How to Fix It When Your iPad Won't Turn On

Force your iPad to restart if the screen is black, or leave it plugged in for a few hours to ensure it's charged. Contact Apple if it's a hardware issue

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
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Updated on June 5, 2024

This article walks you through solutions to try when your iPad will not turn on. Typically, when an iPad's screen is black, it's in sleep mode waiting for you to press the Home button or the Sleep/Wake button to activate it.

Causes of an iPad Not Turning On

A dead battery is the most common reason for an iPad not to turn on. But the problem could be more serious than that, including corrupted software or a hardware issue.

How to Fix an iPad That Won't Turn On

This problem can affect all models of iPads, and the solutions you should try are the same for any iPad model you use.

  1. Power on the iPad. Yes, this sounds obvious, but if you're new to using an iPad, you might just need to know how to turn it on.

    Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button at the top of the iPad. If the iPad is powered off, you should see the Apple logo appear after a couple of seconds, which means the tablet is functioning normally.

  2. Force restart your iPad if the normal power-on procedure doesn't work. How this works is a little different between the various models of iPad:

    • iPads without a Home button: Press the volume up button, then press the volume down button, then hold the top button until the iPad starts.
    • iPads with a Home button: Press and hold both the top button and the Home button until you see the Apple logo.

    Some users have had luck getting their iPad to turn on only after it's been left unused for a few days. Try that, then complete this step.

  3. Charge the battery. If the iPad doesn't boot up after a few seconds, the battery is probably drained.

    In this case, connect the iPad to a wall outlet using the cable and charger that came with it (if your charger is visibly worn, consider getting a new cable).

    If you can't turn on the iPad after an hour, you might need to fix your iPad's charging issue. 

    Even if the iPad turns on, it may be low on power, so leave it charging for as long as possible or until the battery is fully charged. If your device seems to run out of power often, take steps to extend your iPad's battery life.

  4. Fix your disabled iPad. If the wrong passcode has been tried too many times, your iPad will still technically power on but then stop at the lock screen.

  5. If your iPad still doesn't turn on, it may have a hardware failure. The easiest solution is to make an Apple Store appointment. Apple employees can help determine your iPad's underlying issue.

    Hardware failures are more common for older iPads. Here's a list of obsolete iPads; if yours is on that list, it might be worth it to upgrade to a newer model.

  6. If you don't have an Apple Store nearby, contact Apple for help.

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