Why Your iPad Is Freezing and How to Fix It

There’s nothing more frustrating than your iPad freezing in the middle of an important task or while watching your favorite show. Whether your screen is stuck, apps aren’t responding, or your iPad won’t turn off, you’re not alone. iPad freezing is surprisingly common, especially after iOS updates, when caches pile up, or when your storage is nearly full. Have you restarted your iPad lately? We often forget in our busy lives that our devices need a break and reboot just like us! 

In this guide, we’ll explain how to fix a frozen iPad, answer key troubleshooting questions, and share steps to help prevent freezing in the future. 

Why Does My iPad Freeze Randomly?

iPads are powerful little machines, but aren’t immune to performance hiccups. If your iPad freezes randomly or becomes unresponsive, it’s typically due to one of these common causes:

• Low storage space

• App or system bugs (especially after an iOS update)

• Overheating or multitasking strain

• Corrupt data or cached files

• A faulty app or incompatible software

• Battery or hardware issues (in older devices).

Some of these things are easy fixes, while others may require updates to your tech. Understanding the source of the issue is the first step to fixing a frozen iPad. Let’s go over the common reasons and what to do about them.

How Do I Unfreeze My iPad Screen?

If your iPad is frozen and not responding to touch, you’ll need to take immediate action to get it working again. Here are your first-response steps.

Try a Force Restart (Hard Reset)

This method won’t erase your data — it just forces your iPad to reboot and can resolve temporary freezing or crashes. 

How to force restart a frozen iPad depends on the model:

• For iPads with Face ID or no Home button (e.g., iPad Pro models):

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo.

• For iPads with a Home button:

Press and hold the Home button and Top (or Side) button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.

Your iPad Is Frozen and Won’t Turn Off? Here’s What to Do

If your iPad is frozen and won’t turn off the normal way, try a force restart using the method above. If that doesn’t work, let the battery drain completely by leaving it unplugged. This could take up to 10 hours, depending on how long you’ve used it before the freeze. When you have a completely black screen, plug it back in and try turning on the device. This can reset some underlying issues if a force restart fails.

Still stuck? You may need to use Recovery Mode via a Mac or PC. We’ll walk through that in a bit.

Did Your iPad Freeze after the iOS Update?

New iOS versions can introduce bugs or compatibility issues, especially if you’re using an older iPad. Freezing after an update might be due to:

• Incompatible apps that are not yet optimized for the new OS

• Leftover system junk from the update process

• A failed or incomplete install

Quick Fixes:

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for bug-fix patches.

• Clear browser and app caches (explained below).

If problems persist, a factory reset (with backup) may help. Or you may need a new battery.

Does Clearing the Cache Fix iPad Freezing Issues?

Clearing the cache can significantly help if your iPad is freezing due to bloated temporary data or slow app behavior. This won’t delete your documents or photos, but it helps reclaim performance when you clear caches periodically.

While Apple doesn’t offer a universal “clear cache” button, you can manually reduce cached data:

• Safari:

Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. You can do something similar in Chrome and Firefox if you use those browsers instead.

• App Caches:

Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage. Select individual apps with large cache sizes and either offload or delete and reinstall them.

How to Factory Reset an Unresponsive iPad

If nothing else works, and you’ve backed up your data to iCloud or your computer, a factory reset may be the solution.

⚠️ Warning: This erases all content and settings. Only proceed if you've backed up your iPad.

• To factory reset via iPad:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings.

• To reset with a computer (if your screen is frozen):

Connect your iPad to your Mac or PC via USB. Open Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows/macOS Mojave and earlier).

• Enter Recovery Mode:

For Face ID models: Press Volume Up → Volume Down → hold the Top button until the Recovery screen appears.

For Home button models: Hold Home + Top button simultaneously until you see the Recovery screen.

Choose Restore to wipe and reinstall iOS.

Does Full Storage Cause an iPad to Freeze?

Absolutely. The iPads need free storage to operate efficiently. When your device is close to full, iOS struggles to allocate memory for apps and background processes, which can lead to freezing. This is a good reason to buy the higher gigabyte storage, so you don’t have to stress about freeing up space. Aim to keep at least 2–5GB of free space to prevent system lag.

How to Free Up Space:

• Delete unused apps and games.

• Move photos and videos to iCloud or an external drive.

• Clear old downloads, message attachments, and offline content.

Extra Tips to Prevent Freezing in the Future

Once your iPad is back in action, here’s how to keep it running smoothly:

Regularly Restart Your iPad

A weekly reboot clears RAM and prevents performance drops.

Keep Apps Updated

Outdated apps may crash or cause freezes. Turn on auto-updates in App Store > Account Settings.

Avoid Beta iOS Versions

Unless you’re a developer, stick to public releases. Beta builds often contain bugs that cause freezing or battery drain.

Use Trusted Accessories

Low-quality chargers, cases, or keyboards can interfere with performance. We recommend high-performance accessories like the ZUGU Case, which supports multitasking with up to 10 magnetic viewing angles and durable protection. Perfect for keeping your iPad stable whether you’re typing, watching, or sketching.

Monitor Battery Health

A failing battery can overheat and slow down your iPad. If your iPad is over three years old, check the battery health or visit an Apple Store for diagnostics.

Final Thoughts

An unresponsive or frozen iPad can seriously disrupt your productivity or cause downtime that nobody wants. But with the right steps — whether it’s a quick force restart, clearing cache, or performing a full reset — you can often fix the problem without a trip to the repair shop or a new iPad. Hopefully, this article has helped you fix a frozen iPad without too much hassle.

Just remember: keeping your iPad updated, your storage optimized, and using high-quality gear can go a long way toward preventing future issues. If you’re serious about stability and performance, gear up with reliable accessories like the ZUGU Case, designed to handle daily demands and unexpected glitches.

Is your iPad still frozen and not turning on after these troubleshooting tips? If your iPad continues to freeze despite all efforts, it may be time to contact Apple Support for deeper diagnostics.