iPad Flashing Apple Logo? How to Restore It to Normal State

by J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young iPad Published On Dec 27, 2021 Updated On Apr 19, 2023
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Your iPad can sometimes get stuck on the flashing Apple Logo. Although it can happen anytime you reset or restart the iPad, most users report that they see this problem most commonly when they connect the device to a charger.

Once the device is connected to a charger, the Apple Logo appears for about 3 seconds before disappearing and then appearing again only to flash on the screen indefinitely.

There are a lot of reasons why your iPad may be behaving in this way and although the device may appear useless, there are steps that you can take to restore it to normal function.

Here, we have listed all these solutions in detail to help you repair the iPad flashing Apple Logo issue.

What Causes the iPad Flashing Apple Logo

Startup is one of the most crucial moments for any electronic device. This phase is where your device essentially "wakes up."

However, if you experience things like your iPad being stuck on the Apple logo, it might be a sign of more significant issues.

Since being stuck on the Apple logo is a symptom, knowing what might be the causes of this problem can help you get to the bottom of things. This could be either software or hardware issues.

Here are some causes why your iPad might be flashing Apple logo:

  • Faulty iPadOS update
  • A defective beta version of iPadOS
  • Faulty iPadOS restore or downgrade
  • Data transfer error from an older device
  • Hardware damage due to being dropped or experiencing an impact

Shake the iPad

In a few Apple Support Community pages, there are some users who recommend shaking your iPad.

They say that when they did, they could feel something that was loose inside the device.

This may mean that a battery component or the battery itself is having an issue.

Once they shook the device, they say that the iPad was able to startup immediately.

But as they will be quick to point out, this is just a temporary solution and if it works, then it means that a hardware component on the device is broken or damaged.

You should therefore seek the services of an Apple-certified technician to help resolve the issue permanently.

Check the Computer USB Port and Lightning Cable

This is also a common problem if there is an issue with the charging process itself, which is why your iPad may get stuck on the flashing Apple Logo soon after you connect it to a charger.

It is therefore a good idea to check the USB port and lighting cable that you are using for any obvious signs of damage.

Start by checking the computer's USB port to see if there is any dust, dirt or lint that may affect the charging process.

A dirty USB port can affect the connection between the port and the lightning cable, thereby preventing the device from charging.

Then you may also want to go through the length of the cable to check for any damage that may be on it.

If there is no obvious damage, you can use a different cable to rule out a problem with the cable.

Check the Lightning Cable

Charge Your iPad

Once you are certain there is nothing wrong with your charging implements, it is important to charge the device.

This is because iOS stuck issues like this one can affect devices that don't have adequate battery.

Connect the iPad to charger and allow it to charge for up to 30 mins before attempting to restart the device again.

If you find that the device's battery drains too fast, there may be a problem with the battery and you may need to replace it.

Charge Your iPad

Force Restart Your iPad

A hard reset is a way to force the iPad to turn off completely and then turn back on. In this way, it is a great way to force all services and features to turn off, and a great way to fix an iPad that is frozen.

To hard reset your iPad with Home button:

  1. Press and hold the Home and the Top button at the same time.
  2. Release the buttons when the Apple Logo appears on the screen.

Force Restart Your iPad

If your iPad does not have a Home button:

  1. Press and release both volume buttons simultaneously.
  2. Next, press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears.
  3. Wait for the hard reset to finish.

Force Restart Your iPad

Once the iPad reboots, you will have access to the device. If not, the issue can point to a much deeper software problem that you may need to fix using other advanced methods.

The next solutions will be very helpful in that regard.

Apply TinyFix iPad System Repair Tool

TinyFix is an iOS system repair tool that can be used to resolve all software problem on iPhone or iPad once and for all.

The main benefit of using TinyFix over other solutions such as restoring the device in iTunes is that you can repair the iPad without losing any data on the device.

What's more, it is very easy to use and only requires a few clicks to solve most iPad issues.

The following simple steps will guide you to repair your iPad easily:

Step 1: Download TinyFix and install it on to your computer.

Step 2: Open TinyFix and then connect the iPad to the computer. In the main window, click "iOS System Repair".

 main screen of TinyFix

Step 3: In the next window, you will need to select the repair mode that you will be using. Choose "Standard Repair" to fix the iPad without losing data.

Standard Repair Mode

Step 4: The next step is to download the firmware package. Just click "Download" to start downloading the package.

get the appropriate firmware

Step 5: Once the firmware package has been downloaded, click "Fix Now" to begin repairing the iPad.

TinyFix will resolve the flashing logo issue, allowing your iPad to get back to normal function.

repairing the device.

Restore iPad Using Recovery Mode  

You may also be able to fix the iPad by restoring it in recovery mode. This is a solution that is highly effective if the iPad has a corrupt operating system that can happen if an iOS update was interrupted or failed to complete.

To restore the iPad in recovery mode, you will need to use Finder (for macOS Catalina and later) or iTunes (for macOS Mojave or PC). 

Follow these steps to do it:

Step 1: Connect the iPad to the computer using its USB/Lightning cable and then open Finder or iTunes on your computer

Step 2: Now put the iPad in recovery mode, using one of the following procedures depending on your iPad model:

On iPads with Face ID:

  1. Press and release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and release the Volume Down button.
  3. Then press and hold the Top button.
  4. Release the button only when you see the "Connect to iTunes" screen.

Update iPads with Face ID in Recovery Mode

On iPads with the Home Button:

  1. Press and Hold the Power and Home buttons at the same time until the "Connect to iTunes" screen appears.

put the iPad in recovery mode

Step 3: When a message pops up in iTunes asking you to restore or update the device. Select "Update" and iTunes of Finder will attempt to install the latest firmware.

If "Update" doesn't work, you can choose to "Restore" the device instead and follow the onscreen instructions to restore the device.

follow the onscreen instructions

DFU Restore iPad

If you're tech-savvy and the above solutions didn't work out, you can put your device in Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode to trigger a restore.

Here's how you can restore your device to its default state using DFU mode:

Step 1. Connect your iPad to your computer using a USB cable.

Step 2. Open your iTunes or the Finder app.

Step 3. Put your iPad in DFU mode. This process usually involves pressing a combination of the volume up, volume down and the side button. Getting into this mode is also different for various iPad versions.

For iPads with a Home Button:

  • Step 1: Press and hold both the Home and the Power Buttons at the same time for about 8 seconds.
  • Step 2: Release the Power button after 8 seconds, but continue to hold the Home Button until iTunes recognizes the device.
  • Step 3: Let go of the button and then follow the onscreen instructions to restore the device.

For iPads with Face ID:

  • Step 1: Press and release the Volume Up Button, and press and release the Volume Down button.
  • Step 2: Then press and hold the Top button until the screen goes black.
  • Step 3: Now press and hold the Volume Down Button and the Top Button at the same time for about 5 seconds.
  • Step 4: Release the Top Button after 5 seconds, but continue to hold the Volume Down button until the iPad shows in iTunes.
  • Step 5: Let go of the Volume Down button and then follow the onscreen instructions to restore the device.

Step 4. On your iTunes or Finder app, select Restore iPad to begin the resetting process.

Restore iPad

iPad Flashing Apple Logo After Water Damaged?

Water and complex internal circuitry just don't mix. Dropping your iPad in water can only mean that you'll be dealing with software issues or hardware problems.

However, it's still not the end of the world if you find yourself in this situation.

The best thing you can do if your iPad falls into the water is to stay calm. Panicking will only cause you to move your phone around frantically, causing the water inside to reach other places.

However, you can follow these steps to try to prevent hardware damage from worsening:

  • Secure the outside of your iPad and try to keep it as dry as possible.
  • Remove your sim card to prevent breaking it and allow air into your device.
  • Put your iPad on a flat surface.
  • Surround your iPad with desiccants such as silica gel so they can absorb moisture.
  • Give it some time, and only remove the desiccants once you're confident they've absorbed the moisture. Just to be safe, give it 24 hours at most.  
  • Turn your iPad back on. If the situation is salvageable, you can use your iPad again.
  • Make backups of your files. You're unsure when your iPad will work, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

iPad Still Flashing Apple Logo? Get Help from Experts

Restoring your iPad in recovery or DFU mode can risk all the data on your device, so if you are uncomfortable with any of the solutions we have outlined above, you may want to seek help from Apple-certified technicians.

You can make an appointment at your local Apple Store to get the device repaired and the technicians will diagnose the problem and easily resolve it for you.

Hardware problems may also warrant a trip to the Apple Store. Depending on the availability of parts, the technicians may be able to replace any damaged components on the spot. The cost will depend on the terms of your warranty.

An iPad that stuck on the flashing logo is an all-too common problem that can occur for a number of reasons.

This article exhausts all the solutions that you can use to resolve this problem. You can post any questions you may have on the solutions above in the comments section below.

J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young

Mako is a technical freelance writer with a passion for all things tech. Whether you're wondering about how to fix your iPhone or trying to get something to work in your settings, Mako is your go-to for professional help. He loves writing, testing solutions, and most of all, making sure his research is factually accurate.

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