How to turn off an iPad

Should I turn off my iPad?

There’s almost never a reason to fully turn off an iPad. When you press the sleep/wake button, you’re only turning off the screen: the rest of it remains alert, updating apps, backing up your data and receiving notifications and emails.

But from time-to-time it can be a good idea to shut down and restart the tablet if there’s a problem with an app or connectivity. And if it should become completely unresponsive then powering down could be the only way to get things going once more.

Here’s our quick guide to restarting your iPad.

Where is the iPad’s power button?

Turning off an iPad which has a Home button is very easy indeed. All you need to do is press and hold the Power button on the top edge when you have the device in a portrait orientation. After a second or so you’ll see a power off option appear on the display. To complete the process, use the slider to turn off your iPad.

Apple recommends waiting about thirty seconds before restarting your iPad. When the time has elapsed, press and hold the Power button until you see an Apple logo appear on the display.

How to turn off an iPad with no home button

It’s slightly different for iPads with Face ID, such as the iPad Pro 11in (2018), as you’ll need to use a combination of buttons.

Press and hold the Power button (the one along the top edge when you hold the iPad in a portrait orientation) then also press and hold either the Volume Up or Volume Down button until you see the power off option appear on the display.

Finally, use the slider to power down the iPad. To restart it, press and hold the Power button once more until you see the Apple logo appear on the display.

How do I force restart my iPad?

If your iPad has become unresponsive or doesn’t want to wake up, there is another way to reset it and hopefully spark the device back into life.

For iPads with Face ID, you’ll need to briefly press and release the Volume Up button then the Volume Down button, and finally press and hold the Power button until the device powers down or starts up.

iPads with Home buttons are different, in that you’ll need to press and hold both the Power button and Home button simultaneously until the device restarts. 

If your iPad still remains unresponsive, and you’re sure that it’s been charged, then you’ll need to contact Apple support to book a slot at the Genius bar or to receive help over the phone.

For more ways to get the most out of your Apple device, read How to use an iPad: Tips, tricks and hidden features and if you’re thinking of investing in a new one then be sure to check the  Best iPad deals to ensure you don’t spend more than you have to.