iPad Won't Turn On or Charge? What to Try Before a Repair

1. Charge it for an hour

Use a cable and plug you know work, plugged into the wall. A fully flat iPad can take 20 minutes or more before it shows anything.

2. Force restart

iPad with a Home button: hold the Home button and the top button together until the Apple logo appears.
iPad without a Home button: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.

3. Check the charging port

Lint packs into Lightning and USB-C ports just like on phones. If the cable feels loose or only works at an angle, the port needs cleaning. See our charging guide.

4. Is it on with a black screen?

If you hear sounds or notifications but see nothing, the screen or backlight has failed. That's a screen repair.

When to get it repaired

If none of this works, book an iPad repair. We collect from your home or work around Rugby, diagnose it, and tell you the price before doing anything.

Quick answers

Why won't my iPad charge?

Usually a faulty cable or plug, or lint in the port. If those are fine, the port or battery may need replacing.

Can an iPad battery be replaced?

Yes. iPad batteries are glued in, so it's a careful job, but it's often much cheaper than a new iPad.

Written by the technicians at Rugby Phone Repair Hub, who repair phones at customers' homes and workplaces across Rugby every day.

iPad won't turn on? Try this first