If you’re a proud owner of an iPad Pro, you may have encountered a frustrating issue – your device stops charging when it reaches a specific percentage, often around 80%. This unexpected behavior can be perplexing, but rest assured, you’re not alone in facing this challenge. In this article, we’ll delve into the potential reasons behind this issue and provide you with a comprehensive troubleshooting guide to resolve it.

What Causes an iPad to Stop Charging at a Certain Percentage?

There are a few possible explanations for why an iPad Pro might stop charging before reaching 100%:

Battery Management Strategy

Apple employs an intelligent battery management strategy to prolong the overall lifespan of your iPad’s battery. When your device is connected to a power adapter for extended periods, especially in scenarios like kiosk or point of sale applications, the iPad’s charge management strategy is altered. This strategy reduces the maximum battery charge level to approximately 80% of its capacity. This approach aims to minimize chemical aging that occurs when the battery is constantly maintained at full charge.

Battery Degradation

Over time, as a lithium-ion battery goes through charge cycles, the battery’s capacity will degrade. This means the battery doesn’t hold as much charge as it did when it was new. If your iPad’s battery capacity has degraded significantly, it may never charge above a certain percentage anymore. Generally, you can expect an iPad battery to maintain 80% capacity after 500 complete charge cycles.

Software Bug

Sometimes a bug in the software or firmware can cause the iPad to misreport its actual battery level or stop charging too early. Resetting settings or performing a software update may resolve a glitch that is preventing the iPad from charging fully.

Faulty Charging Hardware

If there is an issue with the charging port, cable, or adapter, it could prevent the iPad from charging properly. Using a different Lightning cable, wall adapter, or trying a different charging method like wireless charging can help determine if the issue is with the hardware.

Extreme Temperatures

Exposing an iPad to very high or very low temperatures while charging can disrupt the charging process. The iPad battery will stop charging if it is exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range of 32° to 95° Fahrenheit. Charging will not resume until the iPad is moved to a location with a temperature within the safe 32° to 95° zone.

How to Troubleshoot an iPad Pro Not Charging Past a Certain Percentage

If your iPad Pro is consistently stopping charging at a particular level like 80% or 90%, here are some steps you can take to try and resolve the problem:

Check Battery Health

First, check the battery health percentage in the Settings app > Battery > Check the battery level . A battery that shows significantly degraded capacity is likely why the iPad won’t charge fully anymore. The only fix is to replace the battery.

Update Software

Make sure your iPad is updated to the latest OS version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install any available updates. A software update may correct any charging bugs.

Try a Different Charger

Test charging with a different Lightning cable, wall adapter, and port or wireless charger if available. This can determine if the issue is with the charging accessories or the iPad itself.

Reset iPad Settings

Resetting all settings on the iPad essentially refreshes the software and hardware settings which may resolve a software glitch. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset All Settings. Note this won’t erase data.

Restore iPad

If resetting settings didn’t help, the next step is to restore the iPad. This wipes the iPad and reinstalls the operating system from scratch. Connect to iTunes or Finder and restore. Be sure to have a backup first!

Contact Apple Support

If you still can’t get the iPad to charge past a certain level after trying the above steps, it’s best to contact Apple support. There may be an underlying hardware issue that requires service or replacement.

Preventing iPad Battery Charging Issues

To help avoid charging problems in the future:

• Don’t expose iPad to extreme heat or cold during charging.
• Use the original Apple power adapter and Lightning cable when possible.
• Don’t leave iPad plugged in at 100% for prolonged periods.
• Perform a full discharge and recharge monthly to recalibrate battery.
• Consider having battery replaced if capacity drops below 80%.

Following these battery best practices will help keep your iPad charging properly and extend its lifespan. Be sure to back up your iPad periodically as well in case you need to restore it to address charging problems. With the right troubleshooting, you should be able to get your iPad Pro charging normally again.