Is your iPad Air 3 not living up to its 9–10 hour battery life? You’re not alone. A rapid battery drain can be caused by a bunch of things — from misbehaving apps to settings that run your battery dry in the background. Here’s how to troubleshoot and extend your iPad’s battery life.
Check Which Apps Are Using the Most Battery
Start by identifying the culprits:
- Go to Settings > Battery
- Scroll through the Battery Usage by App list.
- Look for apps consuming a lot of power — especially if you’re not using them heavily.
If something looks off, that app might be the reason your iPad’s battery is tanking.
1. Clear Background Apps
Apps running in the background can drain your battery without you realizing.
- Double-press the Home button to open the app switcher.
- Swipe up on each app to close it.
- Once everything is cleared, press the Home button to return.
Then, restart your iPad to clear cached junk from memory.
2. Adjust Power-Hungry Settings
These small tweaks can make a big difference:
Reduce Screen Brightness
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display Accommodations
- Turn on Auto-Brightness
Turn Off Background App Refresh
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
- Tap Off to stop apps from updating when you’re not using them
Disable Location Services
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services
- Turn it off entirely, or restrict it to only the apps that truly need it
Turn Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth When Not in Use
Use Control Center or go to Settings to disable them temporarily.
Enable Reduce Motion
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion
- Turn on Reduce Motion to disable unnecessary animations
3. Update All Apps
Outdated apps can go rogue and cause battery issues.
- Open the App Store
- Tap your profile icon, then scroll to Available Updates
- Tap Update All, or update apps one by one
4. Update iOS
A newer version of iPadOS can include fixes for battery-draining bugs.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- If an update is available, plug in your iPad and follow the instructions to install it
5. Reset All Settings
If the problem started after tweaking settings or an iOS update, a full settings reset might help.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset
- Tap Reset All Settings
- Enter your passcode and confirm
This won’t delete your data, but you’ll need to reconfigure Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and privacy settings afterward.
6. Factory Reset (As a Last Resort)
If nothing else works, a factory reset wipes your iPad clean and gives it a fresh start.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings
- Back up your data first via iCloud or iTunes, then follow the prompts
You can also restore via Recovery Mode using iTunes or Finder on your Mac/PC if the problem is severe.
Still Draining Fast? It Could Be Hardware
If you’ve tried everything and your battery life still sucks, your iPad might have a hardware problem, like a faulty battery.
At this point:
- Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider
- Or contact Apple Support for remote diagnostics
- If it’s under warranty, check if you’re eligible for a replacement or repair