Apple is one of the leading technology companies, with a range of new products that push the boundaries of how we interact with technology. They pioneered the development of portable music players, smartphones, and tablets. Apple’s line of iPads are still among the most popular tablets today.

All electronics are susceptible to unusual and inconvenient problems, and iPads are no different. Some problems with iPads are well-known, and they can be frustrating as you lose time and important data.

For the most part, turning the device off and on again can correct any issues, but there are some larger problems that need a different approach to repair or management.

We’ll help you understand some of the most common iPad problems and how to fix them.

What Are the Most Common iPad Problems?

If you have an iPad, you may notice the device getting slower, less consistent, and harder to use over the years. There are several common iPad problems.

Here are some of the most common and recommended solutions: 

  • Frozen screen: Touchscreens are one of the key features of tablets, so when the screen freezes and stops responding to your pokes, you undoubtedly become flustered. This is a common issue, according to Apple’s support forum.
    Many users who diagnosed the freezing problem found that the root cause was a specific app, but it was tough to determine which one was the culprit. Possible solutions include:

    • Turn it off and on again. Hold down the power button to force restart your iPad. However, if your screen freezes often, this may not be a convenient solution. 
    • Use iTunes restore. This requires a computer or laptop with iTunes that has been synced to your iPad. Plug your iPad into the computer, open iTunes, select your iPad, and select Summary. The downside is that you are at risk of losing things you did not back up.

  • Will not turn on: When you turn your iPad off — either as you normally would, to solve a problem, or because you forced a restart due to a different issue — it won’t turn back on. This  can be disconcerting. Solutions include:

    • Reset. Hold down the Power and Home buttons together until you see the Apple logo. Newer iPads do not have the Home button, but you can use the Volume Up button instead. 
    • Plug it in. Recharging may help the tablet restart since it could have quickly drained all remaining battery. 
    • Try iTunes restore. Go through the iTunes restore process to make your iPad turn back on if the start up screen froze before it completed rebooting.

  • iTunes does not recognize device: If you plug your iPad into a computer to sync it with iTunes or use the restore program, there is a chance the computer will not recognize your iPad. You can try resolving this problem these ways:

    • Check the battery. Look at the battery icon on the iPad when you have it plugged into the computer. If there is no lightning bolt, the charging port may not work. Try another port to see if this works.
    • Do an iTunes update. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes, which you may have to check manually on a PC. 
    • Turn it off. Turn both the iPad and the computer off, restart, and then plug them in again.

  • Will not charge: If your iPad does not charge, you can try using a different port. Check the wall socket with another device to make sure the outlet works.
    If these methods don’t provide immediate relief, try these other steps:

    • Check the power adaptor or cable to see if there are breaks, frays, or problems.
    • Reboot your iPad to see if that helps.
    • Move the plug to another port on the iPad.

  • Will not connect to WiFi: Although wireless internet has been a great boon to technology lovers everywhere, WiFi signals are not always consistent. Try disconnecting, then reconnecting, to your local WiFi. If that doesn’t work, you can try some iPad-specific solutions:

    • Rediscover the network. Tell your iPad to “forget” the network by going to Settings, tapping the network name, and clicking Forget. Restart the iPad and then reconnect to the WiFi network by re-entering the details. 
    • Update iOS. Your operating system may be out of date if you do not have automatic updates turned on. Go to Settings, General, and then Software Update. Be sure to plug your iPad into a power adaptor before running any operating system updates. 
    • Talk to your ISP. If the WiFi you use is your home internet, check with your internet service provider (ISP) to ensure you’re getting good service.

  • Running slow: As your technology ages, it will have more memory issues, charge more slowly, run out of battery faster, and generally run slower. There are some steps you can take to optimize your older iPad, so it runs faster.

    • Close all your apps regularly.
    • Restart the device to clear RAM.
    • Free up some space. iPads need about two gigabytes of space to operate smoothly. Check your iPad storage (Settings – General – iPad storage), and see if there is anything you can delete or uninstall

  • Apps will not sync or download: If you want a new app for your iPad, you excitedly open iTunes or the App Store, but then find you can’t download it. You may receive app notifications that an update failed to download or install. This can be frustrating.
    Here are some steps to help:

    • Clear space. Check your iPad’s storage and clear space as needed. New apps may take up more space.
    • Unpause downloads. You may think your download has stopped or failed when it is actually paused. Check it and click the button to unpause if this is what has occurred. 
    • Turn restrictions off. Some device restrictions may prevent you from downloading apps. Go to Settings – General – Restrictions, and make sure you can download apps.
    • Restart. A disconnection from mobile data, WiFi, or the other server may have caused a problem. Restarting your iPad can help the download restart.

What if These Tricks Don’t Work?

If you try the above steps and get no results, it may be time for a specialist. Apple can help you with solutions at their retail stores or online. You can even ship iPads back for specialist repair.

If you have had your iPad for some time and wanted an upgrade anyway, it may be time to sell the iPad. You can either trade it in for a discount on the latest model or get a different tablet altogether.  

References