iPad Power Button Not Working or Stuck? Here's What to Do!

Part I: Is The iPad Power Button Stuck or Not Working?

Now, there are two ways the power button on your iPad may malfunction - it can get stuck pressed in, or it can work physically but the system won’t respond to the presses any longer, pointing to underlying issues.

iPad Power Button Stuck

If your iPad power button is pressed and stuck, the only safe thing you can do at home is to try and pry it back up with a pair of tweezers, perhaps, and then attempt to blow air in the button cavity to try and dislodge any debris and gunk that might have caused the issue. Short of that, the only and the best option for you is to take it to an Apple Service Center for a look-see. However, if you are using a case on the iPad that may or may not be an Apple original case, you should remove that case and try again as sometimes, non-original cases are not designed to spec and may cause inconvenient issues such as this.

iPad Power Button Unresponsive

On the other hand, if your iPad power button is not working in the sense that it presses and retracts fine as before, but the system does not respond to the presses any longer, you are very likely to be in luck, because we can help you resolve that issue with a few simple solutions. A non-responsive power button means two things, either the hardware failed or there are issues with the software, and they can be fixed, giving you a working iPad power button once again.

Part II: How to Fix iPad Power Button Not Working or Stuck

Well, if removing the case helped you get your stuck iPad power button working again, great! For the ones with a non-responsive power button, there are a few ways you can try and fix the iPad power button not working issue.

Fix 1: Restart iPad

Now, you would wonder how you would restart your iPad without the power button. As it turns out, Apple did include a way to induce a restart using software, power button is not needed. Here’s how to restart the iPad in iPadOS:

Step 1: Launch Settings and tap General

Step 2: Scroll down till the end and tap Transfer or Reset iPad

Step 3: Tap Reset

Step 4: Choose Reset Network Settings

What this option does is it resets your network settings and restarts the iPad. When the iPad restarts, you will have to set the iPad name again if you want to and will have to key in your Wi-Fi password again. Why did we not use the Shut Down option just below Transfer or Reset iPad? Because, as the name suggests, it would shut the iPad down and without the power button you cannot restart it.

Fix 2: Reset All Settings

Resetting the network settings, in this case, was a means to restart the device. Network settings will have no effect on the power button specifically. However, resetting all settings on the device can have an effect. Here’s how to reset all settings on the iPad to try and get the iPad power button not working issue resolved.

Step 1: Go to Settings and tap General

Step 2: Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPad

Step 3: Tap Reset and choose Reset All Settings

This will reset all settings on the iPad, and this might help fix whatever is causing the power button to become unresponsive.

Fix 3: Erase All Content And Settings

So far, all fixes has been non-disruptive as they have not caused any major headaches and data loss. All they have been doing is either a restart or resetting settings. This one, however, is going to be more disruptive since it wipes out the iPad and removes everything from the device, resetting it to factory defaults as if you opened it brand new, out of box. This is one of the ways to help you clean the settings out more thoroughly. Please note that you will need to set your iPad up again as you did when you bought it.

Step 1: Go to Settings and tap your profile picture

Step 2: Tap Find My and disable Find My for your iPad

Step 3: Go back to main settings page and tap General

Step 4: Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPad

Step 5: Tap Erase All Content and Settings

Proceed with instructions to continue. This is the most thorough way you can clean up the iPad and its settings, short of fully restoring the firmware again.

Fix 4: Updating/ Reinstalling Firmware

Sometimes, reinstalling the firmware can help fix stubborn issues. Here’s how to check for updates and reinstall iPadOS.

Step 1: Connect your iPad to the Mac or PC

Step 2: Depending on your operating system, you will either see Finder open, or iTunes if on lower macOS versions or PC

Step 3: Tap Check For Update to see if there is an update available for iPadOS. If there is, follow those instructions to proceed and install it.

Step 4: If there is no update, click Restore iPad button beside the Check For Update button.

Step 5: Click Restore again to start the process.

Latest firmware will be downloaded and installed on the iPad again. After everything is done, the iPad will restart, and you will hopefully have your iPad power button stuck or not working issue resolved.

Fix 5: Use Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) For A Better Experience

Dr.Fone is a third-party tool developed by Wondershare Company that helps you fix all issues with your smartphones. This is a module-based software, so you do not get lost in complexities and options, all you get is the simplest possible design and UI for each job owing to razor-sharp focus of each module. What this section is about is System Repair module, that can help you fix the iPad power button not working issue.

Step 1: Get Dr.Fone here

Step 2: Connect your iPad and launch Dr.Fone

Step 3: Select the System Repair module. It opens to two options.

Step 4: System Repair has two modes – Standard Mode and Advanced. Standard Mode attempts to fix any issues with the software without removing user data. Advanced Mode performs a thorough system repair and removes all user data. You may select any, you can start with Standard Mode and you will reach here:

Step 5: Dr.Fone System Repair will detect your device model and software version. You can select the correct one from the dropdown if there’s an error. Click Start to start the firmware download process.

Step 6: After download, the tool verifies the firmware file, and presents you with this screen:

Step 7: Click Fix Now to start fixing your iPad power button not working issue. When done, this screen will show:

Now, you can disconnect your device and see if the power button is working as usual.

Fix 6: Assistive Touch Hack

Even in the shadow of the pandemic, we do not have enough time for everything, especially going out. We are working from home; we have countless other things to do every day. If none of the above helped, you can’t be expected to just get up and walk into the nearest Apple Store, no matter if that were exactly what Apple would like you to do. Firstly, your day is disrupted, and secondly, they will keep your iPad with them while they fix it. So, while you are busy in your schedule and can’t make time to visit the Apple Store to get your iPad checked out or can’t hand the iPad over for repair just yet, what do you do? You use the Assistive Touch feature in the iPad to get you by until you have time and can get the iPad checked at the Store.

Here’s how to use Assistive Touch on the iPad to get a virtual button that functions both like a home button and power button:

Step 1: In Settings, to go General > Accessibility

Step 2: Tap Touch > AssistiveTouch and toggle it On

Tip: You can also speak out, “Hey Siri! Turn on AssistiveTouch!”

Step 3: You will see a translucent home button appear onscreen. Customize the button if you want from the options in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch if you weren’t in Settings already.

Now, when you tap the button, you can use it for functions that would require the power button, such as restarting, locking the screen, taking screenshots, etc.