How to Speed up a Slow iPad: Troubleshooting Guide

If your iPad has started to feel sluggish, like apps taking longer to open, screen freezes, or general lag, you’re not alone. Over time, even the most powerful iPads can slow down due to many factors. This guide will walk you through effective strategies to speed up a slow iPad, whether a newer or older model. No one wants to be slowed down while doing important work and tasks using their iPad, so read on for our iPad lagging solutions.

Common Reasons for a Slow iPad

Understanding why your iPad is running slow is the first step to fixing its speed and performance. Here are some common culprits:

• Limited Storage Space: When your iPad's storage is nearly full, it can hinder performance. Let’s free up some space!
  

• Too Many Background Processes: Running multiple apps simultaneously can tax your iPad's resources.
  

• Outdated Software: Not updating to the latest iPadOS can lead to compatibility issues and bugs.
  

• Visual Effects and Animations: Features like motion effects can consume processing power.
  

• Cached Data Accumulation: Cached data can slow down your device over time.

How to Speed up a Slow iPad

Let’s discuss the best ways to boost iPad speed so you can continue to be productive and have a smooth working experience. When troubleshooting, be sure to get close to your router and back up your iPad before changing settings.

1. Restart Your iPad

A simple restart can clear temporary glitches and free up system resources. This will always be your first step if you have trouble with your iPad. It’s not a bad idea to restart at least once a week moving forward.

• For iPads with a Home button: Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the power off slider appears. Slide to power off, then press and hold the Top button again to turn it back on.
  

• For iPads without a Home button: Press and hold the Top button and either Volume button until the power off slider appears. Slide to power off, then press and hold the Top button to turn it back on.

2. Close Unused Apps

Having multiple apps open can slow down your iPad. Close apps you're not using to free up memory. 

3. Free Up Storage Space

Aim to keep at least 1GB of free space on your iPad. To check your storage:

• Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage.

• Use iCloud or external drives for media storage.

• Delete old messages, email attachments, and downloads.

Here, you'll see a breakdown of what's consuming space. Delete unused apps, large files, or move data to cloud storage to free up space.

4. Update iPadOS

Keeping your iPad's software up to date ensures you’re running the latest version of iPadOS for performance optimizations and bug fixes.

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install updates.

5. Disable Background Activity

• Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Turn it off or limit to Wi-Fi only.
  

• Disable location services for apps that don’t need it: Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

6. Reduce Motion and Visual Effects

Disabling motion effects can improve performance.

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and turn on Reduce Motion.

7. Clear Cache

Clearing your browser cache can free up space and improve speed. All the browser apps — Safari, Firefox, Google, etc — will allow you to clear the cache.

• Go to Settings > Safari and tap Clear History and Website Data.
  

• Other apps: Delete and reinstall apps that store large amounts of cached data (like social media or streaming apps).

8. Turn Off Background App Refresh

This feature allows apps to refresh their content in the background, which can slow down your iPad. While this may be convenient, if you run a lot of apps, you have to weigh whether the convenience is worth the lag in speed it may cause.

• Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and select Off.

9. Reset Settings (If Needed)

If performance issues persist, you may need to do a reset. This won’t delete your data, but will clear settings like Wi-Fi passwords and wallpaper.

• Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings.

How to Conduct an iPad Performance Test

1. Check Storage and Memory Usage

• Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage to see how much storage is used and which apps consume the most space.
  

• If storage is over 80% full, this can slow performance. Offload unused apps or delete unnecessary files and media.

2. Benchmark with Third-Party Apps

Use reputable performance benchmarking apps (downloadable from the App Store) to test processing speed, graphics, and multitasking. These tests give scores you can compare to expected results for your iPad model.

• Geekbench: Tests CPU and GPU performance.
  

• Antutu Benchmark: Comprehensive system performance test (may be limited on iOS).3DMark Wild Life: Good for testing graphics processing performance.

3. Observe System Responsiveness

Check for:

• App launch times

• Keyboard response delay

• Screen refresh rates (especially on iPad Pro with ProMotion)

• Multitasking fluidity (swiping between apps or using Split View).

Best Settings to Speed Up an iPad

Adjusting specific settings can enhance your iPad's performance:

• Disable Low Power Mode: While this mode saves battery, it can reduce performance.

Go to Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode. 

• Limit Widgets: Having too many widgets can slow down your iPad.

Swipe right on the Home screen, scroll to the bottom, and tap Edit to remove unnecessary widgets.

Frequently Asked Questions on iPad Speed

Why is my iPad running slow and freezing?

This can be due to limited storage, too many background apps, outdated software, or accumulated cache. Following the steps above can help alleviate these issues.

How do I free up space to speed up an iPad?

Delete unused apps, clear browser cache, remove large files, and consider offloading data to cloud storage.

What do I do when an iPad slows down?

Restart the device, close unused apps, update iPadOS, and adjust settings like Background App Refresh and Reduce Motion.

Does updating iOS slow down an iPad?

Generally, updates improve performance and security. However, on older iPads, some updates may cause slower performance due to hardware limitations. It's advisable to review the update details before installing. At some point, apps will stop updating on older iPads, and you may need to replace them for the best speed and functionality.

When do I need to consider a hardware upgrade?

If you've tried all the above and still face slowdowns — especially on older iPads (pre-2018) — the device may simply be underpowered for today’s apps and iOS features. In that case, upgrading to a newer model may offer the best performance boost.

Bonus Tip: Use Accessories That Don’t Drain Resources

Low-quality third-party accessories (like keyboards or hubs) can interfere with performance. Choose high-quality, certified gear. These five iPad accessories are worth the splurge!

Final Thoughts

Following these steps and adjusting your settings can significantly improve your iPad's performance so you can enjoy a smoother user experience.

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