Why is my iPad not turning on and how to resolve the issue?

Here’s how to fix when your iPad not turning on.

You need not panic if you suddenly see your iPad not turning on and the screen of your device has turned black and has become unresponsive even after pressing and holding its power button. In this article, I am going to show how to resolve this problem and get your device working again by following a few simple steps.

The first thing that may come up in your mind is – why is my iPad not turning on? Let’s, therefore, first look into the probable causes of why your iPad won’t turn on.

Why is my iPad not turning on?

You may wonder ‘Why won’t my iPad turn on’ even when plugged in? There are several reasons why users may face ‘iPad won’t turn on’ issue. Below are some of the common causes when your iPad will not turn on and becomes unresponsive,

i. Dead battery: It is among the most common reasons for an iPad not turning on. If the battery is completely depleted, the iPad won’t have enough power to start up. It can happen if you haven’t charged the iPad for a long time. The charging cable or adapter might also be faulty if the iPad doesn’t respond to charging;

ii. Software issues: Software glitches can cause an iPad to become unresponsive or fail to turn on. This can happen due to a frozen app, a corrupt system file, or an issue with the operating system. If an app on the iPad becomes unresponsive, it can prevent the iPad from turning on;

iii. Hardware issues: Physical damage can cause hardware issues. Underlying hardware issues can prevent an iPad from turning on. Faulty hardware components of your iPad can cause this issue. These components include a damaged power button, a defective battery, or a faulty display. The power button handles initiating the boot-up process; if it fails, the iPad won’t turn on. In the same way, a defective or degraded battery can prevent an iPad from powering on.

Once you can identify the root cause of the problem it will be easier for you to resolve the issue. Now let’s see how to fix an iPad that won’t turn on.

iPad not turning on or charging – steps to fix

Firstly, make sure that your iPad is free from any hardware issues. One of the possible reasons, why your iPad will not turn on, may be due to the battery getting drained.

When you see your iPad not charging or turning on the charging port of the device seems to malfunction. If there is a problem with the charging port that is not allowing your iPad to charge adequately, clean the charging port and ensure that there is no physical damage inside. If you are not using an authentic cable, then there is also a chance that your iPad battery won’t get sufficient power to turn your iPad on. So make sure that your iPad battery is functioning without any defects.

Once you have done the inspections for any possible hardware issue follow the steps below to fix your iPad not turning on issue. After completing each step check if your iPad is turning on or not.

1. Force restart your iPad

Software crash is the most common problem that happens to many users after update of their iPad or iPhone. In such cases performing a forced restart should help to fix the iPad won’t turn on issue. To do this follow the steps below:

For iPads with Home button,

i. Press and hold the Home button and Top button simultaneously;

ii. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears;

For iPads without Home button,

i. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button;

ii. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button;

iii. Then press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo;

2. Charge your iPad

At times drained battery leads to “iPad won’t turn on” problem. A device with a completely depleted battery will often not respond until the battery regains some life. Therefore, when you see your iPad not turning on the very first thing you should do is to make sure your iPad’s battery is charged enough to run the tablet. So connect your iPad to a wall outlet using the cable and charger that came with the device and let it charge for 15-30 minutes. This may turn on your iPad automatically with the Apple logo popping up, which means your iPad would start working normally.

However, even if the iPad turns on, it may still be low on power. So continue to charge until the battery is fully charged. Another thing that you need to check when iPad not charging or turning on is, the USB cable and the charger you are using. Many non-certified cables don’t work properly and your device might not be charging. Therefore, make sure that your charger and cable are Apple Certified (MFI) and working properly.

You may also like to read this post: Why my iPad won’t charge – here’re 7 proven solutions 

3. Restore with iTunes

Apart from other functions iTunes can be used to back up or restore an iOS device as well, which can help to fix several issues related to your iPad. In order to fix “iPad not turning on” issue with iTunes, follow the steps below:

i. Connect your iPad to your computer and launch iTunes (make sure that you are using an updated version of iTunes). iTunes will automatically recognize your iPad;

ii. Select your device and go to its summary page and click on ‘Restore Backup’;

iii. Then click the ‘Restore’ button in the pop-up window;

iv. Wait for a while as iTunes restores your iPad;

4. Put your iPad into Recovery Mode

If you are not able to fix the ‘iPad won’t turn on’ problem by trying the above solutions, you can next try to resolve the issue by taking the assistance of iTunes while putting your iPad into Recovery mode. This has been found to be a useful method in dealing with different errors on Apple devices. Here’re the steps to follow to fix the problem with the help of iTunes by entering Recovery Mode:

 For iPad with the Home button

i. Connect your iPad to your computer using the USB/lightning cable to it;

 ii. Press and hold down the Top and Home buttons simultaneously and keep holding them until you see the Recovery mode screen;

iii. Once iTunes detects your device, you will get a message giving the option to Restore or Update. To fix the “iPad not turning on” issue, select ‘Restore’ and let the software complete the restore process;

For iPad without the Home button

i. Connect your iPad to your computer;

ii. Press and quickly release the ‘Volume Up’ button;

iii. Next press and quickly release the ‘Volume Down’ button;

iv. Now, press and hold down the Top button until the device begins to restart and enters recovery mode;

v. Once iTunes detects your device it will analyze the error and display a message prompting you to Restore or Update. Select ‘Restore’ and let the software complete the restore process;

5. Put your iPad into DFU mode

If your iPad wont turn on even after trying the above solutions, as a last resort you can put your iPad into DFU Mode. DFU stands for Device Firmware Update. This mode is usually used when a device updates to a new version of iOS. Nonetheless, the DFU Mode can also be used to resolve persisting technical issues like the one above and get your device back into working order.

There is one important thing that you need to take note of before using DFU mode restore. If your iPad is damaged in any way, especially if it is water-damaged, then a DFU restore may break or permanently damage your iPad.  Therefore, make sure before putting your device into this mode that your device has not incurred any physical damage.

To put your iPad into DFU mode, follow the steps below:

For iPads with the Home button:

Step 1: Just like in the previous method, connect your iPad to the computer and open iTunes. Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes;

Step 2: Press the Home button and the Power button simultaneously;

Step 3: Hold down the buttons for 10 seconds after the screen goes black;

Step 4: Next, slowly release the power button while still pressing the Home button for another 10-15 seconds until your iPad shows up in iTunes;

Step 5: Release the Home button once you see your iPad in iTunes then follow the on-screen instructions to start restoring your iPad through iTunes;

For iPads without the Home button:

Step 1: Connect your iPad to the computer and open iTunes;

Step 2: Press and quickly release the Volume up button;

Step 3: Press and quickly release the Volume down button;

Step 4: Press and hold the Side button (Power button) until the screen turns black;

Step 5: After the screen goes black, while holding down the Side button press and hold the Volume down button for 5 seconds;

Step 6: After about 5 seconds release the Side button but keep holding the Volume down button until your iPad shows up in iTunes (If your iPad shows a screen telling you to connect the device to iTunes, retry these steps);

Step 7: Release the Volume down button once you see your iPad in iTunes then follow the on-screen instructions to start restoring your iPad through iTunes;

Step 8: To exit DFU mode, quickly press the Volume Up button, then quickly press the Volume Down button, then hold down the Side button until the device reboots;

Frequently asked questions

Before I conclude let me also address some of the queries often made by iPad users when their iPad will not turn on or charge.

Why is my iPad black and not turning on?

If your iPad screen is black and unresponsive, which is called “iPad black screen of death”, it may be a sign of software crash or drained battery. A hard reset can fix if your iPad has a software crash.

How do I force my iPad to restart?

To force restart your iPad press and hold any of the volume buttons and the Top button simultaneously until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off. To turn your device back on, press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo.

Why did my iPad suddenly go black?

Generally, your iPad screen may suddenly go black which is also called iPad black screen of death, because of a software crash. A hard reset can temporarily fix if your iPad experiences a software crash.

Is the black screen of death permanent?

The iPad Black Screen of Death is usually caused by a software crash which can often be repaired. Black screens may also be the result of a more serious hardware problem that may require replacement of the device component. However, there is almost always a solution to this problem.

You may also like to read this post: iPhone not turning on or charging – here’re 5 proven fixes to try

Conclusion

It is found that the steps suggested in the article help in most cases to resolve the “iPad not turning on” issue. However, if none of the above solutions can resolve the issue and your iPad won’t turn on, it may have a hardware failure that needs repair. In such case, your best chance to get your device working again is to contact Apple Support for help and instructions if you don’t have an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider nearby.