films and shows, games and messaging apps.
Quick wins
- Delete downloaded films, programmes and music you have finished with, in apps such as Netflix, iPlayer or Spotify.
- Remove games and apps you no longer use.
- On iPad, use Offload Unused Apps. This removes the app but keeps its data, so reinstalling restores it.
- Review large videos in Photos and delete the ones you do not need.
- Open Messages or WhatsApp and look at the storage options for large attachments.
Protect your photos first
Before deleting photos, make sure they are backed up.
- Turn on iCloud Photos (iPad) or Google Photos backup (Android).
- Wait for the upload to finish. Check them online on another device.
- On iPad, Optimise iPad Storage keeps smaller copies on the device and the full ones in iCloud.
Deleted photos usually sit in a Recently Deleted album for around 30 days, so empty it if you need the space straight away. Do this only if you are sure.
Clear app caches
On Android, go to Settings then Apps, pick an app, then Storage and Clear cache. This is safe. Avoid Clear data unless you accept losing settings.
When to get more help
Get help if there is a huge amount marked System Data or Other and you do not know what it is, if storage fills up again quickly, or if your tablet is too full to update. We can help move files to a computer or cloud storage safely.