iPad Keeps Restarting? How to Fix Boot Loops

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A customer came in last month convinced her iPad was possessed. "It keeps restarting on its own," she said. "Sometimes in the middle of typing. Sometimes it just shows the Apple logo over and over." The culprit? A rogue app update that was crashing iOS. Deleted the app, problem solved.

Random restarts and boot loops are frustrating because there's no obvious cause. Your iPad was fine yesterday, now it won't stay on. The good news? Most restart issues are software-related and fixable without repair. Here's how to diagnose what's happening and fix it.

Pro Tip

First thing: If your iPad is restarting but you can still use it between restarts, make a backup immediately. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. If things get worse, at least your data is safe.

Force Restart Your iPad First

Before anything else, try a force restart. This clears temporary memory and can break a restart loop:

iPads with Face ID (no Home button):

1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button
2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button
3. Press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo
4. Release and let it boot

iPads with Home button:

1. Press and hold both the Home and Top (Power) buttons
2. Keep holding for at least 10 seconds
3. When you see the Apple logo, release both buttons

If the iPad boots normally and stays on, the issue may have been a one-off software glitch. Monitor it for a day. If restarts continue, keep reading.

Why iPads Keep Restarting

After diagnosing hundreds of restart issues, here are the most common causes we see in roughly order of frequency:

Software/App Conflicts

The most common cause. A buggy app, especially after an update, can cause iOS to crash repeatedly. Recently installed or updated apps are prime suspects.

Low Storage Space

When iPad storage is nearly full, iOS struggles to function. It needs working space for caching and temporary files. Below 1GB free, strange behaviour including restarts becomes common. Check our storage guide if this might be your issue.

Battery Degradation

A failing battery can't deliver consistent power. During demanding tasks, voltage drops and the iPad shuts down to protect itself. The restart then repeats when you try to use it again. This is especially common in iPads 3+ years old.

Overheating

iPads have thermal protection. If internal temperature gets too high, it shuts down. Common triggers: direct sunlight, running while charging, or intensive games/apps. Read more about iPad overheating issues.

Software Fixes to Try

Work through these in order. Each step eliminates a possible cause:

1. Free Up Storage Space

Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage and check available space. If you're under 2GB free, that's likely contributing. Delete unused apps, offload photos to iCloud, clear Safari cache.

2. Delete Recently Updated/Installed Apps

Think about when the restarts started. Install a new app? Update one? Delete it and see if problems stop. You can always reinstall later if it wasn't the culprit.

3. Update iOS (or Downgrade)

Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it - bug fixes often resolve restart issues. If problems started after an update, Apple may have released a fix, or you may need to wait for the next version.

4. Reset All Settings

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings. This resets WiFi passwords, wallpapers, and preferences but keeps your apps and data. It can fix configuration conflicts causing restarts.

Did You Know?

Note: Reset All Settings is different from Erase All Content. Your photos, apps, and files are preserved. You'll just need to reconnect to WiFi and adjust preferences again.

5. Check for Battery Health Issues

Unfortunately, iPad doesn't show Battery Health like iPhone does. But if your iPad is 3+ years old and restarts tend to happen at 20-40% battery, or during demanding tasks, the battery is a likely suspect. Only diagnostic tools can confirm this.

Stuck in Boot Loop? Recovery Mode

If your iPad keeps showing the Apple logo and then restarting - never getting past the boot screen - it's stuck in a boot loop. This is more serious but often fixable.

Warning

Important: Recovery mode restore erases your iPad. If you have no backup, everything will be lost. There's no way around this for a true boot loop.

How to Use Recovery Mode

1. Connect your iPad to a Mac or PC with a USB cable
2. Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)
3. Force restart your iPad (see instructions above), but keep holding the button(s) until you see the recovery mode screen (cable pointing to computer)
4. Your computer will detect an iPad in recovery mode
5. Choose Update first - this tries to reinstall iOS without erasing
6. If Update fails, choose Restore - this erases and reinstalls

Update is always worth trying first because it preserves your data. But if the boot loop persists after Update, Restore is the only software option left.

If Recovery Mode Doesn't Work

If your iPad exits recovery mode before the process completes, try again. If it simply won't stay in recovery mode or Restore fails repeatedly, the issue is likely hardware - usually battery or logic board.

Hardware Causes (Battery, Logic Board)

When software fixes don't work, hardware is usually responsible:

Battery Failure (~30% of hardware cases)

The battery can no longer deliver stable power. Symptoms include:

• Restarts at mid-range battery levels (20-50%)
• Restarts during demanding tasks (games, video editing)
• iPad worked fine when plugged in but restarts on battery
• Battery percentage jumps around (50% to 20% suddenly)

Fix: Battery replacement. Usually £99-199 depending on iPad model. Same-day repair in most cases. See our iPad battery guide.

Logic Board Issues (~10% of cases)

Failure in the main circuit board. This can cause restart loops that persist even after battery replacement. Symptoms include:

• Restarts even when plugged in with good power
• Recovery mode restore fails repeatedly
• iPad gets warm in unexpected places
• Other features failing (WiFi, camera) alongside restarts

Fix: Board-level repair or board replacement. More complex and costly (£149-349+), and not always possible depending on what's failed. We diagnose for free to determine if repair makes financial sense.

When You Need Professional Repair

Bring your iPad in if:

• Software fixes haven't resolved the restarts
• It's stuck in a boot loop that recovery mode can't fix
• Restarts seem related to battery level or power
• The iPad is 3+ years old (battery is likely degraded)
• You've tried everything above and it's still happening

Our diagnosis is free if no repair is needed. If we can fix it, we'll quote you first. If the repair cost exceeds the iPad's value, we'll tell you honestly.

Frequently Asked Questions