iPad Not Turning On: Troubleshooting Guide

An iPad that won't turn on is genuinely alarming - especially when it has years of photos, work documents, or your kids' school stuff on it. The good news: we successfully revive about 85% of "dead" iPads that come through our workshop.

We see this issue 10-15 times a week. Sometimes it's a simple fix. Sometimes it needs parts. Occasionally it's beyond saving - but even then, the data is usually recoverable. If your iPad shows a black screen but might still be on, or won't charge, those guides may be more specific to your situation.

Did You Know?

Our "Dead iPad" Revival Statistics (2025)

• • 634 "won't turn on" iPads diagnosed
• • 85% successfully revived - back to full working order
• • 42% were just frozen - fixed with force restart (free)
• • 28% needed battery replacement - same-day repair
• • 15% had charging port issues - £45-75 repair
• • Data recovery success on non-repairable units: 94%

Data from celltech repair logs, January-December 2025

Try This First

Before panicking, try these steps:

Force Restart

This solves more "dead" iPads than anything else. Your iPad might just be frozen, not broken.

• iPads with Home button: Hold Power + Home for 15-20 seconds
• iPads without Home button: Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold Power for 15-20 seconds

If you see the Apple logo, your iPad was just frozen. Let it boot normally.

Charge It Properly

Use a wall charger (not a computer USB port) and leave it charging for at least 30 minutes before trying anything. Completely dead batteries can take a while before showing any signs of life.

Check the Cable and Charger

Try a different cable and charger if possible. A faulty cable is easier to fix than a faulty iPad.

Pro Tip

Red flag: If your iPad was working fine, then suddenly went black and won't respond at all, it's likely frozen or has a flat battery. If it was getting progressively slower or having charging issues before dying, there's probably a hardware problem.

Why iPads Stop Responding

Dead Battery (Most Common)

The good news: the majority of "dead" iPads we receive are actually recoverable. The battery has completely drained and won't take a charge. This can happen because the battery itself has failed, or because the charging port isn't working. Either way, the iPad needs power it's not getting – and that's usually fixable.

Software Crash (Common)

iOS can crash hard enough that the iPad appears completely dead. It's not - it's just stuck. A force restart usually fixes this, but sometimes the iPad needs to be connected to a computer and restored.

Charging Port Failure (Common)

The port stops working, the battery drains completely, and the iPad goes dark. The iPad itself is fine – it just can't get power. See our iPad charging port repair guide for more on diagnosing and fixing port issues.

Battery Failure (Less Common)

The battery can no longer hold any charge. Even plugged in, the iPad won't turn on because the battery can't provide the surge needed to boot. Our iPad battery replacement guide covers when replacement makes sense.

Logic Board Failure (Less Common)

Something on the main board has failed - could be the power management chip, could be something else. This is the expensive scenario, but even here, data recovery is usually possible.

When You Need Professional Help

Bring your iPad to us if:

• Force restart doesn't work after multiple attempts
• It's been charging for 12+ hours with no signs of life
• You can see the Apple logo but it won't get past it
• The screen is completely black but it makes sounds
• It gets warm when charging but won't turn on
• You've tried everything and nothing works

Warning

Stop charging if: Your iPad gets very hot while charging, smells unusual, or the screen appears to be bulging. These are signs of a potentially dangerous battery situation. Bring it in immediately.

Repair Options and Costs

We don't charge for diagnosis. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

What About My Data?

This is usually the real concern. Here's the honest truth:

• Battery/port issues: Data is completely safe - we're not touching storage
• Software crashes: Data is usually safe, though a restore might be needed
• Logic board failure: Data is often recoverable even if the iPad can't be saved

The storage chip in your iPad is separate from the components that typically fail. Even in worst-case scenarios, we can often extract your photos and documents directly from the storage.

Did You Know?

iCloud backup: If your iPad was backing up to iCloud, your recent data should already be safe. Check iCloud.com to see what's there. But even without backups, recovery is usually possible.

iPad Won't Turn On?

Bring it in for a free diagnosis. We'll figure out what's wrong and give you honest options. Most "dead" iPads can be revived - and even when they can't, we can usually save your data.

Visit us: Byte, Dovehouse Parade, Solihull.
Mail-in: Free shipping both ways across the UK.

iPad completely dead and won't turn on? This is one of the most stressful tech problems—you press the power button and nothing happens. Before you panic, let's work through this systematically. Most "dead" iPads can be revived.

Don't Give Up Yet

We successfully revive about 85% of "won't turn on" iPads. The most common cause is simply a deeply discharged battery that needs specific treatment to recover.

Pro Tip

Our iPad Revival Statistics (2024-2025)

• • 203 "dead" iPads diagnosed
• • 86% successfully revived - back to full working order
• • 51% were deep-discharged batteries - recovered with proper charging
• • 27% needed battery replacement - same-day service
• • 8% had software issues - recovery mode restore fixed it
• • Data recovery success (non-repairable units): 91%

Quick Checks First

Has It Been Sitting Unused?

iPads left uncharged for weeks or months can go into deep discharge protection. The battery drops so low that normal charging doesn't immediately register. This is the most common cause of "dead" iPads.

Any Signs of Life?

Look for any response when you:

• Press and hold the power button for 10+ seconds
• Connect to charger (charging symbol, even briefly?)
• Connect to computer (any recognition?)

Recent Events?

Consider what happened before it stopped working:

• Dropped? (physical damage possible)
• Liquid exposure? (even minor splashes)
• Update or restore in progress?
• Just died suddenly vs gradual decline?

Battery-Related Causes

Deep Discharge

The most common cause. Battery protection circuits prevent charging when voltage drops too low.

Solution:

1. Connect to a powerful charger (20W+ iPad charger, not phone charger)
2. Leave connected for at least 30 minutes
3. Try powering on
4. If nothing, leave charging for 2+ hours before trying again

Dead Battery

Batteries eventually fail completely, especially in older iPads (4+ years).

Signs:

• iPad is old (original battery)
• Previously showed battery degradation symptoms
• Extended charging shows no signs of life

Solution: Battery replacement (£79-189 depending on model)

Swollen Battery

If your screen was bulging or separating from the frame before it died, the battery may have failed in a way that prevents operation.

Solution: Professional battery replacement urgently needed

Software Problems

Frozen on Black Screen

The iPad might be on but frozen with a black screen.

Force restart:

• Face ID iPad: Press Volume Up quickly, Press Volume Down quickly, then hold Power button until you see the Apple logo (can take 20+ seconds)
• Home Button iPad: Hold Home + Power together until Apple logo appears

Stuck in Boot Loop

Apple logo appears then disappears repeatedly:

• Software corruption requiring restore
• Failed update that needs completing
• Recovery mode restore usually fixes this

Recovery Mode Needed

Connect to computer with iTunes/Finder and enter recovery mode to restore. Note: this erases data if no backup exists.

Hardware Failures

Charging Circuit Failure

If the charging circuit fails, the battery can't be recharged even though the battery itself is fine.

Signs:

• Worked fine then suddenly stopped
• No charging indicators at all
• Known-good charger and cable don't help

Solution: Board-level repair (if cost-effective) or replacement

Logic Board Failure

The main board can fail from age, manufacturing defects, or damage.

Signs:

• Sudden failure with no warning
• Previous overheating issues
• No response to any troubleshooting

Solution: Board diagnosis to determine if repair is viable

Physical Damage

Drop damage can break connections or components even without visible damage.

Force Restart Methods by Model

Recovery & DFU Mode

Recovery Mode

Use when iPad is stuck or needs software restore:

1. Connect iPad to computer with iTunes/Finder open
2. Force restart (method above) but keep holding until recovery screen appears
3. Choose Update to try keeping data, or Restore for fresh install

DFU Mode (Device Firmware Update)

Deeper restore mode for more serious software issues:

The process varies by model—search "[your iPad model] DFU mode" for specific steps, or bring it to us for professional recovery.

UK Repair Costs for Non-Starting iPads

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I charge before assuming it's dead?

Try at least 2 hours with a proper iPad charger (not a phone charger). Deeply discharged batteries can take time to recover enough to show signs of life.

Can data be recovered from a dead iPad?

Often yes, if the storage is intact. Even if the iPad won't turn on, we can sometimes access data through component-level methods. Bring it in for assessment.

Is it worth repairing an old iPad?

Depends on the model and repair cost. Generally, if repair costs less than 50% of a comparable replacement, it's worth it. We'll give honest advice on whether repair makes sense for your situation.

Why did my iPad die suddenly with battery remaining?

This often indicates a failing battery that reports incorrect capacity, or a sudden hardware failure. Both are diagnosable and usually fixable.