Is your iPad having a charging problem and you don’t know what to do? You plug it in expecting it to charge, but the screen remains completely black or is stuck at the battery sign? In this post we will explain what to do when your iPad is not charging and show you how to fix the fault.
When the iPad stops charging you should check the following:
The iPad charger:
- make sure the charging adapter is plugged in the wall plug
- try with another device that you have on hand
- use only MFi-Certified charger
- try to charge your iPad from a usb port such a computer/laptop can be very slow, we would recommend using a usb port that supports 2A 10w minimum.
The charging port
If you tried other lightning cables and the charging adapter, now is time to look inside of the port and specifically, we’re looking for any dirt or lint that could be preventing your Lightning cable from making a clean connection to your iPad’s charging port. This is quite rare on iPads but more commonly seen on iPhones.
If you feel the connection is loose when the cable is plugged in it could mean the dirt is getting in the way or a more serious fault with the charging port that may need repairing. This could be caused by wear and tear after months or years of usage and inevitably the charging port will need replacing. If you're not sure, send your device to us for diagnostics. See below how we conduct diagnostics.
How do i clean my charging port?
See the links below on how to clean the port yourself.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8026378
https://appletoolbox.com/iphone-not-charging-lightning-port-problems-fix/
Here you see the before and after, a visibly broken charging port and one that was successfully replaced.
What is microsoldering?
Micro soldering is like the name says, micro - small parts and wires that are best seen under the microscope that connects all components together allowing the device to function. It is a difficult process that can only be done successfully by a skilled technician trained in the field.
To perform microsoldering a few tools are needed such as a hot air station, soldering iron, flux, soldering wire and more. Micro soldering is easier to do when you have schematics. Schematics are special maps of the circuit designed by the manufacturer which help diagnose and repair. You will find that quality repair shops will offer a microsoldering service which is crucial in some more difficult repairs to help prevent data loss.
Where can i fix my charging port?
There are many repair companies that offer this service which you can easily find by doing a quick google search. Here at MED repairs we offer charging port replacements on many devices. Make sure you always include the name and model number of your device in the search. Here is a link to the list of models we service:
https://www.medrepairs.co.uk/what-is-my-model
How much does the iPad charging port replacement cost?
The prices will be different for every model. The reason for this is that some charging ports are easier to replace than others and some newer models will cost more due to the price of the part.
Is it always the charging port that's broken?
There are a few reasons why the charging port may not be working and we touched on these earlier but there is another reason why the port may not be working. If you tried cleaning it out and replacing it, and the issue persists, it could be that the connection on the motherboard is broken and needs fixing.
Motherboard charging issue is typically called a U2IC issue. What does that stand for? An IC is an integrated circuit chip that controls the charge to the battery. It controls the USB function and regulates the charging to the power IC that charges the iPad or iPhone.
What can cause the U2IC to malfunction ?
Using non-genuine chargers and lighting cables, car chargers or power banks etc puts your device at risk of developing a U2 IC Chip fault. This is because the power flow fluctuates in these cheaper chargers which supplies an inconsistent flow of power, eventually damaging either the battery, the charging port or the circuit on the motherboard.
