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User profile for user: skastin
skastin Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

iPad Not Always Showing Accurate Battery Level

I have an iPad Pro (9.7 inch) running iOS 14.0.1 Starting several months ago, a strange behavior started. If the iPad is powered off (not just screen being off) and I power it on, if the device is charging, everything is fine, and the iPad shows the correct battery level. However, if I power the device on when it's NOT charging, it powers on but shows a critically low battery level. This is NOT a battery issue, because if I then power the unit off, plug it into the charger, and immediately power it back on, the true battery level will now show, AND I can THEN unplug the unit from the charger and the device will run for hours.


In other words, this is NOT an issue where the unit will only power on (or operate) while plugged in, or an issue where the device immediately loses charge when not charging. It's an issue where the device only "realizes" that it's fully charged (or whatever the actual battery level is) if it's powered on while plugged in/charging. Otherwise, the device still powers on, but wrongly "thinks" that the battery is at a critically low level (and acts accordingly, such as preventing WiFi from turning on). This situation will "toggle" back and forth if you power down the unit and then power it back on while charging (or not).


Has anyone seen this behavior? Any idea what the root cause is? I have tried both hard and soft resets (multiple times), but it's still happening.


Thanks!

iPad Pro, iPadOS 14

Posted on Oct 14, 2020 8:08 AM

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User profile for user: Chris_D13
Chris_D13
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Oct 19, 2020 9:55 AM

Hello skastin and welcome to Apple Support Communities. It appears you are having some difficulty with battery charge readings on an iPad Pro.


The type of behavior you are describing is often (but not always) an indication that the battery is approaching the end of it's useful life. Unlike an iPhone where you can see the Battery Health in the Settings app, the only way to know for sure on an iPad is to have someone inspect and run a diagnostic on the device.


There is one thing you can do to help isolate and make sure this is not a software issue. As you're already running the most up-to-date version of iPadOS, you may need to consider reinstalling it on your device. While this shouldn’t affect any data stored on the iPhone, it would be a good idea to make sure you’ve got a backup in place: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support


Once you’ve successfully backed up your device, follow these steps to reinstall iPadOS, making sure to choose “Update” when prompted: If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


Cheers.



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User profile for user: Chris_D13
Chris_D13
User level: Community Specialist

Oct 19, 2020 9:55 AM in response to skastin

Hello skastin and welcome to Apple Support Communities. It appears you are having some difficulty with battery charge readings on an iPad Pro.


The type of behavior you are describing is often (but not always) an indication that the battery is approaching the end of it's useful life. Unlike an iPhone where you can see the Battery Health in the Settings app, the only way to know for sure on an iPad is to have someone inspect and run a diagnostic on the device.


There is one thing you can do to help isolate and make sure this is not a software issue. As you're already running the most up-to-date version of iPadOS, you may need to consider reinstalling it on your device. While this shouldn’t affect any data stored on the iPhone, it would be a good idea to make sure you’ve got a backup in place: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support


Once you’ve successfully backed up your device, follow these steps to reinstall iPadOS, making sure to choose “Update” when prompted: If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


Cheers.



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User profile for user: skastin
skastin Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Oct 20, 2020 9:47 AM in response to Chris_D13

Thanks very much for the reply and suggestions. I should have mentioned that when this first started, I assumed it was a battery issue, so I had the battery replaced at that time. I suppose the new battery could be faulty, although when I checked the battery health in iMazing just now, it showed excellent (100%) health status and 14 charge cycles. So I tend to think it is not a physical battery issue.


I followed your instructions and backed up my data, then put the iPad in recovery mode and forced a re-install of iPadOS 14.0.1 Unfortunately, the problem is still occurring.


If it's not a software issue and not a battery issue, could this behavior be due to a hardware issue?


Thanks.

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User profile for user: SnickZ.
SnickZ.
User level: Community Specialist

Oct 24, 2020 10:16 AM in response to skastin

Hi skastin.


The info about a battery replacement puts a whole different spin on things. If this had been done at an Apple Store or by an Apple Authorized Service Provider, you would have been given a replacement iPad. If the device was taken to a non-authorized, third-party repair shop, whatever battery they put in would not be Apple-official by default.


Given that info, your best course of action is going to be to go back to whoever did the battery replacement for further options.


Cheers.

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iPad Not Always Showing Accurate Battery Level

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