How to Tell If Your iPad Battery Needs Replacing

January 6, 2025

Is your iPad’s battery going down faster than usual, or heating up when it shouldn’t be? These could be signs that the iPad battery needs replacing, or at the very least, and check-up from a technician. Much like any other device, the batteries in an iPad are not meant to last forever, and if you keep the device for long enough, you should expect the need for a battery replacement.

Here, we will go through all the basics that you should know about when it comes to iPad batteries. From expected battery life and how to check battery health, to the key signs that you need to know about that indicate that a replacement is on the horizon.

Why Your iPad Battery Health Matters

iPad battery health is important for a very simple reason – the better the battery health, the longer your device will last in between charges, and the better off your device is. The state of your iPad battery will mostly depend on how old it is, but other factors can come into play, such as whether there has been any water damage (and how it was managed).

How to Check Your iPad’s Battery Health – For Newer Models

How you check your iPad’s battery health will depend on the iPad that you have. For the iPad Pro 2024 or iPad Air 2024, you can simply go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Here, you will get a one-word summary of the battery health, as well as its cycle count and the maximum charge.

You will also be able to toggle the maximum charging capacity to 80% if you would like to extend the device’s lifetime.

Checking iPad Battery Health – Long Version

To try the other method for checking your iPad’s battery health, follow these steps: Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Toggle on ‘Share iPad Analytics’ → open Analytics Data (if ‘Share iPad Analytics’ was not previous toggled on before doing this, you will need to wait 1–2 days before this data will become available to you).

Continuing from the method above, you will need to open a fire at the top and copy the block of text from top to bottom. This file will be named something like: Analytics-year-month-day-time.isp.ca.synced, and it should be one of the list’s first entries. Make sure you select a file with the most recent date, and the block of text that comes up will be indecipherable, so don’t worry about it, simply scroll to the bottom and copy the final block of text.

Now, you will need to paste that block of text into a text editing app such as Google Docs or Notes (anything worlds, provided it has a search function), and search for ‘MaximumCapacityPercent’. The number that is beside that will be the iPad’s current maximum battery percent – as the name suggests. This number, however, is not fully accurate, so continue onto the next step.

To work out a more accurate estimation of your iPad’s battery health, you will need to find the values attached to ‘MaximumFCC’ and ‘NominalChargeCapacity’. Bear with us!

The first one is the milliamp-hour (mAh) of your new iPad’s battery, and the second is the mAh capacity of your iPad as it is now. All you need to do now is divide the ‘NominalChargeCapacity’ number by the ‘MaximumFCC’ number, and the result will be your iPad’s current maximum battery capacity as a percentage.

When to Replace Your iPad Battery: Key Indicators

If you want to know when your iPad battery needs replacing, there are a number of signs to look out for that will help you determine this. Your iPad might struggle to turn on and stay on, and it should randomly shut off. Charging the device all night might not do the trick, and there could be inconsistent battery displays – and all of these mean that it’s time to book an appointment,

As a general rule, an iPad battery should get replaced every 2–3 years, depending on use and how frequently it gets charged. No battery is meant to last forever, so when you notice signs of battery health deteriorating, you should take measures and plan to get a replacement when it works for you.

Just remember that it really is up to you. If your iPad’s battery is several years old and the charge goes down quickly, but this isn’t much of an issue for you, you can wait a while longer until it does become an issue. Continuing to use a failing battery won’t harm your device, it will only limit usability since it will need to be charged more frequently.

Common Signs of a Failing iPad Battery

If your iPad battery drains quickly, overheats, or takes too long to charge, it may be time for a replacement. Regularly checking battery health can help identify issues early. Below, we will go through some of the key signs to remember that suggest that your device’s battery needs to be replaced to restore optimal function.

5 signs your iPad battery needs replacing:

Slow charging
Device heats up
Rapid battery drain
Unexpected shutdowns
Inconsistent battery display

The Risks of Ignoring Battery Issues

Depending on what the issue with your battery is, there could be different risks. For example, if the problem is that the battery is draining quickly once fully charged, the only ‘risk’ you need to think about is that you might not have the device charged when you need it, or the battery could run out when you are in the middle of something.

However, if the issue is that the iPad battery is overheating, this is another matter entirely. An overheating battery has the potential to get hot enough to cause harm to you or other users, as well as do more damage to the device itself. When a battery heats up, it can cause severe damage to internal components and cut the life of your device short.

In severe cases, an overheating battery could also cause fires, so please keep this in mind. If you use your iPad in bed, and it has battery problems, make sure that you take measures to reduce the risk of fire, and get a replacement as soon as possible.

It’s also worth mentioning that battery issues can also cause swelling in your device, which will cause further damage and can easily kill your iPad. If you notice any swelling, or the screen is coming away from the rest of the device, make sure to book an appointment with a trusted repair technician as soon as possible to see what can be done.

When Should You Get a Replacement Battery?

You should get a replacement battery when it works for you, or if there are risks to you or your iPad if you do not get a replacement. However, it’s important to take the age of the device into consideration, as you will need to think about upgrade vs repairing the device at some point – technology is not made to last forever,

If you are noticing many of the issues we have talked about today, then you might want to consider making an appointment for a replacement battery.

How imFixed Can Help Restore Your iPad’s Performance

Now that you know the signs to look out for to see if your iPad battery needs replacing, what are your next steps? Is your iPad showing signs of battery trouble? Contact imFixed today for a quick, reliable battery replacement and get your device back to peak performance!

To find out more, check out our businesses or learn about our collections, and if you need help with selling your phone or phone unlocking, we are just one call away. If you would like to learn more about iPads, why not catch up on our articles on iPad screen repairs , if it’s worth replacing the screen, and if DIY vs professional repairs are better.