Several users have reported an issue in which the iPad freezes completely during video playback, often requiring the device to be force-restarted by holding down the home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously for several seconds. The issue occurs most often when playing back H.264 video, either via YouTube, sites such as CNN and Vimeo, or video-enabled apps such as Netflix.
In most cases of this issue, the iPad will freeze hard 1 to 15 minutes into video playback and require a hard restart.
The problem does not occur with locally stored videos.
This should not be confused with buffering delays, which occur when data throughput is not fast enough to keep up with video playback. In this issue, the iPad locks up and generally cannot be used until a restart is performed.
“I can get 5-15 minutes into a video, and then the system freezes hard. After a two-button reboot, I’m back into the system but nothing is any better. I can go straight back into a streaming video application and experience the same thing. Oddly, local videos don’t appear to crash.”
All evidence exposed thus far appears to point to a hardware issue. Dozens of posters to this Apple Discussions thread report that Apple has replaced their iPads with units that do not exhibit this issue. Furthermore, the replacement units appear to have the same firmware as the old, freezing units. This would indicate a hardware defect that affects some units.
Before seeking replacement of an iPad that exhibits this issue, you should try restoring the device.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
I have an iPad that when I’m streaming the TV channels my iPad keeps freezing and it’s like pulling teeth to be able to catchup on anything. It’s a new iPad why does it freeze up. NOT HAPPY!
My iPad freezes and won’t let me exit YouTube (home button doesn’t work, can’t scroll through comments or move the video window down to access the YouTube home menu ) and then restarts after a while but the video continues playing and can be paused and unpaused. I’ve never had a device do this before.
I assume locally stored videos would mean stored on the Ipad itself. But I have about 10 Quicktime videos stored on my Ipad and I can confirm that they do freeze within 15 minutes.
I have an iPad that when I’m streaming the TV channels my iPad keeps freezing and it’s like pulling teeth to be able to catchup on anything. It’s a new iPad why does it freeze up. NOT HAPPY!
My iPad freezes and won’t let me exit YouTube (home button doesn’t work, can’t scroll through comments or move the video window down to access the YouTube home menu ) and then restarts after a while but the video continues playing and can be paused and unpaused. I’ve never had a device do this before.
My Ipad mini freezes is the any way I can get it replace?
ipad is frozen. screen is so enlarged that I can’t access any of the apps or settings. Please help!
I assume locally stored videos would mean stored on the Ipad itself. But I have about 10 Quicktime videos stored on my Ipad and I can confirm that they do freeze within 15 minutes.
SOP.
Any iPad that has a verified hardware issue that is not damage , is replaced. Just like an iPod or an iPhone.