Many people enjoy the benefits of owning an iPad. You get Apple’s product dependability, and the device combines many of the features of both a full-sized computer and a portable electronic device. iPads can sometimes be susceptible to charging issues, though. If yours is slow to charge, for instance, then you might be at a loss as to how to solve the problem. After reading this article, though, you’ll know what to do. Let’s get started with some suggestions.
A Software Crash Might Cause Your iPad to Charge Slow
The first thing to consider when your iPad is charging slower than usual is whether there has been some type of software crash. Restarting it is what makes the most sense if that is the case.To do so, press and hold the Power button. After a few seconds, a slider will show up on the display that says “Slide to Power Off.” Slide it to the right, and the device will turn off. After waiting a few seconds, press and hold the Power button again. The iPad will start back up again, and now you can try charging it to see if you get a better result.
Try a Different Charging Cable if Your iPad Still Charges Slow
The next thing for you to try is to get a different charging cable and attempt to useit with your iPad. Your original cable might be old and worn out, or it might have sustained some damage at some point. If you look at the cable and you see any sort of fraying or other external damage, then that’s a dead giveaway as to what’s going on.
You might try borrowing another USB cable from someone else you know who has an iPad, or you could buy one online or in a brick-and-mortar store. Just be sure that you get yourself an Apple-approved cable. If you get a third-party one, then you might be able to save some money, but there is also no guarantee that it’s going to work as it’s supposed to.
Try a Different Charger
If the problem persists, then you can next try a different charger. Much as is the case with the USB cable, sometimes chargers wear out or suffer damage. If your charger has been handled roughly or it has gotten wet, either of those things might be the cause of slow charging.
If you use a newer charger, you might find that it works better because it has a higher amperage. Again, when shopping for a charger replacement, you’re likely to have the best results if you use one that was made by Apple specifically for your generation of iPad.
Keep in mind that not all chargers are created equal. For instance, the one for the standard iPad outputs 2.1 amps, but some other ones will deliver more output or less.
Speed Up the iPad Charging with a Different Outlet
You could try getting a faster charge from a different outlet in your home. Try some ones in the same room, in separate rooms, or even on different floors. You could also try plugging the iPad into a laptop or PC and see if it charges any faster there. You could try charging it in your vehicle as well to see if that produces the results you want. 
Your iPad Charging Slow Might be Due to a Clogged Port
Next, take a look at your charging port and see if there is anything clogging it. There might be food crumbs, dirt, dust, or some sort of other grime. That is particularly prone to happen if you have been carrying your iPad in a purse, book bag, or some other receptacle where it hasn’t been adequately protected.
If you can’t tell whether there is anything in the charging port, use a flashlight to get a better look in there. You can use an unused toothbrush to gently clean out any debris that you find. Be sure not to use any kind of cleaning solvents. They could damage the device further, and doing so will also void your warranty.
It’s also smart to get yourself a carrying case for the iPad if you plan on traveling with it. That makes it less likely that you’ll see any debris building up in the charging port in the future.
If Your iPad Still Charges Slow, try a DFU Restore
You could next try a DFU restore of the iPad. This is the deepest kind of restore that you can do for an Apple device. Every line of code will be erased and reloaded with this action. At the same time, the iPad will be restored to the factory defaults.
Before you attempt this last-resort fix, you should always make a backup of the iPad’s contents. You can restore the device from the backup, and you won’t lose things like videos, photos, and other vital files.
- Connect the iPad to a computer using the USB cable. Open iTunes and wait for the device to appear on the left-hand side of the screen, under Devices.
- Hold down the Lock and the Home buttons.
- After 8 seconds, release the Lock button. Continue to hold down the Home button, though. If your Apple logo shows up on the display, then you held the Lock button for too long.
- The iPad’s screen will stay black if you have been successful. iTunes will show a message saying that it has detected a device in DFU mode.
- Now, you can do a force restart to exit DFU mode. Do that by holding down the Lock and Home buttons until the iPad reboots.
Now, check to see if it is charging any faster than it was before.
Try Running a Battery Test
If you have tried everything that we’ve suggested to this point and the iPad is still slow to charge, then a hardware issue is the most likely culprit. The battery is probably the problem, and testing it should tell you what you want to know. You don’t have the capability of performing the battery test on your own, so take the iPad to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar. The employees will be able to run the test for you. 
If it does turn out to be a battery issue, then you will likely need to get it replaced. This should not cost you anything if your iPad is covered under the AppleCare+ plan. If you don’t have that plan, then the replacement battery’s cost will come out of your pocket.
Whether you decide the cost is worth it depends largely on how much of an irritation the slow battery charge is for you. You might decide that getting a replacement battery isn’t the best use of your money at that time.
Remember, though, that a slow-charging battery is hardly likely to get better on its own. It is probably only a matter of time till it goes from charging slowly to no longer charging at all. Then your iPad will be reduced to little more than an expensive paperweight.
