iPad pro M4 consistently ignoring 80% charge limit

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iPad pro M4 consistently ignoring 80% charge limit

When I first got my iPad Pro (11" M4) a month or so ago I turned on the 80% charging limit and it worked fine for the first 3-4 charges, stopping dead on 80% each time, but then the iPad basically started totally ignoring the limit. Sometimes charging stops significantly below 80% (I'd come back after many hours only to see "not charging" and the battery in the 50s or 60s %) and sometimes it just happily charges to 100%. When it stops charging well below 80% I'd unplug and re-plug the charging cable and it will resume charging but then blows past 80% on its way toward 100% again. This happens pretty much every time I charge it now, so it's gone way beyond the "occasionally charge to 100% to calibrate the battery" pattern and is clearly not just doing the "ballpark 80%" charging thing. It just outright ignores the 80% limit consistently.

I wish I knew why. Is this a potential problem with the charging circuit causing the calibration to go haywire, or perhaps something to do with the chargers I'm using? I'm at a loss to explain it otherwise. The only other thing that might be related is that I noticed the number of charge cycles is stuck at 5, despite the fact that I've probably charged the battery a dozen times or more over the last month (I usually plug it in when it's at about 20%).

iPad Pro

Posted on Jan 15, 2025 7:56 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 16, 2025 8:52 AM in response to wordfool

Your iPad will occasionally charge to 100% when the iPad is configured to limit charging to 80% of maximum - this being intentional to maintain calibration of the charging system. However, your description clearly illustrates that something is awry.

As your iPad is not functioning as expected, perform a forced-restart of your iPad - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
Press and hold the top button.
When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

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iPad pro M4 consistently ignoring 80% charge limit

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