Memory almost full in iPad. The iPad has some Gb's using Photos (and music). I am using iCloud (125 Gb of 200 available), and is synchronized. How to delete Photos (and music) from iPad without delete iCloud? Same info goes my iPhone. My units are iPad OS 26.1, iPhone 15 Pro OS 26.1, MacBookAir macOS 26.1
Turn ON “Optimize iPad Storage”
This is the key step that frees space without deleting anything from iCloud.
On your iPad:
Settings → Photos → iCloud Photos → ON
Then select:
✔ Optimize iPad Storage
This tells the iPad to:
Your photos stay in iCloud; your local space is freed.
Do the same on your iPhone if you also want more storage there:
Settings → Photos → Optimize iPhone Storage
Expanding upon guidance posted by azaksalmarzur28 - for clarity - you need to understand that iCloud is principally a synchronisation service. Deletion from one will automatically delete from the other.
If you have synchronised your Photo Library to iCloud Photos, any deletion from your iPad will be synchronised with iCloud Photos. That said, it is possible to save your photos independently of your Photo Library within Cloud - allowing you to delete photos from your iPad's Photo Library (and iCloud Photos) without affecting photos saved elsewhere.
If your internal storage is full, or is insufficient for the task that you need to perform, your only option is to better manage the storage that you have - and delete unused Apps or unneeded data.
These support pages should prove to be helpful:
About storage on your device and in iCloud – Apple Support
What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? – Apple Support
Manage your iCloud storage – Apple Support
How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – Apple Support
Clear Other storage on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
“Offloading” Apps can be a helpful method of creating temporary space for a software update.
https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/21/how-to-offload-apps-in-ios-to-save-space-without-deleting-their-data/
Additional information about creating sufficient space for installation of a software update can be found here:
If you need more space for an update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
External storage options can often help with managing limited internal storage. Depending upon your iPad model, the iPad will either have a Lightning or USB-C port - and may therefore require either an Adapter or USB hub to connect the USB Storage device. If your iPad has a Lightning port, you’ll need an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter:
https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MK0W2ZM/A
Move Photos from iPad to iCloud
