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I truly don't understand it. I have multiple iOS devices, I've used a few different iPhones recently, 2-3 iPads. Some started as new, most restored from a backup, and I have everything possible in the cloud (Photos, Messages, Health, etc).

But somehow, System always quickly grows. On my 64GB devices system is steady using 20-30GB, and on my 256GB devices system is sitting around 60-70GB.
 

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Turned off iCloud Drive.... definitely the problem. But I think if I was patient it was more synching and that over time it would be temporary issue as how could they knowingly have all that storage out there and almost no device capable to support it.....
 
Personally I don’t want or need to turn iCloud Drive off, would defeat the purpose for some of my uses, but I understand what you are saying and hope it is temporary. Honestly, I’ve never had any issues due to any amount of system use as I always have free space. I only looked because of the original post and I was curious.

Even if it doesn’t continue to go down, around 50GB is not causing an issue on a 512 iPad anytime soon for me. But I do have a lot of synced info so maybe after a day or two it will drop to a normal amount as everything gets indexed into its appropriate place.
 
I have seen it growing to very big amounts after importing big chances f photos from an SD card to photos with raw files. I have the iCloud Photo Library switch on with the optimize space on the device Option.
 
System contains all kinds of crap that isn’t always automatically cleaned out quickly. Sometimes just checking it is enough to shrink it, no idea why, it may just trigger the maintenance routine.

For instance, out of curiosity I checked mine, in iOS settings, before writing this post and it was just under 20GB. I went back in a few minutes later after looking around settings some more and it’s down to just over 10GB.

You can also do the same with iTunes. Connect your iPad to iTunes, then in iTunes view the summary screen and just leave it at that.

Give it 10 minutes and disconnect your iPad. Go into the iPad settings and check the system storage again. Usually it will have dropped.
 
Yeah a giant wtf over here. I have a 64gb 10.5 and was only using 6 gb before I swapped mine out yesterday. Then I restored from backup and all of a sudden 40 gigs is being taken up by system storage? Something isn’t right here

SOLUTION NEEDED. MY BASE IPAD IS GONNA RUN OUT OVER THIS BS
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Over time, software gets more demanding. That’s just the nature of the beast, and why they don’t offer 16 gigs anymore on new iPads. Soon 64 gigs will be the new 16 gigs. Short of buying a new iPad, you’re just gonna have to delete some apps and move all your photos & video to iCloud if you haven’t already.
This couldn’t be more wrong. You need to read through this thread. Updates don’t just make people’s iPads take up 80 gigs of storage over night
 

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Yeah a giant wtf over here. I have a 64gb 10.5 and was only using 6 gb before I swapped mine out yesterday. Then I restored from backup and all of a sudden 40 gigs is being taken up by system storage? Something isn’t right here

SOLUTION NEEDED. MY BASE IPAD IS GONNA RUN OUT OVER THIS BS
[doublepost=1542030470][/doublepost]
This couldn’t be more wrong. You need to read through this thread. Updates don’t just make people’s iPads take up 80 gigs of storage over night

One recommended solution is to directly connect your iPad to iTunes on your computer. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow iTunes to complete its analysis. Then while still connected, go to settings on your iPad and view. Size likely will be reduced, possibly significantly.

If that doesn’t help, backup your iPad to iTunes. Then do a complete iPad erase followed by restore from backup.
 
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One recommended solution is to directly connect your iPad to iTunes on your computer. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow iTunes to complete its analysis. Then while still connected, go to settings on your iPad and view. Size likely will be reduced, possibly significantly.
Don’t have a computer unfortunately. “What’s a computer?”

Wondering if this will go down by itself or what because the storage being used is kind of insane considering just yesterday before I swapped out my iPad at the apple store I was only using 24 gigs total (reason I get base iPads)
 
Don’t have a computer unfortunately. “What’s a computer?”

Wondering if this will go down by itself or what because the storage being used is kind of insane considering just yesterday before I swapped out my iPad at the apple store I was only using 24 gigs total (reason I get base iPads)

Do you backup your iPad anywhere? (It may go down by itself, but not predictable.)
 
Yeah a giant wtf over here. I have a 64gb 10.5 and was only using 6 gb before I swapped mine out yesterday. Then I restored from backup and all of a sudden 40 gigs is being taken up by system storage? Something isn’t right here

SOLUTION NEEDED. MY BASE IPAD IS GONNA RUN OUT OVER THIS BS
[doublepost=1542030470][/doublepost]
This couldn’t be more wrong. You need to read through this thread. Updates don’t just make people’s iPads take up 80 gigs of storage over night
Corrupt backup are known to happen. 12GB yes. Set it up as new and if you restore, use iCloud, gingerly.

How recent is the iTunes backup? And assume iOS and iTunes are current...
 
Lots of old “junk” is also known to cause this. Unread emails, old messages, even Facebook can be a system hog. I never use FB and my system is never above 5gb (whether that’s related or not). I think a key is keep your iPad clean, i.e., delete unused old files, apps, messages, etc.
 
I used to think this is down to loads of old leftover files but after a clean reinstall when I started to use the device again it kept creeping up. Feels like the device cache is the main culprit. Depending on the type of apps you use, it will be difficult to get rid off the issue unless you change your usage.

Having said that I’m pretty confident that the cached files will get deleted as and when the operating system requires those resources.
 
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Ok so I re did my iCloud backup (and it took longer than usual) and it totally fixed it. My system went from 40 gigs used to 8 and now on my measly 64 gig iPad I’m only using 17 gigs. Not bad!
 

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I used to think this is down to loads of old leftover files but after a clean reinstall when I started to use the device again it kept creeping up. Feels like the device cache is the main culprit. Depending on the type of apps you use, it will be difficult to get rid off the issue unless you change your usage.

Having said that I’m pretty confident that the cached files will get deleted as and when the operating system requires those resources.
Caveat there, the higher capacity one has, the less aggressive iOS is when it comes to automatic cleanup. It's also quite stupid when iCloud Photo Library starts bugging you about "Not enough storage" when the iPad still has 50GB free space left.

Another annoyance—thus far, the only thing that has triggered cache cleanup for me was trying to install a large app that exceeds free space. Trying to download a movie, you just get a not enough storage message with no cache cleanup.
 
Ok so I re did my iCloud backup (and it took longer than usual) and it totally fixed it. My system went from 40 gigs used to 8 and now on my measly 64 gig iPad I’m only using 17 gigs. Not bad!

What did you do when you say “re did”?
 
That’s interesting information. That would imply the smaller the storage capacity, the bigger (indirect) bang for the buck.
In fairness, lower capacities have always been the best bang for the buck (particularly if you include resale). The issue is whether it's enough for one's usage.
 
Ok so I re did my iCloud backup (and it took longer than usual) and it totally fixed it. My system went from 40 gigs used to 8 and now on my measly 64 gig iPad I’m only using 17 gigs. Not bad!

and how does no "re do" an iCloud backup?
 
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