At some point in your life, your tablet computer might have run very slowly or even frozen without any apparent reason. Even after restarting it, you might not see any improvement in its performance.
The use of these devices has skyrocketed in recent years, especially since the coronavirus pandemic, which increased internet consumption, streaming platforms, and online video games. Tablets have become an excellent alternative to stay connected to these activities, chat with friends and family through WhatsApp Web, and even work from home. These electronic devices are very handy, easy to transport, and have great battery life.
However, even the newest and most advanced devices, such as the best tablets of this year, gradually decrease in response speed and are not as fast as when we first bought them. For this reason, we are going to give you some recommendations on how to boost your tablet’s performance so you can prolong its useful life and continue getting the most out of it.
Reasons why a tablet runs slowly
Although the physical components of tablets, such as RAM, battery, or processor, are designed to last longer than those of smartphones, they lose speed and degrade over time. If we add the uncontrolled use that we often make of them, we also cause the performance of the tablets to decrease. Here are some reasons why a tablet runs very slowly:
- Overheating: The tablet is overheated or has been exposed to high temperatures. It’s important to differentiate the cause, as fast battery charges also heat the device.
- Residual files: There are many residual files, whether from the applications we install and uninstall or use regularly.
- Background operations or apps: There are operations or apps working in the background.
- Software updates: Some software updates sometimes slow down the device. Although it’s good to update to the latest version, on older devices, it can be more of a problem than a benefit, as the processor may not support that update.
- Storage is full: This is one of the main causes of a tablet’s slowness. Most tablets usually warn us when they are close to this limit so we can take action.
Recommendations to improve your tablet’s performance
Although it may seem logical, turning off and on the tablet often resolves many of the issues these devices have. This process clears the cache and frees up RAM. However, if your tablet is still slow, take note of these tips to optimize its performance.
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Free up device memory
You’ve probably experienced wanting to download an application or update your tablet’s software, and the device warns you of a lack of space. Or, you tried to run a game, and it didn’t perform correctly. The apps we use on our tablets usually have an approximate size, but it can vary when we update or move temporary files.
The famous cache memory gathers these data from the applications we use. To clear the cache, go to the phone settings, access the “device maintenance” or “storage” section, and choose the cache clearing option. You can also review all the applications you have installed and delete the ones you don’t use. Some files, especially heavy ones like videos, sometimes remain on our devices unnecessarily. You can delete them or transfer them to other devices like a USB or store them in the cloud.
More tips to increase tablet speed
In addition to all these memory freeing steps, you can also try the following measures to improve your tablet’s performance:
- Stop background processes and applications: Not only do you increase its performance, but you also optimize RAM and the battery lasts longer. To do this, go to settings and see which apps consume the most battery.
- Disable synchronization tasks: When performing tasks that require significant device effort, such as playing online games or downloading large documents.
- Update apps and software: Always to the latest versions, as they are usually prepared to optimize their performance (always ensuring compatibility with your tablet).
- Disable automatic updates: On Android devices, this prevents processes related to Google services from running, giving you more control over what you install at any given time.
- Optimize home screen widgets: Only keep the applications you use often because they also consume processor resources unnecessarily.
- Use an SD memory card: To increase storage or format the one you already have.
- Install an antivirus: To improve overall performance and avoid possible infections.
- Protect your tablet from high temperatures: Keep it clean and sheltered to prevent dust from entering.
How to format the tablet
If none of these measures work, the next solution to improve your tablet’s performance is to perform a format. To reset your tablet to factory settings and keep only the applications and settings it came with initially, go to the settings menu, look for the “reset” option, and follow your device’s instructions.
This way, you will eliminate all the apps you have installed, the saved files, and also any viruses you might have. However, before taking this step, make sure to back up all your data. If you need more information about formatting these devices, we also explain how to reset a tablet depending on the operating system.If you have tried all these measures and your tablet is still slow or not functioning correctly because it is old or not performing as expected, it might be time to buy a more modern tablet with better features.
