What to Do If Your Tablet Runs Slow: Try These Quick Fixes

Now that we’re in the “post-PC” era where mobile devices rule, we depend on our tablets for a host of functions. We expect them to be an efficient alternative to laptops, for work and for entertainment.

But just like any kind of gadget, there comes a time when your tablet runs slow. Apps take longer to load, and animations aren’t as smooth.

There’s no need for suffering through slow load times. Read on for these quick fixes to get your tablet back in shape!

1. Delete the Bloat

Our tablets naturally accumulate apps and files that we don’t access on a daily basis, or we’ve forgotten about entirely. Regardless of the content, these clog your tablet’s storage space, leading to slower write times. If you only have a few gigabytes of storage left, you’ll notice that your tablet operates even slower.

The more storage space you have available, the faster your tablet will run, so make it a point to regularly delete apps and files that you won’t miss. If you accidentally delete an app that you use regularly, you can always re-download it with your data intact.

2. Disable Background Processes

Too many notifications, apps, and widgets running in the background can affect the performance of your tablet. Android tablets give you the ability to see which apps are draining your battery the most, as well as the ability to turn off animations.

iPads give you the ability to disable live wallpapers or parallax effects. By making these small tweaks, you’re reducing the amount of work your tablet is doing in the background so that the apps you do want to run aren’t slowing down.

3. Wait to Install Updates

Whenever there’s a major software update for your tablet, don’t automatically install it. Read what the update brings and whether it’s necessary for the performance of your tablet.

Sometimes bugs and issues occur early on with new updates that need patches afterward – such as shortening battery life and decreasing tablet performance. If you wait a couple of days to update, you might not experience those issues.

However, some updates will actually help increase the performance of your tablet. The important point is to read what the update is offering and make an informed decision on whether installing it immediately or waiting would be most effective. But don’t wait too long to install updates, as some of them are designed to increase security and keep hackers out.

4. Clear Your Browser

This is a very small step you can take in increasing your tablet’s performance. As you peruse the Internet, your browser’s cache naturally fills with cookie files, browsing history, and other pieces of data to help web pages load faster.

By clearing it out on a regular basis, you’re sticking with the habit of ensuring there’s no unnecessary bloat that could potentially slow down your tablet.

5. Factory Reset

This is one of the most straightforward ways to have your tablet running as if it were brand new—start fresh. This is the best decision to make if you find that you don’t use the majority of the apps on your tablet, and you don’t want to do too much troubleshooting.

If you make sure that your tablet is backed up through the cloud beforehand, you won’t have to do as much legwork to re-download the apps you want on your tablet.

6. Fix Weak Wi-Fi Signal

Sometimes a poor Internet connection is the true source of your tablet’s slow performance.

If you have problems surfing web pages or streaming music, check your Wi-Fi speed. It depends on your ISP (Internet Service Provider), but generally, any speed under 5Mbps is slow. The slow-down could be resolved by boosting your Wi-Fi’s signal with an additional router or repositioning your router so the signal is better.

7. Install an Ad Blocker

If you still find that your tablet is slow while you’re browsing the Internet, installing an ad blocker may help its performance.

This is because many websites have an enormous amount of ads, from pop-ups to sidebars. As you load the website, you’re loading data from multiple ads as well. An ad blocker turns off the ads so you only load the content you’re there to see.

8. Turn It Off

Nowadays it’s rare to completely turn off our devices, but this may be just what your tablet needs to give it a speed boost. Turning off your tablet allows it to clear cached data, close down background apps, and free up its processor and RAM resources. Next time it’s slow, try shutting it down and waiting a bit before you reboot.

9. Faster SD Card

If your tablet supports expandable storage through SD cards, invest in a better card with faster read and write speeds.

A simple way to do this is to purchase a USB card reader adaptor. Plug your SD card into the adaptor, insert the adaptor into the USB port of your laptop or computer, and paste the contents into a new folder. Of course, you’ll want to back up your data before you begin this process.

10. Custom Launchers

Android tablets have the ability to utilize custom launchers, which add a “skin” that changes the appearance of your apps and fonts and their animations. Some launchers will improve the startup time and performance of your tablet.

Why Your Tablet Runs Slow

Hopefully, we’ve demystified the reasons behind why your tablet runs slow. As you can see, there’s no need to go out and buy a brand new one.

Through some troubleshooting and quick app clean-up, you’ll have a faster running tablet in no time.

Need your phone, tablet, computer, or gaming console repaired? Contact Techville today to see what our certified technicians can do for you!