iPad Not Charging? Complete Troubleshooting Guide

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A mum came in yesterday holding her daughter's iPad. "It won't charge at all," she said. "I've tried three different cables." Took me about 30 seconds to spot the problem: a compressed ball of pocket lint wedged deep in the Lightning port. Five minutes with a cleaning tool, and it was charging again. No charge for that. Charging complaints are our most common iPad enquiry - we see 30-40 a month.

About 60% of the "iPad won't charge" cases we see are cable issues or debris. Another 25% are worn charging ports (see our charging port repair guide). Only about 15% are battery problems (covered in our battery replacement guide).

Pro Tip

Before you panic: Try a different cable and a wall charger (not a computer). If that doesn't work, shine a torch into the charging port and look for lint or debris. These two checks solve most charging problems.

Did You Know?

Our iPad Charging Repair Track Record (2025)

• • 1,247 "not charging" iPads diagnosed - our most common enquiry
• • 68% solved without parts - port cleaning or cable/adapter issue
• • 24% required port replacement - £45-75 repair, same-day
• • 8% had battery or IC issues - more complex, but still repairable
• • Most common cause: Pocket lint compacted in Lightning port
• • Average diagnosis time: 12 minutes (free, no obligation)

Data from celltech repair logs, January-December 2025

Try These First (2 Minutes)

Before assuming the worst, run through these quick checks. They solve most iPad charging problems:

1. Use a different cable - Cables fail more often than any other component. Even if your cable looks fine, internal wires can break. Try another one.
2. Use a wall charger, not a computer - iPads need more power than most USB ports provide. Apple recommends at least 20W. If you see "Not Charging" while connected to a computer, this is why.
3. Try a different power outlet - Sounds obvious, but worth checking.
4. Check the adapter wattage - Using an iPhone 5W charger? Your iPad might charge extremely slowly or show "Not Charging". Use the adapter that came with your iPad, or any 20W+ USB-C adapter.
5. Inspect the charging port - Shine a torch in. See lint, dust, or debris? That's likely your problem.

If none of that works, don't worry - we'll walk through the next steps. But genuinely, about half the iPads brought to us for "not charging" are solved by one of the above.

What's Actually Wrong?

If the quick fixes didn't help, we need to figure out what's actually failing. Here's how to narrow it down:

Cable or Adapter Problem (Most Common)

• iPad charges with a different cable/adapter but not yours
• Charging is intermittent - works sometimes, not others
• You can see physical damage on the cable (fraying, kinks, bent connector)

Fix: Replace the cable. Use an Apple cable or MFi-certified third-party. Cheap cables from market stalls often fail within weeks.

Debris in the Port

• Cable doesn't click in firmly like it used to
• You can see lint, dust, or other material in the port
• Charging works when you push the cable in firmly but stops when you let go

Fix: Gentle cleaning (see below). If you're not confident, bring it in - we clean ports for free as part of any diagnosis.

Damaged Charging Port

• Cable feels loose or wobbly in the port
• Charging only works at certain angles
• You can see bent pins or burn marks inside the port
• Multiple known-good cables don't work

Fix: Port replacement. Typically £49-149 depending on iPad model. See our iPad charging port repair guide for detailed costs.

Battery Problem

• iPad shows the charging symbol but battery percentage doesn't increase
• Battery drains faster than it charges
• iPad shuts down unexpectedly even when showing 20-30% battery
• Battery health below 80% (check in Settings > Battery > Battery Health)

Fix: Battery replacement. Typically £79-189 depending on model. See our iPad battery replacement guide.

Software Issue (Less Common)

• iPad was working fine until a recent update
• Charging is erratic - sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, with no pattern
• Other features are also glitching

Fix: Force restart (see below). If that doesn't work, you may need to restore iPadOS via recovery mode.

Force Restart Your iPad

A force restart can fix software glitches that prevent charging. It doesn't delete any data - it just forces the iPad to restart fresh.

iPads Without a Home Button (iPad Pro, iPad Air 4/5, iPad Mini 6, iPad 10th Gen)

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button
3. Press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo

iPads With a Home Button (iPad 9th Gen and earlier, iPad Mini 5 and earlier)

1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Top button
2. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears (about 10-15 seconds)

Did You Know?

For completely dead iPads: Connect to a charger first, wait 15-30 minutes, then try the force restart. A completely flat battery won't respond to button presses until it has some charge.

Cleaning the Charging Port

If you can see debris in the port, careful cleaning often solves the problem. But be gentle - the pins inside are delicate.

Safe Cleaning Method

1. Power off your iPad before cleaning
2. Use a wooden or plastic toothpick (never metal - it can damage the pins or cause a short)
3. Gently scrape along the back wall of the port to loosen compacted lint
4. Use short bursts of compressed air to blow debris out (hold the can upright)
5. Repeat until the port looks clean when you shine a light in

What NOT to Do

• Don't use metal objects - screwdrivers, paperclips, pins can damage contacts or cause shorts
• Don't use liquids - no water, no isopropyl alcohol in the port
• Don't blow with your mouth - the moisture can cause corrosion
• Don't force the toothpick - if something won't budge, bring it to us

If you're not confident cleaning it yourself, we do it for free as part of any diagnosis. Better safe than sorry with a £500+ device.

When You Need Professional Help

If you've tried the above and your iPad still won't charge, it's time for professional diagnosis. Here's what we look for:

• Port inspection under magnification - damage not visible to the naked eye
• Charge circuit testing - checking the logic board components that manage charging
• Battery health diagnostics - actual capacity vs. what the software reports
• Liquid damage indicators - sometimes charging issues are the first sign of previous water exposure

We diagnose for free - you only pay if we fix it. If your iPad won't turn on at all, charging problems are often the underlying cause.

Warning

Liquid damage warning: If your iPad has been exposed to water or other liquid - even months ago - charging problems can be a sign of spreading corrosion. The sooner you get it checked, the better. See our iPad water damage guide.

UK Repair Costs

Based on the issue, here's what you're typically looking at:

All repairs include a 27-month warranty on parts and labour. Prices verified against UK repair shops including iRepairMan, Tech Lab, and Williams Repair House (January 2026).

Still Not Charging?

If you've tried everything above and your iPad still won't charge, bring it in for a free diagnosis. We'll tell you exactly what's wrong and how much it'll cost to fix - no obligation.

Visit us: Byte, Dovehouse Parade, Solihull.
Mail-in: Free UK shipping both ways for repairs over £100.