Why Does My Tablet Freeze During Video Calls And How To Troubleshoot Instantly

Video calls have become a cornerstone of modern communication—whether for work, education, or staying in touch with loved ones. When your tablet suddenly freezes mid-call, it’s more than just inconvenient; it can disrupt important conversations and damage professional credibility. Unlike full computers, tablets often lack the processing headroom to handle multiple high-demand tasks at once, making them particularly vulnerable to performance hiccups. The good news is that most freezing issues are not permanent hardware failures but rather symptoms of manageable problems. Understanding the root causes and knowing exactly what to do when it happens can save you time, stress, and embarrassment.

Common Causes of Tablet Freezing During Video Calls

Tablets freeze during video calls due to a combination of software strain, hardware limitations, and network instability. While the exact cause varies by device model and usage pattern, several recurring factors dominate user reports.

• Inadequate RAM management: Running too many background apps while on a call overwhelms available memory.
• Outdated operating system or app versions: Bugs in older software can trigger crashes during real-time data processing.
• Poor internet connectivity: Low bandwidth or unstable Wi-Fi forces the app to buffer excessively, increasing CPU load.
• Overheating: Prolonged use, especially under direct sunlight or on soft surfaces like beds, blocks ventilation and slows internal components.
• Storage congestion: When storage is nearly full (above 90%), the system struggles to create temporary files needed for smooth operation.
• Camera and microphone access conflicts: Some apps fail to release hardware resources properly after use, causing delays or lockups on restart.

These triggers don’t always act alone. Often, a weak Wi-Fi signal combined with low battery mode can push an already stressed device over the edge.

Tip: Close unused apps before starting a video call—especially browsers with multiple tabs, which consume significant RAM.

Immediate Troubleshooting Steps When Your Tablet Freezes

If your tablet locks up during a video call, quick action can often restore function without losing the entire session. Follow this timeline to regain control efficiently.

1. Wait 10–15 seconds: Sometimes the app is merely buffering. A brief pause may resolve itself.
2. Force close the video app: Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click Home on older models) to open the app switcher and swipe away the frozen app.
3. Restart the device: Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the screen shuts off, then press again to reboot. This clears stuck processes and resets network connections.
4. Switch to audio-only mode: If rejoining the call, disable video temporarily to reduce strain.
5. Move closer to your router: Improve signal strength by reducing physical barriers between the tablet and Wi-Fi source.
6. Toggle Airplane Mode: Turn it on for 10 seconds, then off. This resets all wireless modules and often resolves connection glitches.

After restarting, avoid opening unnecessary apps. Launch only the video platform and join the call using earbuds to minimize camera and speaker load.

“Many users assume their device is failing when it’s actually drowning in background noise. A clean boot solves 70% of ‘freezing’ complaints.” — Rajiv Mehta, Mobile Systems Engineer at NetFlow Diagnostics

Preventive Maintenance Checklist

Prevention is far more effective than reactive fixes. Use this checklist weekly to keep your tablet running smoothly during video calls.

Checklist: Tablet Performance Maintenance

• ✅ Clear cache for video calling apps (Zoom, Teams, Meet)
• ✅ Update OS and all communication apps monthly
• ✅ Delete unused apps and media files to free up storage
• ✅ Disable auto-play videos in social media apps
• ✅ Set display brightness to automatic or below 70%
• ✅ Restart your tablet at least once a week
• ✅ Use a cooling pad or stand if calls last over 60 minutes
• ✅ Disable Bluetooth and GPS when not in use

This routine reduces background interference and ensures optimal resource allocation when you need it most. For example, disabling location services prevents mapping and weather apps from silently syncing in the background during calls.

Do’s and Don’ts: Managing Tablet Resources

How you interact with your tablet directly affects its stability. The following table outlines best practices and common pitfalls related to video call performance.

Do’s	Don’ts
Use a wired headset to reduce Bluetooth overhead	Run downloads or cloud backups during live calls
Keep at least 20% of storage free for system operations	Leave multiple browser windows open with streaming content
Position the tablet near a window for better lighting (reducing camera strain)	Place the tablet on pillows or blankets that block airflow
Enable “Data Saver” mode in your video app settings	Ignore app update notifications for extended periods
Close the camera app completely after each use	Use third-party launchers or heavy widgets on home screens

Adhering to these guidelines creates a leaner operating environment where the tablet can prioritize video encoding, audio transmission, and network responsiveness.

Real-World Example: Resolving Chronic Freezing in a Remote Learning Setup

Sarah, a middle school teacher in Portland, relied on her five-year-old Android tablet for daily Google Meet sessions with students. Over three weeks, she experienced frequent freezes—sometimes losing audio, other times seeing her screen lock entirely. Initially, she assumed the device was too old to continue functioning reliably.

After reviewing her usage patterns, she discovered several contributing factors: her tablet had only 3% free storage, she left YouTube Music running in the background, and her case trapped heat during two-hour teaching blocks. She followed a structured reset process: uninstalled unused educational apps, cleared cached data from Chrome and Meet, moved files to cloud storage, and began propping the tablet upright on a bookshelf with a small fan nearby.

The result? No freezes over the next four weeks. Her Wi-Fi signal also improved after switching from 5GHz to 2.4GHz band, which offered better wall penetration from her basement router. Sarah now performs a 10-minute maintenance routine every Friday evening, ensuring smooth performance for Monday’s classes.

Her experience underscores a key truth: aging devices can still perform well when managed correctly.

Optimizing Settings for Long-Term Stability

Beyond immediate fixes, long-term optimization involves adjusting system-level settings to favor responsiveness over convenience.

Reduce visual effects: On both iOS and Android, disabling animations increases perceived speed. On iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion. On Android, enable Developer Options and set Window/Transition Animation scales to “off.”

Limit background app refresh: Prevent apps from waking up and consuming resources. In iOS, this is under Settings > General > Background App Refresh. On Android, restrict background activity per app via Apps & Notifications > [App Name] > Battery.

Use Ethernet via adapter: For critical calls, connect your tablet to a wired network using a USB-C or Lightning-to-Ethernet adapter. Wired connections eliminate Wi-Fi dropouts and offer lower latency.

Lower video resolution: In Zoom or Microsoft Teams, manually set your outgoing video quality to 720p instead of 1080p. High-resolution streams demand more from both processor and upload bandwidth.

Tip: Schedule large downloads and updates outside of work hours to prevent competition for bandwidth and CPU.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can antivirus apps help prevent freezing during video calls?

Most tablets do not benefit significantly from third-party antivirus tools. Android and iOS include built-in security layers that manage threats effectively. However, some poorly coded \"cleaner\" apps claim to boost performance but actually run intrusive background services that worsen freezing. Stick to official app stores and avoid downloading utility apps promising dramatic speed improvements.

Is it better to use a phone or tablet for video calls?

Tablets generally offer larger screens and better speakers, making them ideal for prolonged calls. However, phones often have superior thermal management and fresher software updates. If your tablet is more than four years old, your phone might provide a more stable experience—especially if it has more RAM and newer chipset architecture.

Why does my tablet freeze only on certain apps like Zoom but not FaceTime?

Different video platforms optimize differently for hardware. Zoom, for instance, uses aggressive encoding settings that can overwhelm older GPUs. FaceTime is tightly integrated with Apple’s ecosystem and benefits from hardware acceleration unavailable to third-party apps. Updating the problematic app or trying an alternative (e.g., using WhatsApp instead of Skype) often resolves such selective freezing.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Tablet’s Performance

A tablet freezing during a video call isn’t inevitable—it’s a signal that your device needs attention. Whether it's clearing clutter, improving connectivity, or simply restarting regularly, the solutions are within reach. Most fixes require no technical expertise, just consistent habits. By understanding the balance between hardware limits and software demands, you empower yourself to stay connected without interruption. Don’t wait for the next freeze-up to act. Apply these strategies today, and transform your tablet into a reliable communication tool.

💬 Have a freezing issue you solved in an unexpected way? Share your story in the comments—your insight could help someone avoid a frustrating call dropout.