Even though the Apple iPad has many things to like, this mobile tech masterpiece has not been immune to frequent charging glitches. The two most common problems many people face with both the older and newer models are slow charging and total failure to charge. While generally all smartphones and tablets tend to have a short battery lifespan, being able to quickly refill the charge can give you peace of mind.
The Apple tablet charging problem is often noticeable before the tablet stops charging completely. It is often more about the battery and the charger than it is about the tablet itself. The manner in which you charge the device can also cause charging problems.
Troubleshooting Apple iPad Tablet Charging Problems
Apple iPad Tablet Not Charging
The first diagnosis should always be to ensure that the tablet is properly connected to power. Plug the cable fully and firmly into the iPad port, and ensure that the USB end is plugged securely into the adapter and that the adapter is plugged securely into the wall outlet. Also, ensure that the power outlet is switched on.
When charging wirelessly with the Apple AirPower, first make sure that the tablet takes up charge using the USB adapter and cable. If that works, then you can proceed to fix wireless charging issues.
If you are charging with a PC or Mac, ensure that the USB cable is tightly plugged into the USB 2.0 or even 3.0 port of the computer. Make sure that the machine is switched on. You will likely face difficulties trying to use ports in the keyword.
Apple iPad Tablet Successfully Charging
When you successfully hook the device to power, and it starts charging, you will notice a lightning bolt icon near to the battery icon in the status bar. If your tablet is in sleep mode, you will see a large battery icon on the lock screen.
Apple iPad Tablet not Charging
If you don’t see any charging icon after you connect the device to power, then you have a charging problem. It could also be that fact that you sit and wait for hours on end before the device can gain some few percentages of charge. There are many causative factors for these problems.
Common Causes of iPad Tablet Charging Problems
iPad Tablet Charging Problems
1. Broken charging port
With a damaged port the device will not charge at all. To be sure that indeed the problem lies with the charging port, replace the cable with a new one. If the new cable doesn’t work as well, then the charging port could be broken. The iPad charging port usually has eight tiny pins. If any of these is broken (mostly due to using the wrong cable), the device won’t be able to make a power connection from the source during the charging process. Use a flashlight to inspect the charging port of your tablet. If you see broken pins, it would be time to take it for repair.
2. Dirty charging port
If debris and dirt are blocking any of the pins in the tablet’s Lightning charging port, the device will not be able to make a complete current connection as well. Use a flashlight to find out if there is dust in your tablet’s port. You can use an anti-static brush to flush out the dirt and debris. Sometimes even the tiniest specs of dust that we can’t see can break the power connection.
If you elect to clean with small tweezers, switch off the device before trying to dislodge the stuck materials. When cleaning the port, be cautious not to damage the sides of the port. Alternatively, visit the Apple store to have someone do the cleaning. It is free of charge.
3. Using the wrong charger
When attempting to charge Apple tablet with the wrong charger, you will receive an alert saying that the accessory is not supported or even certified. Most phone and tablets have USB chargers that can be interchanged between devices. Using the wrong charger, for instance, one that does not support Battery Charging Specification 1.1 or above will not manage the power supplied to the device.
If you have to use an android adapter to connect to an iPad Lightning port, ensure that the voltage of the charger matches with what your device supports. Also, even though the iPad can still charge with an iPhone adapter, the process is often much slower. Identify wattage markings on the charger – “10w”, “12w” or “24w”. Such adapters have the potential to charge an iPad quickly. The small 5 watt adapters used for charging the iPhone does not have these markings.
If the adapter is incompatible with the Lightning port, the Apple tablet won’t charge at all. If the adapter is compatible but has a lower wattage rating, your device will charge but at a snail’s pace. On the other hand, charging your device with the biggest wall device will cause the battery to degrade and drain more rapidly.
4. Broken charger
Even though iPad chargers are often resilient, they sometimes break and stop working. The damage could be a result of many years of use, traveling or frequent plugging and unplugging. If you have a broken charger, visit the Apple store and buy a new one.
You can tell if the Apple tablet charging problem is caused a broken charger by first ruling out that the fault lies with the iPad, the wall socket, or the cable. To rule out the cable, use a new cable and find out if that solves the Apple tablet charging problem. Try charging another iPad with the same charger and cable to rule out the device. To test the wall socket, plug into a different outlet to be sure.
Check the charging cable and the USB adapter for damage signs, such as breakage or even bent prongs. If you are using a broken charger you are also likely to see the “Accessory Not Supported or Certified” notification.
5. Computer USB unable to charge tablet
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that your Apple tablet charges much slower when using a PC or Mac. The power output from the computer isn’t as big as the output from the wall socket. However, if the Apple tablet won’t charge at all when hooked to a computer, the port or the USB cable could be damaged.
You might see a “Not charging notification” if the computer is unable to charge the tablet. Sometimes, however, you will see the Lightning bolt icon, yet the charge percentage doesn’t increase at all. That means that the USB port just doesn’t send enough power to charge the tablet.
Try using another port on the computer or try using a different USB cable. If Apple tablet still doesn’t charge, check to see the machine is not in battery saver mode. Also, ensure to plug the USB into the computer itself and not the keyboard. The computer should also be powered on and awake.
6. Tablet battery is dead
If you let your tablet battery to get flattened completely, it might not accept the charge from the wall charger. If that happens, you will need to be patient and allow the device to trickle charge. You cannot just turn it on after plugging into the wall socket. Try using a lower wattage charger or charge using the computer. Typically, lithium batteries do not perform well when drained to zero. It deprecates the ability of the battery cells to charge and retain power.
After trickle charging for about 8 hours, your tablet might get warmed up enough to accept a charge from the wall socket. The other solution to this Apple tablet charging problem would be to visit your nearest Apple Store for a hardware repair.
7. Hardware problem due to dropped tablet
Dropping the tablet could cause hardware problems such as a broken system board. The problem could also be that the charging port sustains the most impact out of the fall and becomes loose.
Allow your device to charge for about 30 minutes. If it continues to be unresponsive try to force-restart it. Press and quickly release the Volume Up and Volume Down button.
Press and then hold the Power button until the time device restarts. Allow your tablet to charge for half an hour. If it doesn’t power on or charge, there is nothing much to do, other than visiting the apple store to ask for assistance.
8. Other manufacturing problem (software or hardware)
Although it is a rare occurrence, sometimes there are software glitches in an update that interfere with the iPad’s charging capabilities. Ensure your Apple tablet does not have a software glitch by rebooting the device. Sometimes that helps to automatically restore the charging ability of your tablet.
Proceed to restore the backup you made before the update. Ensure that you use a backup that was made back at a time when your iPad was charging without problems, or else the software glitch might persist even after you restore the backup. If a hardware problem is a reason for the charging glitch, the best solution would be to take your tablet in for a repair.
There could be many reasons why your Apple tablet won’t charge. Some are apparent and easy to fix at home while others are complex, forcing you to seek the services of tech geniuses. Before you rule out anything, you can always call Apple Support for general help and instructions.
