It is inevitable for some devices to act up or stop working after installing an update. This is often what occurs to any device when a major system update roll-out embeds some tough bugs and glitches. Among the most widespread post-update problems encountered by iOS device owners are on random apps crashes and errant system services. There’s also a tendency for a device to become stuck or unresponsive. Apparently, the main problem is attributed to system flaws or buggy update and therefore denotes that it’s rectifiable at home. Mapped out below are potential solutions to a post-update problem transpiring on an iPad Pro 2018 tablet. Read on to learn what methods to try on whenever you end up having an unresponsive iPad after updating iOS to the latest version.
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Troubleshooting Apple iPad Pro that’s not responding after iOS update
Before troubleshooting, try to determine whether or not the problem is isolated to a certain application. For example, if your iPad only stops responding when loading or using a certain application, then that app is likely at fault and therefore needs to be fixed. This is when performing workarounds to eliminate in-app glitches is recommended. If it happens to be affecting the entire system, then that’s when you troubleshoot your device. You can refer to these subsequent procedures whenever you need more help fixing an unresponsive iPad Pro from an iOS update. Don’t forget to carry out some test run after performing each procedure to determine whether or not the problem is fixed.
First solution: Clear all background apps then force restart your iPad Pro.
The first possible culprits that you should eliminate are rogue apps. Apps that were left suspended or running in the background during the iOS update installation are likely to crash from the recent system transition. When this happens, there is a tendency that the entire system gets affected and thus, the iPad itself stops responding. To clear this out, force close or end all background apps on your iPad Pro with these steps:
- Go to the Home screen, to get started.
- Then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen.
- Swipe right or left to locate the app that you want to end/quit.
- Then, swipe up on the app’s preview to close it.
- Follow the same steps to close or end all the rest of the background apps.
To end all rogue apps and services at once, you can carry out a forced restart on your iPad Pro. This process does not affect any saved data on the internal memory so you can do these anytime even without backing up necessary contents. Here’s how to force restart an iPad Pro 2018 tablet:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Then, press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
Allow the device to finish its bootup sequence and then you can use it as you normally do to see if the problem is remedied.
ALSO READ: How to fix YouTube app that keeps crashing on iPad Pro 2018
Second solution: Install all pending app updates on your iPad Pro.
If rogue apps or in-app glitches are found to be the main culprits, then installing all pending app updates on your iPad Pro will likely solve the problem. Apps that are more prone to becoming rogue are those that aren’t up to date. To ensure that this isn’t causing your iPad Pro to become unresponsive, install pending app updates through the App Store manually with these steps:
- From the Home screen, tap App Store. Doing so launches the Apple Store app.
- Scroll to the bottom of the App Store screen then tap on Updates. A list of apps with pending updates will appear.
- Navigate to the list of apps and then tap the Update button next to the name of the app to install individual update.
- If multiple app updates are available, tap the Update All button on the top-right corner of the screen.
Wait for your apps to finish updating and once they’re all set, reboot your iPad Pro to refresh its internal memory and operating system.
Third solution: Reset all settings on your iPad Pro.
Resetting all settings is highly recommended whenever a device suddenly stops working from an iOS update installation. This is usually the case if the recent iOS update tends to override your device settings automatically and thereby results in complex system conflicts. As direct solution to this problem, reset all settings on your iPad Pro to restore its original options and values and likewise to eliminate any associated settings errors. Just follow these steps whenever you’re ready:
- Tap Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap on Reset.
- Choose Reset all settings from the given options.
- Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.
- Finally, tap the option to confirm all settings reset.
After the reset, wait for your iPad to restart itself and then use your device as you normally do to find out if everything is working as intended.
ALSO READ: Fix an iPad Pro 2018 that won’t download new apps from the App Store
Fourth solution: Erase your iPad and restore its factory defaults in iTunes.
Complex system errors including post-update bugs that could not be rectified by the previous methods are usually dealt with by a full system reset. This will wipe everything from your iPad system and then restores the default values. This won’t affect any saved information on the iPad storage so you can proceed to these steps even without securing backups to iCloud or iTunes:
- On your computer, launch or open iTunes. Be sure to use the latest version of iTunes app on the computer to avoid system conflicts.
- Then connect your iPad to the computer using the original USB cable while pressing and holding down the Home button.
- Release the Home button when the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
- At this point, iTunes will prompt you with a message saying that it has detected your iPad in recovery mode and that you can restore your device. If you see this message, just click the Restore iPad button to instigate recovery mode restore through iTunes.
Follow the rest of the onscreen commands to finish restoring your device from the most recent compatible backup file. Then reboot your iPad to refresh its memory and to apply the recent system changes you’ve made.
Fifth solution: Put your iPad in recovery mode and restore iOS in iTunes.
For system issues that could not be rectified by a factory reset or standard iTunes restore, performing more advanced iOS fixes like a recovery mode restore could be considered among the last options. These restore methods result in permanent data loss because they affect saved data on the internal memory of your device. Once you’re ready, proceed to these steps and start restoring your iPad Pro in recovery mode:
- Connect your iPad Pro to the computer using the USB/Lightning cable.
- When your iPad is connected, open iTunes on your computer.
- Then on your iPad Pro, quick-press and release the Volume Up button.
- Now, quick-press and release the Volume Up button.
- Finally, press and hold the Power button until the Recovery Mode screen (Connect to iTunes screen) appears.
You will then see an iTunes message saying that it has found your device in recovery mode. By then you can use the given commands and controls to restore your iPad Pro in iTunes.
Last resort: DFU mode restore your iPad Pro.
DFU or Device Firmware Update mode is the deepest iOS state and last system repair/restore option to consider when dealing with stubborn system errors including post-update bugs. Like a recovery mode restore, this process wipes everything from your iPad Storage so backing up files to iCloud or iTunes must be considered among the first actions to do. Once you’re done with the backups, follow these steps to put your iPad Pro into a recovery state and then carry out an iOS restore via iTunes:
- Connect your iPad to the computer using the original USB cable.
- Open iTunes on your computer.
- Quick-press and release the Volume Up button.
- Then quick-press and release the Volume Down button.
- Now, press and hold the Power button until the iPad screen turns black.
- After 10 seconds, press and hold the Volume Down button while still holding down the Power button for another 5 seconds.
- After 5 seconds, release the Power button but keep holding the Volume Down button for another 10 seconds.
At this point, iTunes will display an alert message saying that it has detected an iPad in recovery mode and that you must restore this iPad before it can be used with iTunes. This should serve as a clue hint that your iPad Pro has successfully entered DFU mode and is all set for major iOS repair and restore.
If iTunes couldn’t fix your iPad, then you may opt to utilize alternative iOS repair and recovery tools for your iPad Pro. Like iTunes, these tools can be downloaded to your Windows or Mac computer. After installing your preferred software, try running it and sync it to your iPad Pro then start performing iOS repair and system restore.
ALSO READ: How to fix an iPad Pro that has no sound or audio output
Still couldn’t get your iPad Pro to respond after an iOS update installation?
If you’ve already exhausted all possible means to resolve the issue on your end but to avail, then your next option to consider is service. You can visit the nearest Apple genius bar in your place and ask an authorized technician to examine your iPad for any complex system issues or hardware damage. While the symptoms instigate from an iOS update, it’s still possible that your device had already obtained some physical or liquid damage beforehand and the symptoms had coincidentally occurred after updating.
Reporting the issue to Apple Support is also recommended since your iPad started to act up after an update implementation. This could be a complex post-update bug that needs a dedicated fix patch as permanent remedy. And for this to be realized, Apple must know first that such post-update problem exists and occurs to be a widespread symptom affecting various types of iOS devices that received the update.
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