[2025]Easily Clean Junk Files and Cookies on iPad

Why Your iPad Isn’t as Snappy as Before

You love your iPad for its performance, sleek design, and seamless experience. But let’s be honest — over time, things start to feel a little… sluggish. Apps freeze, Safari slows down, and you’re greeted with the dreaded “Storage Almost Full” notification way more often than you’d like. Most users shrug and blame it on age or software bloat. But the truth is, junk files and cookies are silent storage hogs and performance killers on iPads.

So, what exactly are these junk files and cookies? Junk files are temporary caches, residual app data, outdated logs, and other clutter that iPadOS stores for "convenience." Cookies, on the other hand, are tiny files websites use to remember your visits, login sessions, and preferences. While both serve a purpose, they pile up fast and can choke your system’s performance and battery life.

If you've ever asked, “How do I clean junk files and cookies on my iPad without wiping the whole device?”—you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll break down multiple safe and smart ways to clean your iPad without damaging apps or data. Let’s reclaim your storage and refresh that iPad feel!

Method 1: Manually Clear Safari Cookies and Website Data

Safari is the native browser on your iPad, and it's where cookies and website data accumulate the fastest. Every time you browse a website, Safari stores information like cookies, cache, and images locally. While this helps websites load faster the next time, over weeks or months, these files pile up and slow everything down. You might notice longer page load times, slower scrolling, and even login errors. Clearing Safari’s history and cookies is a quick fix that often delivers immediate results, especially for heavy web users.

Steps to Clear Safari Cookies:

1. Open Settings on your iPad.

2. Scroll down and tap Safari.

3. Scroll down again and tap Clear History and Website Data.

4. Confirm when prompted.

Important Tips:

• This will log you out of most websites and erase auto-filled search queries.
• Your bookmarks, reading list, and saved passwords in iCloud Keychain will remain safe.
• Do this once a month or after heavy browsing to keep Safari smooth.

Method 2: Use “Offload Unused Apps” to Automatically Remove App Junk

Over time, we download dozens of apps — games, editing tools, social media — only to use them once or twice. These apps still sit on your iPad, occupying gigabytes of space. Worse, they often continue storing background data. Apple introduced the "Offload Unused Apps" feature to help you remove apps you don't use often while keeping their data safe. It’s a smart way to declutter your device without losing your preferences or progress.

How to Enable Offload Unused Apps:

1. Open Settings > General.

2. Tap iPad Storage.

3. At the top, enable Offload Unused Apps.

To offload a specific app manually:

1. In iPad Storage, scroll down to see your apps ranked by size.
2. Tap on a specific app.
3. Select Offload App.

Tips:

• Offloaded apps keep your documents and data.
• You can tap the grayed-out app icon on your home screen to reinstall it instantly.
• It's ideal for freeing up space while retaining customization and usage history.

Method 3: Clear App Cache (Per App)

Most apps generate temporary data to speed up user experience — from loading thumbnails to remembering past actions. This temporary data is called cache. However, unlike Android, iPadOS doesn't let users clear all app caches at once. That said, many popular apps like Telegram, Spotify, Instagram, and YouTube offer cache-clearing options within their settings.

Clearing the cache can help free up storage, fix app crashes, and make things snappier. It’s also a good privacy practice, especially for messaging and media apps where cached data may include images or video previews.

Example: Clear Cache in Telegram:

1. Open Telegram.

2. Go to Settings > Data and Storage.

3. Tap Storage Usage.

4. Tap Clear Cache.

Extra Notes:

• Always check what kind of cache is being deleted — some apps let you choose between photos, videos, and files.
• Deleting app cache does not delete messages or saved media.
• If you use several media-heavy apps, clearing cache once every two weeks can make a noticeable difference.

Method 4: Restart iPad Regularly to Clear Temporary System Caches

It might sound simple, but regularly restarting your iPad is like a mini detox for your system. Each time you power cycle the device, iOS flushes temporary caches, clears out stalled processes, and refreshes RAM. If you've ever noticed your iPad getting slower the longer it stays on, this is exactly why.

Regular restarts can also fix app freezes, improve battery usage, and help prevent bugs caused by memory leaks. This tip is especially helpful after installing system updates or using heavy-duty apps like video editors or games.

How to Restart Your iPad:

• With Face ID: Hold the Top button + either Volume button until the slider appears.
• With Home Button: Hold the Top (or Side) button until the slider appears.
• Drag the slider, wait 30 seconds, and then turn the iPad back on.

Note: 

• Schedule a restart once per week, especially if you leave your iPad on for days at a time.
• After a restart, you’ll often notice apps open faster and touch responsiveness improve.

Method 5: Delete Old Messages and Attachments

Text messages on iPads — especially those with photos, videos, and stickers — can become hidden storage hogs. Over time, your Messages app may take up gigabytes of space without you noticing. Luckily, iPadOS allows you to automatically delete old messages and manually remove large media attachments.

Doing this not only frees up space but also improves the performance of the Messages app itself. This method is great if you’re a frequent texter or part of group chats that share a lot of media.

How to Set Auto-Delete for Messages:

1. Open Settings > Messages.

2. Tap Keep Messages under Message History.

3. Choose 30 Days, 1 Year, or Forever.

Manually Remove Attachments:

1. In Settings > iPad Storage, tap Messages.

2. Tap Review Large Attachments.

3. Select and delete unnecessary media files.

Caution:

• Deleting message history is permanent. Back up conversations if needed.
• Consider using iCloud Messages to sync and store conversations safely.

Method 6: Use iCloud or External Backup to Free Up Space

If your iPad is overflowing with photos, videos, and files but you don’t want to delete them, offloading to iCloud or external storage is the perfect solution. Apple offers 5GB of free iCloud space, with upgrade plans for more. Alternatively, you can use Google Drive, Dropbox, or even physical flash drives with Lightning or USB-C support.

This strategy not only clears local storage but also gives you the flexibility to access your files from anywhere. For people who use iPads as media hubs or portable workstations, cloud sync is essential.

Optimize iCloud Photo Storage:

1. Go to Settings > Photos.
2. Enable iCloud Photos.
3. Choose Optimize iPad Storage.

Move Files to Cloud/External:

1. Open the Files app.

2. Choose documents or media you want to move.

3. Drag and drop into iCloud Drive, Google Drive, etc.

Tips:

• Always use Wi-Fi when uploading large files.
• Consider buying a 128GB or 256GB iPad if cloud dependency isn’t your thing.

Method 7: Reset All Settings (Without Deleting Data)

Sometimes your iPad acts strange for no clear reason. Maybe your Wi-Fi disconnects randomly, apps crash often, or the keyboard layout is buggy. Resetting all settings can fix these issues without deleting your photos, apps, or personal data. It’s a less extreme alternative to a full factory reset.

This reset restores system-level settings to default — network preferences, location settings, Apple Pay data, etc. But none of your content will be lost.

How to Reset All Settings:

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad.
2. Tap Reset.
3. Select Reset All Settings.
4. Enter your passcode and confirm.

What It Resets:

• Wi-Fi networks and passwords
• Keyboard dictionary
• Home screen layout
• Location settings
• Apple Pay cards

Important:

• You’ll need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth devices.
• This won’t erase apps, media, or documents.

Method 8: Check iPad Storage Recommendations

Apple gives smart suggestions based on your iPad usage to help you free up space quickly. These suggestions are personalized and extremely helpful. You’ll often see options like reviewing large attachments, auto-deleting messages, or offloading unused apps.

If you haven’t checked this screen in a while, it’s worth a visit. It offers the most effective “low-effort, high-reward” cleanup options.

How to View Recommendations:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage.
2. Wait for a few seconds while the system analyzes your data.
3. Review Apple's storage recommendations.

You Might See Options Like:

• Auto Delete Old Conversations
• Review Large Attachments
• Offload Unused Apps

Tips:

• Recommendations adapt over time based on your behavior.
• Review this monthly as part of your regular iPad maintenance.

Method 9: Keep iPad Updated for Built-in Optimization

Every iOS update comes with more than new emojis and features. Apple engineers are constantly optimizing how the system handles background processes, memory, and cache. Ignoring updates means missing out on these improvements — and potentially risking your security as well.

Some updates even automatically clear out redundant system files, making your iPad more efficient without you lifting a finger.

How to Update:

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
3. Ensure you're on Wi-Fi and your battery is above 50%.

Tips:

• Enable Automatic Updates for peace of mind.
• Always back up your iPad before a major iOS version upgrade.

Extra Tips to Keep Your iPad Clean Going Forward

• Avoid installing unnecessary apps “just to try them out.”
• Use Safari's private browsing to minimize cookie buildup.
• Regularly delete screenshots and screen recordings.
• Don’t forget to clean out the “Recently Deleted” album in Photos.

FAQs

Conclusion

Cleaning junk files and cookies on your iPad doesn’t require you to be a tech expert. With a bit of regular maintenance—clearing Safari data, offloading unused apps, and managing media—you can keep your iPad running like new. Third-party tools are great for advanced cleaning, but even simple steps like restarting or updating your device go a long way.

The next time your iPad feels slow or cluttered, you’ll know exactly where to start—and how to fix it the right way.