Best way to free up memory on old iPad—factory reset or something else?

February 6, 2020 2:02 PM

I have an iPad Mini 2 running a very out of date iOS (9.3). I want to free up as much memory as possible and give it to my dad. Basically I want it to run iMessage, email, Audible, Netflix, Safari and podcasts. What is the best and easiest way to clear my stuff off the iPad (eg my own iMessages and email) without affecting my current iPhone and iPad which are synced to it? I do NOT want it to attempt to update, which I understand it will try to do with a factory reset.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Yeah, if you're going to give an iPad or iPhone to another party, the best option is to do a factory reset. That will break its connection to your accounts, and therefore won't affect your current iPhone or iPad data.

Here's Apple's guidance on that process.

I do NOT want it to attempt to update, which I understand it will try to do with a factory reset.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you do a reset, yes, the iPad will be reverted to the level of iOS it shipped with, so it'll be behind. But the update process is distinct, and I suspect won't even be triggered until your dad powers it on and takes the steps to make it his.
posted by uberchet at 2:44 PM on February 6, 2020

Response by poster: Thanks—it sounds like a factory reset is my best bet then. I had just read somewhere that after resetting, the iPad would automatically update to the newest iOS, which I don’t want—it would take up too much memory. I’m fine with it staying at an older iOS (as long as I can still run the apps I need). But I suspect it’s so old it wouldn’t be able to update to the newest iOS anyway.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:49 PM on February 6, 2020

Best answer: A factory reset will not downgrade your iOS to a previous version; it will keep the current version. What you want to do is sign out of iCloud/Find My iPad, then do an Erase All Content and Settings. This will wipe all personal data from the device. You can then set up as new, and load any apps you’d like for him to have onto the iPad. (Note: I’d recommend setting up a separate Apple ID for his use, as opposed to downloading apps from yours. It will save you headaches down the line.)

Regarding the iOS version in use, while you can keep it at iOS 9, I’d recommend upgrading to iOS 12, the last version that supports that device. The storage size used should be roughly equivalent, and 12 is faster and more stable than 9, even on older devices. You may not currently have enough space to perform the update, which requires about double the free space to install. After erasing the device, you can update it easily.
posted by bluloo at 2:59 PM on February 6, 2020 [2 favorites]

I think you may have to update the OS to successfully use many Internet apps. I have an old original iPad with some ancient version of iOS and if I try to use Mail with a Google account, it basically loses its mind and tells me that I'm about to be eaten alive by viruses and hacks. Still keep it to play Lost Treasures of Infocom on, though.
posted by praemunire at 8:55 PM on February 6, 2020 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I followed bluloo’s instructions and did a factory reset, set up a new AppleID for my dad and signed him in with it (he and my mom have a different AppleID for their home iPad—my dad is currently in the hospital long term, so a different AppleID for Dad allows them to iMessage and FaceTime with each other).

Tried to update it to iOS 12 as per praemunire’s comment (you were right that several apps don’t work without it) but it would not let me (kept saying it was unable to access update). However, Dad is happy with having Safari, iMessage, email, FaceTime, Podcasts, and accessing ebooks through Overdrive on the browser—all these work fine with the iPad as it is.

Thanks for the help everyone!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:16 AM on February 23, 2020 [1 favorite]