Your iPad is having a charging problem and you don’t know what to do. You plug your iPad in expecting it to charge, but the screen remains completely black. In this article, I’ll explain what to do when your iPad is not charging and show how you to fix the problem for good!
Why Is My iPad Not Charging?
When an iPad won’t charge, there’s a problem with one of the four parts that work together to charge your iPad. Those four components are:
- Your iPad’s software (iPadOS).
- Your iPad charger.
- Your Lightning cable.
- Your iPad’s charging port.
This article will help you identify exactly which component is causing your iPad’s charging problem and show you how to fix it for good!
What If My iPad Won’t Charge Past 1%?
If your iPad is not charging past 1%, you may be using a charger that’s just too weak. Make sure you’re using the wall charger that came with your iPad. If you’re already using the charger your iPad came with, follow the step-by-step guide below to diagnose and fix the problem!
Hard Reset Your iPad
The first thing to try when your iPad is not charging is a hard reset. It’s possible that your iPad’s software has completely crashed, turning the display black and leaving your iPad unresponsive. If this is the case for your iPad, a hard reset would temporarily fix the software crash.
If your iPad has a Home button, press and hold the Home button and the power button at the same time until you see the Apple logo flash onto the center of the screen. Sometimes you’ll need to hold both buttons for as long as 20 – 30 seconds.
If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Inspect Your iPad Charger
iPadOS can detect fluctuations in power from the charger you’re using. Those power fluctuations can be interpreted as a safety risk or a threat to your iPad. Rather than trying to power through it, your iPad may stop charging altogether.
Try charging your iPad with multiple different chargers including every USB port on your laptop and the wall charger that came with your iPad when you purchased it. If you’re like me, you may also have a USB port built into your surge protector — try that too.
If you find that your iPad is charging with some chargers, but not others, then you’ve identified that the problem was your iPad charger, not your iPad. If your iPad is not charging regardless of which charger you use, move onto the next step, where we’ll help you troubleshoot problems with your Lightning cable.
Inspect Your Charging Cable
Next, closely examine the Lightning cable you’re using to try and charge your iPad. Is there any fraying or discoloration on the Lightning connector or wire itself? If so, it may be time for a new Lightning cable.
To see if your Lightning cable is what’s causing the iPad charging problem, try charging your iPad with a different cable. If you don’t have an extra cable lying around, borrow one from a friend or check out our selection in the Payette Forward Amazon Storefront.
If your iPad charges with one cable but not the other, then you’ve figured out that your charging cable is causing the problem, not your iPad!
Don’t Use Cables That Aren’t MFi-Certified!
As a quick aside, I’d like to warn about the dangers of using Lightning cables that aren’t MFi-certified. These are the types of cheap cables you’ll typically find at your local convenience store or gas station. These cables generally aren’t MFi-certified, which means they haven’t conformed to Apple’s standards of a high-quality Lightning cable.
Since these cables are lower quality, they can sometimes overheat and damage the internal components of your iPad. You’ll know if a cable is damaged or not MFi-certified when your iPhone, iPad, or iPod says “This Accessory May Not Be Supported” after you plug it in.
In short, always use MFi-certified cables when charging your iPad!
Clean Out Your iPad’s Charging Port
You’ve tried multiple cables and multiple different chargers, so now it’s time to take a look inside your iPad. Grab a flashlight (like the one built into your iPhone) and closely inspect your iPad’s charging port. Specifically, we’re looking for any dirt, lint, gunk, or other debris that could be preventing your charging cable from making a clean connection to your iPad’s charging port.
Older iPads have Lightning ports, which have eight tiny pins that make a connection to a Lightning cable during the charging process. Newer iPads have a USB-C port, which has twenty-four pins. If any one pin is concealed by debris, it may not be able to form a connection with your charging cable.
In most cases, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you don’t see a ton of debris in the charging port, we recommend making an effort to clean it out. Sometimes minuscule specks of dust you can’t even see are what’s preventing your iPad from charging.
How Do I Clean Out An iPad Charging Port?
We always recommend using an anti-static brush to clean out the charging port of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Cleaning your iPad with a device that can conduct electricity could damage the internal components of your iPad. Anti-static brushes don’t conduct electricity, which is why we recommend them!
Most people don’t have an anti-static brush lying around, but a brand new toothbrush makes an excellent substitution. Gently brush out what’s inside the port, then try charging your iPad again. You may be surprised by how much debris comes out!
Make Sure Your iPad Is Within Standard Operating Temperatures
iPads are designed to operate between 32–95º Fahrenheit. When your iPad is too hot or too cold, it may stop functioning normally. Among other things, your iPad’s display may become black, and charging can slow or stop completely.
Put your iPad in a cool environment to bring it back to standard operating temperatures. Avoid putting your iPad directly in the sun. When your iPad is back within standard operating temperatures, try charging it again. Check out our other article for more tips if your iPad is getting hot.
Perform A DFU Restore
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve ruled out the possibility of a minor software crash, an issue with your charger or charging cable, and a dirty or clogged charging port. We still have one last trick up our sleeve: the DFU restore.
A DFU restore erases all the code on your iPad and restores it to factory defaults. Ultimately, a DFU restore can fix a very deep software problem, which could be the reason why your iPad is not charging.
Make sure to save a backup of your iPad, otherwise you’ll lose your photos, contacts, video, and other files. When you’re ready, check out our DFU restore walkthrough video on YouTube!
If a DFU restore doesn’t fix the charging problem, move onto the final step of this article. We’ll discuss how to check for water damage and what your best repair options are.
Repairing Your iPad
Unfortunately, not every iPad that won’t charge can be fixed with a series of software troubleshooting steps. Sometimes you have to get your iPad repaired.
One of the most common reasons why an iPad experiences charging problems is because it was recently exposed to water or another liquid. That liquid can permanently damage the connectors inside your iPad’s charging port, making it impossible to charge.
If you have to get your iPad repaired, we recommend doing so through Apple. Apple provides support in-person, online, and through the mail. Make sure to schedule an appointment if you plan to go into your local Apple Store. Without an appointment, you could spend a lot of time standing around!
Taking Charge
Your iPad is charging again! Next time your iPad won’t charge, you’ll know exactly how to fix the problem. Don’t forget to share this article on social media, or leave us a comment down below to let us know the reason why your iPad was not charging.
Who would have a thought a basic toothbrush would solve my problems!
I just bought a brand new iPad Pro. It will turn on while plugged in, but it’s not charging. It’s showing “0% Remaining” on the locked screen while plugged in. If I unplug it, it dies. I’ve tried all of your suggestions. The power cord must being doing something, but I’m at a loss.
I bought several new cords and box’s. My iPad will only charge if I have a pen underneath the charger, where it goes in. I’ve cleaned out the area and that doesn’t help. Any suggestions?
My iPad charges till it’s on then stops charging. Please help, it also works only sometimes.
My iPad Pro 12.9 2018 stopped charging a few days ago. I tried every USB C charger in combination with every USB C cable in the household – no luck. Then out of options I tried a USB A to USB C cable and it charges again – but now only with about 15W because of the limitations with USB A. And the charging only works if the USB C plug is turned one way – not the other – which makes totally no sense as the USB C connector should not care. I have noticed a few other mentioning… Read more »
Hi. I just got a little scared. Before going to bed, i’m sure that i charged my ipad. It was at 9%. When i woke up after 4 hours, hoping it was already fully charged, i was shocked to find that it was still at 9%! I restarted my iPad and now it’s charging. I wanna ask, what do you think happened there?
Hi Kim! If restarting your iPad got it to charge normally again, the most likely explanation is that it was experiencing a minor software glitch. Sometimes, turning your device off and back on is the only solution you need!
Hi, my iPad charger won’t go into my iPad. It is as though something is obstructing it and it is blocked by something. Thank you.
Hi Pat! I’d suggest grabbing an antistatic brush (an unused toothbrush works perfectly!) and brushing out your iPhone’s charging port. That’s one of our go-to fixes for a lot of charging problems, and it usually works like a charm! Hope this helps!
HELP! My iPad will charge but only when I am putting pressure on one side of the cord. I was a little rough with it one day, however, but i don’t have hundreds to spend.
I have an iPad and I charged it. It said it was charging but when I came back it was still on battery mode, I don’t know what to do please help….
Hi Hope, could you please elaborate on what you mean by “battery mode”?
I have an ipad pro, i recently only dropped my top part of the tablet into the water, i managed to catch it before any more of it submerged. But what i don’t understand is why it won’t charge. No water got into the charging port, only the top. The camera and speakers work fine. Should i still go ahead and try what is suggested? I know it’s not my charger because it charges my phone. I’m honestly scared and confused.
If i could get some help, that would be great. Please and thank you.
Hi Vanessa, water damage can be extremely unpredictable. Even if the charging port didn’t get wet, it’s possible that water has gotten into your iPad and damaged some of the internal charging components. I’d suggest reaching out to Apple Support directly to learn about repair or replacement options. We strongly recommend against trying to repair water damage at home, as that can often make the problem worse. I’m sorry we couldn’t be of more help, best of luck getting this taken care of!
Okay, thank you so much for the help! I’ll contact Apple Support.
For me, the culprit was not the iPad software, port or lightning cable but the generic usb charger. Strangely, the same charger worked for my iPhone but not for the iPad. Fortunately I had an Apple charger lying around and after seeing your article gave that a try. Thanks for the inspiration! ?
I thought my 3 month ipad was bricked, but your volume up, volume down, home button trick worked perfectly. Thanks
Hi Ben! We’re glad to hear it! Thanks for reading ?
Thanks! Your info worked. 🙂
I have an old gen 1 iPad that hasn’t been used for some time. When plugging a 30 pin plug into the charging port, the Apple logo comes on for several seconds, then the screen goes black. It continues to repeat that sequence but never charges. Any thoughts??
Thanks,
Richard F.
Hi Richard, have you tried a different charging brick and charging cable? Maybe the one you use most of the time has become worn out or damaged, and can no longer provide sufficient power to fully charge your iPad. Alternatively, you might want to try performing a Hard Reset. To do this, press and hold your iPad’s Home button and Power button at the same time. Keep holding both of these buttons until you see the Apple logo appear on your screen. Once you see the Apple logo, let go of both buttons. Hopefully this time the Apple logo will… Read more »
Thank goodness I found your article. You are the only one who solved my problem…dirt in the charger port. The instructions worked and the iPad is now charging! Many thanks for your help.
Fantastic! I’m glad we could help! ?
Hi David,
just want to ask regarding my ipad. It only charges using usb port outlet.but if i use the adpater it wont charge. What do you think is the best way?
Hi, if your Ipad wont recharge from flat, if you plug your charger in and you see the battery icon showing a red charge line, then if you unplug the charger you see the white recharge symbol. do this to get it to re charge, plug cable into wall socket, dont turn plug on, plug charger cable end into Ipad, now turn electric plug on at wall socket, now press power , and home buttons together until you see the apple icon, keep pressing these two buttons until the apple icon appears, once you see apple icon log into ipad,… Read more »
I have an iPad Pro doing exactly that.. it shows the battery icon with red charge line. If I unplug it, it displays the white recharge symbol. I’ve tried at least 4 different ways to charge it and this situation persists and it won’t charge or turn on. I’ve also tried pressing the hom button and Power button on the top at same time to reboot it, but that also won’t work. It’s been in this exact condition for 4 days. I can’t even seem to turn it off to let it recharge while off (which has worked well in… Read more »
Hi Rae, at this point I think you’ve done everything you can at home. It’s probably time to make an appointment and your local Genius Bar and get help from your local Apple Store. Best of luck!
Brilliant! How are you meant to get iTunes to recognise the iPad is connected to do a DFU if it doesn’t even register a connection to charge?
If you’ve tried this and it doesn’t work, it’s likely that there has been some physical damage to your charging port and you will have to get your iPad repaired or replaced. I hope this helps!
Thanks, this really helps
Thanks for the options. Tried each one ,until I found out that it wasn’t charging because of the fluctuation of voltage, as I had it connected to an extension chord with other appliances connected to it. Once I stuck it in to a direct point in the wall, magic ??
it wont work because it dead
Thank you it worked, I took a look of my iPad lightning cord and saw that the cord’s pin got stuck in IPad I took it out with needle and now it’s works
Thank you for your video’s, I plugged the ipad into my Mac and it’s not being recognised? Shall I go straight to DFU, have followed all the other steps.
No joy, tried everything, DFU was looking promising but in the end it came back with ‘iPad can not be restored unknown error’… tried again and my computer couldn’t find th wiped to be restored, Its a brand new iPad, so WTF?
If it’s brand new, try reaching out to Apple to get it replaced or repaired. I’m sure they’d be willing to send you a new one if there’s something wrong with yours
can i get a new one to pls
The latest iPad Pro 2020 has an amazing screen, incredible performance and unrivaled potential for productivity!
I think that you forgot one possible problem. I blew into the charging cable end that plugs into the ipad and then it worked. There was obviously some dust or something in there blocking the connection.
First solution worked! Thanks so much! ??????????
It worked for me
My iPad does not charge at all. It shows the battery icon with red and cable icon.
Thank you for your great practical and easily followed suggestions to get my (only 4 month old gently used) mini IPad to charge as it initially did. I already tried the first couple of possible solution steps recommended on another site and found that after changing lightening/charging cords (intermittenly worked with either), what seemed to improve performance was gentle cleaning female and male plug parts with alcohol-moisoned cotton on the dull end of a thick darning needle. But still my IPad does not charge fully or at all at all times. Next I will try your suggestion to examine charging… Read more »
What a shame. Unfortunately your fix did not work. I think the port on mine is Kaput!. Wont see external devices or chargers – I have about 6 or 7. So with only 25% charge left I decided to erase and restore.
Now I have a blank new machine but still no charge.
Time to invest in a new one. So sad. Perhaps I can sell it as “NOT charging” on E-Bay or Gumtree. It was an Apple refurbished machine, so I guess 3 years is OK as it was under half-price.
Thank you so much!!! Cleaned the charging port with an unused toothbrush and bam!! iPad starts charging again! Never would have fixed it without you.
My iPad wouldn’t charge. It would get up to 32% and then it would uncharge when still plugged in. I tried all suggestions and nothing worked. I finally let it “die”. Plugged it in and it worked! And is still working. I didn’t find this on any pages I looked at so decided to post..
how come my ipad doesn’t still work even if i charged it for hours and pressed the home button and power button at the same time its still black on my screen 🙁
iPad not charging started with a defective wall charger that overheated. New charger and cord…nothing. Hard start…nothing. Cleaned charging port…nothing. Considered turning it into a frisbee but found your website first suggesting it had a deeper software problem. The last puzzle piece. .Settings>General>Shut Down….and then ta da a resurrected iPad!!!!
this worked for me omg thank you!! Been trying to fix it for months!
After trying almost everything, this worked for me, too! Thanks so much. Saving this article!
Kindly tell me that when I try this method will my pictures and Apple ID get removed from iPad or when I shut it down and turn it on again the Apple ID and pictures will be there without logging in?
It was the Apple charging brick that came with it. Used the one from another iPad,and it is back in business.
my ipad can charge it is that it is turning off at one
My iPad didn’t get charge when it’s on and when I turned it off it take charge ?
every thing i try doesn’t work
How do I get my iPad to charge if it lookslike my charger needs to be plugged in further in. It has an arrow up to charge but the charger is plugged in correctly
My iPad dosent charge and the lightning port is clean! What do I do?
I would very much suggest you read the article.
None of the steps listed work. I have the same problem and iPad was charging correctly two hour ago.
After ios update installed, it does not charge when in use. Charges when powered off. June 2020.
urgh i have the same problem how did you fix yours?
Me too. Do you have a fix already?
Same! Paid for a replacement battery in August 2020, some months later will only charge when powered off. Just came back from the Genius Bar who did diagnostics and troubleshooting for over an hour to eventually rule out software and they say it’s a hardware issue.
I regret paying for a “new” battery.
my ipad doesn’t turn on- on its own- even after the battery is completely charged. and it doesn’t stay on for long- turns off pretty quickly even at like 80-60% charge. do i have to get the battery changed?
Probably. That’s a good sign that your battery might be going bad, unfortunately.
very helpfull
Very helpful information
Very informative. I have bought 3 cables and the cazble are not for Apple . Now I’m going to clean out the port and see what happens. Very slow to charge and does not hold the charge for long.
Worked right away after spraying the iPad port with a can of compressed gas dust remover. Thank you!
Shortly after purchase my ipad would not charge and after all other troubleshooting failed, I discovered that most lightning cables don’t fit tight enough in this ipad’s port, because I could wiggle the cables just a tad and see the charging indicator blink off and on. HOWEVER, there are cables that have a slightly “tighter” lighting connector and higher charging output (Ventev), and charges this ipad with no problems. If all else fails after the other troubleshooting tips have been tried, consider the solution that worked for me.
iPad used to charge before being upgraded, not it doesn’t when connect to the computer. Works with a wall charger though. Something about iOS 11 has caused it to no longer charge via the computer though.
my ipad didn’t charge it just said not charging then i found out my wires in my charger broke
my ipad didn’t charge it just said not charging then i found out my wires in my charger broke
Nice one. The information was very helpful
[…] lot of the time, a dirty charging port will make your iPad charge slowly or, in more extreme cases, prevent it from charging altogether. Grab a flashlight (or use the one built into your iPhone) and take a close look inside […]