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iPad Won't Turn On? Here's How to Fix It

iPad showing a black screen and not responding? Don't worry - most cases are fixable at home. Follow these steps to bring your iPad back to life.

⏱️ 5-30 min 💪 Easy 📱 All iPad models
💡 First, Identify Your iPad: iPads with Face ID have no Home button. iPads with Touch ID have a Home button. The force restart steps differ between them.

Fixes to Try (In Order)

1 Force Restart Your iPad

This clears temporary glitches and is the most common fix.

iPad with Face ID (no Home button):

  1. Press and quickly release Volume Up
  2. Press and quickly release Volume Down
  3. Press and hold the Top Button until Apple logo appears

iPad with Home Button:

  1. Hold Home Button + Top Button together
  2. Keep holding for 10-15 seconds until Apple logo appears
✅ If it worked: Your iPad should boot normally. If this keeps happening, update to the latest iPadOS.

2 Charge for 1 Hour

iPads have larger batteries than iPhones and can take longer to show signs of life when completely dead.

  1. Connect your iPad to a wall charger (not computer USB)
  2. Use the original iPad charger (higher wattage) if possible
  3. Wait at least 1 hour
  4. Look for the charging indicator
  5. If nothing after 1 hour, try a different cable and charger
⚠️ Important: Phone chargers may be too weak for iPads. Use a 20W+ charger for faster charging. The original iPad charger is 12W-30W depending on model.

3 Check the Charging Port

Debris in the charging port is a common cause of charging issues.

  1. Shine a flashlight into the port
  2. Look for lint, dust, or debris
  3. Gently clean with a wooden or plastic toothpick
  4. Never use metal objects (can damage pins)
  5. Try charging again

4 Try Different Power Sources

  • Different wall outlet
  • Different USB cable (preferably Apple original)
  • Different charger (20W or higher)
  • Direct wall connection (not power strip)

Bad cables are a very common issue - try multiple if you have them.

5 Recovery Mode

If force restart doesn't work, try recovery mode with a computer.

iPad with Face ID:

  1. Connect iPad to computer with iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac)
  2. Press and release Volume Up
  3. Press and release Volume Down
  4. Hold Top Button until you see the recovery screen
  5. Choose "Update" first to try fixing without data loss

iPad with Home Button:

  1. Connect iPad to computer
  2. Hold Home + Top Button until recovery screen appears
  3. Choose "Update" first

6 Hardware Issues

If none of the above worked, you may have a hardware problem:

  • Dead battery - Won't hold charge → Battery replacement guide
  • Faulty charging port - Not making connection → Professional repair
  • Logic board damage - Usually from water/drops → Professional repair
  • Broken display - Screen black but iPad works → Screen replacement guide

Signs Your iPad Is Actually Working

The screen might be broken while the iPad itself works:

  • Do you hear sounds when pressing buttons?
  • Does it make noise when you plug in the charger?
  • Can you feel vibrations?
  • Does Siri respond if you hold the Home/Side button?

If yes to any of these, your iPad is working but the display is broken.

Still Not Working?

If your iPad still won't turn on after trying all these steps, it needs professional diagnosis.

Get Pro Help →