Usually, when your iPad displays a black screen, it is in sleep mode and waiting for you to press the power button or tap on the screen to wake it up. However, it can be very scary when your iPad refuses to turn on no matter what you do. Before you panic, know that you can fix this issue on your end. We have mentioned 6 proven methods to fix iPad won’t turn on issues. Without further ado, let’s jump in and bring your iPad back to life!
Method 1: Force restart iPad
There may be times when your iPad won’t turn on or shows a black screen when you long press the power button. When this happens, your iPad won’t wake up or respond regardless of whether you hold down the power button, tap the screen, or do other tricks. This usually happens due to a bug or software glitch and you can’t restart your iPad as usual in such cases. The most effective remedy to fix an unresponsive iPad is to perform a force restart.
Here’s how to force restart an iPad without a Home button:
- Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the power button.
- Immediately after that, press and release the volume button furthest from the power button.
- Finally, press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo.
To force restart an iPad with a Home button, follow the steps below:
- Simultaneously hold the Power button and home button.
- Release both buttons when you see the Apple logo.
If your iPad restarts, great! However, if you encounter this problem frequently, you need to dig deeper and determine what is causing you problems. We recommend trying the following solutions:
- Check your iPad for unverified or malfunctioning apps. If your iPad won’t turn on after installing a particular app, try removing that app and see if it works.
- Back up your important data and reset your iPad to factory settings.
Method 2: Charge the iPad
If your iPad won’t respond to a force restart and keeps showing a completely black screen, it could be a sign of a dead battery. When your iPad is completely drained, the system can’t boot up. As a result, your iPad will show a black screen and won’t turn on until you plug in a charger. Grab a compatible charging cable and adapter and charge your device. Make sure the power source is working properly and let your iPad charge uninterrupted for at least 30 minutes. After that, check if your iPad is working properly or not.
If your iPad won’t charge, try the following:
- Make sure to use official or MFi certified charging accessories.
- Check your charging cable and adapter for any signs of damage.
- Check the power source.
- Inspect and clean the charging port.
For more details, you can check our dedicated guide on how to fix iPad not charging issues.
Method 3: Update iPad using Mac/PC
Another way to get your iPad working again is to update its software using a Mac or PC. This will download the latest version of iPadOS to eliminate any software bugs and improve the overall functionality of your device. Here’s how to update your iPad using Finder or iTunes:
- Using a compatible cable, connect your iPad to a Mac or PC.
- On your Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Researcher And select your iPad under the Locations section. On older Macs or PCs, open iTunes And Click on the iPad icon.
- If you don’t see your iPad, it’s probably out of power. Let it charge for a while, then try again.
- In the window that appears, click on Check for updates.
- If a newer update is available, you should see the option to click Download and update.
- Now follow the on-screen instructions to update iPadOS.
Method 4: Troubleshoot hardware issues
If your iPad won’t turn on at all, there’s a good chance that the hardware is damaged. There could be two possibilities. The first is the physical damage. If your iPad has recently suffered a hard fall, the impact may have damaged the screen or internal components, which could be the reason why it won’t turn on. Secondly, you should also consider water damage. If your iPad has been exposed to heavy rain or has come into contact with liquid, the internal components may have failed, and that’s why you’re left with a lifeless iPad.
In this case, you should try connecting your iPad to a Mac or PC. If your machine recognizes your iPad, you are lucky because it means that your tablet is indeed turned on. In such a case, you should backup your important data and bring your iPad for repair or replacement.
Unfortunately, if your computer does not recognize your iPad, it indicates a major problem. The only wise thing you can do in such cases is to visit the nearest Apple Store and get your iPad diagnosed.
Method 5: Update iPad in Recovery Mode
If your iPad turns on but gets stuck on the Apple logo or a red/blue screen during startup, there may be an issue with the iPadOS installation. In this case, you need to put your device into recovery mode. You can then try a new software update or restore your iPad. To do this, you will need a Mac or Windows computer with the latest version of iTunes.
Here’s how to update your iPad in recovery mode:
- Connect your iPad to a computer.
- On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Researcher And select your iPad. On older Macs or PCs, open iTunes And Click on the iPhone icon.
- Once logged in, perform a force restart to put your iPad into recovery mode.
- Make sure to keep holding the buttons until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone.
- When given the option to update or restore on your computer, choose Update.
- If you see a message that your iPad cannot be updated, choose the option Restore option. Keep in mind that this process will erase all data and settings on your iPad.
- Confirm your decision and follow the on-screen instructions.
- It may take up to 15 minutes for your computer to download the latest software update to your iPad.
- Once completed, your iPad will restart by itself.
Method 6: Update iPad in DFU Mode
If the above steps don’t work and your iPad won’t turn on, it indicates complex software issues. If this is your case, you can resort to the latest Device Firmware Update (DFU) method. To begin with, DFU is the deepest type of restore that can eliminate even the most complex software issues. The steps are quite similar to restoring iPad in recovery mode, but there is one major difference.
Recovery mode uses iBoot (Apple’s Level 2 bootloader) to update or restore your device’s software. In contrast, DFU restore bypasses iBoot and restores the software to its original state. DFU is especially useful in situations where your iPad won’t turn on due to complex software errors such as corrupted software or firmware crashes. However, make sure not to perform this process on iPads with physical or water damage. Otherwise, your device may become unusable.
Note: DFU restore will permanently delete all data on your iPad, including apps, media files, contacts, email accounts, etc. So, please make sure to back up your important data beforehand.
- Connect your iPad to a Mac or Windows laptop.
- Open Researcher on a Mac or iTunes on a Windows computer.
- On an iPad without a Home buttonpress and hold the Power/Top button for 3 seconds. Now press the button Volume down button at the same time. After 10 seconds, release the Power/Top button but keep holding the Volume button.
- On an iPad with a Home button, Hold down the power button and the home button at the same time. After a few seconds, release the power button but continue to hold the home button.
- When you see your iPad on your computer, release the Volume/Home button.
- Then click on Restore iPadthen click on Restore and Update.
- Once the process is complete, your iPad will turn on.
If your iPad is still showing a black screen, there is a high chance that something is wrong with your device. It could be an internal component failure, a damaged screen, or broken buttons. In such cases, you need to visit an Apple store and get your iPad diagnosed by geniuses. We strongly recommend avoiding cheaper alternatives as they can render your iPad beyond repair.
Why won’t my iPad turn on?
Some of the most common reasons why your iPad won’t turn on are: 1. A dead battery. 2. Outdated or corrupted software. 3. Physical or water damage. 4. Malfunctioning or unverified apps. 5. Charging or overheating issues.
