Common reasons for a slow iPad
Before we jump into all the solutions for your slow iPad, let’s explain a few reasons why it might be dragging its feet:
- Limited storage space: If your iPad’s bursting at the seams with apps, photos, and videos — it can really struggle to work efficiently.
- Outdated software: Running an older version of iPadOS can lead to performance issues. There’s a reason why Apple keep rolling out those updates.
- Too many background processes: Apps that are running in the background can hog processing power and slow everything else down.
- Ageing hardware: As your iPad gets older, it might struggle to keep up with newer, more demanding apps and features.
- Overheating: Have you noticed your iPad getting hot while you use it? It could be sacrificing performance to keep things cool.
- Failing battery: A degraded battery will make your iPad run slower as a way of preserving power.
How to speed up a slow iPad
Now that we know what many of the potential causes are, let’s look at some ways to give your iPad a much-needed boost in performance:
- Restart your device: Yep, sometimes the simplest solution can be the most effective. A quick restart might work wonders for your slow iPad. Think of it like a quick power nap!
- Update iPadOS: It’s always best to make sure your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS. Updates not only bring performance improvements, but they help keep your device secure against the latest threats. Just head to Settings and tap on ‘General’ to see if a new software update is available.
- Close unused apps: If you don’t fully close apps after you’re done with them — start getting in the habit of doing so. Just swipe up from the bottom of your iPad’s screen (or double-click the home button on older models) and close any apps you’re not using.
- Clear Safari cache: An overloaded cache can take up space and really slow down your browsing sessions. To clear it, go to Settings, select ‘Safari’, then tap on ‘Clear History and Website Data’ to give your browser a fresh start. For more on this, check out our how to clear the cache and cookies on an iPad article.
Freeing up storage space
If your iPad’s in no hurry to fire up your apps, a lack of storage space could be the culprit. Here’s how to free up some room:
- Delete unnecessary apps: Admit it, there’s probably loads of apps on your iPad that you never use. So, go through them and remove the ones you no longer need.
- Offload unused apps: You don’t have to completely delete an app if you don’t want to. You can offload it instead, which means your iPad will remove the app but keep some of its data. That way, you can just pick up where you left off if you ever want to reinstall it. You can even offload unused apps automatically by opening Settings, tapping on ‘General’, and selecting ‘iPad Storage’.
- Clear app caches: Other apps like Facebook and Instagram build up large caches too, not just Safari. If you delete and reinstall these from time to time, it can help to clear out the clutter.
- Use iCloud Photos: This is a really handy tip. If you enable iCloud Photos in your Settings, it’ll store your images in the cloud to free up local storage on your iPad. This will mean they’re all backed up too — in case you ever break or lose your iPad.
Want to learn some other methods that’ll help you manage your iPad? Read our how to free up storage space on your iPad article.
Optimising iPad settings for performance
Wait, there’s more? Yup, there are a few extra things you can do to eek more performance out of your Apple tablet. Tweaking a few of these settings can make a world of difference when your iPad is running slow:
Reduce motion
Animations can make swipes and a few other features on your iPad look nice, but they’re not 100% necessary — especially if your device is going at a snail’s pace. To turn these off, go to Settings, choose ‘Accessibility’, then toggle on ‘Reduce Motion’. This will minimise animations that can slow things down.
Disable background app refresh
This is a function that allows apps to update their content and send alerts, even when you’re not using them. But this can affect your iPad’s speed, so it might be best to turn off this feature for apps that don’t constantly need updating. Go to ‘General’ in your Settings and select ‘Background App Refresh’ to switch this off.
Turn off automatic downloads
App updates from the App Store can cause unnecessary background activity when using your iPad. To turn them off so you can choose when to install them at a more convenient time, head to your Settings, click on ‘App Store’, and disable ‘App Downloads’. Turning on ‘Low Power Mode’ can also restrict automatic downloads.
Identifying hardware issues
If your iPad is still slow after trying all those tips, there might be some underlying hardware problems making all that trouble:
- Battery health: A dying battery can cause unexpected shutdowns and excessively long charging times. It can really affect performance too, so check your iPad battery health in the Settings app. We’ve got loads more on this in our how to check iPad battery health guide too.
- Screen responsiveness: If your screen is slow to respond to swipes and taps, then there might be an issue with the digitiser. This is the tech that detects your touches via the screen.
- Wi-Fi connectivity: When using apps that need an internet connection, it’s possible that things are often grinding to a halt because your Wi-Fi network’s playing up — not your iPad. Test your connection speed and consider resetting your router if needed.
When to consider an upgrade
If your iPad’s very slow and unresponsive no matter what you do, then it’s probably just because it’s too old. Here are all the telltale signs for when it might be time for an upgrade:
- Your iPad no longer supports the latest iPadOS updates.
- You frequently encounter app crashes or freezes.
- Your iPad is struggling to install new apps or won’t do it at all.
- You find yourself constantly managing storage and closing apps to maintain performance.
If you reckon it’s time to treat yourself to a shiny new device, check out our full selection of iPads and tablets.
Source: CURRYS.CO.UK