Why your tablet slows down and what you can do about it
A tablet that has slowed to a crawl usually has too many apps running at once, too little free storage space, or a backlog of cached data from months of use. The good news is that most slowdowns are reversible without replacing the device. You can regain speed by closing background apps, clearing out storage, and refreshing your tablet's memory — all of which take less than an hour.
The steps differ slightly between iPad and Android tablets, but the principle is the same: remove what is taking up space and processing power, then give the device room to breathe.
Key Takeaways
- Close apps running in the background by swiping them away from the app switcher, since each open app uses memory and drains battery.
- Delete photos, videos, and old downloads to free up storage space, because tablets slow down when the drive is more than 80 percent full.
- Clear cached data from your web browser and individual apps through Settings, which removes temporary files without deleting your saved passwords or logins.
- Restart your tablet once a week to clear temporary memory and reset background processes that accumulate over time.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use, since each one takes up storage and may run updates in the background even when you are not using it.
Close apps running in the background
Every app left open in the background uses a portion of your tablet's memory, even if you are not looking at it. On an iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on each app card to close it. On an Android tablet, swipe up from the bottom and hold, or tap the square icon at the bottom right, then swipe up on each app to remove it from memory.
You do not need to close every app — your tablet is designed to manage a few at once. But if you have 15 or 20 apps stacked up, closing the ones you are not actively using will free up memory when ready. The difference is most noticeable on older tablets or those with less than 4 gigabytes of RAM.
Delete files and photos to free up storage space
A tablet that is more than 80 percent full will noticeably slow down because the operating system has no room to write temporary files or install updates. Start by looking at what is taking up the most space. On iPad, go to Settings > General > iPad Storage. On Android, go to Settings > Storage or Settings > Apps and Notifications > App Storage.
Photos and videos are usually the biggest culprits. If your tablet is full of old screenshots, duplicate photos, or videos you have already watched, delete them. Move important photos to a cloud service like Google Photos or iCloud so you can remove them from the device itself. After you free up at least 10 to 15 percent of your storage, you should notice the tablet responding faster.
Check your Downloads folder as well — many tablets accumulate old PDFs, installers, and files you downloaded months ago and forgot about. These take up space and serve no purpose once you have used them.
Clear cached data from apps and your browser
Cached data is temporary information that apps and your web browser store to load faster next time. Over months, this cache grows large and can slow things down. Clearing it removes those temporary files without erasing your passwords, saved logins, or any data you actually need.
On iPad, go to Settings > [App Name] and look for a "Clear Cache" or "Clear Data" option — not all apps have this, but many do. For Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, then choose "All History" and tap Clear. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, select an app, tap Storage, and tap Clear Cache. For Chrome, open the app, tap the three dots in the top right, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data, and make sure "Cached Images and Files" is checked.
Clearing cache is safe and will not log you out of accounts or delete photos. You may notice apps take a second or two longer to open the first time after clearing cache, but they will rebuild it as you use them.
Restart your tablet regularly
A restart clears your tablet's temporary memory and stops background processes that have accumulated over days or weeks of use. This is one of the simplest and most effective fixes for a sluggish device.
On iPad, hold the power button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the device. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button to turn it back on. On Android, press and hold the power button, then tap Restart or Power Off. Wait 10 seconds and press the power button again.
Restarting your tablet once a week, or whenever you notice it slowing down, keeps it running smoothly. Many people restart only when something goes wrong, but regular restarts prevent problems from building up in the first place.
Uninstall apps you no longer use
Apps take up storage space and may run background updates or sync data even when you are not using them. If you have apps installed that you have not opened in months, uninstalling them will free up space and reduce background activity.
On iPad, press and hold an app icon on the home screen, tap Remove App, then tap Delete App. On Android, press and hold an app icon, tap Uninstall, and confirm. You can always reinstall an app later if you change your mind — your purchases and data are tied to your account, not the device.
Focus on removing apps that are large (games, photo editors, social media apps) or that you genuinely do not use. Keeping a few extra apps installed is not a problem, but removing 5 or 10 unused ones can reclaim several gigabytes of space.
Update your operating system and apps
Outdated software can cause slowdowns because older versions have bugs and inefficiencies that newer versions fix. Check for updates regularly and install them as soon as they are available.
On iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Android, go to Settings > System > System Update or Settings > About Phone > System Update. For individual apps, open your app store (App Store on iPad, Google Play on Android), tap your profile icon, and look for pending updates. Install all available updates.
Updates sometimes take 15 to 30 minutes, so do this when you are not in a hurry. Restart your tablet after updating to may support the changes take full effect.
Reduce visual effects and background activity
Tablets with older processors or less memory can struggle with animated wallpapers, live widgets, and visual effects. Turning these off will free up processing power for the apps you actually use.
On iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Reduce Motion. On Android, go to Settings > Developer Options (you may need to enable this first by tapping Build Number seven times in Settings > About Phone), then toggle off animations or set Animation Scale to 0.5x.
You can also disable live widgets and background app refresh. On iPad, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle it off for apps that do not need it. On Android, go to Settings > Apps and disable background activity for individual apps. These changes are subtle but add up on older devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting my tablet delete anything?
No. A restart straightforward turns the device off and back on, which clears temporary memory but leaves all your files, photos, and apps intact. It is completely safe to restart as often as you want.
How often should I clear my tablet's cache?
Once a month is a good routine for most people. If you use your tablet heavily or notice it slowing down, clear cache every two weeks. There is no harm in doing it more often.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing data?
Clearing cache removes temporary files only and is always safe. Clearing data removes temporary files plus saved passwords, logins, and app settings, so use it only when you want to reset an app completely. Start with cache first.
Can I speed up my tablet without deleting anything?
Restarting, closing background apps, and clearing cache will all speed things up without permanent deletion. However, if your storage is nearly full, you will need to delete something — the device straightforward cannot run well without free space.
Why does my tablet slow down over time?
Apps accumulate cached data, background processes pile up, storage fills with files you forgot about, and the operating system collects temporary data. A tablet is like a desk: the more clutter you leave on it, the harder it is to work. Regular maintenance prevents slowdowns from building up.