The correct way to turn off an iPad depends on which model you have

iPads shut down differently depending on whether you have a model with a home button or one without. The home button is a physical circle at the bottom of the screen — if your iPad has one, you use a different method than a newer model without it. Knowing which type you have takes five seconds and prevents you from accidentally triggering the wrong feature.

Before you shut down your iPad, make sure any open work is saved. Most apps save automatically, but email drafts, notes, and documents in some programs may not. Close any apps you were using and give them a moment to finish saving. This takes less than a minute and prevents losing anything you were working on.

Key Takeaways

  • iPads with a home button (the physical circle at the bottom) require you to hold the top power button and home button together until the shutdown slider appears.
  • Newer iPads without a home button require you to hold the top or side power button and either volume button together until the shutdown slider appears.
  • The shutdown slider is a red circle with a line through it — drag it to the right to turn off the iPad completely.
  • If your iPad is frozen and will not respond to button presses, force restart it by pressing and releasing the volume up button, then the volume down button, then holding the power button until the Apple logo appears.

Shutting down an iPad with a home button

If your iPad has a physical home button at the bottom center of the screen, hold down the power button (located on the top edge or right edge, depending on the model) and the home button at the same time. Keep both pressed for about ten seconds. You will see the word "slide to power off" appear at the top of the screen with a red slider underneath it.

Drag the red slider to the right with your finger. The screen will go black and the iPad will shut down completely. This usually takes five to ten seconds. You will know it is fully off when the screen stays black even if you press buttons — there will be no Apple logo or response.

Shutting down an iPad without a home button

If your iPad does not have a home button (iPad Pro models from 2018 onward, iPad Air 4 and newer, or iPad mini 6 and newer), hold down the power button on the top or side edge and one of the volume buttons (either the up or down button) at the same time. Keep both pressed for about ten seconds until you see the shutdown slider appear.

The slider will show a red circle with a line through it. Drag it to the right. Your iPad will shut down within ten seconds. The screen will go completely black and stay black — no lights, no response to button presses — when it is fully off.

What to do if the buttons do not work

If your iPad is frozen and the power button does not respond, you can force it to restart. This is different from a normal shutdown — it forces the iPad off when ready without waiting for apps to close. Press and release the volume up button quickly. Then press and release the volume down button quickly. Then hold down the power button (do not release it this time) for about ten seconds.

You will see the Apple logo appear on the screen. Keep holding the power button for a few more seconds after the logo shows up. The iPad will restart. This method works even if the screen is completely unresponsive, but it should only be used when the normal shutdown method does not work, because it does not give apps a chance to save their work.

Checking that your iPad is actually off

After you shut down your iPad, wait about thirty seconds before checking. Press the power button once — if nothing happens and the screen stays black, your iPad is off. If the Apple logo appears or the screen lights up, the shutdown did not complete and you should try again.

Some iPads take longer to shut down than others, especially if they were running many apps. If you see the Apple logo appear after you press the power button, your iPad is actually restarting, not staying off. Let it finish starting up, then try shutting it down again using the correct method for your model.

Why you might want to shut down instead of just locking

Locking your iPad (pressing the power button once) puts it to sleep but leaves it running in the background. Shutting it down completely turns off all power and stops all background activity. You should shut down your iPad if you are not going to use it for more than a few days, if it is running slowly, or if you are traveling and want to save battery completely.

If you just need to step away for a few hours, locking is fine — it uses very little battery. But if you notice your iPad is slow or acting strangely, a full shutdown and restart often fixes the problem better than just locking and unlocking it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will shutting down my iPad delete anything?

No. Shutting down only turns off the power. All your photos, apps, documents, and settings stay on the iPad. When you turn it back on, everything will be exactly as you left it.

How long does it take to shut down an iPad?

A normal shutdown takes five to fifteen seconds from the moment you drag the slider until the screen goes black. A force restart (when the buttons are not responding) takes about ten to twenty seconds from when you hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.

What is the difference between shutting down and restarting?

Shutting down turns the iPad completely off. Restarting turns it off and when ready turns it back on. To restart instead of shut down, hold the power button after the slider appears until the Apple logo shows up, rather than dragging the slider.

Can I shut down my iPad if an app is frozen?

Yes. If one app is frozen but the rest of your iPad works, you can close just that app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, finding the app, and swiping it up. If your entire iPad is frozen and buttons do not work, use the force restart method instead of a normal shutdown.

Does my iPad need to be shut down regularly?

Not necessarily. Modern iPads are designed to run for weeks without being shut down. However, shutting down once a week or whenever you notice slowness can help keep your iPad running smoothly. If you are not using it for more than a few days, shutting it down completely saves battery.