Your iPad is shutting off randomly and you’re not sure why. All of a sudden, your iPad just turns off without giving you any warning. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPad keeps shutting off randomly and show you how to fix this problem for good!
Hard Reset Your iPad
One of the most common reasons why your iPad keeps shutting off randomly is because it’s stuck in a restart loop, constantly shutting off, turning back on, shutting off again, and so on. By performing a hard reset, we may be able to break your iPad out of that loop.
How Do I Hard Reset My iPad?
The process of hard resetting an iPad varies by model:
- iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the Top button and the Home button at the same time until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears. Release both buttons once the Apple logo appears on the display.
- iPad without Home button: First, press and release the volume up button. Second, press and release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the Top button until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears.
Does The Battery Need To Be Recalibrated?
Does your iPad keep shutting down even when it says it has battery life remaining? It’s possible that your iPad’s battery percentage indicator has become inaccurate and unreliable!
I had a problem with my iPad shutting off randomly. It will drop to between 50% and 75% then shut off, and when I plug it in it showed a "low battery" icon. BUT, when it came back on the charge showed between 50% and 75%. When i recalibrated my iPad’s battery, the problem was fixed!
Here’s how to recalibrate your iPad’s battery:
- Charge your iPad to 100%, and keep charging it for at least two more hours.
- Use your iPad until it shuts off due to low battery.
- Charge it uninterrupted to 100%.
Update Your iPad To The Latest iPadOS
Apple frequently releases new versions of iPadOS, the iPad operating system, to fix troublesome software issues and introduce new features. A new software update could solve a potential software problem that’s making your iPad shut down unexpectedly.
Check for an iPadOS update by going to Settings and tapping General -> Software Update. Tap Update Now if a new software update is available!
Put Your iPad In DFU Mode
A DFU (device firmware update) restore is the deepest type of iPad restore. If a software problem is causing your iPad to keep shutting off, a DFU restore will fix the problem.
If your iPad has a home button, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPad to your computer with a USB cable.
- Open the Finder on your Mac, or open the Apple Devices app on your PC. If your PC doesn’t have the Apple Devices app, or your Mac is using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes instead.
- Press and hold the Top button and the Home button together until the screen turns black.
- Three seconds after the screen turns black, release the Top button, but keep holding the Home button.
- Keep holding the Home button until your iPad shows up in Windows Devices, iTunes or Finder.
If your iPad didn’t show up in Windows Devices, iTunes or Finder, or if the screen isn’t completely black, it isn’t in DFU mode. Fortunately, you can try again by starting at step 1 above!
The process is slightly different if your iPad doesn’t have a Home button. First, turn off your iPad and plug it into into your computer and open Windows Devices, iTunes or Finder.
When your iPad is off and plugged in, press and hold the Top button. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the volume down button while continuing to hold down the Top button. Hold both buttons simultaneously for approximately ten seconds.
After 10 seconds, let go of the Top button while continuing to hold to volume down button for about another five seconds. You’ll know your iPad is in DFU mode it shows up in Windows Devices, iTunes or Finder while the screen is still black.
You’ll know something went wrong if the Apple logo appears on the display. If you see the Apple logo on the display, start the process over again.
Now that you’ve put your iPad into DFU mode, there are a few things we need to do in Windows Devices, iTunes or Finder in order to begin the DFU restore process. First, click "OK" to close the "iTunes/Finder has detected an iPad in DFU mode" pop-up, and then click "Restore iPad…". Last, click "Restore and Update" to consent to everything on your iPad being erased.
Your computer will automatically download the newest version of iPadOS to put onto your iPad. The restore process will start automatically as soon as the download finishes.
Get Your iPad Repaired
If your iPad is still shutting down randomly after you’ve completed a DFU restore, it’s time to get it repaired. Take your iPad to your local Apple store and let an Apple technician run a diagnostic check on your device.
Make sure to schedule an appointment before you go into your local Apple Store! Without an appointment, you may have to spend a lot of time standing around and waiting for an Apple tech to become available.
Shutting The Door On This iPad Problem
You’ve fixed your iPad and it’s no longer shutting down on it’s own. I hope you’ll share this article on social media to teach your friends and family what to do if their iPad keeps shutting off randomly! Feel free to leave any other comments or questions you have down below — I’ll answer them as quickly as I can!
Thanks for reading,