In an effort to minimize e-waste, Apple’s latest iPad and iPhone packages do not include a charger. Instead, Apple assumes that its users could have older Apple chargers that they can use to charge these newer version devices. It is no wonder that users online continue to raise concerns about whether an iPhone charger can charge an iPad, given the differences in their specs.
So, can you charge an iPad with an iPhone charger? You can safely charge an iPad with an iPhone charger. Apple’s designs of its iPad, iPhone, and AirPods, which use a lightning connection, are such that they can charge using any charger coming with an Apple device. However, you should note that the iPad and iPhone have different wattages, with the iPad featuring a higher wattage than iPhone chargers. Hence, using an iPhone charger to charge your iPad will take longer.
With Apple selling its recent iPad versions without the charger in the packaging, you may wonder if you can inter-use their chargers.
Using your iPhone and iPad interchangeably can save you the cost of buying a new charger when you upgrade your device. Read on to understand whether this is possible, if it is safe to use your iPhone charger on your iPad, and the potential differences in performance compared to the original charger.
According to Apple, you can charge your iPad using your iPhone charger. Over the years, Apple reduced its charging cables and made them universal so that you can use your iPad, iPhone, and AirPods chargers interchangeably.
Apple designs its iPads and iPhones to draw the correct amount of power, enough to charge them fast but not too much to harm the devices. Even then, there are a few differences in the charging adapters, with the iPhone featuring a lower wattage than the iPad. As such, charging your iPad with an iPhone charger will take longer.
An iPhone charger has 5 wattages while the iPad charger has 12 wattages. This is given that an iPad is a bigger device, requiring more power to charge. Using a lower wattage iPhone charger to charge your iPad will take longer. However, you do not need to worry as your iPhone charger will not damage your iPad, despite the extended charging time.
The duration it takes for your iPad to be full when charging using an iPhone charger depends on the device’s models. iPhone chargers are mostly 5 watts, but the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are exceptions, featuring 18 watt chargers.
On the other hand, iPad chargers range from 10 to 20 watts depending on the model. On average, it will take up to 5 hours to charge your iPad till full using a five-wattage iPhone charger.
With the prolonged charging period using a lower wattage iPhone charger on your iPhone, it is common to leave your iPad charging overnight. Leaving your device charging overnight with Apple’s iPhone device will not harm your battery. When the lithium battery reaches 100% full, your iPad will stop charging to prevent overload.
Why Does My iPhone Charger Not Charge My iPad?
As stated earlier, it is possible to charge your iPad using an iPhone charger. The only difference will be the duration your iPad will take before it is full, given the lower wattage in iPhone chargers. While you expect successful charging across Apple’s iPads and iPhones, this may not always be the case, and the iPad may not charge, despite plugging it in power. Read on to understand what could cause this and the possible fixes to resolve this issue.
Your iPad may not charge when you connect it to a low-power iPhone charger or USB port to your iPad. In this case, your iPhone will receive enough power to operate, but this power will be too low to increase the battery percentage. Thus, your iPad will either not charge at all or charge very slowly.
An iPad needs a certain power level to charge normally. For instance, the iPad Mini will use about 1.7 to 2.2 watts, and if the charger is less than this, you expect to get a “not charging” message. To fix your iPad’s charging issue, you will need to check three things, they include the charger, cable, and USB port.
The iPadOS design is such that it can detect power fluctuations from the charger you are using. The system will interpret these fluctuations as a safety risk, and the iPad will stop charging. If this happens when you plug in your iPhone charger, try other chargers and check for any improvements.
If your iPad charges with other chargers, you will conclude the problem to be your charger and not your device and consider a replacement. However, if your iPad is still not charging, you will need to troubleshoot the Lightning cable.
When examining your Lightning cable, check for discoloration on the wire or connector, and if your cable is discolored, it is time for a replacement. If discoloration is not the problem, try charging your iPad using a different cable if you have an extra cable, or borrow from a friend and note any differences.
Replace the Lightning cable if your device charges using a different cable. During this replacement, ensure you buy an MFI-certified cable. MFI- certified cables conform to Apple’s standards, hence high quality, and will not pose safety threats to your devices.
Using a cable that is not MFI certified will overheat and damage your iPad’s internal components. To tell if a cable is MFI-certified or not, plug it into your device, and you will receive a message stating, “This accessory may not be supported” for uncertified cables.
Your iPad may also not charge due to a software crash, leaving your device unresponsive. In this case, a hard reset should fix the problem. Fortunately, most iPad users report positive feedback after a hard reset.
To hard reset your iPad, hold the Home and Power buttons simultaneously until you see the Apple logo flash on the screen. If your iPad lacks a Home button, press and release the volume up button and repeat the process for the volume down button until the Apple logo appears.
Alternatively, you can do a DFU restore. A DFU removes the line of code on your device and restores it to its factory settings, fixing very deep software issues that could prevent your iPad from charging. Before doing a DFU, back up all the information on your iPad lest you lose your files, photos, videos, and contacts.
While the above fixes should restore your iPad’s charging capability, not all your iPad charging problems are fixable by checking charger ports, charger, and software issues. The problem could sometimes be simple to a complex hardware issue, requiring cleaning or repair.
Dirt and debris may block your charger pins and affect the charging. To rule out dirt as the culprit, take a flashlight and look for any debris or dirt on your port that could be preventing your iPhone charger from connecting to your iPad’s charging port.
The older version iPads feature eight pins that connect to the Lightning cable during charging, while the newer iPads feature USB-C ports with twenty-four pins. Depending on how often you clean your device, dirt and dust may accumulate and conceal these pins, hindering successful connection. Hence, clean your charging ports to prevent charging issues caused by dirt.
Cleaning your charging iPad’s charging port requires an anti-static brush. If you do not have an anti-static brush, use a new toothbrush as a substitute. Using a device that can conduct electricity can damage your iPad’s internal components. To clean your ports, gently brush the dirt from the ports and try charging your iPad.
If you expose your charger to water or other fluids, the connectors inside the charging port may damage, and charging will be impossible. In such cases, you should take your iPad for repair, and I can recommend that you do so through Apple.
Fortunately, you can access Apple support online, in person, and via mail. It is advisable to book an appointment before visiting your Apple Store for such repairs lest you spend a lot of time on the waiting bay.
The operating temperatures could also affect your iPad charging. Normally, an iPad will operate between 32- and 95-degrees Fahrenheit. If your charger is too hot or cold, it may stop charging or charge slowly. Thus, before troubleshooting for major problems, ensure your iPad operates at standard temperatures and try charging.
Can You Charge an iPad With Any Charger?
While you may prefer charging your devices with their original charger, this may not always be the case as the charger may break, or your iPad may not come with a charger in its package. Read on to know which charger you can use for your Apple iPad.
It is generally safe to use Apple’s USB power adapters for MacBook, iPhone, and iPad to charge your iPad as long as you have the correct connector. Other non-Apple chargers may work but they may not be safe to use as they are not designed for Apple products and will affect the warranty of the iPad.
With Apple power adapters, all you will do is connect your iPad using the Lighting cable to the adapter and charge your device. Higher wattage adapters will charge your iPad faster than lower wattage adapters.
On the other hand, it is not advisable to use knock-off chargers to charge your iPad, as most of these models do not comply with Apple’s safety standards and may damage your device, something that your warranty will not cover.
Choosing the right charger for your iPad requires you to factor in two items, your iPad model and whether you have a Lightning connector or USB-C port. If your iPad has a USB-C port, an 18W power adapter and a USB-C port are suitable. On the other hand, if your iPad features a Lightning connector, use an adapter with a USB-A port of 10 or 12 watts.
An Android charger will not charge your iPad as the cables are incompatible. However, users online claim that by using USB-C cables on their android chargers, they could charge their iPads successfully.
Charging your iPad using your computer is also unadvisable as most computers lack high-power USB ports that can deliver sufficient energy to charge your iPad. Connecting your iPad to your computer for charging will populate the Not Charging message.
While your Apple iPad’s battery may not get damaged from using other chargers, given its safety standards, it is advisable to stick to the original Apple chargers. Charging your iPad, the best way entails picking the right charger and charging cable, including the Lightning charger and USB-C cables.
When using the lightning charger, the difference in charging time stems from the wattage with higher wattage chargers charging your devices faster. Since an iPad is a powerful device, consider chargers with higher wattage.
When it comes to the USB-C, how fast your device will charge will also depend on the wattage of the charger that goes into your device. The USB-C will deliver up to 3.1 in speed, unlike the standard USB that delivers 2.0, hence suitable for iPad charging.
Finally, whether or not you use a fast charger to charge your iPad, you can practice a few techniques to improve the charging speed. For instance, you can put your device in airplane mode during charging.
This action will shut down background processes, including Bluetooth connections and GPS, which consume battery power, improving your iPad’s charging speed. Other techniques you can use include turning off active downloads, decreasing screen brightness, closing unnecessary apps, and turning off unnecessary notifications.
Wrap Up
Apple designs its chargers to their use interchangeably across iPhones, AirPods, and iPads. This saves on e-waste and reduces the package size, enabling Apple to ship more devices. With the above in mind, you can charge your iPad using your iPhone charger, but since an iPad is more powerful, using a 5 watt iPhone charger on it will slow down the charging process. However, this should not worry you as your device’s battery will not damage from long hours of charging.
If you want to charge your iPad faster, consider high wattage chargers. Even then, stick to the recommended options by Apple, as knock-off chargers pose safety risks to your iPad. Finally, while you expect your iPad to charge using your iPhone charger, this may not always be the case due to charger or cable incompatibilities. Your device could also feature hardware or software issues requiring cleaning, repair or replacement.
