Does your iPad consistently crash as you surf the Web? Does your iPhone struggle to pull up videos and Web pages? The odds are your device is getting old. And that often means poor performance. There is hope, however. Lifehacker writer Gordon Whitson in a recent feature presented several tips for owners trying to inject new life into their lethargic iPhone or iPad.

No Updates

We realize that you want to keep your iPad or iPhone up-to-date. But Gordon in his Lifehacker story says that the owners of older devices should resist the lure of Apple updates. The reason? Those new versions of iOS or those latest upgrades can prove too powerful for older devices. And they can make those older devices run even slower.

Use Apple’s Own Apps

You might like third-party apps, too. But Whitson again offers some advice: Rely wherever possible on Apple’s own apps. They’re the ones created to work best with your iPhone or iPad. And if you instead rely on outside apps, you might exacerbate the sluggishness of your device.

Freeing up Storage

Your iPhone or iPad might just have way too many programs stored on it. Gordon suggests uninstalling any apps that you rarely use. You might also remove music or videos that you no longer access.