Basic iPad Troubleshooting to Do First

If you have an iPad that’s frozen or otherwise acting up, you should perform the seven Rs in sequence: Recharge, Restart, Reset your iPad, Remove your content, Reset settings and content, Restore, and Recovery mode. Before you even start those procedures, Apple recommends you take these steps:

1. Verify that you have the current version of iTunes installed on your Mac or PC.

   You can always download the latest and greatest version here.

2. Verify that you’re connecting your iPad to your computer using a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port.

3. Make sure that your iPad software is up to date.

   To check with iTunes on your Mac or PC:

   1. Connect your iPad to your computer, launch iTunes (if necessary), and then click your iPad in the iTunes sidebar.

   2. Click the Summary tab and then click the Check for Update button.

   To check with your iPad:

   1. Tap Settings on your Home screen.

   2. Tap General in the Settings list on the left side of the screen.

   3. Tap Software Update on the right side of the screen.

If your iPad requires an update, you receive instructions for doing so. Otherwise, please continue.

If those three easy steps didn’t get you back up and running and your iPad is still acting up — if it freezes, doesn’t wake up from sleep, doesn’t do something it used to do, or in any other way acts improperly — don’t panic. Now is the time to try the seven Rs.

If the first technique doesn’t do the trick, go on to the second. If the second one doesn’t work, try the third. And so on.