What’s Actually Slowing Down Your reMarkable (And How to Fix It)
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At the beginning, your reMarkable feels smooth.
Pages load quickly.
Navigation is simple.
Everything responds the way you expect.
Then, over time…
👉 it starts to feel slower.
- page turns feel heavier
- switching between documents takes longer
- the screen looks less clean
Most people assume:
👉 “the device is getting worse”
But that’s not what’s happening.
⚠️ The Truth: Your Device Didn’t Change — Your Usage Did
reMarkable doesn’t “slow down” like a phone over time.
What changes is:
👉 how much you’re asking it to handle
As your workflow grows, so does the load:
- more PDFs
- larger files
- more hyperlinks
- more switching between documents
And that creates friction.
The Hidden Load No One Talks About
The real issue isn’t storage.
👉 It’s processing load during use
Every time you:
- open a document
- jump between pages
- tap a hyperlink
👉 the device has to render that page again
Now multiply that by:
- hundreds of pages
- hundreds (or thousands) of links
That’s where the slowdown comes from.
Not All PDFs Are the Same
This is one of the biggest misunderstandings.
Two planners can look similar — but behave very differently.
Example:
- A simple 50-page PDF → fast
- A 500-page hyperlinked planner → heavier
And especially:
👉 The more links inside a file, the more work the device has to do
⚠️ Hyperlinks Add Complexity
Hyperlinks are powerful — but they come at a cost.
Each tap requires:
- locating the link
- loading the destination page
- refreshing the screen
If you’re jumping constantly between sections:
👉 it starts to feel slow
Your Interaction Habits Matter
This part is almost never explained.
Most people use their reMarkable like this:
- tap quickly
- switch files often
- jump between sections constantly
👉 That creates unnecessary load
And makes the device feel slower than it actually is.
What About Ghosting?
Ghosting is when faint traces of previous pages remain visible.
This becomes more noticeable when:
- switching quickly
- navigating dense pages
- refreshing the screen often
👉 It’s not a bug
👉 It’s how e-ink works
Why It Feels Worse Over Time
At the beginning:
- you use fewer files
- your system is simpler
Over time:
- you add more
- you explore more
- you switch more
👉 So the device feels heavier
Not because it changed…
👉 but because your usage did
What Actually Fixes It
This is where most advice gets it wrong.
It’s not about:
❌ deleting everything
❌ resetting your device
It’s about reducing friction during use.
✔️ 1. Stay Within One File When Possible
Avoid jumping between multiple documents.
✔️ 2. Reduce Constant Navigation
Use fewer taps, fewer jumps, more flow.
✔️ 3. Use Simpler Structures
Not every workflow needs hundreds of pages and links.
✔️ 4. Keep Only What You Use Active
Not for storage reasons — for usability.
✔️ 5. Slow Down Your Interaction
Tap once, wait, move with intention.
The Real Shift
Most people think:
👉 “I need better files”
But the real answer is:
👉 you need a smoother way of using them
A Better Way to Use Your reMarkable
The device works best when:
- you stay focused in one place
- your navigation is intentional
- your system is simple enough to repeat
If your reMarkable feels slower than before…
👉 it’s not wearing out
👉 it’s not breaking
👉 it’s reacting to how it’s being used
The fix is simple:
- reduce unnecessary navigation
- simplify how you move between pages
- use your files more intentionally
And once you remove that friction…
👉 the device feels fast again.
If you prefer a smoother experience, working with a clean and well-structured planner — one that doesn’t rely on excessive navigation — makes a noticeable difference over time.
You can explore examples designed with simplicity and usability in mind here:
👉 https://planprotemplates.com/