iPad Screen Frozen Can’t Swipe? - Find 5 Easy Solutions Here

Why My iPad Screen Frozen Can’t Swipe?

At times, an iPad might become unresponsive. The causes of “iPad screen frozen can't swipe” are numerous, but we will focus on the primary culprits. An iPad is prone to freezing when:

Limited Memory Space: Users unwittingly overstuff their iPad’s internal storage, not realizing the impact on the device. In addition, Apple’s frequent updates demand substantial storage space. When internal storage dwindles to less than 1GB, the iPad is susceptible to freezing.
Outdated Firmware: While Apple consistently rolls out OS updates with security enhancements, users sometimes neglect to keep their iPads up to date. An outdated firmware is a prevalent cause of iPad freezing.
Flawed or Corrupt Apps: Apple’s App Store maintains strong security measures against third-party apps that may inject malware into your iPad. Nevertheless, a corrupted app can find its way onto your iPad, potentially causing it to freeze.

How to Fix iPad Screen Frozen Can’t Swipe - 5 Easy Ways

Now that you’re aware of why an iPad freezes, you better avoid such a practice that paves the way for it to happen. But what to do if iPad screen frozen can’t swipe? You can follow the below methods to fix it quickly.

Way 1. Recharge Your iPad

A frequently encountered issue leading to iPad lockup or freezing is low battery levels. If your iPad is unresponsive and its battery is critically low, connect it to a power source for a period of time and be patient. It may take around 20 minutes for the charging process to restore your iPad’s functionality. If this finishes a frozen iPad screen fix, it’s advisable to keep your iPad charging for at least another hour.

Way 2. Force-Close Unresponsive Apps on a Frozen iPad

If your iPad becomes unresponsive while enjoying games or videos, you can attempt to resolve the freezing issue by force-quitting apps. Here is a full guide on how to unlock iPad screen when frozen:

Step 1: Double-click the Home button (or use 3D Touch/firmly press the left side of the screen on iPhone 6s or later) to access the fast app switcher.

Step 2: Scroll through the open apps to find the one causing trouble > Swipe the app or apps’ cards upwards, flicking them off the screen to force them to close.

Way 3. Execute a Hard Restart on Your iPad

When dealing with iPadOS issues, a hard restart is a straightforward yet effective way, especially if your iPad is persistently frozen. Follow these simple steps to perform a hard restart:

Step 1: Identify the Sleep/Wake button at the top and the Home button at the bottom center of your iPad.

Step 2: Simultaneously press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button for approximately 30 seconds until the Apple logo appears on the iPad’s screen.

Way 4. Restore Your iPad to Factory Settings via iTunes (Data Loss)

The fourth approach involves restoring your iPad using iTunes on your Windows PC. Keep in mind that this procedure will result in the removal of all data and settings on your frozen iPad, essentially resetting it to a factory state. Exercise caution if you lack a backup of your data prior to the freezing issue. Here’s how to unfreeze iPad screen via iTunes:

Step 1: Download the latest iTunes on your PC > Connect your frozen iPad to your computer using the iPad’s USB cable.

Step 2: Open iTunes > Select the iPad icon on the left and choose Restore iPad > Confirm the restoration request by clicking Restore to resolve the freezing problem.

However, if iTunes doesn’t detect your iPad, you should follow the simple steps to fix this issue into Recovery Mode:

Step 1: Simultaneously press the Home button and Side button until the Connect to iTunes logo appears on the iPad screen > Hold the buttons even when the Apple logo emerges.

Step 2: Once iTunes detects your iPad in recovery mode, click OK and then Restore iPad > Confirm the restoration request by clicking Restore.

After the device is restored, it will restart. Then, you can set it up anew and restore iPhone from backup after setup if you have made an iPad backup before.

Way 5. Reset All Settings

Modifying system settings can sometimes trigger iPad freezing. If none of the previously mentioned solutions prove effective, you can opt for a complete reset of all settings to restore your iPad to its default configuration. This should be considered as a last resort to address the issue. And it not only fit to solve iPad errors, but also can help you fix iPhone won't swipe up issues. To execute this reset, follow these steps:

Step 1: Navigate to Settings and access the General tab > Choose the Transfer or Reset iPhone option.

Step 2: Locate the Reset option and choose Reset All Settings. This action will revert all settings to their factory defaults.

Bonus: Make an iPad Backup If You Need to Reset All Settings

It’s important to develop a good habit of backing up your iOS data, as your devices may encounter various issues such as “iPad screen frozen can’t swipe”, “iPhone/iPad won’t turn on”, and more. To avoid these issues (that may trigger data loss), you should make a backup of your iPad, especially resetting all settings on your device.

So, is there a good way to back up your iPad? Here FoneTool is highly recommended. FoneTool is a free and safe iOS data backup tool, which can help you make a full or selective backup of your iOS devices and allow you to transfer your data between iOS devices and Windows PCs. If you don’t want to back up all your data, you can also preview and selectively back up your data, here is a full guide to do that:

Step 1: Download and install FoneTool on your PC > Connect your iPad to your PC using a USB cable.

Step 2: Launch FoneTool > Navigate to the Phone Backup option > Select Selective Backup and click Get Started.

Step 3: Select the specific apps you wish to back up > Preview the items available for backup and make our selection by clicking OK.

Step 4: Specify the backup storage path where your iPad’s data will be saved > Once you’ve chosen the location, simply click Start Backup to initiate the process.

The Bottom Line

Experiencing the iPad screen frozen can't swipe issue during use can be a frustrating problem. Fortunately, this post has compiled a list of five effective methods to address this issue. You can employ these methods in any sequence, and chances are that one of them will resolve the problem.

In addition, if you need to use iTunes to restore or reset all settings on your iPad, you need to make a backup of your iPad to protect your iPad data. FoneTool is the top choice for you because it cannot only help you back up your iPad data but also allow you to transfer data from broken iPad to new iPad. Try it out!