Q: iPad Safari crashing regularly

Hello, I've been having this issue for a long time, way before iOS 5 was release. It started off that Safari would crash once a day, but over time it has gotten worse, and even before i update to 5 it was crashing like 10 times a day. The crashes were all random and on different websites. But what i also notice was that it seemed to do it on media rich websites. For fun I turn off javascript and I found that the crashes stop.

I also have the Atom web browser installed and in its settings there is an option to turn on a warning for low memory. If I open 5 or 6 tabs I will get the low memory warning and if I open a couple more the browser will crash. But with Safari i usually only have 1 page or Tab open and it still does the same, so I'm wondering if maybe Safari isnt clearing its cache and that is what is causing Safari to crash.

I will try your solution George and will report back on if it work for me. Next step would be to bring my Ipad back to Futureshop and see if they will fix it.

I can update that following George's post and did a full restore on my Ipad. Been playing with safari for over an hour visting various sites and it has not crash once. I did get a random reboot on my ipad, i  also had one about 2 days ago, not sure what caused it and it has never happend before. Now I will start putting apps back on my Ipad and see if maybe one of them wasnt causing this.

I am getting multiple crashes since the 5.0 upgrade, it reminds me of the problem of bad wifi after a 4.? Upgrade. Apple did nothing for about 4 months.

Don't hold your breath.

My iPad 1 MobileSafari with iOS 5 constantly crashes because of low memory when I visit this URL:

 https://plus.google.com/u/0/110981030061712822816/posts/AaygmbzVeRq

 Sad.

Thanks for posting a location that will repeatedly and predictably crash Safair on my iPad-1, iOS5+. Since it never completely loads, I have no gut feeling about the cause. but i have a feeling that page would not have crashed before I upgraded to iOS5.

Ihave cleared my Safari cache and even reset the iPad in an effort to nail down why Safair has started crashing. I get no positive results from any of the usual, consumer-oriented fixes.

Hope someone can figure this out. Beyond me.

Same with me

I have some of apples own apps hanging and crashing which was not in ios4 so maybe we will get an update or something about this

Turning off javascript on that google plus link almost loads it. But does crash my browser and I rarely have this issue.

Glad to hear restores are helping for the vast majority of you.

Keep us up to date on the random reboot. It may have been part of the restore. It may also be a sign of hardware issues.

I assume you are running 5.01 by now right?

Try upgrading to 5.01 in iTunes not iCloud and see whether that fixes it.

But only a restore and setup as new is likely to fix it. Is autofill on or off? Are your apps up to date?

iPad iOS 5.0.1 same problem with safari, random crashes even when it's the only thing in memory (only app open)

Only really a problem since the iOS 5 upgrade. The iPad was upgraded over a USB cable via iTunes. Memory leak maybe?

not a day goes by without safari crashing on my iPad.  Did not seem to do this until I upgraded to iOS 5.  It is VERY irritating, to say the least.  It happens while accessing various web sites of different complexities.

I hope someone at Apple is working on fixing this real soon!

In order for something to be a bug that can be fixed, it must be a bug reproducible on every single ipad. That is a bug. This thread, though it has lots of posts, is a small minority of the Apple community.

Still, you can help us track this down by following the numerous advice in this thread, in other threads, or by Googling around for your own solutions.

Try this:

1. Empty all website data in the Advanced option under Safari.

2. Turn off autofill if the crashing is happening in text fields or on websites with text fields. (You may wish to turn it off anyway.)

3. Does it happen in any other application? If so, reset network settings and post a new thread.

4. If it happened post an update, in your case, you may also find help in a better thread or google search describing safari crash and 5.0.

5. Some person prior to 5.0 suggested changing the search engine from Google to Yahoo. This seems unlikely, but if it works, it works.

6. Lastly, every person that has done a restore finds dramatically reduced crashing. If this is not true, let me know. If it doesn't fix it, the hardware needs to be replaced. Note that you should do it via itunes via USB and set up as new ipad for best results.

Diagnostic questions:

Can you provide specific links that cause crashes?

Are you using an ipad 2 or 1?

Can you try turning off cellular data for one test, and try turning off wifi for another test, and seeing whether that makes a difference?

Hope this helps.

It looks like turning off javascript helps some too. This is indicative of a problem if it works. But may be a workaround.

If this does work, calling up Apple and reporting the bug is worth it. They will not charge you unless they can fix it. They will tell you it costs $30, and have you do a restore, but if they are unable to fix it, they will not charge you. Unlimited calls will be allowed about the issue, and if you have applecare it's covered.

This has been posted here before, but for those that want instructions for how to clear history, cookies, and data:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/16721965#16721965

It could also affect apps that use Safari to render things.

I would consider posting in that thread if you are having issues in ios 5, as they have found some success there, and that's a more specific thread.

A small virus has made its way into your cookies or cache or database file. Reset history cookies cache database etc. Then reboot and backup your device on itunes.

When complete plug your device out for 10 seconds and plug it into your computer again. make sure the computer recgnises it. Then making sure it is connected power it off.

Hold down power button for 3 seconds

Hold down power and home button 10 seconds

Hold down inly home button for 15 seconds

Make sure you are changing between these steps in a clean transition.

Restore your device with itunes. If the problem persists redownload iOS 5.

Hope this helps

Can you explain what this does?

I doubt it is a virus, given the sandboxed nature of the OS. It could be Javascript. It could be corrupted cache or history files. Which is why the link I posted above is useful. I agree with the other things you said.

Normally, holding down power and home crashes the device which on a 3G device re-registers it with the network?

I highly recommend restoring before doing the steps above. setup as new ipad, clear history and website data, do one home-power button push, but not continously.

I would appreciate being wrong, and shown what this does.

Thank you.

It should be pretty hard to go wrong, but you are powering down several times during the boot up sequence.

I do agree with you it is highly unlikely that this is a virus however in this case it is a good change.

A small cache or cookies based virus called worm$i##OS2598cacheregisterycode8730091.

DFU mode reinstalls everything on your device including ROM and anything else on your device.

You pretty much have a dumbed device if the power goes out.

But it is usually very safe as it is a Apple command.

It will reinstall everything.

Usually the virus does not back itself up.

If it does usually the only way is to go through the whole process again but just set up as new device.

Shout if you have any other questions