📢 Complaint: Severe “System Data” ballooning bug on iPad Pro M4 (iPadOS 17 → 18.6.2).
“System Data” (formerly “Other”) grows abnormally from ~3 GB → 70–90 GB in just months. Deleting files, exporting PDFs, uninstalling apps, or clearing trash does not free space. The only “fix” Apple Support suggests is erase & restore — which works temporarily but always comes back within 1–3 months.
🔎 Problem Summary • Growth: 3 GB → 40 GB (1 month) → 58 GB (2 months) → 70 GB+ (3 months). • After erase: drops temporarily, then climbs again. • Multiple resets done — issue always returns. • Confirmed across users (see YouTube: ajXyDCLoLOA, cnOGeI8X-Fc). • Apple Support Case IDs filed (master: 102671138516). • Feedback Assistant report: FB19812484.
📝 Steps to Reproduce (consistent) 1. GoodNotes – Export/merge PDFs, sync large files → System Data grows even after clearing trash. 2. DocScanner (Lufick) – Import + delete scans → cache remains. 3. Apple Scan to PDF / Files – Scan 24 images, merge, delete originals → System Data increases 2–3× file size. 4. External drives (NTFS/exFAT) – Just plugging in causes spikes. 5. Photos Recycle Bin bug – Deleting files increases System Data.
⚠️ Impact • iPad becomes unusable every few months as storage fills. • GoodNotes syncs (30GB+) require full reinstall → takes >1 day. • Device has even frozen on Apple logo (Case: 102456432522). • Breaks productivity workflows: scanning, exporting, file transfers all trigger ballooning.
❌ Apple’s Responses So Far • Force restart → no effect. • Uninstall/reinstall apps → cache remains. • Format → temporary relief only. • “Stop using pen drive” → not a solution. • “Keep reporting” → no updates received.
Translation: Apple provides no real tool to manage System Data. Users are stuck in endless erase/restore cycles.
🎯 Request to Apple 1. Add “Clear System Data / Clear Cache” option in Settings. 2. Fix caching bugs in GoodNotes, DocScanner, Scan to PDF, and Files. 3. Ensure deleted files + app data are actually purged. 4. Provide transparency: show what System Data contains (caches, logs, orphaned DBs). 5. Improve external storage handling — plugging in drives should not balloon space.
📌 Final Note This is not expected behavior. It’s a design flaw in iPadOS storage management. On macOS, users have visibility into caches and cleanup tools. On iPadOS, everything is hidden. Without proper cache controls, iPad Pro cannot be a reliable “Pro” device — only one that forces constant resets.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ACT4OtMrFQYciiJg6N4ENriMbnvAcNgc/view?usp=drivesdk