Different free storage space reported in the Files app and in Settings → iPad Storage

The reported value looks off by ~38 GB

  1. Settings → General → iPad Storage:

    20,68 GB of 64 GB Used

  2. Files → On My iPad:

    5,47 GB available

I'm trying to Airdrop a 9 GB file to this iPad and it fails, this could be why. Smaller files (~1,5 GB) get transferred just fine.

Rebooted the device several times. Is this fixable without a reset of any kind?


Solution (kind of): delete the files app, and then install it from the app store. That made it report different storage usage, that was more in line with what's under settings → general, which is close to what I needed.

Of course it's a workaround, and make sure you back up your important stuff before proceeding.