Tech Reference

How to turn any iPad model on or off, and force-restart it for troubleshooting

New iPad air and iPad mini with Apple Pencil (March 2019)
Turning your iPad on and off is quick and easy, though the method varies slightly depending on the model of your device. Apple
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Thanks to an iPad's long battery life and its minimal power consumption while in Sleep Mode, most users leave them on perpetually, and charge them before they have the chance to run out of battery power.

But for many reasons, it's a good idea to turn your iPad fully off when you know you won't be using it for a while.

Powering down an iPad can allow updates to install when it switches back on, allows the hardware to cool down and rest, and of course, saves more battery than putting the device in Sleep Mode.

How to turn off any iPad model

1. Hold down the Power button at the top right corner of the iPad for three seconds. If you have an iPad Pro with Face ID, hold the Power button and either of the volume buttons for three seconds.

2. Slide the red power icon that appears on the screen to the right.

Screen for turning off the iPad, showing the “slide to power off” slider.
Slide the power button to the right.  Steven John/Insider

And that's it. But if you prefer to power down in a different way, you can also: 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down a bit and tap on General.

3. Scroll all the way to the bottom and tap Shut Down.

iPad General settings, with the “Shut Down” option highlighted.
Scroll down to the bottom and tap on "Shut Down."  Steven John/Insider

4.  Swipe right on the power icon that appears.

How to turn on any iPad model

1. Hold the Power button at the top right corner of any iPad model for about three seconds, until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

An iPad held in the portrait orientation, pointing to the “Power” button on the top right.
Press the "Power" button on the top right of your iPad.  Steven John/Insider

2. If your iPad is password-protected, type in your code once it turns on.

And that's it. Except in the event that doesn't work. If your iPad won't turn on, chances are that your battery is drained. Connect the iPad to power, and within a minute, you will likely see the icon for a depleted battery: a battery in a deep red color.

If you see the red battery icon, let the device charge for a while, and it will turn back on automatically.

How to force-restart any iPad model

If you can't pull up this dead battery icon, try a force-restart on a regular iPad by holding the Power button at the top right corner and the circular Home button for 10 seconds.

If you have an iPad Pro with Face ID, use the following combination of buttons to force-restart:

1. Press the Volume Up button for one second and release it.

2. Press the Volume Down button for one second and release it.

3. Press and hold the Power button for five seconds until the Apple logo appears.

If that fails, head to the Apple iPad support page for assistance.

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Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.