Having issues and problems with your iPad? Sadly, at one time or another, all of us iFolk run into an error, bug, or just plain Apple-weirdness. And we need to do some iPad troubleshooting NOW.
If this sounds like you or a loved one, fear not! You are most certainly NOT alone. Apple ToolBox is at the ready, to work through some of your problems and hopefully get everything back to working order.
Periodically, our team here runs into trouble with our iDevices and iPads.
So to assist us all, we compiled a list of common symptoms and basic iPad troubleshooting tips!
These tips are suitable for all iPad models, from the oldest to the newest.
To improve battery life, you can turn off the feature that allows apps to refresh in the background. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set the switch to Off.
If the Mail app lists Background Activity, you can choose to fetch data manually or increase the fetch interval.
Clean Your iPad’s Screen–your know it’s time when your iPad has more fingerprints than pixels.
On an iPad with no Home Button and iPhones X or later: press and hold the Side/Top/Power button and either volume button until the slider appears
On an iPad or iPhone with a Home Button and iPod Touch: press and hold the Side/Top/Power button until the slider appears.
Drag the slider to turn the device off and after the device turns off, press and hold that Side/Top/Power button again until you see the Apple Logo.
With iOS 11 and above, restart using Settings > General > Shut Down.
Reset or force restart your iPad
On an iPad with no Home Button and iPhones 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and immediately release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side/Top/Power button until the device restarts.
On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with a Home Button, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo
It may be that your screen is dirty. Try cleaning your screen.
To do this, unplug everything, turn off iPad (see above), then with a very soft, lint-free and slightly damp cloth gently wipe the screen. Do NOT use window cleaners and paper towels.
If you have any screen protector sheet, try removing it.
Check to see if there is an update for your app, if there is, update (App Store > Updates).
Only one app with issues? Try closing the app by double pressing Home or swiping up the Home Gesture Bar and swiping up on the problem app’s preview to close it. Then relaunch that app and see if it works normally.
Turn your iPad off and on.
Force restart your iPad by pressing both the home and power buttons and maintain this hold until you see the Apple logo on the screen. Then release the buttons and the iPad restarts.
Remove the app. You may want to backup before removing any app. Tap and hold on the app icon until the icons start to wiggle. Just tap the “x” button to delete an app. After removing the app, go to the App Store and reinstall it.
To charge your iPad, you can try either connecting your iPad to a power outlet or connecting to a port on your computer using the charging cable that came with your iPad.
Computers generally don’t supply enough power to their USB ports to be able to charge an iPad. When this happens, a “Not Charging” message appears.
Check that your Lightning Port on both your iPad and your charger is clean and clear of any debris, lint, or dust
Change your notification settings to Show Previews only when unlocked instead of always
Use headphones or earphones instead of your iPad’s speakers.
Turn off background app refresh.
Turn down your iPad’s screen brightness or have your iOS manage brightness settings via Auto-Brightness
Set your iPad’s Auto-Lock to 30 seconds via Display & Brightness Settings
Switch off the Data Roaming Setting – Even in older iPads, we have seen that the wi-fi/cellular settings can cause battery drain. Switching off the Data Roaming may help in addressing this issue.
If you have the Wi-Fi/Cellular iPad, tap on Settings > Cellular Data > Toggle off. Do the same for the other mobile options, i.e., Cellular Data > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE to off and Data Roaming to off.
Once you have set the settings to off; next you can toggle them back to ON. This simple toggling of Cellular related options can often fix battery issues on an iPad that has both Wi-Fi and Cellular.
Sometimes the iPad consumes excessive battery if there is a process in the stuck mode
Try doing a forced restart on the iPad.
Let the device charge until 100% and then start using it and see if it made a difference to your situation.
The chances are that your iPad has insufficient battery power even to start up
Usually, iPads don’t attempt to restart until there is enough battery power.
But for you (and some unlucky others), something is telling the iPad to try to boot even though the battery can’t last long enough to finish.
Hence, the loop you experience–charging a little, attempting a boot, shutting off, charging a little, trying to boot and so forth again and again.
We need to get your iPad sufficiently charged to complete a normal and full boot cycle
Plug the iPad into a power source. Ideally, use the charger that came with your iPad. DO NOT plug it into your computer.
Next, hold down the home button and the power button simultaneously for as long as you possibly can–the longer, the better–and ideally at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Holding down these two buttons prevents that loop cycle. That allows your iPad to charge up a bit. Think creatively about how to hold these buttons down for a length of time.
As soon as you release these buttons, your iPad tries to boot. If you don’t hold Home and Power long enough for a sufficient charge, that loop pattern continues.
So try and hold down these buttons for as long as possible–or create some makeshift tools to assist–keep these gentle, so they don’t cause other damage.
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.
My IPAD is often losing my internet connection, but my television has no problem losing the internet connection. My IPAD loses the connection, takes a few minutes then connects again.
What can I do about this problem?
Touch screen will not respond or is frozen out. It will move to unlock but will not allow to touch screen code in. Won’t let slide to lock or unlock. It will not allow touch cancel. Rebooted it numerous times but same problem.
After my own Ipad died with masses of information on it, I tried to reopen the Ipad of my husband, Kimon Capernaros, who died two years ago. The Facebook memorial page would not accept my piece about him or register the closure of his account. The problems I have encountered have been numerous. His Ipad was one year newer than mine, but I am still unable to get hotmail on this tablet, or many of the apps that I had downloaded from the AppStore as it is not 13 or something. Trying to answer the questions about my first teacher and what I was doing on 1st Jan 2000 were correct to me, but I have forgotten the phrases I used and all was rejected. What a nightmare! I refuse to waste resources by throwing a device away and ask for help using this perfectly good Ipad for another year or two.
Google should have this at the beginning when people are searching for this problem the first 25 I’ll say the same thing yours is only one it’s different and the only one that fixed my problem.
I just read the other comments below there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be in the top five searches thanks again for taking the time to put it in here
nvm, my friend helped me. thanks for this page i know it will help many users to apple. i fixed it by typing feedback 3 am me was doing stupid things in settings last night. lol
Hey, I am having trouble. It keeps reading any text i type back to me. I changed this at 3 am last night and forgot what I turned on and don’t know how to fix it. (I use iPad 6th gen if that helps at all) I have done the accessibility thing and am still having trouble. Any solutions?
Hi all really good tips my issue is that the WiFi is greyed out so can’t even get the networks up to connect, tried everything and nothing is working even Apple themselves couldn’t help. Any advice
My kepboard on my Ipad for some reason has SPLIT – half of the keyboard appears to the right of my screen while the other half appears on the left side of my screen. How do i get the keyboard to merge back together as it should be?
I can’t get my I pad to come on all its doing is all night it show Like it’s trying to connect with internet but it won’t come on or let you turn it off
I cannot access Facebook from my desktop icon on my iPad. I commented on a scam post then my page misted over & there is a circle buffering in the middle of the screen. How do I get my page back working by clicking the icon? luckily I can access it from my android phone. Please help.
I have a new iPad and phone so gave my husband the old devices but it’s become a nightmare! My name and ID is still on the old iPad and my husband receives mail on it but can’t reply or send. It asks us to renew password but then won’t let us. We just don’t know what to do ♀️
Any suggestions?
I have a iPad Pro (12.9 inch) When it’s plug in to charge on a Apple cord and charger, it does weird things. Like I’am on Safari and it switch’s from one bookmark to another without even touching my screen. It will freeze my typing when using the keyboard. If I unplug the charger it come back to normal function. I don’t think it has anything to do with the update of the iOS’s because it was acting up in the 14 iOS and also doing in the brand new iOS 15. Is anyone else reported this and can you help me.
Hi apple,
My iPad Air 4th generation is not even 12 months old and I am having with the on and off button in the last week has been intermittently troublesome by not being able to turn on.
Please advise whether this is fixable or can this be replaced, it was only purchased in 11/20.
Kind regards
Grace
My wife cannot get emails on her IPAD. She DOES get them on her IPhone.
I updated her Microsoft Password but further troubleshooting asked that I update her Outlook password on her mail settings. I cannot figure out how to do that.
Help!
My iPad doesn’t follow my finger on the touch screen. The cursor flys across the screen, changes settings, goes to odd locations in various menus, and zooms in and out by itself. I’m running the latest OS, have cleaned the screen, and have reset the iPad. I’m ready to calibrate it with a hammer or pipe wrench.
My IPad keeps typing the number 6 when I am trying to type in letters. It’s been doing it spasmodically for the last week. It’s like its possessed. Doesn’t matter if I’m using the keyboard on-screen or the Bluetooth keyboard.
I am trying to set up my old iPad for my mother and each time I get to the agreement page and press agree to terms and conditions I have a message to say it couldn’t be set up right now.
I have tried half a dozen times.
The internet is working the iPad is connected.
Any tips or ideas would be gratefully received
My Ipad 2 is a total mess. It has been fine all these years, even worked in Morocco, but recently I cant do anything with it . Initially it cost me a fortune and I am not prepared to spend another fortune as Apple keep changing things. So darn unfair
Hi I have an iPad Air and my emails are disappearing when I have not deleted them and even in my folders they are doing the same could you please advice me on what to do to either get them back or keep them in the future please, thank you
Best regards
Wendy
I have the iPad 10.2, fairly new and during one of Apples updates few months ago it shut off and haven’t been able to get it to turn back on since. I’m hoping someone else has experienced this and has a solution. It’s driving me crazy not being able to use it!! Thanks!!
Mine has gone haywire, Tells me that all my passwords are wrong, etc It has a mind of its own and I am fed up to the back teeth with it. Apple just feel that it is ok to keep making changes with no consideration for us. I shall give it a week then will be slinging it .
I have only had my iPad since Christmas. Every time I plug the pad in, the iPad has a mind of its own. I try and keep working on my pad, but I can hardly type it misses words, changes the page and is very slow. This has been happening or a few mins now. How can I get it fixed before I throw it threw a window
I have to go on Safari to get my email. When mail icon is clicked on I get blank page, then flips back to home page. Now I can’t get to get rid of trash or junk mail because Safari does not let me go to in box to rid trash or check sent emails etc.
My 7 month old ipad overheats after using for about 2 hours so I have to turn the power off to cool it down before I can continue using it. It can get quite hot.
My iPad is about 2 years old, I fully charge it at night. This has just started, when I switch on in the morning, it’s fine for a minute then it goes blank and restarting can take several minutes. It seems to be since my last recent update.
Has anyone else experienced this since the last update?
Joseph says
My iPad is showing on Home Screen 6:18 October 16 in the upper right hand corner it shows the correct date may 26 2:30pm.How do you fix that.
Dixie Mackie says
My IPAD is often losing my internet connection, but my television has no problem losing the internet connection. My IPAD loses the connection, takes a few minutes then connects again.
What can I do about this problem?
Theresa Wright says
Current messages aren’t updating on my iPad.
Theresa Wright says
Current messages aren’t updating. Software update continues to show an error.
Ben Emery says
Touch screen will not respond or is frozen out. It will move to unlock but will not allow to touch screen code in. Won’t let slide to lock or unlock. It will not allow touch cancel. Rebooted it numerous times but same problem.
Merope Capernaros says
After my own Ipad died with masses of information on it, I tried to reopen the Ipad of my husband, Kimon Capernaros, who died two years ago. The Facebook memorial page would not accept my piece about him or register the closure of his account. The problems I have encountered have been numerous. His Ipad was one year newer than mine, but I am still unable to get hotmail on this tablet, or many of the apps that I had downloaded from the AppStore as it is not 13 or something. Trying to answer the questions about my first teacher and what I was doing on 1st Jan 2000 were correct to me, but I have forgotten the phrases I used and all was rejected. What a nightmare! I refuse to waste resources by throwing a device away and ask for help using this perfectly good Ipad for another year or two.
Bill says
Google should have this at the beginning when people are searching for this problem the first 25 I’ll say the same thing yours is only one it’s different and the only one that fixed my problem.
I just read the other comments below there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be in the top five searches thanks again for taking the time to put it in here
Indi says
nvm, my friend helped me. thanks for this page i know it will help many users to apple. i fixed it by typing feedback 3 am me was doing stupid things in settings last night. lol
Indi says
Hey, I am having trouble. It keeps reading any text i type back to me. I changed this at 3 am last night and forgot what I turned on and don’t know how to fix it. (I use iPad 6th gen if that helps at all) I have done the accessibility thing and am still having trouble. Any solutions?
Itza says
The apple is lit up on da screen frozen and does not shut off or turn on!
Ttacy G says
Hi all really good tips my issue is that the WiFi is greyed out so can’t even get the networks up to connect, tried everything and nothing is working even Apple themselves couldn’t help. Any advice
Marilyn says
How do I come off privacy mode as there is no box in bottom right hand corner to press!
Milliy says
My web page will not open ,keep getting message to try again
Fiorentino says
My kepboard on my Ipad for some reason has SPLIT – half of the keyboard appears to the right of my screen while the other half appears on the left side of my screen. How do i get the keyboard to merge back together as it should be?
Liz says
Have had kindle app on my iPad for ages last night it suddenly wouldn’t open the app
Tina says
I can’t get my I pad to come on all its doing is all night it show Like it’s trying to connect with internet but it won’t come on or let you turn it off
Kathy says
I pad 1 just got a new charging port and now the apps won’t open
Carol says
Hi how do I fix my volume as it’s so quiet when I’m on Face Time.
Thank you
Jennie says
I cannot access Facebook from my desktop icon on my iPad. I commented on a scam post then my page misted over & there is a circle buffering in the middle of the screen. How do I get my page back working by clicking the icon? luckily I can access it from my android phone. Please help.
B Winter says
My i pad screen has a whire foggy appearance and you cannot see clearly
Gwen Brown says
I have a new iPad and phone so gave my husband the old devices but it’s become a nightmare! My name and ID is still on the old iPad and my husband receives mail on it but can’t reply or send. It asks us to renew password but then won’t let us. We just don’t know what to do ♀️
Any suggestions?
Armand Comeau says
I have a iPad Pro (12.9 inch) When it’s plug in to charge on a Apple cord and charger, it does weird things. Like I’am on Safari and it switch’s from one bookmark to another without even touching my screen. It will freeze my typing when using the keyboard. If I unplug the charger it come back to normal function. I don’t think it has anything to do with the update of the iOS’s because it was acting up in the 14 iOS and also doing in the brand new iOS 15. Is anyone else reported this and can you help me.
Grace Levi says
Hi apple,
My iPad Air 4th generation is not even 12 months old and I am having with the on and off button in the last week has been intermittently troublesome by not being able to turn on.
Please advise whether this is fixable or can this be replaced, it was only purchased in 11/20.
Kind regards
Grace
Carl Willemin says
My wife cannot get emails on her IPAD. She DOES get them on her IPhone.
I updated her Microsoft Password but further troubleshooting asked that I update her Outlook password on her mail settings. I cannot figure out how to do that.
Help!
DON C. GUIZZETTI says
My iPad doesn’t follow my finger on the touch screen. The cursor flys across the screen, changes settings, goes to odd locations in various menus, and zooms in and out by itself. I’m running the latest OS, have cleaned the screen, and have reset the iPad. I’m ready to calibrate it with a hammer or pipe wrench.
Kathy Ross says
My iPad not receiving or sending text messages anymore
Phillip c White says
my ipad alway wants too reboot when i am watching a video and my ipad why
Jennifer Reilly says
My IPad keeps typing the number 6 when I am trying to type in letters. It’s been doing it spasmodically for the last week. It’s like its possessed. Doesn’t matter if I’m using the keyboard on-screen or the Bluetooth keyboard.
frederick morrison says
my apple ipad doesnt accept email and passcode
Grant says
Hello. I think my ipad 14 is infected with a video bug. I’d really like a permanent solution than rather having to reboot. Can you help?
Lynne says
I am trying to set up my old iPad for my mother and each time I get to the agreement page and press agree to terms and conditions I have a message to say it couldn’t be set up right now.
I have tried half a dozen times.
The internet is working the iPad is connected.
Any tips or ideas would be gratefully received
Thankyou
Karen says
I need help with setting my page to full screen not half and half.
Van symmonds says
Emails won’t come thru on ipad
All I did was clean up and had few left
Now won’t come on
Mup says
My Ipad 2 is a total mess. It has been fine all these years, even worked in Morocco, but recently I cant do anything with it . Initially it cost me a fortune and I am not prepared to spend another fortune as Apple keep changing things. So darn unfair
Wendy Firth says
Hi I have an iPad Air and my emails are disappearing when I have not deleted them and even in my folders they are doing the same could you please advice me on what to do to either get them back or keep them in the future please, thank you
Best regards
Wendy
Amanda says
I have the iPad 10.2, fairly new and during one of Apples updates few months ago it shut off and haven’t been able to get it to turn back on since. I’m hoping someone else has experienced this and has a solution. It’s driving me crazy not being able to use it!! Thanks!!
Mup says
Mine has gone haywire, Tells me that all my passwords are wrong, etc It has a mind of its own and I am fed up to the back teeth with it. Apple just feel that it is ok to keep making changes with no consideration for us. I shall give it a week then will be slinging it .
Jill Seagraves says
My IPod over heats after a couple of minutes. My storage is at 24 GB. There’s over 148. Left. Can you help me. Thank you
Barbara Dorf says
My iPad is stuck on split screen.How do I get it back to my screen
Jennifer MacDonald says
I have only had my iPad since Christmas. Every time I plug the pad in, the iPad has a mind of its own. I try and keep working on my pad, but I can hardly type it misses words, changes the page and is very slow. This has been happening or a few mins now. How can I get it fixed before I throw it threw a window
Joann Gorsich says
I have to go on Safari to get my email. When mail icon is clicked on I get blank page, then flips back to home page. Now I can’t get to get rid of trash or junk mail because Safari does not let me go to in box to rid trash or check sent emails etc.
Hazel Stephens says
My 7 month old ipad overheats after using for about 2 hours so I have to turn the power off to cool it down before I can continue using it. It can get quite hot.
Tricia Westcott says
My iPad is about 2 years old, I fully charge it at night. This has just started, when I switch on in the morning, it’s fine for a minute then it goes blank and restarting can take several minutes. It seems to be since my last recent update.
Has anyone else experienced this since the last update?
Linda Nichols says
Why does my IPad have rainbow colors on all the pictures??
Judy says
My Facebook keeps dropping off though I checked software and it is up to date. Messages and Google are still ok
Jacqueline Swalwell says
My apple I pad has lost its key pad clicks, they are turned on what do I do next please
Judith Hewitt says
Where have all my saved items gone in safari.