iPad Troubleshooting: How to Fix Your iPad Problems

Are you encountering problems with your iPad? Sadly, we all run into errors or bugs every now and then. During those situations, doing some iPad troubleshooting is essential.

General iPad Troubleshooting Tips and Maintenance

We’ll discuss some common iPad symptoms and cures shortly, but let’s first look at a couple of general tips that you can follow. Each of these will help you maintain your device and limit the number of problems that you could potentially run into.

iPad Symptoms and Cures

Let’s now look at some common iPad problems, along with what the solution is for them. Some of these have guides attached that will provide more context, but we’ll simply show you the solutions in this particular article.

Symptom: Why Won’t My iPad Turn On?

Cure: Reset or Force Restart Your iPad

Since your iPad won’t turn on, it’s better to do a forced restart than trying to turn your device off and on again in a normal manner.

On an iPad with no Home Button and iPhones 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and immediately release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side/Top/Power button until the device restarts.
On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with a Home Button, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.

Symptom: Why Is My iPad Not Responding or Slow to Respond to My Touch?

This is another common iPad troubleshooting issue that has a selection of possible solutions. Here are some that you should try.

Cure I: Clean Your iPad Screen

It may be that your screen is dirty. Try cleaning your screen.

To do this, unplug everything, turn off iPad (see above). Then, with a very soft, lint-free and slightly damp cloth, gently wipe the screen. Do NOT use window cleaners and paper towels.

Cure II: Remove Your Screen Protector

If you have any screen protector sheet, try removing it. This is a good idea if you’ve had yours for a long time — though you will of course need to replace it.

Cure III: Change Your iPad’s Touch Sensitivity Settings

You can adjust multiple iPad touch settings in the Accessibility section of your Settings app. More specifically, you can try adjusting AssistiveTouch and Touch Accommodations.

For previews and other similar aspects, Change the touch duration for your iPad’s Haptic Touch.

Symptom: Why Can’t I Install the Latest iPadOS Update?

If the install button is grayed out, you may be missing one of these:

The iPad must be charged to over 50% (or you need to have access to a charger).
Low Power Mode must be OFF.
You cannot be connected through VPN.

You might also not be able to see the latest iPadOS update for other reasons. Sometimes, this is just because Apple hasn’t released it yet — but other factors could contribute as well.

Cure I: Check to See if Your iPad Is Compatible With the Latest iPadOS Update

Apple phases out older iPads with each major iPadOS software update. If you’re using an older device, it’s possible that you no longer receive the most recent versions. If you’re not sure whether your iPad is compatible, please check via this guide:

Cure II: Free Up Some Storage Space

It’s also important to remember that iPadOS updates consume significant amounts of storage space. Therefore, not having enough free space on your iPad will likely impact your device’s ability to update your software.

If you don’t have enough storage space, delete apps that consume significant space but you don’t use. You can also offload these apps, which will ensure that your settings and the like aren’t deleted.

It’s also worth going through your documents and folders, along with emptying your messages.

Cure III: Reset Your Wi-Fi Connection

If the issue lies with your Wi-Fi, try resetting your router. Alternatively, sign in and out of the Wi-Fi network on your iPad.

It’s also possible to reset your network settings by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Symptom: Why isn’t my iPad showing up in iTunes when connected?

This problem largely impacts older iPads and macOS operating systems; iTunes was officially discontinued in 2019.

Check that your Lightning port is clear of any dust, debris, or dirt.
Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes.
iPad requires USB 2.0 or higher to function properly. Unplug your iPad from your computer and plug it into a different USB port.
Turn your iPad off and on.
Disconnect your iPad from your computer, then turn your computer off and on and reconnect.
Especially for Windows users, if the above steps do not resolve your issue, uninstall iTunes entirely and then reinstall the latest version of iTunes.
If you are on macOS Catalina on your MacBook, you will need to use Finder to sync or restore your iPad.

Symptom: My Wi-Fi Connection Doesn’t Work on My iPad. How Do I Fix It?

Cure I: Turn Wi-Fi Off and On Again

Turn WiFi off and then on by tapping Settings > Wi-Fi. Toggle the button at the top off.

If that doesn’t work, make sure that your Wi-Fi router and the modem is on and update your Wi-Fi software to the latest version. Turning your router off and on again can also help.

Cure II: Turn iPad Off and On Again

Hold the standby button until you see slide to power off, before turning your device off and on again.

Cure III: Change Your DNS Settings

Change your DNS settings to use Google’s Public DNS of 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Learn more about how changing your DNS improves performance.

Wondering “why is my regular Wi-Fi password not working after updating?” Check these tips for fixing Wi-Fi issues.

Symptom: Why Is My iPad Not Charging or Charging Very Slowly?

Cure I: Don’t Use Your Computer Port

To charge your iPad, you can try either connecting your iPad to a power outlet or connecting to a port on your computer using the charging cable that came with your iPad.

Computers generally don’t supply enough power to their USB ports to be able to charge an iPad. When this happens, a “Not Charging” message appears.

Cure II: Clean Your Lightning Port and iPad Charging Cable

Check that your Lightning Port on both your iPad and your charger is clean and clear of any debris, lint, or dust.

Symptom: How Do I Stop My iPad Battery From Draining?

Cure I: Change Notification Settings

The first thing you can do is limit the number of notifications you get by turning them off for some apps. Furthermore, you should consider changing your notification preview settings:

Go to Settings > Notifications and toggle Scheduled Summary off.
Navigate to Show Previews and select either Always or When Unlocked.

Cure II: Turn Off Background App Refresh

Background App Refresh is one of the biggest battery drainers on your iPad. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn the feature off. Alternatively, switch it off for specific apps.

Cure III: Manage Your iPad’s Brightness Settings

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn the level of brightness down. You can also do this by navigating to your Control Center. It’s also worth going to Auto-Lock and changing it to 2 minutes.

Cure IV: Toggle Cellular Data Off and On

If you have the Wi-Fi/Cellular iPad, tap on Settings > Cellular Data > Toggle off. Do the same for the other mobile options, i.e., Cellular Data > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE to off and Data Roaming to off.

Once you have set the settings to off, you can toggle them back to ON. This simple toggling of Cellular-related options can often fix battery issues on an iPad that has both Wi-Fi and Cellular.

Cure V: Check for Stuck Processes

Sometimes, the iPad consumes excessive battery if there is a process in the stuck mode.

Try doing a forced restart on the iPad.

Symptom: My iPad Is Stuck in a Reboot Loop! How Do I Fix My iPad From Restarting?

The chances are that your iPad has insufficient battery power even to start up.

Usually, iPads don’t attempt to restart until there is enough battery power.

But for you (and some unlucky others), something is telling the iPad to try to boot even though the battery can’t last long enough to finish.

Hence, the loop you experience–charging a little, attempting a boot, shutting off, charging a little, trying to boot, and so forth again and again.

We need to get your iPad sufficiently charged to complete a normal and full boot cycle:

Plug the iPad into a power source. Ideally, use the charger that came with your iPad. DO NOT plug it into your computer.
Next, hold down the home button and the power button simultaneously for as long as you possibly can–the longer, the better — and ideally for at least 30 minutes to one hour.
Holding down these two buttons prevents that loop cycle. That allows your iPad to charge up a bit. Think creatively about how to hold these buttons down for a length of time.
As soon as you release these buttons, your iPad tries to boot. If you don’t hold Home and Power long enough for a sufficient charge, that loop pattern continues.
So try and hold down these buttons for as long as possible — or create some makeshift tools to assist. Keep these gentle so that they don’t cause other damage.

iPad Issues That Our Readers Have Reported and Potential Solutions

Our readers have also encountered various iPad problems that require troubleshooting. Here are some of those.

iPad Lost All Colors Except for Gray

This is likely because your iPad is in grayscale mode or has a similar color filter enabled. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Color Filters and toggle Color Filters off.

Current Messages Aren’t Updating (But They Are on Other Devices)

This could be a problem with your iPad’s internet connection. Some Wi-Fi networks also start to struggle if too many devices are connected, so you should keep this in mind. It could also be a software issue related to your tablet, so you should ensure that everything is updated.

Note that software problems can sometimes impact iPadOS differently from iOS.

iPad Showing Two Different Dates

If you’re seeing this glitch, go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Toggle Set Automatically off and then on again.

Apple Logo Showing on iPad Screen

This is probably an issue with your software. If it occurs during a software update, it’s a good idea to wait some time as these usually take a long time to install — and you will typically see the Apple logo as they commence.

In other circumstances, try force restarting your iPad. Alternatively, you may need to contact Apple’s Support team.

Emails Not Working

Some users complained about their emails not working. It’s a good idea to begin by signing out and in again, but you can also turn on Ask Before Deleting in Settings > Mail if the issue relates to your emails being removed.

iPad Is Erratic When Plugged In

This is also an issue I used to deal with quite frequently, and it’s usually because of the charger you use. For example, if I use the iPad power cord with the Mac wall plug, I often experience these kinds of challenges. Make sure that you’re using an iPad or iPhone wall charger for your device.

iPad Overheating

This is another problem I personally have encountered and it seems like some of our readers have as well. I experienced my charger blowing out for my iPad as a result of overheating, and my best advice for this is to only charge your device when necessary. You should also not use your iPad outside when it’s hot, as these devices are only designed to operate from 0ºC-35º C (32ºF-95º F).

Apple has introduced a feature that puts charging on hold until your iPad returns to a normal temperature, so that should hopefully solve at least some of your problems.

Try These Tips If You Need to Fix an Issue You’re Encountering With Your iPad

There are many common iPad issues that need troubleshooting, and you’ll probably encounter at least one during your time using these devices. From Wi-Fi issues to overheating, there are a lot of things that could potentially go wrong. Thankfully, devices normally work well most of the time — but it’s worth knowing how to deal with challenges that arise.

Hopefully, you now have a good base to tackle the most common iPad issues. If you’re having issues that weren’t discussed here, please feel free to let us know in the comments. You can also view the AppleToolBox catalog for a broad selection of in-depth iPad repair and maintenance guides, along with tips on using your device more effectively.

Danny is a freelance writer who has been using Apple products for over a decade. He’s written for some of the largest technology publications on the web and previously worked as an in-house writer before carving his own route. Danny grew up in the UK, but now writes about tech from his Scandinavian base.

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