You can plug your iPad into your computer but you might have noticed a message saying “Not Charging” on the iPad’s screen. Find out why this message appears and how you can fix it.

It’s not enough current

Many USB ports on computers don’t supply enough current to charge an iPad with the screen still on. You will notice a message stating that the USB port is not charging your iPad while it is on, just below the battery icon.

To charge your iPad at a satisfactory speed, you will need between 10 and 20 watts of power depending on which model. This is especially true if your iPad is being used.

Most computer USB ports have only 0.5 amps, particularly those in older devices. It’s not enough to charge your iPad and it’s not enough for it to be powered while it is being used.

Some newer models come with high-power charging ports, which can charge your iPad. It will take more trial and error to find the right USB port for your iPad if you don’t know the details. You can fix the problem by using strategies.

Use USB Ports to Connect to a Different Computer

Newer computers often have USB ports with high power that can charge iPads at a reasonable rate. Although it won’t charge your iPad as quickly as a wall charger will, it may work.

Use a different charging cable

Sometimes, the charging cable you use to charge your iPad may become damaged or frayed. This can cause it not to be able to charge properly.

You can either purchase a new USB C charging cable or use one you already have, as per Windows Report.

Clean your iPad’s Charging Port

Your iPad’s lightning port can become clogged with dust or lint. It can cause resistance, which could interfere with the charging process.

Turn off your iPad to resolve the problem. Insert a toothpick in the port. The toothpick can pull out any dust or lint from the port. This can damage the iPad’s connection pins so don’t try to do it too often.

Turn off the screen and trickle charge

You might be able, depending on your iPad’s model, to put it in sleep mode and then trickle-charge it for a longer period of time.

The power consumption of newer iPad models is higher, so this technique cannot be used on older iPad models.

Apple is currently working on wireless charging so this might not be an issue. Apple iPad Pro launched wireless charging last year.

What You Can Do

There are many things you can do if you notice the “Not Charging” sign when you plug your iPad into your computer’s USB port. Here’s a list of the best.

Use a different USB port

Because each output has more power, you can use different USB ports to your computer. Try plugging your iPad cable into different ports to see if it works. According to Computer Repairs Brisbane Airport, the USB ports on keyboards are not always powerful enough.