How to fix an iPad Air 3 that’s not charging, other charging issues

Charging problems in smartphones and tablets usually occur when the charging equipment is damaged. The same thing can happen if the charging port and power outlet aren’t working. But there are also some cases when a device wouldn’t or couldn’t charge due to software-related culprits including rogue apps and bad updates that have ruined the charging system of the device. Having said that, it is but still important to rule out software-related factors that might have prevented the device from charging before opting for service. Read on and find out what to do first if your iPad Air 3 tablet won’t charge properly

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Troubleshooting an iPad Air 3 that’s not charging

The first thing you should do is to rule out software-related factors that might have hindered your iPad Air 3 from charging properly. And you only have a few options to try in this case, considering that your iPad Air isn’t charging. The following methods are only applicable if your iPad managed to charge up or still has a little juice to power up.

First solution: Force restart while charging.

It’s possible that your iPad is still able to charge but the problem is that something triggers it to get stuck while charging. This is usually the case when rogue apps are present. When rogue apps are present on your device, they can interfere with or halt the charging system at some point. To clear this out, performing a forced restart while our iPad is connected to the charger is recommended. Just refer to these steps:

  1. Connect your iPad Air 3 to its charger and then plug it into the power source.
  2. While it’s plugged into, simultaneously press and hold the Power button and Home button on your iPad Air 3 until the Apple logo appears. 

If you see the Apple logo, then that means you’re iPad has rebooted and refreshed. Symptoms inflicted by those rogue apps should then be eliminated and so your device should now be able to charge. If your iPad still refuses to charge or doesn’t boot up when performing a forced restart, then it could mean a worse problem. But before rushing to a service center, there’s one more thing you can try.

ALSO READ: How to fix iPad Air 3 Gmail app that keeps crashing after iOS update

Second solution: Plug it into a computer.

Although it’s recommended to charge your iOS device straight from a power outlet, it wouldn’t hurt to try charging it from a computer’s USB port. This often helps if the problem is on the power source or wall charger in use. So if you have an available computer, turn it on and then connect your iPad Air 3 to a working USB port on the computer. Be sure to use the original cable so that it will be a perfect fit. Make sure that the computer is turned on too. If you’re using a laptop, ensure that it’s not on sleep mode or the screen is unlocked.

Give your iPad some time to charge up, likely about 30 minutes regardless of whether you see the charging indicator on the iPad screen or not. After the elapsed time, turn on the iPad. If your iPad is able to power on, then that denotes that it was able to charge. At this point, you can carry out the following procedures to eliminate software-related factors that might have caused it to stop charging as it should.

  1. Update your apps and device software to the latest version available. This is likely what your iPad needs if the problem is inflicted by some software bugs and malware. Updates usually contain fix patches to eliminate bugs that caused various issues to certain devices.
  • You can update your iPad Air wirelessly by heading on to Settings-> General-> Software Update menu. 

If an update is available, read and review the notification then follow the onscreen commands to download and install the update. 

Aside from updating iOS, installing all pending app updates can also help if the charging symptom is triggered by some rogue apps. Like iOS updates, app updates also embed fix patches that are used to get rid of in-app bugs that caused conflicts and troubles. 

  • To check for pending app updates, simply go to the App Store-> Updates menu and then tap the Update next to the name of the app or Update All.

Reboot your iPad after updating to make sure that all new system changes are properly implemented.

ALSO READ: How to fix iPad Air 3 problem on delayed touchscreen response

  1. Reset all settings. Another recommendation if your iPad Air is able to charge after performing the above procedures is to perform an all settings reset. Doing so eliminates symptoms and glitches caused by invalid or incorrect settings configuration. This is usually what’s needed when dealing with post-update symptoms including no charge and intermittent charging. If you wish to try it, then here’s how to reset all settings on your iPad Air 3:
  1. Tap Settings from your Home screen.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down and tap on Reset.
  4. Choose Reset all settings from the given options.
  5. Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.
  6. Finally, tap the option to confirm all settings reset.

When the reset is finished, the device restarts automatically and then loads up the original values and configuration. Enable necessary features to use them again on your device including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

  1. Factory reset. This is usually deemed among the last options if the problem continues and the iPad Air still has at least 50 percent of battery. Performing a factory reset is often used as the ultimate solution to complex system errors caused by stubborn malwares and bugs. Everything will be erased in the process so you need to create backups before you proceed. A faster way to back up files is through iCloud. Once your backup is secured, you can proceed to these steps to factory reset your iPad Air 3:
  1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Reset.
  4. Select the option to Erase all content and settings.
  5. Enter your passcode to proceed.
  6. Tap the option to confirm full system reset or factory reset.

Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to finish the factory reset. You can also use iTunes to manually erase your iPad and restore its factory defaults through a computer. This may be a better option so that your device won’t run out of power during the reset because it’s plugged into the computer’s USB port.

ALSO READ: How to fix Bluetooth pairing error on your Apple iPad Air 3

What to do if your iPad Air is totally power-drained and not charging at all?

Try to use a different charging cable if you have one available. Doing so will help you determine whether or not the problem is with the charging cable. Or if you have other compatible charger, then try using it with your iPad and see if it yields a positive outcome.

Try other power source. If you’re using a wall outlet and yet your iPad is not charging, try to plug the charger to another outlet or connect to it a computer’s USB port, a portable power bank, car charger or other compatible power sources. This will help you figure out if the problem is with the charging outlet you’re using. 

Still couldn’t get your iPad Air 3 to charge?

If none of the above procedures worked for you, then you have no other choice but to take your device to an Apple-authorized service center nearby for hardware assessment. Also bring its charger so that it can also be examined by the technician. If your device is still covered by warranty, then you may still be able to have a damaged charger replaced with a new original charger. Just talk to your iPad provider or carrier for further information on how to avail for service warranty or new unit replacement (if found to be a factory defect).

Meanwhile, if your iPad Air 3 was able to charge properly until you installed the latest iOS update and that the problem continues after performing the above solutions, then this must be a post-update problem that should be escalated to Apple Support for prompt solutions.

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