Since updating to iOS 26.5 problems on 9th generation iPad, battery drain has increased and Wi-Fi performance has become very slow. Apps are slow to switch and frequently freeze. I have restarted and hard booted multiple times. Have more than 50% memory available. Device is just about unusable.
iPad, iPadOS 26
If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated or post-update software issue:
Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)
Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)
If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:
If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:
How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings
If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:
Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support
Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044
You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist with troubleshooting:
If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated or post-update software issue:
Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)
Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)
If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:
If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:
How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings
If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:
Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support
Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044
You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist with troubleshooting:
…found that if I quit using Private Relay the speed issue is very slightly improved. If I use DuckDuckGo rather than Safari there’s a dramatic improvement in both speed and website performance. By turning off Private Relay and using DuckDuckGo exclusively, even with the DDG VPN it’s like a brand new iPad.
Naturally, the VPN, when activated, will slow the network connection a bit. I have a choice of three and they all run about the same speed & show similar latency and ping numbers when and if I choose to use one of them. The issue is the OS update that literally all but bricked some of the 9th Gen iPads, not how we connect to an ISP. The iPads simply will not run more than one app at a time and they have a great deal of trouble doing that. We follow the factory recommendations to restore with no results and get zero help from Apple as we are no longer covered by maintenance/warranty. Never mind that all was just fine prior to the 26.5 update.
Kinda hard to believe so few are complaining about this issue. I now have to do a reset-restart-reset to new factory settings.
[Edited by Moderator]
Same issues on multiple iPads in household one older one current model so it’s the update
twomiracles wrote:
We shouldn’t have to reach out to Apple for an obviously common issue. l
Let’s have a fix, please, Apple…or do you just want us to all have to buy new iPads?
Please understand that the Apple Support Community is a user-to-user technical forum. Contributors here are all end-users, just like you. Other than the site Moderators, Apple neither monitor nor participate here. As such, if you anticipate that Apple will see or act upon your posts made here, you will be disappointed.
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That VPN may well be part of the issue
Thanks for the suggestion of forced restart. I used the wrong verbiage (rebooted). The forced restart did absolutely nothing to remedy the issues. Making sure I had a good recent backup, I did a factory reset. No change. When time allows, I’ll reach out to Apple.
My apologies that you are experiencing the same issues as many of us are. I can’t offer any more advice as I have done 3 factory resets with zero improvement. I’m using it for a reader now. Had to go back to my WIN11 laptops. It is that bad.
This is not working. All that happens is the power off button comes up.
We shouldn’t have to reach out to Apple for an obviously common issue. l
Let’s have a fix, please, Apple…or do you just want us to all have to buy new iPads?
Im bout to just get a new one bc there should be no reason im lagging and all i have is Spotify, roblox, minecraft and YouTube
9th gen iPad performance issues after iOS 26.5 update
