Knowing where deleted files go on an iPad is important for recovering accidentally deleted data and managing your storage. With the iPad’s limited onboard storage capacity, it’s essential to understand how to delete files as well as recover recently deleted items if needed. This article will provide an overview of iPad storage, explain where files are stored, detail the file deletion process, and discuss methods for recovering recently deleted files. We’ll also cover permanent file deletion, using external storage, backing up your iPad, and alternative file recovery options. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of where deleted files go on your iPad.
iPad Storage Overview
iPads come with built-in flash storage ranging from 64GB to 2TB depending on the model. This internal storage is used to store the operating system, apps, photos, videos, music, books, documents, and any other files saved on the device [1]. The larger the storage capacity, the more content users can store locally on their iPad before needing to offload or delete files.
In addition to the built-in storage, iPads can also utilize external storage solutions to expand the available capacity. This includes cloud storage services like iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox that allow users to store files online and access them from the iPad. Portable external hard drives and flash drives can also be connected to iPads using adapters like the Apple Lightning to USB or USB-C adapters [2]. While external storage expands capacity, internal storage is still required to install apps and their associated data.
Where Files are Stored
By default, different types of files are stored in different locations on an iPad:
- Photos and videos taken with the iPad camera are stored in the Photos app. The Photos app organizes photos and videos by date taken and contains built-in editing tools.
- Downloaded images, PDFs, and other documents are stored in the Files app, which is like Finder on a Mac or File Explorer on Windows. The Files app contains folders for Downloads, iCloud Drive, and other storage locations.
- Music purchased through iTunes is stored in the Music app. The Music app also provides access to Apple Music for streaming.
- eBooks purchased from Apple Books are stored in the Books app, which handles PDFs and ePubs seamlessly.
- Notes and voice memos are stored in the built-in Notes and Voice Memos apps respectively. These provide easy tools for jotting down quick thoughts and recording audio.
- App data like save files and configuration information are sandboxed within each app’s private container folder. This keeps each app’s files private from other apps.
So in summary, files are automatically stored in default apps optimized for each media type. The Photos, Files, Music, Books, Notes and Voice Memos apps handle most common document and media storage needs on an iPad.
Source: https://getnotifyr.com/how-to-access-game-files-stored-on-an-ipad/
Deleting Files
To delete files on an iPad, you can use the Files app that comes pre-installed on every iPad. The Files app allows you to browse and manage files stored on your iPad, iCloud Drive, and third-party cloud storage services.
To delete a file using the Files app:
- Open the Files app on your iPad.
- Navigate to the location where the file you want to delete is stored. This could be iCloud Drive, On My iPad, Dropbox, etc.
- Tap and hold on the file you want to delete until a menu pops up.
- Tap “Delete” from the menu.
- Confirm that you want to delete the file.
When you delete a file on an iPad, it is moved to the Recently Deleted folder. Files in the Recently Deleted folder are automatically permanently deleted after 30 days. So for 30 days, deleted files can be recovered from the Recently Deleted folder.
To access the Recently Deleted folder:
- Open the Files app.
- Tap “Locations” in the sidebar.
- Tap “Recently Deleted”.
You’ll then see a list of all recently deleted files that can still be recovered. To recover a deleted file, simply tap on it and tap “Recover” in the menu.
So in summary, when you delete a file on an iPad it goes to a temporary Recently Deleted folder for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can recover deleted files from that folder during that time. After 30 days, deleted files are permanently erased from the iPad storage.1
Recovering Recently Deleted Files
When a file is deleted on an iPad, it is not immediately removed from the device. Deleted files are moved to the Recently Deleted folder, where they will remain for up to 30 days before being permanently erased [1]. This provides a window of opportunity to recover accidentally deleted files.
To access the Recently Deleted folder and recover deleted files:
- Open the Files app
- In the sidebar, tap “Recently Deleted”
- Locate the deleted files you wish to recover
- Tap the “Recover” button next to each file
The selected files will be moved back to their original location on your iPad. Keep in mind that once 30 days have passed, the files in Recently Deleted will be permanently erased. So be sure to recover any important deleted files before they are gone for good [2].
Permanent File Deletion
When a file is deleted from an iPad, it is initially moved to the Recently Deleted folder. Files in this folder remain recoverable for up to 30 days. After 30 days, deleted files are permanently removed from the iPad and can no longer be recovered (Apple 2023).
Once the 30 day period expires, the deleted files are permanently erased from the iPad’s storage through a process called “scrubbing.” During this process, the operating system overwrites the storage sectors where the deleted data was stored, making the original data unrecoverable. After scrubbing occurs, there is no way for data recovery software or services to retrieve the deleted files (Apple 2023).
So in summary, any file deleted on an iPad is permanently gone after 30 days and cannot be recovered through any means. The only way to restore deleted files after 30 days would be if you had a backup of the iPad from before the files were deleted.
References:
Apple. 2023. “Delete or recover files from iPad or iPhone.” Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/104953.
Using External Storage
One way to help manage your iPad’s limited storage space and back up files is to use external storage options like iCloud or external hard drives and SD cards. iCloud provides seamless cloud storage that can automatically sync photos, videos, documents and more (The Mosaic – Apple Arcade Review). With an iCloud storage plan, you can save files like photos and videos to the cloud rather than filling up your iPad’s storage.
For external physical storage, the iPad works with certain external hard drives, SD cards, and USB flash drives that are powered separately or connect via the iPad’s lightning port. Using the Files app, you can transfer files between your iPad and external storage. This provides a way to offload files from your iPad to free up local storage space. It also serves as a more permanent backup of your files in case you need to delete them from your iPad.
The options for external iPad storage provide helpful long-term backup solutions for your files, so you don’t have to worry as much about deleting content to free up space on your device. Files stored externally can be easily transferred back to your iPad when needed as well.
Backing Up Your iPad
It’s important to regularly back up your iPad to preserve your files, photos, contacts, and other important data. There are a few options for backing up an iPad:
You can use iCloud Backup which will automatically back up your iPad daily when connected to power, Wi-Fi, and with the screen locked. iCloud Backup stores your data in the cloud so it can be restored if needed. To enable iCloud Backup go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn on iCloud Backup (1).
You can also back up your iPad by connecting it to a computer using a USB cable. When connected, open iTunes on your computer to back up your iPad to your computer’s hard drive. This will save a snapshot of your iPad that can be restored later if needed (2).
Another option is using third-party backup software like iMazing to back up your iPad to your computer. These give you more flexibility and options for backing up specific data from your iPad.
It’s recommended to backup your iPad regularly, especially before updating iOS or making major changes, to ensure you always have a way to restore your data if needed.
Alternative File Recovery
If you are unable to recover recently deleted files using the methods above, there are some advanced recovery options to try and retrieve permanently deleted files on your iPad.
Data recovery software designed for iOS devices can scan your iPad’s storage and recover deleted files, even ones removed from the Recently Deleted folder. Some examples of data recovery apps include iMyFone iBypasser, FonePaw iOS Data Recovery, and EaseUS MobiSaver.
These specialized data recovery apps connect to your iPad and scan the raw storage, searching for file remnants that can be pieced back together. They often claim the ability to recover photos, messages, contacts, notes and more that were deleted weeks or months ago.
However, data recovery software success depends on whether the storage space has been overwritten with new data. The longer ago a file was deleted, the less likely recovery becomes. Also, these apps cannot recover files if the iPad has been restored to factory settings, which erases the storage completely.
While data recovery apps provide an option for retrieving permanently deleted files, they can be expensive and results vary. But for users who’ve lost important files that cannot be recovered any other way, professional data recovery is sometimes the last resort.
Conclusion
When you delete files on an iPad, they are initially moved to the Recently Deleted folder within the Photos app. This allows you to recover recently deleted files for up to 30 days, after which they will be permanently deleted. To maximize the chance of recovering deleted files, it’s important to not take any more photos or videos, as this will push out the older deleted files.
For more permanent storage, it’s recommended to regularly back up your iPad to iCloud or to your computer through iTunes. You can also use external storage options like cloud storage services or physical drives to create additional backups of your iPad. Just remember that any files not backed up when deleted past that 30 day window will be gone for good.
In summary, always try to recover deleted files from the Recently Deleted folder first if they were deleted within the past month. Check any connected services like iCloud or Dropbox as well. And be sure to consistently back up your iPad’s data so you have multiple ways of retrieving deleted files if needed.
