My wife’s iPad was charging fine but she needed a longer cable. I purchased a 2 metre usb a to c and connected it to the same power source and to the iPad but it refuses to charge. The cable will charge things like my headphones, so it isn’t broken as such but why not the iPad?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Would this be an OEM Apple charging cable, or a third-party cable? Despite having the expected connectors, some third-party cables may not work properly with Apple devices.
Most models of iPad require a Power Adapter rated at 12W (i.e., 2.4A @5V) or greater to reliably charge. 5W Power Adapters (1.0A @5V) intended for older models of iPhone are inadequate to charge an iPad; if the iPad charges at all, charging will be very slow. Many recent models of iPad are supplied with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter.
Some third-party USB-C power adapters (and portable PowerBanks) may not support USB PD (Power Delivery). Power Delivery mutually negotiates the charging voltage; the source, load and cable are all elements involved in the negotiation protocol. Unless the Power Adapter explicitly supports USB PD, it will almost certainly fail to charge the iPad; proprietary charging standards, such as QC (Quick Charge), are not supported.
Many computer USB ports also cannot source sufficient power to charge an iPad. Unless explicitly designed for charging connected devices, computer USB ports are typically limited to 0.5-1A @5V (i.e., 2.5-5.0W).
Would this be an OEM Apple charging cable, or a third-party cable? Despite having the expected connectors, some third-party cables may not work properly with Apple devices.
Most models of iPad require a Power Adapter rated at 12W (i.e., 2.4A @5V) or greater to reliably charge. 5W Power Adapters (1.0A @5V) intended for older models of iPhone are inadequate to charge an iPad; if the iPad charges at all, charging will be very slow. Many recent models of iPad are supplied with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter.
Some third-party USB-C power adapters (and portable PowerBanks) may not support USB PD (Power Delivery). Power Delivery mutually negotiates the charging voltage; the source, load and cable are all elements involved in the negotiation protocol. Unless the Power Adapter explicitly supports USB PD, it will almost certainly fail to charge the iPad; proprietary charging standards, such as QC (Quick Charge), are not supported.
Many computer USB ports also cannot source sufficient power to charge an iPad. Unless explicitly designed for charging connected devices, computer USB ports are typically limited to 0.5-1A @5V (i.e., 2.5-5.0W).
If the same power source can charge the device when the cable is substituted, this is a reliable indicator of a cable fault or compatibility issue.
Either the cable is defective or unsuitable. It is a common misconception that USB cables are universal - in particular for USB-C cables. Purchasing a genuine Apple will help you to avoid potential compatibility issues.
I understand and thank you for responding. In my question, I did say that the iPad was happily charging with the shorter cable, so I used that same power source with the 2 metre cable and it would not charge the iPad. I did also try another higher wattage power source without success.
Why won’t my iPad charge with a new USB-A to USB-C cable?
