prepare iPad 8gen. with 32GB free memory for iOS26 update

Question

Level 1

4 points

prepare iPad 8gen. with 32GB free memory for iOS26 update

Situation: iOS 26 requires 14,56GB memory

I have removed all apps I can delete from iPad (minor apps left like files with 400kB data) and I have now 12,4GB free space. But system and system data take together 11,03GB+7,31GB=18,34 GB . This means reducing this from 32-18,34=13,76 -> is less than required by iOS26 14,56GB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So even in case I would delete all apps, which is no possible. I would not have enough space for iOS26 in my iPad.

If I would do factory reset, would this bring me enough space in iPad to upgrade to iOS26? or any other scenario available? Would I be able to directly update to iOS26 after factory reset?

How Apple engineers figured out to update the iPads with 32GB of storage when they released iOS26?

iPad, iPadOS 18

Posted on Sep 16, 2025 03:25 AM

Reply

Answer 1

WheelieNick

Level 8

45,671 points

Sep 16, 2025 04:24 AM in response to jari3jw

You should delete other things like photos. If your system storage is way too high, a forced restart can help

1. Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button until your device begins to restart.

On your iPad with a Home button

Press and hold both the Home button and the top button until you see the Apple logo.

If you still have not enough space, you might want to update via a pc or Mac instead of wireless, this tends to use less space

On Macs running macOS Catalina or newer:

1. Connect your iPad to the Mac with a cable.

2. Select your iPad, then click General at the top of the window.

3. Click Check for Update.

4. To install an available update, click Update.

On Macs running macOS Mojave or a Windows PC:

1. Connect your iPad to the Mac or PC with a cable.

2. Open the iTunes app, click the button resembling an iPad near the top left of the iTunes window, then click Summary.

3. Click Check for Update.

4. To install an available update, click Update.

Updating/Upgrading iPad - Apple Community

Reply

Answer 2

jari3jw Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 16, 2025 05:45 AM in response to WheelieNick

@WheelieNick Thanks for the answer. Perhaps I was a bit unclear with my problem.

Update of system is not my target, but upgrade to iOS26 - connecting iPad to my Mac doesn't offer option to upgrade only update is possible - or I don't know how to do it. Here is screenshot of the memory status:

I don't have from the bottom the need for iPadOS but it is 11,03GB and for System dataGB (I think deleting photos will not improve this).

Now The max memory of the iPad is 32GB and when you do the math 32GB-11,03GB(iOS)-7,42GB(system data)=13,55GB. So my conclusion is following: even though I would/could delete all applications, photos, emails, files etc. the iPad wouldn't have enough free memory to upgrade to iOS 26 which needs 14,56GB, I would still need 1,01 GB more memory to be released from the iPadOS or system data.

[Edited by Moderator]

Reply

Answer 3

jari3jw Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 16, 2025 06:34 AM in response to jari3jw

Also when I reset the iPad, the improvement is still not enough to free up memory from system. It just reduced system memory from 7,03GB to 6,29GB. Now it in principle is then 14,66GB (based on actual memory capacity of 31,98GB-iPadOS 11,03GB-System data 6,29GB) so just about enough to upgrade, but on the condition I could delete Mail, Safari, Maps, iCloud Drive etc. apps for which I do not have delete button available. Now the free memory is 13,42GB.

Reply

Answer 4

jari3jw Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 17, 2025 08:16 AM in response to jari3jw

So I reset the iPad to factory settings and after that upgraded the iPad to iOS26. Seems to be only option. Though at the time I got this upgrade option the downloadable file size was drastically reduced compared to the above given 14,26GB reported by the update feature in iPad. I missed to record it down, but it showed about 4,xxGB to be downloaded. So either Apple did reduce the size for upgrade or due to fresh start the size of upgrade was smaller.

A wish towards Apple - please keep your iPad updates at the minimum size to make it easier to update the iPads with 32GB memory without a serious need to remove apps, empty the memory etc. Thanks. I will in return try to keep additional space in memory like 4-6GB. I think that should be feasible for iOS updates.

Reply

Answer 5

Sep 17, 2025 08:31 AM in response to jari3jw

jari3jw wrote:

A wish towards Apple - please keep your iPad updates at the minimum size to make it easier to update the iPads with 32GB memory without a serious need to remove apps, empty the memory etc. Thanks. I will in return try to keep additional space in memory like 4-6GB. I think that should be feasible for iOS updates.

A system software update requires sufficient space for the update package to be downloaded, unpacked and then verified prior to installation. Major version updates (such as updating from iPadOS 18.x to iPadOS 26) require considerably more space than an incremental point-update. After the update is successfully completed, temporary files are automatically deleted - returning free space.

Regrettably, you are always going to struggle with an iPad that has so little internal storage. The 32/64GB devices are primarily intended for use in Educational settings, or in environments where the ability to store local data on the device is not required. Using a Mac computer or Windows PC can help with system software updates - as the update package is initially downloaded to the computer, unpacked and verified by the computer, prior to the computer installing the updated system software on the target device.

An alternative strategy is to ensure that you have either an iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPad - and then completely erase the iPad. With no user-data present, you should be able to update the iPad; once updated, you can restore your backup to the iPad.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Erase all content and settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content & Settings

After the reset, set-up the iPad with your AppleID - but do not restore the backup. Perform the system software update using whichever method works for you.

Finally, restore the backup to your iPad:

Restore all content to iPad from a backup - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 6

Allan Jones

Level 9

76,616 points

Sep 17, 2025 10:35 AM in response to jari3jw

...connecting iPad to my Mac doesn't offer option to upgrade only update is possible

You may have encountered a little bug in macOS I found when I tried to update my iPhone Monday. I had the phone connected and recognized by my M4 Pro Macbook Pro.

After backing up I clicked the Update button to install iOS 26 on the iPhone. Nothing happened on several tries. I walked ways and, on returning, moved the Finder window showing the iPhone aside to look for something else in the Desktop.

UNDER the Finder window was an advisory to install a small update on the Mac. I did the little updater and had no further issues with installed 26 on my iPhone or my wife's.

The bug: the advisory should have appeared in FRONT of the Finder window. So drag your finder window out of the center of the Mac dispaly an see if the advisory is there. See this Apple article for a descriptionof the updater message:

If your Mac says that a software update is required to connect to iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 7

Katana-San

Level 9

78,595 points

Sep 17, 2025 08:19 AM in response to jari3jw

Hello~ It’s not likely that an iPad with only 32gb of space will serve you well in the future. It may be time to look at a model with more storage space.

~Katana-San~

Reply