iPad Keeps Disconnecting From Computer, How-To Fix

Is your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad constantly disconnecting and reconnecting when linked to your Mac or Windows computer via the Lightning or USB-C charging cable? If so, you are not alone! In this post, we offer some quick tips to get your iDevice connecting normally and consistently to your computer again!

Many of us rarely connect our iPad to our MacBook or PC. We update our iPads over the air and regularly backup our device into iCloud using wi-fi.

There are however times when you will need to connect your iPad to a computer to restore it, reset it to the factory settings or perform an iOS update via Finder (macOS Catalina+) or iTunes.

It can be frustrating when your iPad doesn’t connect to your MacBook or Windows PC.

Sometimes it just shows an error connecting to the device, and at other times, it connects and disconnects continuously.

If you are facing this issue with your iPad, the chances are that your USB cable may require an upgrade.

Related Articles

• iPad or iPhone Not Charging? Lightning Port Problems? Fixes
• Are Your MacBook USB-C Ports Loose?
• Is Your iPad Air charging “very slowly” or “not charging,” fix
• iPad Not Charging via USB: Possible Solutions
• iPad Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks

Does Your iPad Keep Disconnecting From Your Mac or Windows PC? How-To Fix

Charge your iPad, iPhone, or iPod before connecting to your computer

• Make sure your device has at least 50% battery charge

Unplug all accessories from your computer except for your iPad/iPhone/iPod

• Restart your computer and your device and then try to connect again

Verify you use Apple-branded cables or Made for iPad cables

• Please try a different Apple-certified MFI (made for iPhone/iPad./iPod) cable and see if this problem continues to happen
• Many cheaper cables do not work, try to use your original cables that came with your device or an Apple-branded/MFI cable. Look for the following tags on the cable packaging
  • You might see a message on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod that the Accessory Not Supported when using defective, damaged, or non-MFI cables (not certified by Apple)

Flip the tip of lightning or USB-C connector

• If the tip shows a logo, make sure the logo is facing up
• MFI cables usually have the logo printed on one side only

Check your cable port on your iPad or use a different port, if available

• This is the port that you use to connect your iPad to your MacBook / Computer using the USB cable
• There could be dirt lodged in the port leading to improper contacts. Using a Q-tip, toothpick, interdental brush, or better yet, a Charge Port Cleaning Tool, gently clean the port area and the tips of the cable
• Connect the cable and see if the problem is resolved

Verify the port you use has power

• To check the USB port’s power, use a USB/USB-C voltmeter tool

Restart or force restart your iPad a few times before connecting it to the computer

• For iPads with a Home Button: press and hold the home button and on/off key together on the iPad for 10 seconds or so till you see the Apple logo pop up on the screen. Once the iPad starts and displays the home screen, try to connect it to your computer and give it a try
• For iPads with no Home Button: press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and immediately release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen

Reset Location and Privacy trust settings

• If you have not connected your iPad to your computer in a while and the computer was updated with new software, there could be some trust settings issues.
• In order to check and resolve this issue, Open your iPad, tap on Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy
• This process resets your location and privacy settings. The next time when you connect your iPad, it will ask you whether to trust this new setup. Confirm and move forward.

Use Terminal on a Mac

1. Open the Terminal app from Applications > Utilities
2. Enter the terminal command: sudo killall -STOP -c usbd
   1. You can also use the command sudo killall usbd
3. Type in your admin password to confirm

iPad Still Not Connecting to Your Computer?

If none of the steps above work for you, you can chat with Apple Support, set-up an appointment or walk-in and take your iPad to the Apple Store for a checkup.

If your iPad is under warranty, there is a strong chance that they may provide you with a replacement.

We hope that you found these tips helpful and were able to fix this annoying issue on your iPad. Here at Appletoolbox, we recommend that you use iTunes on your computer to perform iOS updates on your iPad as opposed to over the air updates for your device.

SK( Managing Editor )

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the 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.