Hollis Johnson
- If your iPad has stopped charging, there are many potential causes, but they're all easy to test for and fix.
- You should methodically test every part of the charging process, including software, the AC adapter, Lightning cable, and Lightning port.
- The most common problems with iPad charging include a failed USB cable and a USB port that can't deliver enough power.
If your iPad is plugged in and refuses to charge, there's understandable cause for concern.
But before you pack it up and head to an Apple store to get it serviced, there are several things you can try at home first.
It's entirely possible that there's an easy fix and your tablet will be charging again in no time.
Make sure that your iPad isn’t charging
For starters: Are you sure that your iPad isn't charging? Start by verifying that something is amiss. Connect your iPad to an AC adapter and see if the lightning bolt appears in or beside the battery icon at the top right of the iPad's screen. If the battery is already dead, leave it to charge for about two hours and then check on it.
Restart your iPad
You've probably heard the classic advice (immortalized in the British sitcom "The IT Crowd") that the first thing you should try is to turn it off and back on again. Assuming that your iPad still has some battery life remaining, restart the iPad and then try to charge it again. There's a good chance that the simple act of rebooting it will solve the charging problem.
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."
