13 Jun How To: iPad Not Connecting To iTunes
To get the most of your iPad, you need to be able to connect it to iTunes.
iTunes allows update the software on your iPad, backup your data and manage your media. But what happens if iTunes won’t recognize or detect your iPad?
To fix this issue, check out the steps below:
Update iTunes
Before anything else, ensure you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer.
- To check for available updates of iTunes on a Mac:
Go to iTunes (menu tab on main screen) > Check for Updates.
- To check for available updates of iTunes on Windows:
Go to Help > Check for Updates
You may need to restart your computer depending on what updates are completed.
Check Whether The Computer Recognises The iPad
To make sure that the computer can recognise your iPad, look for a small bolt of lightning that should appear in the battery meter (upper right hand side of the screen) when you connect the iPad to the computer. If the lightning bolt is there, that indicates that the iPad is charging and that the computer recognises the iPad.
If you see the words “Not Charging” instead of the lightning bolt, this means that the computer still recognises the iPad, but the USB port you have used is not capable of charging the iPad.
If The Computer Doesn’t Recognise The iPad
It could be either the cable or the USB port you are using is faulty.
To determine whether it is either of these causing the issue, plug the iPad into another USB port on your computer. If you are using a USB hub or plugging it into an external device like a keyboard, make sure you use a USB port on the computer itself.
If you find that plugging the iPad into another USB port fixes the issue, then you may simply have a bad port. You can double check this by plugging in another device.
If it still doesn’t work with another USB port, you may need to try with a different cable if you have one handy to determine whether it is just the cable that is faulty.
Low Power
When the battery is close to being depleted, it can cause problems with the iPad.
If your iPad is connected to your computer, unplug it and check the battery percentage. If it is less than 10%, try letting the iPad recharge completely using an AC adapter. If your iPad displays a low battery image, it can take up to 20 minutes of charging before the iPad will start up. You can press the Home button to check the current charging status.
Good Old Fashioned Restart
The next step would be to try restarting both the iPad and the computer you are using. It’s amazing what a simple restart can fix!
1. Shut down the computer rather than simply restarting it. Once your computer is completely powered down, let it sit there for a few seconds before powering it back up.
2. To restart the iPad, hold down the sleep/wake button located on the top right hand corner of the iPad for several seconds. The red slider should appear which you will need to slide to turn off the device.
3. Once the iPad screen goes completely black, wait a few seconds and hold the sleep/wake button down again until the Apple logo appears.
4. Once the computer has restarted, try opening iTunes and connecting the iPad to the computer again.
Reinstall iTunes
There could be an issue with the copy of iTunes running on your computer, so a clean copy might just do the trick.
1. Disconnect the iPad from the computer and uninstall iTunes. This will not delete any of your music or apps.
2. Download the latest version of iTunes from here.
3. Install iTunes and restart the computer. Once the computer has booted back up connect the iPad and you should see your iPad within iTunes.
If All Of The Above Fail
It could be the result of a conflict with third party software or a fault with the device.
Determining Whether The Device Is Faulty
1. Try connecting another iPad or iOS device such as an iPhone or iPod to iTunes. If iTunes recognizes this other device, it means it could be that the software on your iPad is causing the issue.
2. You may have to reset your iPad. First, however, make a back up of your content to iCloud by going to:
Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and select ‘Backup Now’ (you will need to be connected to Wi-Fi).
3. To reset your iPad, go to:
Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings (Note: this will erase all of your content and data). Your device will power down and restart, taking you through the setup assistant.
4. To restore your iPad from the backup you created, you will need to select “Restore from iCloud backup when prompted by the setup assistant and enter in your Apple ID Username and Password.
Third Party Software Conflicts
Some third party software such as security software and anti-virus software, may prevent iTunes from recognizing your iPad. To fix this issue, you may need to update your software, adjust software settings, or temporarily disable the software.
For further assistance with your third party software, you will need to contact the manufacturer.