The iPad Air 13 inch with the M2 chip starts at 128 gigabytes and has no memory card slot, so a Storage Almost Full message is solved only by finding and removing what is large, or by moving it to iCloud or a computer. Open Settings, General, iPad Storage and wait for the bar to fill; it lists apps by size and gives recommendations. On a large iPad used for drawing, notes, video and games, the biggest items are usually media and apps:
The checks in more detail
photos and videos in the Photos app, large games, creative apps with project files and offline downloads in streaming and map apps. The list shows each app's size and a Documents and Data figure, which is the space taken by its files. Work down the list. Offload Unused Apps removes apps you rarely use but keeps their data, so they can be reinstalled later, and it can be turned on automatically. Delete the biggest games or media you no longer use.
In Photos, check iCloud Photos and Optimize iPad Storage, which keeps small versions on the iPad and the originals in iCloud, and delete the Recently Deleted album, which holds items for thirty days. In Files, review Downloads and the On My iPad folder, and delete large files you do not need. Remove offline downloads from streaming apps, and clear the cache of the browser in Settings, Apps, Safari, Clear History and Website Data. Creative apps need special care. A drawing or video app may keep many gigabytes of projects and caches, so export finished work to iCloud Drive or a computer, then delete the local copy.
System Data can look large, and a restart sometimes reduces it. Keep at least a tenth of the storage free so iPadOS can update and apps can work. If you are always short, store files in iCloud Drive, use an external USB-C drive, which the iPad Air can read in Files, or choose a larger iPad next time. Back up before deleting anything you cannot replace. If the figures do not match what you expect after a restart, contact Apple Support.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple iPad Air 13-inch storage is full or the device cannot install updates”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Photos and videos
What separates it Photos is the largest item
How to confirm Use iCloud Photos with Optimize iPad Storage
- 2
Large games and creative app projects
What separates it Apps hold many gigabytes
How to confirm Offload or export projects
- 3
Offline downloads
What separates it Streaming and map apps keep content
How to confirm Remove offline downloads
- 4
Recently Deleted items
What separates it Space does not return
How to confirm Empty Recently Deleted
- 5
A base model with no card slot
What separates it The iPad is always nearly full
How to confirm Use iCloud or an external USB-C drive
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The storage bar and biggest apps
- Whether iCloud Photos is on
- The model's capacity
- Whether a backup exists
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedOpen iPad Storage
ReversibleIn General.
Offload unused apps
ReversibleKeep their data.
Use Optimize iPad Storage
ReversibleIn Photos.
Empty Recently Deleted
ReversibleIn Photos.
Export big projects
ReversibleThen delete them locally.
Restart
ReversibleTo refresh the figure.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- 128 GB start
- The base iPad Air fills quickly.
- Creative apps
- Projects and caches take space.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the figures stay wrong after a restart, contact Apple Support
- !If you are always short, use iCloud or an external drive
- !Back up first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Can I add a memory card?+
No, the iPad Air has no slot.
What does offloading do?+
It removes the app but keeps its data.
How much should I keep free?+
About ten percent.
Can I use an external drive?+
Yes, a USB-C drive in Files.