My iPad fell face down onto the floor recently. It has a protective case with a raised edge around the screen, and there's no visible damage, swelling, or software warning. The battery itself seemed normal before this happened. Since the fall, charging has become unreliable: I can leave it plugged in for hours and find the battery level lower than when I started. For example, it was at 40% despite showing the green charging icon, and another time it dropped from 53% to 49% after about 20 minutes while connected. It sometimes charges normally, though, and the charging indicator can take a few seconds to appear. I'm using a 45W USB-C adapter and have had it for about a year, but I'm not sure of the brand. The iPad is out of warranty. What could be causing this, and is there anything I can test before paying for a repair?
3 Answers
Before assuming the iPad is damaged, test it with a known-good, properly rated cable and power adapter. A 45W adapter is fine if it follows the correct USB-C charging standards, but an inexpensive or aging adapter or cable could be failing under load. Try another cable and charger separately, clean the charging port carefully, and see whether the battery rises while the iPad is powered off. If it still drops while connected, the iPad itself probably needs service.
Since the charging problem began immediately after the impact, internal damage is the most likely explanation even if the outside looks perfect. The drop may have loosened a connector, damaged the charging port, or affected the charging circuitry. A technician would need to open it to confirm. Check whether the charging symbol stays steady or repeatedly connects and disconnects, since that can help distinguish a loose port from another power issue.
The charging indicator stays on once it appears; it just takes roughly three seconds after I plug the cable in. The battery level is what changes unpredictably.
A battery percentage that falls while the charging icon is displayed can happen when the iPad is using more power than the charger is actually delivering, but the timing after the fall makes physical damage more concerning. Back up your data, avoid bending or repeatedly wiggling the connector, and have the charging port and internal connections inspected if different cables and adapters do not fix it.
The adapter came from an online marketplace and has been used for about a year, so replacing the cable and testing with a reputable charger would be a sensible first step.