You have a dead iPad and you don’t know what to do. It won’t even charge when you plug it into a power source! In this article, I’ll explain why your iPad is dead and show you how to fix the problem for good.
Why Is My iPad Dead?
There are a few possible reasons why your iPad is dead:
- It’s out of battery and needs to be charged.
- The software has crashed, making the screen black and unresponsive.
- Your iPad has a hardware problem such as an old, faulty battery.
At this point, we can’t be totally sure what’s responsible for your dead iPad. However, I’d be willing to wager that your iPad’s software has crashed, or that you’re dealing with a hardware problem resulting from water damage. The steps below will help you diagnose and fix the real reason why your iPad is dead!
Charge Your iPad
You’ve probably already tried this, but connect your iPad to a charger using a USB-C cable. I recommend trying more than one charger and cable, just in case they’re broken and causing the problem.
When your iPad, charger, and USB-C cable are working normally, a low battery icon or the Apple logo will appear on the display. If your iPad display is still completely black after plugging it into a charger, move onto the next step!
Hard Reset Your iPad
A lot of the time, your iPad appears dead because its software has crashed and made the display completely black. A hard reset will force your iPad to abruptly turn off and back on, which will usually fix a black or frozen iPad display.
The way to hard reset your iPad varies depending on which model you have:
- iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- iPad without a Home button: Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, then press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button, then press and hold the top button. Let go of the top button when the Apple logo appears on the display.
If the hard reset revived your dead iPad, it was never really dead to begin with! The software on your iPad crashed and made your iPad screen black.
Even though your iPad is working normally again, we still haven’t fixed the root cause of the problem. There’s still an underlying software problem that made your iPad appear dead in the first place. Follow the next two troubleshooting steps in this article to fix your iPad’s software problem!
If A Hard Reset Didn’t Fix Your iPad…
We still can’t rule out the possibility of a software issue even if a hard reset didn’t fix your iPad. The next two steps in this article will help you backup your iPad and put it into DFU mode.
Backup Your iPad
You’ll want to save a backup as soon as possible if the hard reset fixed your dead iPad. If there is a more significant software problem causing issues on your iPad, this may be your last chance to back it up.
Even if a hard reset didn’t fix your iPad, you still may be able to back it up using your computer.
First, plug your iPad into a computer. On a Mac, open Finder and select your iPad in the sidebar. On a PC, open the Apple Devices app (or iTunes if you don’t have it). Click General, then click Back Up Now.
If your iPad isn’t showing up in Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes, you won’t be able to back it up or put it in DFU mode. Move onto the repair section of this article to learn what the next steps are.
Put Your iPad In DFU Mode
When you put your iPad in DFU mode and restore, all of its code gets erased and reloaded. A DFU restore is the deepest type of iPad restore, and it’s the last step you can take to completely rule out a software problem.
See also: How to Put iPad in DFU Mode (All Models)
iPad Repair Options
If your iPad is still dead, it’s time to start exploring your repair options. A lot of the time, water damage can leave you with a dead iPad. Although it’s less likely, your iPad’s battery might be damaged or completely dead.
My first recommendation would be to set up a Genius Bar appointment at your Apple Store, especially if your iPad is covered by AppleCare+. Apple also has an excellent mail-in service if you don’t live near an Apple Store.
Your iPad Is Alive & Well!
You’ve revived your dead iPad and it’s working normally again! Next time your iPad is dead, you’ll know how to fix the problem. Leave any other questions you have in the comments section down below.
Thanks for reading,
