Several users have reported an issue in which iPad mini stops responding, an apparent iPad Mini won’t turn on problem. More specifically, iPad mini (a) does not turn on (b) appears frozen and (c) has a black (or blank) screen. If your iPad mini is “dead,” not working properly or not responding, please try the following tips.
Try restarting your iPad mini. Just press and hold the on/off button until the red slider appears and then slide the slider. Press and hold the on/off button until the Apple logo appears to turn your device back on.
If your iPad mini is not responding (touchscreen or buttons) because of some misbehaving apps; try quitting the app. To do this, double press the Home Button, tap and hold on the app until it jiggles, then press the (-) sign to close it.
If your device is still unresponsive, try resetting your device. Simply press and hold the on/off button and the Home button together for at least ten seconds until your device shuts off and begins to restart. Note that this does not remove app, songs, contacts or any other data that you have.
If your iPad does not turn on, make sure that your iPad mini has enough charge to turn on. Connect your iPad to a power outlet and charge for at least twenty minutes.
If you are still having this problem, connect your device to your computer, launch iTunes and try restoring your device with iTunes by clicking the “Restore” option (Summary tab). Note that restoring your device deletes all of your settings, media, and data.
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Wrapping it up
I hope that these fixes will help you bring your iPad mini back to life. It sucks to have a dead device especially a tablet that you truly love and use for many purposes.
In an event where your iPad still misbehave, it’s a good sign that something is wrong inside the tablet, meaning hardware problem. Take it to a repair shop nearby or visit the Apple Store.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
hi.my ipad wont turn on as well. and my home button is not working. how else can i turn on my ipad? tried plugging it to charger but its not working too.. pls help. thankyou!
Mini iPad 4 will not start up after being shut down to be charged overnight.
Black blank screen.
I have changed charge and cables nothing
Pressed the reset two buttons for 10 sec nothing.
Plugged into PC and opened iTunes nothing
A week ago, I logged on to the Apple site thinking on purchasing a new mini and went as far as getting a trade in quote for this unit entered S/No and got a price. Never went through with the transaction.
Has Apple shut it down ?????
My device was unresponsive and didn’t display anything. Black screen no back light. long story short, #3.
Needed a reset. Simply pressed and held the on/off button and the Home button together for about ten seconds.
Thank you for this info!
I’m on holiday and my husbands iPad mini 4 will not switch on.
It has been powered overnight, I have tried to get it to switch on holding the home and power button to no avail. I do not have access to a laptop.
This was only purchased at the end of nov 2018 – he uses it all of the time. Especially on holiday – reading via kindle and apps and also playing games.
It hasn’t been charging too well for a while now but did not think it wouldn’t work.
We have 1 more week left in Thailand is there anything I can do to get this working again?
Have you tried charging it using different power outlets or even at different locations? It’s possible that there is a charging problem–if using a converter, ask the hotel staff if you can borrow another to see if the problem is the converter.
If you are in or near Bangkok, there is an Apple Store there–called Apple Iconsiam, located at 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600.
when turned on there is an outline (square) on the page and after a while i can get the pass code which is also outlined and then I’m on a page that shows the camera. What to do. I’ve tried pressing both on and off but the square keeps coming into view. Is there a tele number I can call? Thank you.
I think your iPad has an accessibility feature called the Zoom Controller enabled. Try triple-clicking the home button and see if it goes away.
If it does, then go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Zoom and toggle Zoom.
Then go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and make sure it says off. If not, go to whatever feature it lists as the shortcut to toggle that setting off.
I too have a problem… I had last used my Ipad 4 years ago with known password for security, today when I open (afr 4 years) I couldn’t unlock the screen coz the password is remembered wasnth matching. Then I connected to iTunes, probably in even don’t remember my email I’d of ipad…
Pls help me out!!!
hi, i have a big problem on my ipad mini…. when i lock the screen it wont turn on back… so what i did i restore it using itunes then it restore then after downloading apps i lock the screen then it will not turn on again so i restore it again.. same works then I was so frustrated dont know what to do, my friend told me maybe the battery is bad? any reommendations? how to solve my issue? please
i pad show apple logo against the white screen. When press on the on/off and home switch together, a connector cable and itune logo depicted! Pls advise what wrong with the ipad!
I have an issue where my iPad Mini 2 shows a dead battery, but it’s 100%. Sometimes a forced restart works, and sometimes I have to plug it into iTunes, unplug, and force restart again. Took me 15 mins of nonsense to fix it. I have tried restoring, updating, etc. I don’t get it. It will be fine, then you’ll come back to take it off the charger, and it shows it’s dead and needs to be plugged in. Happens at least twice a week, then operates normally for a while.
Hold both buttons. Apple shows then shuts off no matter how long I hold buttons. Charged for 12 hours, still nothing. Don’t have computer to hook into. Help!
Do not turn on, no matter what I do, but can hear through very loud sound on the pc that it react when I try to turn it or put it into restore, but nothing appears.
Itunes react also on the connection, wherein Itunes allows me to recovery, and after the software is unpacked, doing Itunes also connect to the iPad, so the apple appears and shortly after appears the “think” bubble under the apple, and shortly after appear the procese line under the apple, but then not else happen. Itunes continues to give the information “waiting for Ipad”, has tried to leave it in for many hours, but change nothing.
Also leave it on the charger for hours, without changes.
Opened it to see if I could see if there was something that was as it should not be, but nothing looks wrong. Count on that it’s something with IOS, but what can it be and is there a chance to solve the problem?
So if I restore the mini through iTunes, what happens to all the games that have been purchased? I have to purchase again? This iPad is only 9 months old, Should there be a factory warranty?
if it’s 9mo old, yes, it is covered by Apple Warranty. Take it to any genius bar (make an appointment before you go) or call AppleCare.
as for restore, MOST of the game progress should be restored to the state you last synced/backed up in iTunes.
purchases are in the cloud. if it’s not on your itunes already then you need to re-download them before you restore your iPad (or else the game progress, etc may not load correctly if you download afterwards).
so,
1. in iTunes make sure you have all your apps downloaded from the cloud
2. then connect your iPad mini
3. click on “restore from backup”
4. and choose the version you want to restore (if you have multiple backup versions)
5. then depending on how large your iPad, you go out for a coffee while it downloads everything.
My IPad Mini 5 has blanked out. Not charging or switching on. Barely 4 months old
hi.my ipad wont turn on as well. and my home button is not working. how else can i turn on my ipad? tried plugging it to charger but its not working too.. pls help. thankyou!
Mini iPad 4 will not start up after being shut down to be charged overnight.
Black blank screen.
I have changed charge and cables nothing
Pressed the reset two buttons for 10 sec nothing.
Plugged into PC and opened iTunes nothing
A week ago, I logged on to the Apple site thinking on purchasing a new mini and went as far as getting a trade in quote for this unit entered S/No and got a price. Never went through with the transaction.
Has Apple shut it down ?????
TLDR, TY, #3 worked.
My device was unresponsive and didn’t display anything. Black screen no back light. long story short, #3.
Needed a reset. Simply pressed and held the on/off button and the Home button together for about ten seconds.
Thank you for this info!
Hi
I’m on holiday and my husbands iPad mini 4 will not switch on.
It has been powered overnight, I have tried to get it to switch on holding the home and power button to no avail. I do not have access to a laptop.
This was only purchased at the end of nov 2018 – he uses it all of the time. Especially on holiday – reading via kindle and apps and also playing games.
It hasn’t been charging too well for a while now but did not think it wouldn’t work.
We have 1 more week left in Thailand is there anything I can do to get this working again?
Thank you
HI June,
Have you tried charging it using different power outlets or even at different locations? It’s possible that there is a charging problem–if using a converter, ask the hotel staff if you can borrow another to see if the problem is the converter.
If you are in or near Bangkok, there is an Apple Store there–called Apple Iconsiam, located at 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600.
when turned on there is an outline (square) on the page and after a while i can get the pass code which is also outlined and then I’m on a page that shows the camera. What to do. I’ve tried pressing both on and off but the square keeps coming into view. Is there a tele number I can call? Thank you.
HI Monica,
I think your iPad has an accessibility feature called the Zoom Controller enabled. Try triple-clicking the home button and see if it goes away.
If it does, then go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Zoom and toggle Zoom.
Then go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and make sure it says off. If not, go to whatever feature it lists as the shortcut to toggle that setting off.
Liz
None of that works because it will not turn on.
Even plugging it into the charger, nothing happens. Just a blank black screen.
I may have to take it in to see if the battery is dead and will not take a charger or the charging port is defective.
My ipad was at the lock screen nd wouldn’t go into it but I holded the 2 buttons for 10 sec and it worked!!!
Works like a charm! Thanks.
I too have a problem… I had last used my Ipad 4 years ago with known password for security, today when I open (afr 4 years) I couldn’t unlock the screen coz the password is remembered wasnth matching. Then I connected to iTunes, probably in even don’t remember my email I’d of ipad…
Pls help me out!!!
Thanks for tips. Held on/off & home buttons for 10 seconds & personalized gift Mini came back to life after being seemingly dead with charge.
hi, i have a big problem on my ipad mini…. when i lock the screen it wont turn on back… so what i did i restore it using itunes then it restore then after downloading apps i lock the screen then it will not turn on again so i restore it again.. same works then I was so frustrated dont know what to do, my friend told me maybe the battery is bad? any reommendations? how to solve my issue? please
i pad show apple logo against the white screen. When press on the on/off and home switch together, a connector cable and itune logo depicted! Pls advise what wrong with the ipad!
I held both buttons for about 10 seconds . . . apple appeared . . . and then the slider . . . all is well . . . thank you
I have an issue where my iPad Mini 2 shows a dead battery, but it’s 100%. Sometimes a forced restart works, and sometimes I have to plug it into iTunes, unplug, and force restart again. Took me 15 mins of nonsense to fix it. I have tried restoring, updating, etc. I don’t get it. It will be fine, then you’ll come back to take it off the charger, and it shows it’s dead and needs to be plugged in. Happens at least twice a week, then operates normally for a while.
Hold both buttons. Apple shows then shuts off no matter how long I hold buttons. Charged for 12 hours, still nothing. Don’t have computer to hook into. Help!
Ipad mini A1454
Do not turn on, no matter what I do, but can hear through very loud sound on the pc that it react when I try to turn it or put it into restore, but nothing appears.
Itunes react also on the connection, wherein Itunes allows me to recovery, and after the software is unpacked, doing Itunes also connect to the iPad, so the apple appears and shortly after appears the “think” bubble under the apple, and shortly after appear the procese line under the apple, but then not else happen. Itunes continues to give the information “waiting for Ipad”, has tried to leave it in for many hours, but change nothing.
Also leave it on the charger for hours, without changes.
Opened it to see if I could see if there was something that was as it should not be, but nothing looks wrong. Count on that it’s something with IOS, but what can it be and is there a chance to solve the problem?
I pad show apple logo but then blank screen
Did you figure it out yet? Because im having the same issue.
Dead ipod! Help me I tried to hold down the two
Buttons n nothing ! Changed charger n nothing !
So if I restore the mini through iTunes, what happens to all the games that have been purchased? I have to purchase again? This iPad is only 9 months old, Should there be a factory warranty?
if it’s 9mo old, yes, it is covered by Apple Warranty. Take it to any genius bar (make an appointment before you go) or call AppleCare.
as for restore, MOST of the game progress should be restored to the state you last synced/backed up in iTunes.
purchases are in the cloud. if it’s not on your itunes already then you need to re-download them before you restore your iPad (or else the game progress, etc may not load correctly if you download afterwards).
so,
1. in iTunes make sure you have all your apps downloaded from the cloud
2. then connect your iPad mini
3. click on “restore from backup”
4. and choose the version you want to restore (if you have multiple backup versions)
5. then depending on how large your iPad, you go out for a coffee while it downloads everything.