iPad Won’t Turn On? 6 Fixes That Work
If your iPad will not turn on, the fix is usually a force restart or a long charge, not a trip to the Apple Store. Plug it into a wall charger for at least an hour, then force restart it. That revives most iPads that seem dead.
A black screen does not always mean the iPad is broken. It often just froze or drained all the way down.
Here are the fixes in order, from the quickest to the last resort.
Why your iPad will not turn on
A few things cause a dark, unresponsive iPad.
The battery drained completely, so it needs time on a charger before it can even show a screen.
The software froze, which leaves the screen black until you force a restart.
A bad cable, charger, or dirty charging port can stop power from getting in at all.
Fix 1: Charge it for a full hour
A fully drained iPad will not turn on the second you plug it in. It needs to build up a charge first.
Plug your iPad into a wall outlet, not a computer, using its charging cable and adapter.
Leave it alone for at least an hour.
Watch for the charging screen or a battery icon. If it shows up, the iPad is fine and just needed power.
If the screen stays black after an hour, move to the next fix. If it will not charge at all, see our guide on an iPad that will not charge.
Fix 2: Check your cable, charger, and port
No power in means no power on.
Try a different cable and a different wall adapter that you know work.
Look inside the charging port with a flashlight. Lint and pocket dust pack in there and block the cable.
Gently clean the port with a wooden or plastic toothpick. Never use metal.
Fix 3: Force restart an iPad with Face ID or Touch ID in the top button
This covers iPads with no Home button, where the fingerprint reader sits in the top button.
Press and quickly release the volume up button.
Press and quickly release the volume down button.
Press and hold the top button.
Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, even if it takes 20 seconds. Then let go.
Fix 4: Force restart an iPad with a Home button
This is for older iPads with the round Home button below the screen.
Press and hold the Home button and the top button at the same time.
Keep holding both.
Let go only when the Apple logo shows up.
If it restarts but keeps rebooting on its own, see our guide on an iPad that keeps restarting.
Fix 5: Let it warm up or cool down
Extreme temperatures shut an iPad down to protect it.
If the iPad was in a hot car or freezing cold, bring it to room temperature first.
Do not charge it while it is very hot or very cold. Let it settle, then try to turn it on.
Fix 6: Use Recovery Mode
If the iPad powers on but freezes on the Apple logo, the software may need a repair.
Connect the iPad to a computer with a cable.
Open Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC.
Force restart the iPad using the steps above, but keep holding until you see the Recovery Mode screen, which shows a computer and a cable.
When your computer offers Update, click Update. This reinstalls iPadOS without erasing your files.
If nothing worked
An iPad that stays black after a long charge, a new cable, and a force restart may have a hardware fault.
A swollen battery, liquid damage, or a cracked screen needs a real repair.
Contact Apple Support or book a Genius Bar visit. If you are not sure which model you have, our guide on how to identify your iPad helps you tell them the right one.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I charge a dead iPad before it turns on?
Give it at least an hour on a wall charger. A deeply drained battery needs time before the screen will even light up.
Does a force restart erase my iPad?
No. A force restart just reboots the device. Your apps, photos, and files stay exactly where they were.
My iPad shows the Apple logo then goes black again. What now?
That points to a software problem. Connect it to a computer, enter Recovery Mode, and choose Update to reinstall iPadOS without deleting your data.
Could a bad charger be the whole problem?
Yes. A frayed cable or weak adapter can leave the iPad with no charge. Test a known good cable and wall plug before assuming the iPad is broken.