Frozen iPad: How to Reset It Step by Step

To reset a frozen iPad, use the force-restart button sequence for an iPad with or without a Home button. A force restart does not erase the iPad or remove your personal data.

Use the steps below even if the screen is black or the touchscreen does not respond. The button sequence must be completed in order.

How can you tell if your iPad is frozen, off, or out of power?

A frozen iPad is powered on but has stopped responding to touch or normal button presses. The screen may be stuck on one image, show an app that will not close, or remain black even though the device recently had power.

Common signs that an iPad is frozen include:

• The touchscreen does not react to taps or swipes.
• Pressing the top button does not open the lock screen or a power menu.
• An app, the Apple logo, or a loading symbol remains on the screen without changing.
• The screen is black, but the iPad recently had a charge or became unresponsive while in use.

A drained iPad can look frozen because its screen stays black and its buttons appear to do nothing. Connect the iPad to power before deciding that it has failed. If a low-battery symbol appears, leave the device connected so it can build enough charge to start.

How do you reset a frozen iPad step by step?

A force restart makes the iPad shut down and start again when the screen controls are unavailable. It does not perform a factory reset, delete apps, or erase files.

For an iPad without a Home button:

1. Quickly press and release the volume button closest to the top button.
2. Quickly press and release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and keep holding the top button.
4. Release the top button when the Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for the lock screen, then enter the passcode if requested.

For an iPad with a Home button:

1. Press and hold the Home button and the top button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both buttons while the screen changes or goes black.
3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
4. Wait for the iPad to finish starting, then enter the passcode if requested.

If the first attempt does not work, repeat the correct sequence carefully. On an iPad without a Home button, the two volume presses must be quick and separate before you hold the top button.

What should you do if the iPad force restart does not work?

If a force restart produces no Apple logo or screen activity, check whether the iPad has enough power. A fully drained battery may need time on a reliable power source before the device can show a charging symbol or start.

1. Connect the iPad directly to a working wall outlet.
2. Check that the charging cable and power adapter are firmly connected.
3. Look inside the charging port for visible debris, but do not insert metal objects or force anything into the port.
4. If there is no response, try another compatible cable, power adapter, or outlet that you know works.
5. Leave the iPad connected to power before trying the force-restart sequence again.

A charge-before-boot delay does not necessarily mean the iPad is damaged. When the battery is deeply discharged, the screen can stay black while the device collects enough power to start.

What should you do if the iPad still will not respond?

Recovery mode is a troubleshooting state that lets a computer update or restore an iPad when the device cannot start normally. Try recovery mode if charging and repeated force-restart attempts do not restore normal operation.

1. Connect the iPad to a Mac or Windows computer with a compatible cable.
2. Open Finder on a Mac that uses Finder for device management. On a Windows computer, open the Apple Devices app or iTunes, depending on what is installed.
3. Use the force-restart sequence for the iPad model, but continue holding the required button or buttons after the Apple logo appears.
4. Release the button or buttons when the recovery-mode screen appears.
5. When the computer offers Update or Restore, try Update first. Update attempts to reinstall the software without erasing personal data.
6. Use Restore only if necessary and with the understanding that it erases the iPad before reinstalling its software.

Stop repeating resets if the iPad becomes unusually hot, has visible damage, or cannot maintain a connection to power. Repeated button presses will not fix a damaged display, charging port, battery, or internal component.

How can you keep an iPad from freezing again?

After the iPad works again, install available iPad software and app updates. Updates can correct software faults and improve stability without requiring you to identify a particular bug.

• If one app stops responding, close that app and reopen it instead of immediately restarting the entire iPad.
• Remove unneeded downloads, videos, or apps if available storage is very low.
• Restart the iPad normally from time to time, especially after several apps have behaved unexpectedly.
• Keep important information backed up so recovery remains possible if the iPad later needs to be restored.

If the same app repeatedly causes the iPad to freeze, update that app or remove it until the problem can be investigated.

When should you contact Apple Support about a frozen iPad?

Contact Apple Support when the iPad remains unresponsive after charging, a correct force restart, and a recovery-mode attempt. Support is also appropriate when a computer does not recognize the connected iPad or repeatedly reports an error during an update.

The problem may involve hardware rather than a software freeze if:

• The screen is cracked, distorted, separating from the case, or damaged by liquid.
• The iPad will not show any charging response with known-working accessories and outlets.
• Buttons are stuck, damaged, or cannot complete the required force-restart sequence.
• The device becomes unusually hot, shuts down repeatedly, or shows no image even though a computer detects it.

Do not keep forcing restarts when physical damage, overheating, or a complete charging failure is present. Describe what happened before the freeze and which charging, restart, and recovery steps you already tried when you contact Apple Support.