Should I leave my iPad plugged in all the time?

Modern iPads are designed to handle staying plugged in — they stop charging at 100% and manage power intelligently. However, Apple recommends keeping the battery between 20% and 80% for long-term health. Enabling Optimised Battery Charging in Settings does this automatically.

Why does my iPad battery drain so fast?

The biggest battery drains are: screen brightness (try auto-brightness), background app refresh, location services running constantly, and old batteries that have lost capacity. Check Settings → Battery to see which apps are using the most power.

How to Make Your iPad Battery Last Longer

A healthy iPad battery gives you all-day use without anxiety about charging. A few simple habits can significantly extend how long your battery lasts on a single charge — and how many years the battery stays healthy.

Settings that save battery right now

Reduce screen brightness — this is the biggest battery drain. Swipe down from the top-right corner and drag the brightness slider down.
Turn on Auto-Brightness (Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Auto-Brightness).
Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them.
Enable Low Power Mode when the battery is below 30% (Settings → Battery → Low Power Mode).

Long-term battery health

Enable Optimised Battery Charging (Settings → Battery → Battery Health → Optimised Battery Charging). This learns your charging routine and slows charging above 80% to reduce battery aging.
Avoid exposing your iPad to extreme temperatures — very hot or very cold conditions damage the battery.
Check your battery health: Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80% means the battery may need replacing.

When to replace the battery

If your iPad battery health is below 80%, or if your iPad shuts off unexpectedly even with charge remaining, it may be time to have the battery replaced. Apple Stores and authorised repair shops in Ontario can do this, often the same day.

Want to learn more?
Module 4: App Store Safety goes deeper on this topic.
Go to module → All Tips →