How to Expand the Storage on Your iPad (2024)

One disadvantage of the iPad is the lack of an easy way to expand its internal storage capacity.While the latest iPads come with at least 128 GB of storage, and you can opt for models with as much as 2 TB if you buy an iPad Pro, you might need more storage due to demanding apps and extensive video and photo collections.

Whether you have an older iPad with meager storage or you're looking for ways to increase your iPad's storage capacity, here are some tips for creating more storage on your iPad.

Use Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is a great way to store documents, photos, and videos.This won't expand the storage available for your apps, but it will help offload every other kind of file, which will leave more room for apps.

Cloud storage uses the internet as a second hard drive. It uses the storage space from an external location for your storage needs.The iPad comes with iCloud Drive for this very purpose, but Dropbox and Google Drive are other good options. Most cloud storage solutions also offer some free space to get you started.

The best part about cloud storage is that it is disaster-proof. No matter what happens to your iPad, the files stored online will still be there. Even if you lose your iPad and have to replace it, you'll be able to access your data.

The best use of cloud storage is for photos and especially videos.This type of media takes up a surprising amount of space, so cleaning out a photo collection and moving it to the cloud can free up several gigabytes of space.

Stream Your Music and Movies

Music and movies also take up space on an iPad, which is why it's better to stream them instead of store them.If you own digital movies, stream them directly to your iPad with the TV app without downloading them.The TV app works with most streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

You can also opt to watch free videos. Lots of websites stream free movies and free TV shows. For these, all you need is the app. None of the video streams take up space on your iPad because you're not downloading them.

Instead of storing all your music on your iPad, use a music streaming site to listen without using any local storage. One option is Apple Music, which includes iTunes Match. iTunes Match analyzes your Apple Music library and streams the music to your Apple devices.

Attach an External Drive or Flash Drive

Attaching an external drive to your iPad is an excellent way to increase its storage capacity. With iPadOS and its file-management capabilities, the iPad gained the ability to support external drives and USB-based flash drives. This allows you to store media files on inexpensive external storage and save your iPad space for critical apps.

To connect an external hard drive, USB drive, or SD card reader to your iPad, use a compatible adapter to attach it to your iPad's charging port. Then, use the Files app to view the drive's contents.

Here are some tips about attaching external storage to your iPad:

• When choosing an external hard drive or a USB flash drive, make sure it works with the iPad. Somewhere on the product's description page should indicate this.
• Depending on your iPad's port, you'll need an adapter to convert it to a Lightning connection. Otherwise, USB-C drives will attach directly to your iPad's USB-C port.
• Wireless drives can connect to your iPad over a dedicated wireless connection. Since they're portable, you can dedicate multiple drives to specific purposes.

Free Up Space on Your iPad

If you've exhausted options for external storage, consider freeing up as much space as possible on your iPad to maximize your current storage situation.

Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage and assess your remaining free space. Start by deleting unused apps and check bloated apps for unnecessary media collections. For example, Netflix, your podcasting app, YouTube, etc., may have offline files you no longer need.

If you have your Messages app synced to your iPad, stop unnecessary storage of files and attachments by limiting how long you keep messages to 30 days. Clearing your browser cache can also free up space.