Every time I try to charge my 5th Gen iPad Air using my M4 MacBook Air, the iPad starts charging for like 10 seconds before it just stops and loses battery like normal. I use the USB-C cable that came with the iPad, and when I tried to charge it using my friend's MacBook Air (either M3 or M4 - not sure) the same thing happened.
Is anyone else experiencing this? How can I fix it?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPad Air, iPadOS 18
For charging purposes, the sequence that you make USB-C connections can be significant.
When connecting your iPad to your Mac via USB-C, connect the USB-C cable to the Mac before connecting the iPad. This procedure should ensure that USB PD (Power Delivery) elects the Mac to be the power source. If instead the USB-C charging cable is first connected to the iPad, the iPad itself will source power and charge a USB-C device that is subsequently connected.
These support pages should help with troubleshooting general battery and charging issues:
Charge and monitor the iPad battery - Apple Support
If your iPad won't charge – Apple Support
Troubleshooting generally requires substitution of the Power Adapter and cable for another known-good item. Most models of iPad require a Power Adapter rated at 12W (i.e., 2.4A @5V) or greater to reliably charge. 5W Power Adapters (1.0A @5V) intended for older models of iPhone are inadequate to charge an iPad; if the iPad charges at all, charging will be very slow. Recent models of iPad are supplied with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter.
Some third-party USB-C power adapters (and portable PowerBanks) may not support USB PD (Power Delivery). Power Delivery mutually negotiates the charging voltage; the source, load and cable are all elements involved in the negotiation protocol. Unless the Power Adapter explicitly supports USB PD, it will almost certainly fail to charge the iPad; proprietary charging standards, such as QC (Quick Charge), are not supported.
Many computer USB ports also cannot source sufficient power to charge an iPad. Unless explicitly designed for charging connected devices, computer USB ports are typically limited to 0.5-1A @5V (i.e., 2.5-5.0W).
If you continue to experience difficulties when using an appropriate Power Adapter of 12W or greater, you might be best advised to seek assistance directly from from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively, you can initiate and manage your support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044
You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad, Power Adapter and cable(s) - and you can explore your available options:
For charging purposes, the sequence that you make USB-C connections can be significant.
When connecting your iPad to your Mac via USB-C, connect the USB-C cable to the Mac before connecting the iPad. This procedure should ensure that USB PD (Power Delivery) elects the Mac to be the power source. If instead the USB-C charging cable is first connected to the iPad, the iPad itself will source power and charge a USB-C device that is subsequently connected.
These support pages should help with troubleshooting general battery and charging issues:
Charge and monitor the iPad battery - Apple Support
If your iPad won't charge – Apple Support
Troubleshooting generally requires substitution of the Power Adapter and cable for another known-good item. Most models of iPad require a Power Adapter rated at 12W (i.e., 2.4A @5V) or greater to reliably charge. 5W Power Adapters (1.0A @5V) intended for older models of iPhone are inadequate to charge an iPad; if the iPad charges at all, charging will be very slow. Recent models of iPad are supplied with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter.
Some third-party USB-C power adapters (and portable PowerBanks) may not support USB PD (Power Delivery). Power Delivery mutually negotiates the charging voltage; the source, load and cable are all elements involved in the negotiation protocol. Unless the Power Adapter explicitly supports USB PD, it will almost certainly fail to charge the iPad; proprietary charging standards, such as QC (Quick Charge), are not supported.
Many computer USB ports also cannot source sufficient power to charge an iPad. Unless explicitly designed for charging connected devices, computer USB ports are typically limited to 0.5-1A @5V (i.e., 2.5-5.0W).
If you continue to experience difficulties when using an appropriate Power Adapter of 12W or greater, you might be best advised to seek assistance directly from from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively, you can initiate and manage your support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044
You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad, Power Adapter and cable(s) - and you can explore your available options:
USB-C Power Delivery is negotiated – and it can go either way, if both devices support, and agree on, a particular direction.
If you check the Mac after the ten seconds have passed, does it show any of the usual indications that it thinks it's receiving external power?
and it charges normally if you just connect it to a normal AC charger rather than a laptop?
Yep, I've had no issues charging it otherwise.
Not as far as I know. The only thing that pops up when I plug the cable in is a prompt to trust the other device/allow it access to my info.
iPad Air 5 not charging properly via MacBook Air USB-C port
