If you’ve been dying to jump into HoYoverse’s space-faring turn-based RPG on your Apple tablet, you’ve probably asked how much space does Honkai Star Rail take on iPad before hitting that download button. I’ve tested installs across three different iPad models over the past six months, from a budget 10th gen iPad to a high-end M2 iPad Pro, so I’ve got all the exact numbers and troubleshooting tips you need to avoid that frustrating “not enough storage” error mid-install. Honkai Star Rail gets regular content updates every 6 weeks, so its install size changes fairly often, but this guide breaks down the current minimum and recommended storage needs, plus easy hacks to free up extra space if you’re cutting it close.
Exact How Much Space Does Honkai Star Rail Take on iPad (Current Version)
The total storage you’ll need depends on which assets you choose to download, and what iPad model you own. The initial download from the App Store is only a small part of the full install, so don’t be fooled by the listed size on the App Store page. If you’re wondering how much space does Honkai Star Rail take on iPad for your specific model, you can check the exact size after installation in your iPad’s Settings > General > iPad Storage menu.
As of the latest game version, here are the most common install sizes: Base App Store download size: 7.8GB to 8.2GB Full install with all voice packs and high-res assets: 22GB to 25GB Optimized install with single voice pack and lower texture settings: 14GB to 17GB
Newer iPad models with M-series chips support high-resolution 4K textures, so their install size will be on the higher end of that range. Older iPads like the 8th or 9th gen automatically download lower-resolution assets that take up less space, since they can’t run the highest graphics settings anyway. You should always leave at least 5GB of extra free space above the listed install size, to account for temporary update files and cache that builds up as you play.
Factors That Change Honkai Star Rail’s iPad Storage Footprint
The numbers I listed above aren’t set in stone, and your install size might be bigger or smaller depending on a few key choices. Regular content patches are the biggest reason the answer to how much space does Honkai Star Rail take on iPad changes every few months. Every 6-week update adds new maps, character story quests, cutscenes, and event content, usually adding 1GB to 3GB of extra data to your install.
Your voice pack selection is another huge factor. Each language voice pack (English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean) takes up 3GB to 4GB of space, so keeping all four installed adds almost 12GB of extra data compared to only keeping the one you use. You can delete unused voice packs directly in the game’s settings without reinstalling the whole app, so there’s no reason to keep voice packs you don’t listen to taking up space.
Cache buildup is the last common reason your install size might be bigger than expected. The game stores temporary data like battle replays, event assets, login reward previews, and old update files on your device over time, and these files can stack up to 1GB to 4GB of extra space after a few months of regular play. I accidentally had all 4 voice packs installed for 2 months before I realized I only used English, and deleting the other 3 freed up almost 10GB of space instantly.
Tips to Reduce Honkai Star Rail’s Storage Usage on Your iPad
If you’re tight on storage and don’t want to delete other apps or photos to fit HSR, these simple tweaks will cut down its size significantly without ruining your gameplay experience. Most of these take less than 2 minutes to do, and you won’t notice any difference in how the game runs or sounds if you pick the options that match your play style.
- Delete unused voice packs: Head to Settings > Resources > Voice Management in the game, and remove any language packs you don’t listen to. This is the single biggest way to save space, cutting up to 10GB of total install size.
- Clear temporary cache regularly: The game has a built-in cache cleaner in the settings menu that removes old event data, battle replays, and unused temporary files, saving 1-4GB of space in 2 taps.
- Skip high-res texture downloads if you have a smaller iPad: If you’re playing on a 10.9-inch or smaller iPad, you won’t notice a big difference between standard and high-res textures, so skipping the optional high-res download saves 2-3GB of space.
- Offload unused apps instead of deleting them: If you need extra space for a new HSR update, offload unused apps from your iPad’s storage settings. This keeps your app data intact but removes the app itself, freeing up space temporarily.
Never delete the game app to clear cache, as you’ll lose any unsaved local data if you haven’t linked your HoYoverse account. Always use the in-game cache cleaner first, and only uninstall the app if you have confirmed your account is linked properly and you have your login details saved. A lot of users make this mistake and lose weeks of progress, so it’s an important warning to keep in mind.
Common iPad Storage Errors for Honkai Star Rail (And How to Fix Them)
Even if you have enough space listed in your iPad settings, you might run into errors when downloading or updating the game. These issues are almost always easy to fix without having to delete any of your personal files, so you don’t need to panic if you see an error message pop up mid-download.
The most common error is the “not enough storage” notification that pops up even when you have more than the listed install size free. That happens because your iPad needs extra temporary space to unpack and install the download files, so you need at least 5GB of extra free space above the listed install size to avoid this. For example, if the full install is 16GB, you need 21GB of free space before you start downloading.
Another common issue is updates failing halfway through. This usually happens if your storage runs out mid-update, and it can sometimes corrupt your game files. If this happens, clear your iPad’s temporary cache first by restarting the device, then make sure you have enough free space before trying the update again. I’ve had this happen once when a big patch left 4GB of old update files on my iPad, and running the in-game cache cleaner fixed it immediately.
A lot of users assume they need to buy a new iPad with more storage to play HSR, but that’s not true at all. I play regularly on a 64GB 10th gen iPad, and I still have 15GB of free space left after installing HSR, TikTok, Instagram, and a few other casual games. You just have to be smart about managing your storage and cleaning out old files every few months.
At the end of the day, knowing how much space does Honkai Star Rail take on iPad takes a lot of the stress out of downloading and updating the game, so you can spend less time troubleshooting storage errors and more time pulling for your favorite 5-star characters. Leave at least 20GB of free space if you plan to keep the game installed long-term, to account for regular updates and temporary cache buildup, and don’t forget to delete unused voice packs to save a huge chunk of space for no cost. If you follow the tips in this guide, you’ll be able to run HSR smoothly on almost any iPad released in the past 5 years, even if you don’t have a ton of extra storage to spare.
