iPad storage not adding up

[speedyink]

I need some Apple gurus. I'm helping my friend with his iPad, he's getting a "Low storage space" error. Now here's the kicker, it's a 128gb iPad and under the settings it reports like 20gb used. So I googled it and apparently it's a known issue, and I'm supposed to backup and restore or whatever. Is this possible with no computer, since this guy doesn't have a home computer? Am I going to have to pair this to my computer in order to get this thing fixed? Is there a better way to do this? Is there any way to avoid this in the future? I don't understand how this would happen in the first place, there's no way there's 100gb of "Other" junk that's accumulated in like the one year he's had it. He's not the type to download much or message or anything. I just don't get it.

 

[voyagerfan99]

You're best off doing the backup and restore with your computer. I don't know how well an iCloud backup would work from the iPad itself.

 

[The VCR King]

You're best off doing the backup and restore with your computer. I don't know how well an iCloud backup would work from the iPad itself.

I've had this issue before with my iPhone. Sounds like he's running low on iCloud storage, not storage on the physical device.

 

[speedyink]

I've had this issue before with my iPhone. Sounds like he's running low on iCloud storage, not storage on the physical device.

No, he has not set up iCloud. In "Storage and iCloud usage" the Storage section says 113GB used, 826MB free. The iCloud section is greyed out. When adding up the space under "Manage Storage" it adds up to maybe around 14GB, well short of the reported 113GB used.

 

[The VCR King]

No, he has not set up iCloud. In "Storage and iCloud usage" the Storage section says 113GB used, 826MB free. The iCloud section is greyed out. When adding up the space under "Manage Storage" it adds up to maybe around 14GB, well short of the reported 113GB used.

That's iOS 9 for you. Several updates later and Apple still can't get it right. I hate iOS 9. I really want to jailbreak my iPhone :/

 

[voyagerfan99]

I hate iOS 9.

Nexus is your friend.

https://store.google.com/product/nexus_5x

 

[speedyink]

That's iOS 9 for you. Several updates later and Apple still can't get it right. I hate iOS 9. I really want to jailbreak my iPhone :/

It seems highly ridiculous that this could happen. I mean 100GB of lost space, really Apple? Last time I recommend an Apple product to anyone. I don't have the patience for it anymore, Apple products just don't work the way they're supposed to.

 

[johnb35]

What does he use the Ipad for generally? Been reading articles about movies being watched that are actually being stored on the device instead of just being streamed by it.

 

[speedyink]

What does he use the Ipad for generally? Been reading articles about movies being watched that are actually being stored on the device instead of just being streamed by it.

Email, google earth, general internet device. He does not watch movies on it. Good thinking though. He doesn't even listen to music on it, although possibly some Youtube videos, but those shouldn't store on the device, right?

 

[voyagerfan99]

Email, google earth, general internet device. He does not watch movies on it. Good thinking though, he doesn't even listen to music on it though. Although Possibly some Youtube videos, but those shouldn't store on the device, right?

They'd store some cache but it should be minimal. Even with all the YouTube videos I watch on my phone, the cache only takes up 250MB or so.

 

[johnb35]

I don't know. I don't use Apple products. Wondering if maybe one of those file cleaner programs would clear up the issue, not sure what the apple store has though.

 

[speedyink]

I'm not even gonna try, my luck is I'll waste a bunch of time trying to get program X to work and I'll just end up having to jump through Apple's hoops in the end anyway. I'll do the darn backup and restore...fingers crossed that it goes smoothly, at this rate my hopes aren't high.

 

[speedyink]

Well apparantly it's not the "other" that's the problem. This is kind of hilarious.

How does this happen? How do I clear it? If I backup and restore will it backup all that crap?

Edit: After some more research this seems to be a common issue with iOS 9.2.1. I guess the only thing to do is wait for Apple to fix the issue and update?

Edit 2: Someone on Apple support said the backup and restore worked for them, seemed to go smoothly. Hope it stays fixed.

 

[spirit]

I hate iOS 9. I really want to jailbreak my iPhone :/

It amazes me that like 20% of your threads are about Apple pissing you off and yet you still use your iPod and iPhone and iOS. Don't buy Apple next time, get something else.

You could sell your iPhone, buy a new power supply and also get a new phone too probably (depending which iPhone it is).

 

[Geoff]

This is why I love Android. Contacts, music, apps, photos, app settings, etc. are all backed up to Google. Do a factory reset or get a new phone, all you do is log in and everything is back.

Plus, it lets you see in more detail what's using your data, and lets you clear your cache ("other" for Apple).

 

[The VCR King]

It amazes me that like 20% of your threads are about Apple pissing you off and yet you still use your iPod and iPhone and iOS. Don't buy Apple next time, get something else.

You could sell your iPhone, buy a new power supply and also get a new phone too probably (depending which iPhone it is).

Lol it's a 6S 64GB but I can't get rid of it because I have all my photos and contacts on it. So far I'm satisfied with iOS 9.2, no issues so far.

 

[beers]

but I can't get rid of it because I have all my photos and contacts on it

That's not a reason, that kind of data isn't particularly difficult to transfer.

 

[spirit]

Lol it's a 6S 64GB but I can't get rid of it because I have all my photos and contacts on it. So far I'm satisfied with iOS 9.2, no issues so far.

You do know you can put those on any phone, right?

And hang on you said earlier you hated iOS 9, now you're satisfied with it? I assume you hate 9.0 but find 9.2 OK? Is there really a big difference?

 

[The VCR King]

You do know you can put those on any phone, right?

And hang on you said earlier you hated iOS 9, now you're satisfied with it? I assume you hate 9.0 but find 9.2 OK? Is there really a big difference?

9.0 was absolutely horrible. I called AppleCare I think 7 times because my phone kept locking up. My music and videos would play but I couldn't use my headphones because the phone would no longer detect when I plugged something in the jack. Apps would instantly crash as soon as they opened. It was just awful. However, surprisingly, iOS 9.2 has fixed these issues and I recently got 9.2.1 and it's working great! So far, my faith in Apple has been restored, at least for now.

 

[Geoff]

Lol it's a 6S 64GB but I can't get rid of it because I have all my photos and contacts on it. So far I'm satisfied with iOS 9.2, no issues so far.

So you will never get rid of your phone? All you need to do is plug your phone into your computer and you can copy over all your photos and videos. iTunes backs up your music. Your contacts can be synced to the cloud and migrated to Google.