iPad Not Charging or Charging Slowly? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• A computer that’s turned off or in sleep mode
• A computer that doesn’t provide enough power, shown as “Not Charging”
• A power adapter that can’t deliver optimal power, shown as “Slow Charger”
• Using or syncing your iPad while it charges
• An iPad that’s too hot or too cold
• Charge Limit set to 80% on supported models
• A battery so low that the screen stays blank for a while

Step-by-Step Solutions

Work through these steps in order, and check the battery icon after each one to see whether your iPad has started charging.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check whether your iPad is charging

   The battery icon tells you whether your iPad is actually charging.

   When your iPad is charging, you see a lightning bolt on the battery icon in the status bar, or a large battery icon on your Lock screen.

   If you don’t see either one, work through the next steps.

2. 2

   Step 2: Give a fully drained iPad a few minutes

   An iPad that’s extremely low on power can look like it isn’t charging at first.

   If your iPad is extremely low on power when you plug it in, the display may stay blank for up to 2 minutes before a low-battery image appears.

   That image of a nearly depleted battery means your iPad needs to charge for up to 10 minutes before you can use it. Leave it plugged in during that time.

3. 3

   Step 3: Charge from a power outlet

   Start with a USB power adapter plugged into a working power source.

   Connect your iPad to a USB charging cable, preferably the cable that came with your iPad. Plug it into a USB power adapter that’s plugged into a working power source. It’s best to use the power adapter that came with your iPad.

   If your iPad still won’t charge, try a different power adapter or a different charging cable.

   Good to know

   If you suspect there may be liquid in the charging port, don’t plug the charging cable into it.

4. 4

   Step 4: Check for the Slow Charger message

   If your iPad charges slowly, Settings can tell you whether the charger is the reason.

   Open Settings and tap Battery. If you see a Slow Charger message, your iPad supports fast charging but the connected charger isn’t capable of delivering optimal power.

   Charging might also take longer than expected with a wired charger that provides 7.5 watts or less. If you use a third-party power adapter, Apple recommends a minimum power output of 15 W and a USB-C output port.

5. 5

   Step 5: Keep your computer on and awake

   A computer charges your iPad only while it’s on, and its port must supply enough power.

   If you charge from a computer, use a USB port that supports USB 2 or later, on a computer that’s on and not in sleep mode. If your iPad is connected to a computer that’s turned off, the battery may drain instead of charge.

   If your Mac or Windows device doesn’t provide enough power to charge your iPad, a Not Charging message appears in the status bar. Switch to a USB power adapter plugged into a working power source.

   Good to know

   A powered USB hub, docking station or other Apple-certified accessory can also charge your iPad.

6. 6

   Step 6: Don’t rely on a keyboard’s USB port

   Apple advises against charging from a keyboard that doesn’t have a high-power USB port.

   Don’t try to charge your iPad by connecting it to your keyboard, unless your keyboard has a high-power USB port.

   A Magic Keyboard with USB-C is different: it can pass through power from an attached USB-C cable and power adapter. A compatible Magic Keyboard needs to be connected to a working power source to charge your iPad.

7. 7

   Step 7: Let it charge without using or syncing it

   Using or syncing your iPad while it charges can make charging take longer.

   When you’re syncing or using your iPad, it may take longer to charge the battery. If charging seems slow, put it down and let it charge.

   Good to know

   Your iPad charges quickly until the battery reaches about 80%, then charging slows to reduce battery stress and limit heat. That slowdown is normal.

8. 8

   Step 8: Make sure your iPad isn’t too hot or too cold

   Charging may pause in extreme temperatures.

   Charging may pause temporarily in extreme temperature conditions. It resumes once the battery’s temperature returns to its normal operating range.

   Keep your iPad within acceptable operating temperatures, then check the battery icon again.

9. 9

   Step 9: Check whether Charge Limit is on

   On supported models, Charge Limit stops charging at 80%.

   On supported models, you can set a maximum battery level of 80%. When Charge Limit is on, your iPad stops charging when it reaches 80%.

   To check it, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health. If 80% Limit is on and you want a full charge, turn off 80% Limit, then choose one of these:

   • Allow Until Tomorrow: overrides the limit for now. The charge limit returns to 80% at 6:00 a.m.
   • Set Limit to 100%: keeps the limit at 100% until you change it again.

   Good to know

   Even with the limit set to 80%, your iPad occasionally charges to 100% to keep the battery percentage display accurate. To temporarily override the limit and charge to full sooner than scheduled, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap “Charge to 100%.”

10. 10

    Step 10: Force restart your iPad

    If your iPad still won’t charge, Apple suggests forcing it to restart.

    The steps depend on whether your iPad has a Home button.

    • iPad without a Home button: press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button, then press and hold the top button until your iPad restarts.
    • iPad with a Home button: press and hold both the top (or side) button and the Home button until you see the Apple logo.

Frequently Asked Questions