Imagine taking your iPad to check through your emails or take some photos only to find out that it won’t turn on. It’s frustrating, as our customers tell us. The next thing you will be thinking about is whether you need an expensive repair. Or, even worse, that your table won’t turn on again. Apple has a reputation for quality as a company. However, its product users can sometimes face issues and performance flaws with their devices. We’ve looked at the common reasons an iPad tablet won’t switch on based on our experience. Below are some of the reasons why your iPad won’t turn on with some, we hope, easy solutions.
The iPad Is Not Turning On Or Charging
If your device is not turning on or charging, the issue could be the charger, software corruption or physical damage. If you are experiencing this issue then you can try potential solutions below one after the other. They are arranged from the simplest to the most complex.
Check Your iPad Charger
The first thing to do if your iPad is not turning on or charging is to check the charger. Sometimes the device can fail to charge and/or turn on depending on the charger. If you can, borrow a friend or colleague’s charger and see if the iPad turns on. Or, ask them to try charging their device with your charger. If your device works with their charger, then you need to buy a new charger. However, if your IPad still doesn’t work with their charger or their device work with your charger then there must be something wrong with your tablet itself.
Check The iPad’s Lightning Port
If you have been charging the device successfully up until now the problem could be an accumulation of dirt and dust on the lightning port. Though not common, this problem can happen if you use the phone in dusty areas or your carry bag or cover has loose fibres or dirt.
Carefully inspect the port and remove any debris/dirt with a toothpick or, preferably, a soft brush. The sort used to clean electric razors is ideal. Try to charge the device again and move to the next step if it does not work.
Force Restart Your iPad
Apple users sometimes report software crash issues which makes the iPad inaccessible when restarted. The best way to solve a software crash issue is to force restart the iPad. Unlike the normal power up using the power button, a hard reset clears certain memory areas and re-initialises some services. Don’t worry, you will not lose any of your data in the process.
You force restart an iPad by pressing and holding down both the power button and home button for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo on the screen. Does this work? If not then a restore may be needed.
Restore The Device With iTunes
If the above method doesn’t work, then you might need to restore the iPad with iTunes. Apart from managing your music, iTunes is also useful in backing up and restoring iOS devices. Make sure that you have a backup available before restoring as it will clear all your data. If you have already taken a backup of the iPad with iTunes, you can follow the below steps to reset it.
- Connect the device to your Macbook/laptop with iTunes open. You should have an updated iTunes version.
- Hold the iPad’s home button while still connected to the computer and continue for some seconds until iTunes automatically recognises your device.
- Slowly release the home button when iTunes displays a message that an iPad was detected in the recovery mode. Click the OK button and the device will get restored to factory defaults. This process will erase all the data, but you can get it back using your previous backup (this is why making a backup regularly is important!)
Check if The Damage Is Physical
The size of an iPad is an advantage to the users but it makes the device more susceptible to physical damage if it is dropped or bumped. iPads can also get damaged if water and other liquids get inside. A simple visual inspection will help you identify physical damage. You can check for issues like a cracked screen, the presence of moisture between the layers of the screen. Check whether buttons are functioning correctly and whether the charging port is damaged or has got dust or dirt in it, as noted earlier. If any of these conditions exist then you will need further action or, in the worst cases, seek help from us with an iPad replacement screen, charging port swap or another repair.
Consider Professional Repair Help
If none of the above solutions work or there is evidence of major physical damage then it is time for a professional repair. You can contact our technician team for advice or opt for our send-in repair service.
iPad Charged OK But Won’t Turn On
If none of the issues above apply then it may be that your device is charging ok (you have power) but won’t turn on or boot up.
The reasons why your charged iPad won’t turn on could be a software issue or physical damage. Follow the steps below to diagnose and try to solve the issue.
Ensure That The iPad Is Off
The first thing to do if you are sure the device is charged is to confirm that it is off. Just press the sleep/wake button and keep holding until the Apple logo appears. If this step doesn’t work, you will be sure that your device is off and not just asleep.
Hard Reset The iPad
iPads often fail to restart because of a software issue. A software failure makes the device appear like it is off even when it is on. Hard resetting the iPad will force it to turn off and then turn on.
You can perform a hard reset by simultaneously pressing the power and home button until you see Apple’s logo in the centre of the screen. All being well the tablet will turn on shortly after, proving that a software problem was causing the startup issue. If the problem keeps on recurring, you can reset all the settings on your iPad.
Restore The Device With iTunes
If force restarting does not work, follow the restore with iTunes steps explained above. The only option left if restoring the device does not work is to contact a professional repairer like us in order to move forward.
My iPad Won’t Turn On Even When Plugged In
You will most likely face this problem when you have completely drained the iPad’s battery, or if the iPad has a software or hardware issue. Follow the process below to try and solve the problem.
Plug In The iPad And Let It Charge For Some Minutes
A dead battery could be the reason why your iPad is not turning on, even when plugged in. Failing batteries display a “low battery” indicator but a completely dead battery does not respond until there is enough power to allow it to function.
Connect your device to a power socket and let it charge for a while — 15 minutes should be enough. The iPad will turn itself on if the problem was a completely drained battery. You can try the process with another charger and cable if the iPad does not turn on after 15 minutes of charging. A faulty cable or charger can prevent the device from charging.
Perform A Hard Reset
Performing a hard reset will help turn on the iPad if the issue is software-related. Follow the “how to perform a hard reset” steps above. The iPad will restart after a hard reset if a software crash was the problem. A failure to restart shows that the problem is more complicated. You can proceed to restore the iPad with iTunes as explained above or you can contact us for further advice.
Final Comments
If you work through the abridged series of options and steps carefully and in order, you will solve many issues that can cause an iPad to not switch on. Feel free to contact us if you need further advice or our help with a repair.
