Why Is My iPad Not Charging? (Answered!)

With prolonged use, iPads are known to face charging issues that might leave you confused as to what is wrong with your device. 

Is it a battery issue or simply a software bug? How can you even tell why your iPad isn’t charging?

Why Is My iPad Not Charging? (Answered!)

iPads won’t take a charge usually because there is debris blocking the charging ports. There may also be a loose, low quality, or damaged component of your charing setup, including your cable or your outlet, but it may also be a more complicated hardware or software issue that could require a hard restart of your device or help from an experienced technician.

There are many reasons why your iPad might not be charging and chances are the issue is not that serious. 

I will give you a rundown of all the things that might be causing your iPad to not charge or causing your iPad to charge very slowly.

The solutions are simple. 

It is a common fact that the long-term health of your device is only possible with care and maintenance while also giving your device enough time to rest between continuous use.

iPad is Plugged in but Not Charging?

After a certain usage period, many people start experiencing charging problems with their iPad.

 This could be something normal and easily fixable or it could be a sign of a bigger problem in your iOS or in the hardware of your device.

One of the most common reasons your iPad might not be charging is dust and debris build up in your charging port or inside the charging cable. 

You can solve this by handing in your device for regular cleaning and maintenance or you can just clean it at home.

At-home cleaning is simple. 

Hold the charging port of your device several inches from your face and facing away from you. 

Then blow into the charging port vigorously several times so clogged dust particles can come out.

In most cases, this does solve charging issues. Dust and debris can also cause your device to charge slowly.

Even if you don’t have a problem right now, it is best if you regularly clean all the ports on your iPad to keep it at its best.

Another reason why your iPad might not be charging or might be charging very slow is because of an old charging cable or malfunctioning charging dock. 

If some wires have come loose in your charging dock, the voltage gets messed up and the charging definitely slows down.

If your charger is old, consider investing in a new charger and cable directly from the Apple store so you can keep your investment safe. 

An unbalanced voltage can damage the health of your device in more ways than one. 

An appropriate iPad charger is necessary for the safe use of your device.

Most models of the iPad have a feature built-in to their operating systems that help them detect harmful fluctuations in charging voltage. 

If the voltage of your charger poses a risk to the device, it might stop charging altogether as an automated safety measure.

Hardware Issues

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t use your laptop or your computer as a primary source of charging.

In fact, most of the time when a plugged iPad shows you that it is not charging, it is because the device has been plugged into a computer. 

The main purpose of plugging your iPad into a computer is for data transfers.

While you can use a computer to charge your iPad in an emergency situation, it definitely shouldn’t be your primary option.

In fact, you should try different power sources to figure out which one suits your best.

Outlets in your house can sometimes have varying voltages and, sometimes, you might even have a dead outlet. 

So it is best to plug your device in at different areas of the house and see which outlet gives you the best charging results.

That being said, the quality of your charger is also crucial. 

If you have invested in an expensive Apple product, it is wise to buy official items from the Apple store.

Even if you decide to try charging cables or docks from other brands, make sure they are MFi-certified.

Being MFi-Certified serves as a testament to the product quality of a brand so that you know you’re not putting your device in danger. 

Low-quality cables that don’t meet Apple’s standard of quality are often made from very cheap materials. 

These materials can overheat while charging and damage the internal hardware of your iPad.

Software Issues or iOS Issues

If you have ruled out all hardware issues, your device may be facing a software issue or an issue with its operating system. 

iPads are often known to develop software bugs that come in the way of charging.

If this is the first time your device has faced a charging issue, you can simply restart your device or turn it off so the iOS can be rebooted. 

This might solve any minor bug and your device will be back to normal.

However, if the problem still persists, you can try to force restart your iPad. 

This will shut down all background processes and might solve any issues if a specific app or widget is causing the charging problems.

You can force restart your iPad by pressing and holding the home button and the sleep/wake buttons together for a few seconds. 

Do this until you see the Apple logo and your device starts to reboot.

Alternatively, you can simply try updating your iOS for a better user experience overall, including better charging performance. 

It is a known fact that previous versions of the Apple iOS start having bugs and operational issues as soon as a new iOS or a new model of the device is launched.

To keep your device in the best shape possible, you should regularly update your iOS whenever a new version becomes available. 

You can check for new updates by going into the settings and tapping on the ‘General’ section. 

From there, you can tap on the ‘Software Update’ option and choose to start the iOS updating process if any updates are available.

iPad Still not Charging?

If all of these options have been exhausted and your device is still having charging issues, you should contact Apple customer support and discuss the issue with them.

They are extremely helpful and will give you a solution to your problem.

With the information I have provided, I hope you have found a solution to the charging problems of your device. 

Always remember that preventative measures are the best way to avoid any complications for your device in the long run.