5 common iPad and tablet faults and how to fix them

Tablets should make life easier, not harder. Yet a single hardware issue can turn a simple device into a complex headache. Instead of guessing at repairs, look at the data.

We asked thousands of tablet owners* about the problems they face to find the fixes that really work. From software bugs to terminal hardware failures, our guide covers it all — including the best replacements to buy if your current tablet is ready for the recycling bin.

If yours can't be fixed, check our best tablet deals to discover genuine deals on models that do well in our tests

*(Survey of 15,644 Which? members and members of the public conducted in March 2025. Faults listed are the percentage of faults per faulty products reported in the survey.)

1. The tablet battery got significantly worse, quickly

Batteries are the cause of most tablet issues – almost 20% of all the faults recorded in our survey were down to the battery getting significantly worse in a short period of time.

Typically, this is a sign of a hardware issue with the battery itself, which might need replacing. But there are some setting adjustments you can try first.

How to check battery health on a tablet

First, check the condition of the battery itself. If the battery needs replacing, then there's no point doing any further troubleshooting, as only a new one will get your tablet healthy.

You can't usually access the battery physically, but you can check it in the settings.

• iPad (Pro M4 / Air M2): Apple has finally added a dedicated health menu for its newest tablets. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If 'Maximum Capacity' is below 80%, the battery is considered degraded.
• iPad (Older Models): Unfortunately, standard iPads (like the 10th Gen) still hide this data. You can try checking Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements, or connect your iPad to a computer running a checking tool like coconutBattery or iMazing to see the true health.   
• Samsung Galaxy (One UI 6+): You won't find this in the main settings. Open the Samsung Members app, tap Support, then Phone Diagnostics, and select Battery Status. It will tell you if the battery is 'Normal' or 'Weak'.   
• Google Pixel Tablet (and most other Android tablets): On Android 15, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to see if your battery status is listed as 'Normal' or needs attention.
• Amazon Fire tablet: Fire OS doesn't have a built-in health checker. If your battery drains rapidly even when the tablet is asleep, it’s likely a hardware fault - but you can try third-party apps like AccuBattery to get an estimate.   
• Microsoft tablet: Type cmd into the Start menu to bring up the command prompt. Type powercfg /batteryreport and hit enter. Open the HTML file saved to your user folder to see your 'Full Charge Capacity' vs 'Design Capacity'.

If you run any of these tests and find the maximum capacity has dropped drastically, then your tablet's battery is likely damaged and will need replacing. 

Five ways to get more from your tablet battery

If your battery gets a clean bill of health, try these tips to get more life out of it.

1. Check the screen tech: Dark Mode saves significant battery on OLED screens (iPad Pro M4, Galaxy Tab S9), but it makes almost no difference on LCD screens (iPad Air, Fire Tablets, Galaxy Tab S9 FE). If you have an LCD, focus on lowering brightness instead.   
2. Adjust the screen timeout: Set it to turn off after two minutes of inactivity.
3. Police your apps: On Android 15 and iPadOS 18, the battery menu now shows 'Insights' or 'excessive background usage'. Use this to find specific apps that are draining power while the screen is off.   
4. Manage connectivity: Turn off wi-fi and Bluetooth if you are using the tablet offline for reading or watching downloaded content.
5. Use 'Eco' modes: Turn on 'Low Power Mode' (iPad) or 'Power Saving' (Samsung) to throttle background tasks.

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 2. Tablet is slow

It can be very frustrating if your tablet is slow to open apps or switch between them. Sluggish speeds are often a symptom of storage saturation. Modern tablets use 'virtual Ram' (using storage as memory) - so if your storage is full, your tablet will slow down significantly.

Clear your tablet's cache

Apps collect data to make them load faster in future. Ironically, this can slow down your tablet as apps accumulate increasing amounts of data.

You can manually clear the cache of apps in the settings menu. 

• Android/Samsung: Android 15 has removed the button to clear all cache at once. You must now go to Settings > Apps, select a specific storage-hungry app (like TikTok or Chrome), tap Storage, and select Clear Cache.   
• iPads: There is no 'Clear Cache' button. The best method is to Offload heavy apps (Settings > General > iPad Storage), which deletes the app data but keeps your documents.   
• Amazon Fire tablets: Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Manage All Applications. Select the app and tap Storage > Clear Cache.   
• Microsoft tablets: Use Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense in System Settings to remove temporary files automatically.

Five other ways to speed up your tablet

Generally, a newer tablet shouldn't run slowly unless you're using some software that it really isn't capable of running. For example, if you've bought a low-end tablet and start editing some uncompressed 4K footage, then it's going to struggle.

It's important to buy a tablet that suits your needs and can handle the tasks you require. Thanks to our tough, independent lab tests, we know which jobs each tablet is best for – so check our tablet reviews before you buy.

1. Restart regularly: It sounds cliché, but a restart clears the Ram and stops stuck processes.
2. Free up space: Aim to keep at least 15-20% of your storage free to allow the operating system to breathe.
3. Check for updates: Keep your OS updated, but be aware that major updates might cause temporary slowness while they index your files.
4. Reduce widgets: Live widgets on the home screen constantly use data and processing power.
5. Reduce startup items: On Windows, check Task Manager > Startup apps and disable anything you don't need immediately upon booting.

Find out which tablets and iPads stay secure for longer, whether you're wondering about your current device or want to check up on a potential purchase. 

3. Tablet apps not working

This might not be your tablet's fault. Sometimes apps need an update, or they've been updated, and it's created an issue with your tablet's software version. A new version of the tablet's operating system can also cause problems.

However, if the problem isn't down to these compatibility issues, there are things you can try to get your apps working again.

• Update System Components: On Android, if multiple apps are crashing, go to the Play Store and check for updates to Android System WebView and Google Chrome—these often cause widespread crashes.
• Check Permissions: On iPadOS, if an app (like Zoom) isn't working, check Settings > Privacy & Security. You may have accidentally denied it access to the microphone or local network.
• Reinstall the app: A fresh install can fix corrupted data that "Clear Cache" misses.
• Contact the developer: If an app is broken after a major OS update, the developer likely needs to release a patch.

Considering a new tablet and aren't interested in an iPad? Take a look at our pick of the best Android tablets.

4. Tablet freezes and crashes

A tablet locking up is a sure sign it's overwhelmed. It needs a breather, usually in the form of a restart. Here's how to do it if your tablet is unresponsive.

• iPad (No Home Button): Press and quickly release Volume Up. Press and quickly release Volume Down. Then press and HOLD the Top Button (Power) until you see the Apple logo. This can take 20+ seconds — don't let go when the 'slide to power off' screen appears.   
• Samsung Galaxy: Press and hold Power and Volume Down simultaneously for 7-10 seconds until the screen goes black and the Samsung logo appears.
• Amazon Fire tablet: These are resilient. Press and HOLD the Power button for a full 40 seconds. Ignore any screen prompts; just keep holding until it reboots.   
• Windows tablet: Hold the Power button for 10 seconds to force a hard shutdown, then wait 10 seconds before turning it back on.

To prevent further freezes, try not to overwhelm your tablet. If you've downloaded apps that are causing your tablet problems, or you notice that one particular app causes a lot of slowdown, then stop using them and look for an alternative.

Most of the advice for speeding up a slow tablet applies here, too. So reduce the number of widgets you have on the home screen, shut down apps you aren't using – particularly if they have background processes such as location services – and free up some space on your hard drive. If it's close to capacity, this can cause real issues for a tablet. 

Consider a micro-SD card if your tablet has a slot for one and move some files onto that, or move files into the cloud. See how to choose the best cloud storage service.

5. Quickly loses charge

If your battery health is good, but the charge is still vanishing, the culprit is likely software or usage habits.

• The 'Update Drain': Did you just update your software? Major updates (like iPadOS 18 or Android 15) trigger a process called indexing, where the tablet reorganises files and scans photos for AI features. This causes heavy battery drain for 48 to 72 hours. Wait a few days before panicking.   
• Check for 'Wake Locks': On Android, some poorly written apps keep the processor awake even when the screen is off. Check Settings > Battery Usage to see if an app has high background usage.   
• Right to Repair: If you have a hardware fault, you now have more options. Under new Right to Repair regulations, companies like Apple and Samsung now sell genuine parts and tools directly to consumers.
  • Samsung: You can buy replacement battery kits for the Tab S9 series via the Samsung Self-Repair program.   
  • Apple: The Self Service Repair Store offers parts for iPad Pro and Air models. 

Warning: Tablet batteries are often glued in and difficult to replace. While you can do it yourself, checking a professional repair can be safer to avoid cracking the screen.

You can take your tablet to a repair shop for a quote, but if this is high, then consider a new tablet. Find a local repair shop you can trust – use our free tool at Which? Trusted Traders.

 Three tablets to consider if yours is beyond help

If you've tried our tips and your tablet is still struggling, then take a look at these.

Apple iPad (2025)

This uses the A16 Bionic chip, so while it isn't the absolute newest processor Apple makes, it is still powerful enough for heavy multitasking. It misses out on Apple Intelligence features and a high refresh rate screen, but remains the default choice for anyone already using an iPhone. It punches well above its weight.

Read our full Apple iPad (2025) review to see if the ecosystem benefits are worth the price. Check below to see which retailers have the best prices:

You can save more money by choosing a refurbished model. Use our guide to buying a refurbished iPad to see where to buy and what to look out for

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE

The 'FE' stands for Fan Edition, which is Samsung's way of offering mid-range specs at a friendlier price point. It is one of the few tablets to offer water resistance (IP68). Unlike Apple, Samsung includes the S Pen stylus in the box, so you don't have to pay extra to start drawing. 

Check our Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE review to see whether it's right for you. 

You can also see how it compares to other Samsung tablets - best Samsung Galaxy tablets.

Lenovo Tab Plus

Lenovo has focused on sound with this budget model, packing in eight speakers to differentiate it from the competition. However, its large battery and fast charging specs are what caught our eye. It isn't designed to be a productivity workhorse, but with a large 2K screen, it positions itself as a dedicated media player. 

See our Lenovo Tab Plus review to find out if the eight speakers really make a difference. Take a look at the tablet's latest offers below:

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