How to Fix a Slow Streaming iPad
By Brian Flax
The iPad is a great device for streaming video from sources all over the Internet. Many sites have apps specifically designed for the iPad for streaming video like Hulu, Netflix and YouTube. Like computers, the iPad can suffer from slow streaming and constant buffering when viewing video and other forms of media. Clearing memory, resetting the device and using a different Internet connection can all help to speed up streaming on an iPad.
Free Some Memory
If you've used up a lot of space on your iPad, clearing the memory can help speed up streaming and the device itself. You can find out what apps are using the most memory by going to "Settings," clicking on "General" and looking for "Usage." This list will show you the total storage available on your iPad and what apps are using the most memory. If you have pictures or movies you know longer need, you can free up space by removing the files. Deleting old or unused apps can also free up space and increase the speed of your iPad.
Restart Your iPad
The iPad contains RAM in different amounts depending on the model. For example, the 4th generation iPad contains 1GB of RAM. The more apps you open and use, the less free RAM you have available for use. If your iPad seems slower than normal or streaming media is buffering or not running smoothly, you may be running low on available RAM. You can clear RAM by closing programs you're not using or by restarting the iPad altogether. Every time you open a program you're using RAM, so limit the amount of open apps when streaming media.
Test Your Internet Connection
If other apps seems to be running smoothly on your iPad, your Internet connection could be to blame for slow streaming. High-definition video requires a fast Internet connection to work correctly. For example, Netflix recommends 12 Mbps to stream super HD content and 5 Mbps for normal HD quality. If you're on an Internet connection that can't support these speeds, try watching lower quality standard-definition video. If you're using YouTube, try lowering the video quality as well. Although the video won't look as good, it should help with loading problems on a slow connection.
Restart Your Router
If you're logged on to your home network, your wireless network could be to blame for slow streaming. If there are multiple users on the same connection, the overall Internet speed could be lowered. Try streaming video from a different connection or wait until more bandwidth becomes available. If bandwidth is not the issue, try restarting your modem or wireless router. You may run into problems during peak hours when more people are online, especially with more popular websites like YouTube and Netflix. If slow streaming is only happening with one specific app, it could be an issue related to the service itself.
References
Writer Bio
Based in the Washington DC area, Brian Flax holds a Master of Science in education technology, and a Bachelor of Science in entertainment business from Full Sail University. His articles have been published on FindTheBest.com, where he was a daily writer in the smartphones and tablets section.