Your iPad won’t turn off and you’re not sure why it’s happening. Maybe you’re trying to disconnect from the outside world for a few minutes, or you’re trying to save a lot of battery life. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPad won’t turn off and how to fix the powering off problem for good.
Why Won’t My iPad Turn Off?
Usually, your iPad won’t turn off because there is either a problem with the software on your iPad or the screen or power button isn’t working correctly.
Whatever the case, this handy guide will walk you through how to fix an iPad that won’t turn off. By the end, you’ll know how to work around an unresponsive iPad screen, how to turn off your iPad if the power button won’t work, and repair options if you need professional help.
1. Try To Turn Off Your iPad
First things first. If your iPad has a Home button, press and hold the top button. If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, press and hold the top button and either volume button at the same time.
Release the button or buttons when slide to power off appears on the screen. That’s your cue to touch the red power icon and swipe it with your finger from the left to the right side of the screen. Ideally, your iPad will turn off when you do this. If it doesn’t, and you’re scratching your head, keep reading.
Pro tip: If you see the “slide to power off” wording on your screen, but your screen won’t respond, try some of the tricks from my article about what to do when your iPad touch screen isn’t working.
2. Hard Reset Your iPad
The next step is a hard reset. To do this, hold down the top button and the Home button at the same time. Press and hold these two buttons together until the Apple logo appears on your iPad’s display. You may need to press both buttons for as long as 20 seconds, so be patient!
Performing a hard reset on an iPad with Face ID is slightly different. To hard reset an iPad with Face ID, press and release the volume up button, then press and release the volume down button, then, press and hold down the top button until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.
A hard reset can help restart software that may be working improperly. I’d like to stress that this is not the right way to turn off your iPad every time. If the normal power off option works, use that. A hard reset can interrupt software and actually cause more problems if you do it for no reason.
3. Turn On AssistiveTouch And Turn Your iPad Off Using A Software Power Button
If the power button on your iPad doesn’t work, you can’t do step 1 or 2. Fortunately, you can turn off your iPad using just your software that’s built into Settings app.
How Do I Turn Off My iPad When The Power Button Doesn’t Work?
AssistiveTouch is a feature that allows you to control your iPad entirely from the screen. This is handy if you have trouble with your iPad’s buttons or are physically unable to use them.
To access AssistiveTouch, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch.
Tap the toggle to the right side of the AssistiveTouch option to turn on the feature and turn the toggle green. A gray circle should appear with a lighter colored circle in the middle. This is your AssistiveTouch menu.Tap the square to open it.
To shut off your iPad with AssistiveTouch, choose Device and then tap and hold the Lock Screen icon. This will take you to a screen that says “slide to power off.” Drag the red power icon from left to right to turn off your iPad
How Do I Turn My iPad Back On If The Power Button Doesn’t Work?
To turn your iPad back on if the power doesn’t work, plug it into power. The Apple logo will appear on your screen and you’ll be able to use your iPad as usual.
4. Restore Your iPad
Sometimes, a software or firmware problem isn’t so easy to fix. If you’ve tried the soft reset method and your iPad still won’t turn off, it’s time to try using Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC, to reset your iPad’s software. If your PC doesn’t have the Apple Devices app, or your Mac is running macOS Mojave or earlier, use iTunes instead.
Restoring Using A Computer
Plug your iPad into a computer. On a Mac, open Finder. On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app (or iTunes if you don’t have it). Choose your iPad when it pops up. First, click Back Up Now to back up your iPad to your computer, and then select Restore Backup. This will take you to a list of backups to select from. Choose the one you just made.
Follow the prompts to restore your iPad to its previous configuration. When you’re done, unplug your iPad and test it. You should be able to turn off your iPad now.
If you have trouble restoring your iPad, try doing a DFU restore. Our guide will show you how to put your iPad into DFU mode and the best way to restore it.
5. Find A Workaround (Or Put Up With It)
If you’ve tried doing a soft reset and restoring your iPad with a computer and your iPad still won’t turn off, something more serious may be wrong with your iPad.
If you want to stop getting emails, calls, and texts altogether — even if it’s just on the screen — you can turn on Airplane Mode. It’s the first option at the top of the page under Settings. Just remember that you won’t get any incoming calls or messages or be able to make outbound ones with your iPad in Airplane Mode. You have to turn Airplane Mode off again to be able to send or receive calls or messages.
6. Repair Your iPad
Sometimes, the physical components (called hardware) of your iPad can simply stop working. When this happens, getting your iPad replaced or fixed is a good option.
If your iPad is under warranty, Apple (or another company such as a store or your cellular service provider if you purchased a warranty through them) may offer to replace your iPad for you. So, it pays to check on this first.
For iPads with broken buttons that aren’t covered by a warranty, using a repair service is one way to keep your iPad and just get the broken hardware replaced. Apple offers repairs for a fee and so do several third-parties, including local repair shops and send-away online services. Repairing your iPad can cost significantly less than purchasing a new one.
Your iPad Is Turning Off Again!
You’ve fixed the problem and your iPad is turning off again. Make sure to share this article on social media to teach your friends and followers what to do when their iPad won’t turn off too. Leave a comment down below if you have any other questions about your iPad!
See also: How To Turn Off Your iPad Without A Power Button: The Quick Fix!
