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Why is my iPad’s battery draining fast?

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  • 6 min read

Are you experiencing the frustrating issue of your iPad’s battery running out quickly or struggling to hold a charge? You’re not alone. Many iPad users face this common problem. It’s a common issue, and various factors can contribute to it.

This article discusses various reasons affecting your iPad’s battery and a few troubleshooting methods that will help you fix it.


Why is the iPad’s battery draining fast?

Various reasons might drain your iPad’s battery quicker than it should be.

  • Apps and Background App Refresh: One of the leading causes of rapid battery drain is background apps or services continually running in the background. You can check for these in your iPad’s settings and disable them to conserve power.
  • Outdated Software: Sometimes, outdated software can result in poor battery life. Ensure that your iPad is running the latest software updates to optimise its performance and battery usage.
  • Bright Screen: A bright screen can be a significant power drain. Adjust your screen’s brightness settings to a more energy-efficient level.
  • Software Glitches: Occasionally, software issues can lead to excessive battery consumption. If this is the case, you might need to troubleshoot or seek a professional’s assistance.

Also read: How old is my iPad?


Methods to improve iPad’s battery life

Here are some steps to help you troubleshoot and improve your iPad’s battery life:

Enable Low Power mode

When charging your iPad, enable Low Power Mode to reduce energy consumption. You can access this option in Settings > Battery.


Analyse battery usage

To identify which apps consume the most power, navigate to Settings > Battery. If you find apps you rarely use draining the battery, consider uninstalling them.


Disable background app refresh

Some apps automatically update in the background, causing extra battery usage. In Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Now, turn the toggle off beside the app for which you want to disable this feature.


Check for Software updates

Keep your iPad’s operating system up to date by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Download and install the updates, if available. These updates often include performance improvements.

Also read: What is DFU mode?


Adjust Screen brightness

A bright screen can significantly impact your iPad’s battery life. Keep your screen’s brightness comfortable by navigating to Settings > Display & Brightness. You can also enable Dark Mode, which not only provides a more relaxing viewing experience but also conserves battery power. To enable Dark mode, go to Settings > Display & Brightness, and under Appearance, tap on Dark.


Enable Reduce Motion

Animations and pop-ups on your device may be fun, but they can consume more power than you think. To reduce animations and screen effects, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion and turn it on.


Set Auto-Lock

Auto-Lock is a crucial setting that determines how quickly your iPad’s screen turns off when idle. Setting it to a shorter duration, like five minutes, can prevent your device from needlessly draining its battery by keeping the screen on.

Configure your iPad to lock the screen after a short period of inactivity automatically. This feature is found in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and sets the time for auto-lock.


Turn off WiFi, Bluetooth

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you’re not using them. These features constantly search for networks and devices to connect to, which can drain your battery. Go to the Control Center to switch them off when they’re not in use.


Location services

Many apps request your location information, but not all need it. You can save battery life by managing Location Services. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services to see a list of apps that use this feature. tap on the app for which you want to change settings, then tap Never.

Also read: How to fix error: Last name is not in expected format?


Restart or Force Restart

A simple restart may resolve software-related issues. To restart your iPad, follow the steps for your specific iPad model.

Restarting an iPad without a Home button

  • Simultaneously press and hold the Top button and one of the Volume buttons until you see a slider on the screen.
  • Use your finger to drag the slider to turn off your iPad.
  • Wait for approximately 30 seconds to ensure your iPad completely shuts down.
  • To turn it back on, press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo.

For iPads with a Home button

  • Press and hold the Top button until a slider appears on the screen.
  • Slide the slider to power off your iPad and wait about 30 seconds for it to turn off fully.
  • To switch your iPad back on, press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo reappears on the screen.

Factory reset iPad

If nothing else works, you can try to factory reset your iPad as a last resort. Make sure to create a backup of your files before proceeding. To factory reset your iPad, follow the steps below:

Every year since the release of the first iPhone in 2008, Apple releases a new iteration of the device with the latest ones being iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. If you're planning to switch to a newer version of the iPhone and are planning to sell or trade your old iPhone, it makes sense to wipe off all the data and restore the device to the factory settings. This not only ensures that none of your data gets in the hands of someone else but also gives the device a fresher look if you're planning on selling. Before you go ahead and factory reset your iPhone, you should back up its data via iTunes or iCloud, so that you're able to restore it to the new device. In this article, we've put together a simple guide to help you factory reset your iPhone in three simple steps. Also read: How to use your iPad in Split Screen mode? How to factory reset an iPhone? Go to your iPhone's Settings. Scroll down and tap on General. On the next page, scroll down to the bottom and tap on Reset. On the next page, tap on the second option from the top Erase All Content and Settings. Once the factory reset of the iPhone is complete, it will restart from the Hello screen. Note that if you don't want to erase your data and just wish to reset the factory settings of the device, you can do so by tapping on Reset All Settings, which is located right above the Erase All Content and Settings option. In addition to the aforementioned, users can also individually reset their Network settings, keyboard dictionary, home screen layout and location & privacy settings by tapping on the other options on the same screen. Also read: How to switch off WiFi and Bluetooth in the iPhone?
  • Open the Settings app and tap on General.
  • Scroll down and tap on Reset.
  • Now, tap on Erase All Content and Settings.

Also read: How to close windows on iPad?

Akash Singh

Akash Singh

Akash is a law graduate who likes to go for bike rides on the weekends soul-searching for answers to his many existential questions. You can contact him here: singhakash95@pm.me

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