Apple iPad Won't Turn On - Here's What to Do

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Last Updated on January 15, 2020 by Jay

Your Apple iPad won’t turn on and now you’re stuck staring at your favorite tablet with no solution to work with? Don’t sweat it, because we’ve looked up every possible solution to get your Apple iPad working and what you need to do to get it humming again.

Apple may not have been the first to introduce a touch screen to the world of mobile devices, but it certainly was the first to perfect the art. Every major smartphone manufacturer that released a device after the iPhone, was hoping to replicate the success that Apple reached in a market dominated by a handful of brands such as Motorola and Nokia. Similarly, despite the several failed attempts of tech giants such as Microsoft to bring large-sized tablet computers into the hands of the consumers, it wasn’t until the unveiling of the Apple iPad that kickstarted the genre.

The oversized Apple iPad set forth a precedent for all other tablets to follow, by simply adopting the best of iOS on a larger screen surface. The popularity of the iPad has only grown over the years, with the release of variants such as the iPad Pro, which has, along with the Apple Pencil, become a favorite among artists and designers as a convenient productivity tool to take along at all times. Hence, if one fine day, you find that your beloved iPad won’t turn on at all, it can bring your work and leisurely activities to a grinding halt.

Fix Apple iPad won’t turn on problem

You could’ve been using your Apple iPad for days, or having it collect dust on a shelf when you come to the crashing realization that has dropped dead. Before you start panicking or prepare your final words for the dearly departed, it might just help you to run through a few tried and tested methods that have been known to help bring back iOS devices from the dead. After hours of sifting through the Apple customer support forums, we’ve garnered a list of solutions to fix the iPad won’t turn on issue that works, and here’s how you can implement them.

Solution #1: Force reboot the iPad

If you’ve been using computers and smart gadgets long enough, the simple and tested trick of turning a device off, and then on, seems to work surprisingly well. Smart devices hanging and the display screen going unresponsive isn’t a newfound problem among iPhone and iPad owners. Back in the old days of devices that housed a plastic, removable back casing, you could simply open the latch and pull out the battery. However, on the iPad where the battery is housed within the aluminum chassis, you need to use the physical buttons.

On your iPad, press and hold the Home button.
Now press and hold the Power button.
Keep holding down the two buttons until you feel a vibration on the device.
Leave the two buttons and then press and hold the Power button.
and Home button once again until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.

For some reason, if the iPad screen does not turn up and you can’t see the Apple logo, move on to the next step.

Solution #2: Perform a battery cleansing cycle

The iPad a powerful lithium-ion battery to keep the screen on and going for hours at a stretch, designed for fast charging at all times. Despite being highly efficient in delivering the charge, just like any piece of hardware out there, the battery can sometimes cause issues too. When you plug in your iPad and it does not seem to boot up, it might seem like there’s an issue with the screen, but it could be the dead battery that is the culprit.

Leave the iPad out in the open for a couple of days and wait for the battery to drain out completely.
After some days have passed, hook up the iPad to a power source through the Lightning port and let it charge for a few hours.
Wait to see if the iPad turns back on again as it usually would when you charge it.

Solution #3: Restore the iPad

Whether you were performing a software update your iPad and ended up pulling the cable before you should have, it can put your phone through some serious trouble. Similarly, tinkering with the iOS with jailbreaking methods can also cause the device software to go awry, which could leave you pondering over the fact if why your iPad won’t turn on and work the way it should.

Turn on your Windows or Mac and launch the iTunes app.
Connect the USB end of the Lightning cable to the computer.
Get a hold of the Apple iPad, press and hold the Power button.
Now release the Power button and press and hold the Home button and keep holding it for 5 seconds.
While holding the Home button, connect the Lightning cable to the iPad.
Even if the iPad screen does not turn on, wait to see if iTunes detects your device.
If the iPad is detected, you will be allowed to either restore the iOS software on the iPad, and you can do this by hitting the Restore button.

Wait for the iOS software to be downloaded and installed for your iPad, and you will be able to see the Apple logo show up on the screen at some point in time.

Solution #4: Replace the Lightning charging cable

It may seem like a simple solution at first, but you’ll be awed to know how many times a device is deemed unusable, simply because the power to the device is bad. Apple’s Lightning cable is reversible and easy to use, but it only works on iOS devices if the cable is officially certified by Apple. Since Apple allows the use of the only official certified Lightning cables, it could mean that no power supply is being delivered, if you’re using a counterfeit cable.

Even if you are using the original Apple Lightning cable that came with your iPad, it could be bent and damaged, which causes it to malfunction. Replacing the Lightning cable, along with the charger adapter to see if it resolves your issue when the iPad won’t turning on at all, could be yet another effective method to try out.

Solution #5: Check the iPad display screen

There are chances that you could find out that despite the iPad being in perfect working condition, the display stopped working all of a sudden. Whether it is from a hard drop that caused the internal cables to come to lose within the unibody or a defective hardware part that finally died out, you could be looking at a possible hardware issue that doesn’t let your phone turn on.

The initial test to confirm if the iPad is working would connect it to your computer using a Lightning cable. Wait for a notification tone to alerts you on the computer, or the charging chime notification that rings on the iPad when you plug it in. If you do hear a sound or a notification, this direction towards a possible malfunction of the display.

If the iPad does connect to iTunes when you connect it, we recommend that you create a backup of your data and files right away. Regardless of whether you choose to take the iPad Touch to a certified Apple technician or not, it is important to secure your data first, since the repair process might lead to factory resetting the iPad at the end.

Solution #6: Clean the Lighting charging port

Your mobile phone is technically the most used and abused device that you carry around everywhere. From the sandy beaches to the dirty locker at the gym, there are plenty of places from where the dirt and grime could collect and end up into the crevices of your iPad. Since the Lightning port on your iPad is just a slot waiting to collect dust, it could likely be blocking the power supply to the phone and making you wonder why your iPad won’t turn on like it used to.

Using a can of air and its pointed nozzle, spray out any minor dirt and sand particles that might have gotten lodged into the power port.
Additionally, you can use a wooden or plastic toothpick to clean out the Lightning power port.
Avoid poking too hard at the Lightning charging port, and avoid bending any of the charging pins inside.

Solution #7: Liquid damage issue

A popular misconception among users is that devices show signs of water damage immediately after coming in contact with moisture or water. However, water damage can sometimes take hours, and even days to wreak havoc on your device’s hardware, as it slowly begins to oxidize and erode the internal hardware components.

If you dropped your iPad in the pool, or it came into direct contact with water before being unable to turn on, it is a tell-tale sign. Using dry rice to pull out the moisture from within the iPad could work if the device was still functional. But in most cases when the iPad won’t turn on, this signals that the damage has already been done. Taking the iPad to a professional and getting it checked up is the only viable solution at this point.

Final Words

A decade ago, when smartphones were still in the works of becoming the phenomenal devices that they are today, the demand for a larger screen was rampant. 7-inch and 10-inch tablet devices were all the rage, which is why Apple released the iPad and iPad Mini in the first place. But as the phone screen sizes have been increasing, the demand for a dedicated tablet has fallen, especially in the Android market. Despite the turmoil in the market space, Apple has continued to support the iPad lineup with new variants released each year.

Whether you’re a pro iPad user who has been holding on to their device for years or own a newly released iPad that is fresh off the shelf, the issue of when iPad won’t turn on could affect you regardless. With the steps outlined above, you can get your Apple tablet up and running in no time, and if there’s anything you need to know more, just ask for help in the comments.

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Jay

Editor at WhyTheLuckyStiff

Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Jay found his calling of becoming a full-time tech writer and is living the dream ever since. A fast learner and an ever-curious mind, you'll find him tinkering with subjects he's got no business around.

Apple iPad Won’t Turn On – Here’s What to Do