Q: Safari crashes on iPad after ios 5 update

System Status App

You can release about 35% of the System Memory for use if you hit the refresh button in the top right corner.

Do that every time you run low of memory.

Unfortunately, I crash just as much with 24%  in Other in memory as with 75% in Other.  It has to be something more core to the programming of Safari Browser and the operating system itself.  However, I still find my iPad 1 useful overall and enjoyable to use.  Yes, I get frustrated with the crashes.  I've gotten into the habit of using the "iPad App" for applications that have one rather than the original website.  That does mitigate some of the crashing problems.

Marty from Walnut Creek.

I hope that iOS 5.1 will fix the memory useage problems that have rendered the iPad1 completely useless, if you are running iOS 5.0?

In the last few weeks, my iPad1 has become virtually unuseable with iOS 5.0; mostly with Safari, but really all apps in general. Not sure if a class action lawsuit will be necessary here?

Sorry to say it does not fix the problem. Just downloaded to ios5.1 Safari has crashed three times already.

Never really expected much from Apple, but extremely disappointing nonetheless. This scuks.

I wonder if a complete restore would fix it, I doubt it.

iOS 5.1 didn't fix the problem for me either. This Washington Post site crashes my iPad 1 every time:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang

It's a JavaScript thing. If I turn off JavaScript, no problem. With JavaScript, Kaboom! I was hoping iOS 5.1 would fix this. Guess not.

Complete restores are not a fix sorry to say 

Well blankety, blank, blank, blank!!! I had hoped against hope for a fix with 5.1, and I certainly cannot afford to rePlace my ipad1 any time soon. Today it crashed on me 4 times in rapid succession and I had just cleared history and restarted and wasn't even using Safari! I'm still on a 2-year AppleCare contract for several more months, so even though I've gone through every troubleshooting step with Apple and from suggestions here, etc., I'm ready to just plain vex Apple by showing up every week at the store and make them replace it repeatedly! Unfortunately that would be more vExing for me than for them. This is just plain outrageous. O.K. I'm done ranting for now.

The 5.1 upgrade worked for me. 

The increasing crashes with 5.0.1 made my 1st gen iPad nearly useless.

After upgrading (I upgraded via the iPad wireless, and not via iTunes), I then full powered off, and restarted the iPad.

Several hours now of significant app activity with the usual crash app suspects (Flipboard, CNBC, Safari), and no crashes so far. 

I held my breath opening the link for the Washington Post, but it handled that, too.

So far so good.

Thank you Apple for addressing this HUGE pain.  However, it would be better if there was some acknowledgment of an issue and resolution as opposed to simply letting us all grow increasingly frustrated.  It's best not to take your customers for granted.  As someone who owns an iPhone 4s, 2 MacBook pros, AppleTV, 2 ipads, and bought my family 4 iPhone4's, I'm bought in.   But, loyalty can change quickly. 

Thanks again. And hope this is a permanent fix. 

This is good news indeed! Did you do a wipe and restore as a new iPad, or just download and restart?

YES!!!! It works, but you must follow the directions you gave completely. I neglected to do a full power off and restart. It will not work unless you perform this step. I was disappointed at first when I tried out my "usual" crash site, the Apple site. I click on the Lion info and try to play the video and it crashed every single time like clockwork. It crashed even with the new update; however, after doing the full power off and restart, it does NOT crash. I know it is still a bit early to tell, but I am relieved. I was about ready to pitch the Ipad and Apple completely. Thanks!!

What does "full power off" mean to you?  There are several possibilities.

I restarted by holding down the home button and the power button until the iPad rebooted. That seemed to help a little, but eventually the Washington Post site still "crashed".

By "crashed" I mean that Safari closes and the iPad returns to the "home page" of apps. Safari is apparently still running because if you double-click the home button, Safari is still among the "running" apps.

After the upgrade I powered off as you did, so far only one crash.