iPad won't turn on? Here's how to fix it

There’s usually a moment of panic when an iPad fails to turn on, but it doesn’t necessarily spell doom. There are a few things you can try before taking it into an Apple Store or a third-party repair shop.

What to do if your iPad won’t turn on

Check your charger and charging cable

Sometimes, the issue is simply that your iPad didn’t charge properly and its battery is drained. Make sure your both your charger and its cable are undamaged. Your charger is likely to be fine, but charging cables occasionally fray or develop bent or broken tips, in which case they should be replaced immediately — even if they still plug in, they’ve become a fire hazard.

Another possibility is that your power source isn’t sufficient. Some computers and docks have USB ports without power delivery, or might already be diverting most of their power somewhere else. If you’re charging with a portable battery, it could be dry — especially if you’re using it to top up something as large as an iPad.

Once you’ve got an intact charger and cable on-hand, try plugging your iPad in and waiting for some sign it’s recharging. If the screen remains black, repeat the process with another power source.

Check its temperature

Apple builds iPads to run in ambient temperatures between 32 and 95F, about 0 to 35C. If an iPad gets dangerously hot, it’ll engage automatic safety measures to prevent damage, including turning off the display and other components. Cooling your iPad down may allow it to power back on.

If your iPad is too cold, it might not charge properly, and its battery life can (temporarily) shrink to the point it turns off. Sometimes all that’s needed to revive an iPad in this case is warming it back up, but you might also need to plug it back in.

Try a force restart

It could be that your iPad has power, but is somehow stuck at a black screen. Apple has a “force restart” command for iPads that can sometimes solve this.

With most recent iPads, which lack a physical home button, do the following:

• Tap and release the volume-up button (closest to the sleep/wake button).
• Tap and release volume-down.
• Press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see onscreen activity.

If your iPad does have a home button:

• Press and hold the home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously.
• Wait for onscreen activity.

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