Your iPad is plugged in, but the screen is still black. A depleted battery, interrupted charging, or frozen startup can leave it looking lifeless. Even temperature protection or a hidden display can explain it. Start with power and a force restart, then follow the recovery steps that match what appears on your screen.
Start with working charging equipment
Hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
If nothing appears, connect your iPad to a working wall outlet using a compatible USB charging cable and power adapter.
Try a different compatible cable to check the original cable.
Swap in another compatible power adapter if the iPad still does not respond.
Leave the iPad connected to working charging equipment for up to one hour to give a depleted battery time to recover.
Prefer a wall adapter for a deeply discharged iPad, even though an awake, powered-on computer’s USB 2-or-later port or a powered USB hub also supports charging.
Force restart an unresponsive iPad
A force restart addresses a frozen, unresponsive iPad.
Remove any case or protective film that obstructs the buttons.
On an iPad without a Home button, quickly press and release the volume button nearest the top button.
Quickly press and release the volume button farthest from the top button.
Hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
On an iPad with a Home button, instead hold the Home button and top button together until the Apple logo appears.
Let a hot or cold iPad recover
Temperature protection can stop charging, black out the display, or temporarily shut down your iPad. Apple specifies an operating environment between 32°F and 95°F, or 0°C and 35°C.
If the iPad is overheated and still responds, turn it off.
Move it away from direct sunlight into that temperature range.
Let it cool before retrying charging.
For a very cold iPad, bring it into a warmer environment before charging again.
If it still will not start at normal temperature, retry charging with working equipment before moving on to the connection checks below.
Inspect the charging connection
Unplug the charging cable from your iPad.
Reconnect it securely.
Try the connector in its opposite orientation if the connection still fails.
Gently check whether the connection is intermittent. An intermittent connection with a known-working cable calls for service.
Disconnect all cables before inspecting the port.
Check the charging port for debris.
Turn the iPad off before cleaning.
Use a clean, dry, small nonmetallic brush with soft bristles to loosen debris and brush it outward.
Keep moisture, compressed air, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide away from the charging port.
Reveal a screen hidden by VoiceOver
Turning off Screen Curtain reveals a display intentionally hidden while the iPad is running.
Wake the iPad before trying the gesture.
Triple-tap the screen using three fingers.
If VoiceOver and Zoom are both enabled, use a three-finger quadruple-tap instead.
Alternatively, press Control-Option-Shift-S on a connected Bluetooth keyboard.
Follow Recovery Assistant when it appears
Choose Continue when your iPad displays Recovery Assistant.
Connect to Wi-Fi. Networks with a captive sign-in page and 802.1X networks are unsupported.
Allow the recovery package to run.
Restart the iPad when recovery finishes.
If startup still fails, proceed to computer recovery below.
Sharing diagnostics during Recovery Assistant is optional.
Update a stalled iPad through computer recovery
If your iPad gets stuck during startup, try a recovery-mode update. This requires an iPad whose buttons and connection work well enough to enter recovery mode.
Connect the iPad by USB to an updated Mac or Windows PC.
Open Finder on a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, or Apple Devices on Windows.
On an iPad without a Home button, quickly press and release the volume button nearest the top button.
Quickly press and release the volume button farthest from the top button.
Hold the top button until the recovery screen appears. Keep holding past the Apple logo this time.
On an iPad with a Home button, instead hold the Home button and top button together.
Apple documents two endings for this sequence. Its startup-troubleshooting instructions say to keep holding both buttons, and to keep holding the top button until the recovery screen appears. Its update-and-restore instructions say that when the iPad turns off, release the top button while continuing to hold the Home button until the recovery screen appears. Both endings target the same recovery screen, so if the sequence you try first does not reach it, repeat the sequence and use the other ending.
Select your iPad in Finder or Apple Devices.
Choose Update first.
If downloading takes more than 15 minutes and the iPad exits recovery mode, let the download finish.
Repeat your model’s recovery-mode button sequence after the download completes.
If updating fails, re-enter recovery mode using the same sequence.
Choose Restore only when you are ready to erase the iPad’s data and reinstall iPadOS.
Set up the iPad after the restore finishes.
If recovery fails or your iPad cannot enter recovery mode, arrange service using the next section.
Arrange repair if the iPad still will not start
Professional service addresses battery, charging, display, and button faults that persist after troubleshooting.
Open Apple’s iPad service and repair page.
Choose Get started.
Describe the power problem, including whether the iPad shows a logo, enters recovery mode, or responds intermittently to its cable or buttons.
Arrange an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider visit, or mail-in service. Available options depend on your model, location, parts, and coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge an iPad through a Magic Keyboard?
Yes, a compatible Magic Keyboard connected to power supports charging a compatible iPad. For troubleshooting a deeply discharged battery, use a wall adapter connected directly to the iPad.
Can another iPhone or iPad restore my iPad?
Yes, supported iPads offer this option when they display the nearby-device animation. Connect the affected iPad to power. Place an unlocked, Wi-Fi-connected iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later nearby. On the helper, tap Continue at Restore Nearby [device]. Enter the affected iPad’s six-digit code on the helper. Tap OK at Restoring [device]. Captive sign-in networks and 802.1X networks are unsupported.
Could the 80% charging limit keep my iPad from turning on?
No. Charging limits control charging stopping near 80%. Turning them off does not fix an iPad that has no power.
Can I run hardware diagnostics while the iPad is completely dead?
No. Apple’s hardware diagnostics require a supported iPad that can start. A completely powerless iPad needs charging troubleshooting or service first.
