12 fast fixes for ipad

4 min read

Let’s get to grip with some common iPad problems

Written by Howard Oakley

1 iPad has a black or frozen screen

Force-restart your device. On an iPad with a Home button, press and hold the top and Home buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen; without a Home button, press and quickly release first the volume button closer to the top button, followed by the volume button further from it, then press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears. Connect its mains charger, leave it an hour and try again. If its gets stuck, connect to a Mac or iTunes on a PC and repeat the keypress sequence to enter Recovery to update it.

2 My iPad shuts down unexpectedly

Try force-restarting it. If that doesn’t fix it, suspect the two common hardware causes, an ageing battery or faulty memory. The combination of falling battery performance, low charge and cold can cause it. In Settings tap Battery to see a summary. Falling maximum capacity and reduced peak performance indicate battery replacement is getting closer. If the battery is healthy, get it checked out by an Apple store or service provider.

3 Can’t use a Personal Hotspot

Check the hotspot provider is configured correctly in Settings > Personal Hotspot. Leave the provider on that screen when trying to connect your iPad to its hotspot. On the iPad, turn Wi-Fi off and back on. Check you’re trying to connect to the correct network. Re-check the Wi-Fi password if it’s required and ensure you type it in correctly. Shut the iPad down and turn it on again if all else fails.

4 Apple Pencil isn’t working

Check it’s the right model: Check it’s the right model: see support. apple.com/en-gb/HT211029. Pair 1st Gen Pencils by plugging them into the Lightning port; 2nd Gen Pencils pair on the magnetic connector on the side of the iPad. If that doesn’t work, shut the iPad down, start it up and check Bluetooth is turned on in Settings > Bluetooth. Try charging the Pencil, and if it still won’t connect use BT Inspector (App Store) to check its signal.

5 iPad Magic Keyboard is not working

Update iPadOS. Remove any other case or cover and connect the keyboard carefully. If the keyboard doesn’t respond, shut your iPad down for 30 seconds and start it up again. Try a force-restart if that doesn’t fix it. If your iPad doesn’t charge when you connect the USB-C charging cable to the port on the keyboard, check you’re using the correct cable and try a force-restart.