Your iPad isn’t charging and you don’t know why. You’re plugging it to power but nothing’s happening. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPad won’t charging and show you how to fix the problem for good!
Why Is My iPad Not Charging?
There could be several reasons why your iPad mini, iPad, iPad Air or iPad Pro won’t charge. Here are possible reasons.:
- Your iPad might be having a software problem
- Your iPad might have a dirty or damaged charging port
- Your charging accessory is defective, damaged, or isn’t Apple-certified
- Your iPad is too hot or too cold
- Your iPad might be having a hardware problem
What to do if an iPad won’t charge
Here’s what to do if your iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro or iPad Air battery is dead and it won’t charge.
Make sure that your iPad isn’t charging
Start by making sure your iPad is not charging. First, plug the iPad directly into a wall outlet and make sure that the switch is turned on so electricity is flowing to the outlet. If the iPad doesn’t charge, make sure that the outlet you’re plugged into actually has power; either plug something else in to test the outlet, or plug the charger into another outlet.
Pro Tip: Don’t try to charge it via computer! iPads draw more current than smaller devices like iPhones, and many — if not most — computers don’t have high-power USB ports which can deliver enough energy to charge an iPad. There’s no harm in trying — you can’t damage your iPad this way — but it’s likely that your computer won’t be able to charge your iPad competently. You can generally tell if a USB port can’t deliver enough juice because you will see a message that says "Not Charging."
Next, check if a lightning bolt appears on the battery icon in the status bar, or a large battery icon on your Lock screen.
If you don’t see the charging icons, you can start troubleshooting.
Hard Reset Your iPad
A lot of the time, an iPad won’t charge because of a software problem. Hard resetting your iPad will fix software glitch preventing it from charging. If your iPad has a Home button, simultaneously press and hold the Home button and the power button until you see Apple’s logo appear directly on the center of the screen.
If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, quickly press and release the volume up button, quickly press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Note: Sometimes you have to press and hold both buttons (iPads with a Home button) or the Top button (iPads without a Home button) for 20 — 30 seconds before the Apple logo will appear.
If your iPad still won’t charge, move on to the next step.
Inspect Your iPad Charger
If you recently had a power cut, that could be responsible: your power adaptor could have been damaged in a power surge.
What does your Apple adaptor look like? Is it in pristine condition or has it got any signs of damage? Is the adaptor discolored in any way? Does it look burnt out? If so, try a different adaptor (I once took an iPad Air to an Apple Store because it wasn’t charging. It turned out the fault was with the charging adapter which wasn’t functioning. Apple replaced the charger and all was well.)
Try a different charger. Ideally, try the charger on a different iPad to eliminate that component as possibly malfunctioning.
Inspect Your Charging Cable
If your iPadis not charging, it’s possible that there’s a problem with your charging cable. Charging cables are susceptible to fraying, so closely inspect both ends of your cable for any abnormalities.
If you can, try borrowing a cable from a friend and see if your iPad will charge. If it still doesn’t work, move on to the next step.
Don’t Use Cables That Aren’t MFi-Certified!
If your iPad says “This Accessory May Not Be Supported” when you plug in your charging cable, the cable probably isn’t MFi-certified, which can cause damage to your iPad. If your iPad displays a warning when you plug in your charging cable, throw it away and get a new cable.
Clean Out Your iPad’s Charging Port
If your iPad only recently started being unable to charge, the charging port might be clogged with dust or dirt. While it can happen, it’s actually a lot less likely than on your iPhone, which is constantly being forced into pockets and bags.
Inspect the port with a flashlight, and if you see anything in it, it’s time to clean it!
How Do I Clean Out An iPad Charging Port?
- Power off your iPad completely. You can open the Settings app and then tap General, followed by Shut Down.
- Holding the compressed air can upright (so it only blasts air, and doesn’t expel wet propellent) shoot a few short, controlled bursts into the port.
- Turn your iPad on and try to charge it again. If it’s still not working, it’s time to try the toothpick.
- Again, with your iPad turned off, gently insert the toothpick into the port and lightly scrape it against the inside wall of the port. Don’t apply pressure to the inside wall that’s closest to the front of the iPad, because there are delicate pins there. Overall, it’s important to be gentle, because in addition to those pins, the sides are home to two small spring-mounted anchors that latch onto the charging port when you insert it (that’s why it "snaps" into place when you push the cable in). If you break anything, its charging days will be over permanently.
- After using the toothpick for a while, give the port another burst of compressed air to help remove anything you’ve loosened.
- If you push some dirt out, turn the iPad back on and try to charge it.
If it works, congratulations — you’re back in business. If it still doesn’t work, move on to the next’s step.
Make Sure Your iPad Is Within Acceptable Operating Temperatures
If your iPad is in a very hot or cold environment, it might not be able to charge…
Starting with iPadOS 16, charging is put on hold when your iPad becomes too hot or too cold. This message appears on your Lock Screen and in Settings > Battery: "Charging On Hold. Charging will resume when iPad returns to normal temperature."
Follow the guidelines below to resume charging your iPad as quickly as possible.
- If your iPad is too hot, move it to a cooler place, including away from direct sunlight.
- If your iPad is too cold, move it to a warmer place.
- if your iPad is in use, lock the screen or put it to sleep.
Once your iPad returns to acceptable operating temperatures, try charging it again.
Perform A DFU Restore
DFU stands for Device Firmware Update. Every line of code on your iPad is erased and reloaded, restoring your iPad to its factory defaults. This is the deepest type of restore you can do on an iPad, and it’s the last step you can take to completely rule out a software problem.
DFU Restore iPads With A Home Button
- Connect your iPad to your computer using a charging cable.
- Press and hold both the power button and Home button until the screen goes black.
- After three seconds, let go of the power button while continuing to hold the Home button.
- Keep holding the Home button until your iPad shows up on your computer
- Click Restore iPad on your computer screen.
- Click Restore and Update.
DFU Restore iPads Without A Home Button
- Connect your iPad to your computer using a charging cable.
- Press and hold the Top button for three seconds.
- While continuing to press and hold the power button, press and hold the volume down button.
- Hold both buttons down for approximately ten seconds.
- After ten seconds, release the Top button, but continue holding down the volume button until your iPad shows up on your computer.
- Click Restore iPad.
- Click Restore and Update.
Note: If the Apple logo appears on your iPad display after Step 4, you’ve held the buttons for too long and will start again.
Repairing Your iPad
If you recently dropped your iPad, or if it has been exposed to liquid, it probably isn’t charging because of a hardware issue. You can take your iPad into your local Apple Store, just make sure to set up a Genius Bar appointment first. Apple also provides support online and through the mail.
iPad Won’t Charge: Fixed!
Your iPad has started charging again! We know it’s frustrating when your iPad won’t charge, so I hope you’ll share this article on social media with your family and friends if they experience the problem too. If you have any other questions, leave us a comment down below.