iPad Pro not charging? Here’s how to fix it!

Find that your iPad Pro is not charging when it’s plugged in? Follow these tips to figure out why and get it charging again.

You probably don’t think much about the process of charging your iPad Pro; just plug in the cable and walk away—that is, until one day your iPad Pro won’t charge and you’re left scratching your head thinking “wait a second, why is my iPad Pro not charging?”.

Fortunately, you don’t have to immediately rush to an Apple Store when this happens because the problem could have one of many simple explanations. More often than not, the problem of iPad Pro not charging when plugged in can be solved at home.

Why is my iPad Pro not charging?

• Faulty charging cable
• Faulty charging adapter
• Faulty power socket
• Dirty charging port
• Software glitch
• Hardware damage

These are the most common reasons why your iPad Pro is not charging. There are also other reasons, but they can be easily overcome with just a few tweaks. Let’s get started.

Ways to fix iPad Pro not charging issue

Here are tips from our experts on what to do when your iPad Pro won’t charge:

1. Reboot Your iPad

Before you start frantically searching Google for ”why won’t my iPad Pro charge” try turning your device off and on again. Often, the reason why your iPad Pro isn’t charging when plugged in is that there’s been a simple connection hiccup. To rule out a temporary glitch as the cause, a reboot should always be the first thing you do.

Restarting your device will kill all background services and could solve your iPad Pro charging problem. A restart also refreshes your iPad’s core components, in case one of them had crashed while performing a task.

To restart iPad Pro without home button:

1. Press and hold the Top button and either Volume button.
2. Drag the slider, then wait about 30 seconds for your iPad to turn off.
3. To turn it back on, press and hold the Top button until the Apple® logo appears.

To restart iPad Pro with the home button:

1. Press and hold the Top button until you see the power off slider.
2. Drag it, then wait about 30 seconds for your iPad to turn off.
3. To turn it back on, press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears.

If that didn’t work, you can also try a hard reset on your iPad (also known as a force restart).

To force restart iPad Pro without home button:

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

To force restart iPad Pro with the home button:

1. Press and hold both the Home button and Side or Top button simultaneously for about 10 seconds.
2. When you see the Apple logo, release the buttons.

If your device starts charging normally again after a reboot, then your problem is solved. If the iPad Pro is still not charging after the reboot, there are a few things you need to inspect. So, let’s move on to the next fix.

2. Switch to a Different Cable/Socket/Adapter

If you’re still pulling your hair out and wondering “why is my iPad Pro not charging?!”, then it’s time to take a look at your cable. Your charging cable might have a loose wire, the adapter could have malfunctioned, or even the socket it’s plugged into could be failing to transmit the current properly.

So, check the adapter and the charging cable for any signs of physical damage. If you find any cracks or splits, just replace them with a working cable and adapter.

If your iPad starts charging after replacing the cable or adapter, then you know the cable or adapter was what caused the problem. You’ll need to purchase new charging accessories.

Try charging your iPad via a different wall outlet if you still have charging problems after replacing the cable and adapter. If this works, then you need to call an electrician to fix that particular wall socket.

3. Make Sure It’s Not a Software Bug

If your iPad Pro is not charging even though it says it is, or your iPad is charging but there’s no charging icon present, then this could be a software bug. You can either wait for an OS update or try a hard reset to fix it.

If your iPad Pro isn’t charging but says it is, then this too could be a software fault. Try updating your iPadOS or conduct a factory reset.

4. Clean the Charging Port

If your iPad Pro isn’t charging after trying the above solutions, then the culprit could be debris in your charging port. Dust particles can quickly accumulate in the charging inlet and hinder your iPad’s connection to a power source.

Inspect your iPad’s charging port and if you notice a buildup of dirt or other grime, clean it. You can do this easily by gently scrubbing the area with a dry cotton swab. Keep a light touch and don’t go ramming anything too far into your charging outlet.

To have a better look at what’s going on inside your port, use a flashlight to fully inspect the area. If you notice any foreign debris stuck inside, you can do heavier cleaning using a SIM ejector tool or a toothpick. After giving your port a good cleaning, try to charge your iPad again.

5. Could Your iPad Have Water Damage?

Water and electrics don’t mix and even water-resistant iPads need special care to keep them watertight. If your iPad Pro has gotten wet and you’re now wondering why it won’t charge, then it’s highly likely that water is the culprit.

You shouldn’t charge your iPad at all if there’s a possibility of water damage. First, you have to make sure your iPad’s internals are completely dry.

There are various methods to save a iPad dropped in water. You can blow hot air into it with a hairdryer, dump it in a bowl of rice, or try other methods. You will, though, have to wait at least a day before plugging your iPad in again.

After 24 hours of drying off, try plugging your iPad in and see what happens. Once the connections are dry you may find that it starts charging again.

7. iPad Pro not charging past 80%? Disable Optimized Battery Charging

If your iPad Pro is not charging past 80% unless you restart the iPad, that is the feature and function of Optimized Battery Charging.

With iPadOS 13 and later, Optimized Battery Charging is designed to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by reducing the time your iPad spends fully charged. When the feature is enabled, your iPad will delay charging past 80% in certain situations. Your iPad uses on-device machine learning to learn your daily charging routine so that Optimized Battery Charging activates only when your iPad predicts it will be connected to a charger for an extended period of time. The algorithm aims to ensure that your iPad is still fully charged when unplugged.

You may disable the above feature, if you like, so that your iPad charges all the way up to 100% every time you choose to do so. To disable Optimized Battery Charging, head over to the Settings app on your iPhone > Battery > Battery Health. Now, turn off Optimized Battery Charging.

7. Getting “Accessory May Not Be Supported” Error Message? Check MFi Compatibility

If you are getting the “Accessory May Not Be Supported” error repeatedly, there is a high chance that the charger is not MFi (Made for iPhone certified. And it’s this incompatibility that is causing the charging issue on your iPad Pro.

Uncertified/fake chargers tend to charge comparatively slow which often leads to overheating problems. And with the lack of trusted safeguards against threats like short-circuits, overcurrent, and overcharging, the uncertified chargers could also damage your device. So, make sure your charger has MFi certification.

8. Reset All Settings

Factory reset is a pretty trusted catch-all fix. Especially when you are up against complex issues, this one has a role to play. So, if your iPad Pro is still refusing to charge, do not fail to try it out.

To do this, open the Settings app on your iPad > General > Transfer or Reset iPad -> Reset > Reset All Settings.

9. Restore Your iPad As New

Restoring often comes to the rescue when basic tips fail to resolve complex issues. Hence, if none of the tricks has worked in fixing the charging issue on your iPad Pro, try restoring the iPad as new – the so-called nuclear solution.

1. Connect your iPad to computer and then launch Finder/iTunes. After that, select your device and then back it up.
2. Once the backup is done, click Restore iPad. Once your device has been restored, set it up from the scratch. Along the way, you will get the option to back up the device from iCloud/iTunes backup. Do the needful and you are good to go!
3. Visit an Apple Store

If all else fails, you can always go to an Apple Store and ask a professional why your iPad Pro won’t charge. They may be able to find a fault that you’ve missed or diagnose a hardware failure. Hopefully, your iPad is still in warranty so you don’t have to pay anything for the repair. Otherwise, you may have to pay to replace whatever component has broken.

iPad Pro Not Charging? Now You Can Troubleshoot the Problem Yourself

This is it. These are the steps you can take to fix an iPad Pro that is not charging. Hopefully, these tips will help you figure out why your iPad Pro won’t charge and will also give you the tools you need to fix the problem.

See also: iPad Pro Power Button Stuck Or Not Working? Here’s The Fix!