Your iPad Pro fills up fastest with 4K video, ProRAW photos, offloaded-then-redownloaded apps, and system caches, and you can reclaim most of that space in minutes without erasing anything you care about. The trick is to attack the biggest categories first instead of deleting random apps.
Short answer:
- Open Settings > General > iPad Storage to see a ranked list of what's eating space.
- Delete large videos and ProRAW/Live Photos, offload unused apps, and clear app caches by reinstalling heavy apps.
- Turn on Optimize iPad Storage for Photos and empty the Recently Deleted album to finish the job.
See Exactly What's Filling Your iPad Pro
Before deleting anything, get the full picture. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage and wait a few seconds for the colored bar and app list to load.
The bar shows broad categories like Photos, Media, Apps, and System Data. Below it, apps are sorted largest-first, with each showing its App Size plus Documents & Data. This single screen tells you whether your problem is video, apps, or cache, so you don't waste effort.
iPadOS also lists Recommendations at the top, such as reviewing large attachments or auto-offloading unused apps. These are safe to act on and often free several gigabytes immediately.
Clear Out Large Videos and ProRAW Photos
On an iPad Pro, the camera and imported media are usually the single biggest drain. A few minutes of 4K ProRes or a batch of ProRAW shots can occupy gigabytes each.
- Open Photos and tap Albums, then scroll to Media Types.
- Open the Videos album and delete clips you no longer need, longest first.
- Check Recents for large ProRAW bursts and screen recordings.
Because video dominates so heavily, sorting by size makes the difference. Our guide on finding and deleting large videos uses the same approach on iPhone and works identically on iPad. After deleting, open Albums > Recently Deleted and tap Delete All, since files sit there for 30 days and still count against storage.
Offload Unused Apps Without Losing Their Data
Big creative apps, games, and their downloaded assets pile up. iPadOS lets you remove the app while keeping its documents and settings, so reinstalling later restores everything.
In Settings > General > iPad Storage, tap any large app and choose Offload App. This frees the App Size but keeps Documents & Data. To offload automatically, go to Settings > App Store and enable Offload Unused Apps.
For apps you truly don't use, tap Delete App instead to wipe their data too. Be deliberate here: deleting removes downloads, projects, and logins, while offloading does not.
Tame App Caches the Right Way
Many apps hoard cache under Documents & Data, and iPadOS gives no universal "clear cache" button. Streaming, social, and browser apps are the usual culprits.
- Safari: go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data to dump browsing cache.
- Streaming apps (Netflix, Disney+, YouTube): delete downloaded titles inside each app, or offload and reinstall the app.
- Other heavy apps: if Documents & Data is huge, delete and reinstall the app to reset its cache, then log back in.
Always distinguish a true cache clear (safe temporary files) from deleting an app's data, which wipes logins, drafts, and offline downloads. For browser-style apps, our clear app cache on iPad walkthrough covers the safe path in detail.
Optimize Photos and iCloud So Space Stays Free
If you use iCloud Photos, you can keep full-resolution originals in the cloud while your iPad stores smaller versions. Go to Settings > Photos and turn on Optimize iPad Storage. Your library stays intact; only space-saving copies live on the device.
You can also move large files out of local storage. Store documents in iCloud Drive or another cloud service, and confirm "Recently Deleted" is empty across Photos, Files, and Mail. These steps prevent the same gigabytes from creeping back next week.
A Repeatable iPad Pro Cleanup Routine
To keep your iPad Pro lean without babysitting it:
- Check Settings > General > iPad Storage monthly and clear the largest items first.
- Empty Recently Deleted in Photos and Files after every cleanup.
- Enable Offload Unused Apps so dormant apps shrink automatically.
Manually hunting through every album and app gets tedious, especially on a device built for big media. A review-first tool like Clenoir for iPad scans on-device and surfaces your largest videos and duplicate photos, letting you confirm each batch before anything is deleted. For a structured plan, see the free up iPhone space hub, which applies directly to iPadOS, plus the storage cleanup FAQ. With media trimmed and apps offloaded, your iPad Pro reclaims real space while every photo, project, and login stays put.
Want the fast version? Cleanor for iPhone scans on-device — nothing uploaded — and surfaces your largest videos, duplicate photos, and heavy caches in one pass. For the full routine, see the free up phone storage guide.
FAQ
How do I see what is taking up the most space on my iPad Pro?
Open Settings > General > iPad Storage and wait a few seconds for the colored bar and app list to load. It shows categories like Photos, Media, Apps, and System Data, and lists apps largest-first with their App Size plus Documents & Data.
What is the difference between offloading and deleting an app on iPad Pro?
Offloading frees the App Size but keeps the app's Documents & Data, so reinstalling restores everything. Deleting an app wipes its data too, removing downloads, projects, and logins, so it should be used only for apps you truly don't use.
How do I keep iCloud photos on my iPad while freeing local storage?
Go to Settings > Photos and turn on Optimize iPad Storage. Full-resolution originals stay in iCloud while your iPad keeps smaller space-saving copies, so your library stays intact on the device.