iPad Air 2 no longer charges after 10.2.1 update!

[DaveF]

After updating yesterday to iOS 10.2.1, my iPad Air 2 no longer charges its battery. Plugging it into any charger, including its original wall wart, I get the pop up saying "This accessory no longer supported" and it doesn't charge.

I've restarted it.
I used compressed air to blow out the Lightning port.

Has anyone else seen this? It's an original Air 2, about four years old. Is it likely just dead, or can I get it repaired by Apple for a reasonable cost?

 

[snow755]

I have the newer iPad Air 2 model and no charging issues here

 

[960design]

After updating yesterday to iOS 10.2.1, my iPad Air 2 no longer charges its battery. Plugging it into any charger, including its original wall wart, I get the pop up saying "This accessory no longer supported" and it doesn't charge.

I've restarted it.
I used compressed air to blow out the Lightning port.

Has anyone else seen this? It's an original Air 2, about four years old. Is it likely just dead, or can I get it repaired by Apple for a reasonable cost?

1300 iPad Air 2 updated to 10.2.1 with no issues after update. A couple updated to 10.3 for preupdate testing with no charging issues.

 

[Mlrollin91]

After updating yesterday to iOS 10.2.1, my iPad Air 2 no longer charges its battery. Plugging it into any charger, including its original wall wart, I get the pop up saying "This accessory no longer supported" and it doesn't charge.

I've restarted it.
I used compressed air to blow out the Lightning port.

Has anyone else seen this? It's an original Air 2, about four years old. Is it likely just dead, or can I get it repaired by Apple for a reasonable cost?

Are you using an authentic Apple Lightning Cable or MFI certified? I have only had this issue with non-MFI. I didn't even know it was a non-MFI until the issue occurred, then I tossed it.

 

[960design]

Are you using an authentic Apple Lightning Cable or MFI certified? I have only had this issue with non-MFI. I didn't even know it was a non-MFI until the issue occurred, then I tossed it.

Good point. Ensure you are using an Apple Certified USB cable and charger. The computer in the usb cable does several verifications on the device to know the amount of power and rate to send it. The updated iOS may need that 'okay to charge' verification.

 

[DaveF]

Are you using an authentic Apple Lightning Cable or MFI certified? I have only had this issue with non-MFI. I didn't even know it was a non-MFI until the issue occurred, then I tossed it.

I've tried a variety, including original Apple cables and Apple iPad charger.

I think the iPad's lightning port is defective or damaged, and isn't registering cables correctly. It's giving me "Accessory not Supported" errors on every cable connection in the house, that two days ago worked fine.

 

[960design]

I've tried a variety, including original Apple cables and Apple iPad charger.

I think the iPad's lightning port is defective or damaged, and isn't registering cables correctly. It's giving me "Accessory not Supported" errors on every cable connection in the house, that two days ago worked fine.

If it is still under warranty, no worries. If not, you will need to purchase new iPad as the charging circuit is damaged. The charging circuit is part of the motherboard and not separately repairable ( well technically it is repairable, but you will need a microscope and some specialized tools and a ton of skill ).

Charging circuit can be damaged from lightning strikes or using non Apple USB cables or charges. The cheapo cable/charges do not have the linux processors that regulate power, they rely on circuits and expect a perfect power flow through the wall socket.

There is one last hope. Run the iPad battery all the way down. Then leave it alone for a couple of months to ensure the last 2% of the main battery dies. This will discharge all capacitors and hopefully reset the charging circuit, if it was not damaged too badly.

 

[DaveF]

If it is still under warranty, no worries. If not, you will need to purchase new iPad as the charging circuit is damaged. The charging circuit is part of the motherboard and not separately repairable ( well technically it is repairable, but you will need a microscope and some specialized tools and a ton of skill ).

Charging circuit can be damaged from lightning strikes or using non Apple USB cables or charges. The cheapo cable/charges do not have the linux processors that regulate power, they rely on circuits and expect a perfect power flow through the wall socket.

There is one last hope. Run the iPad battery all the way down. Then leave it alone for a couple of months to ensure the last 2% of the main battery dies. This will discharge all capacitors and hopefully reset the charging circuit, if it was not damaged too badly.

Thanks. It's 3+ years old and I don't buy AppleCare, so there's no warranty. I'm going to schedule a GeniusBar appointment to see what they say. Assuming it's dead you as surmise, I'll buy a new iPad (hopefully with next week's refresh).

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks. It's 3+ years old and I don't buy AppleCare, so there's no warranty. I'm going to schedule a GeniusBar appointment to see what they say. Assuming it's dead you as surmise, I'll buy a new iPad (hopefully with next week's refresh).

You never know what Apple is going to come back and say. They may offer a discounted OOW repair or replacement. The standard OOW is $299, which is definitely cheaper than a new iPad.

 

[DaveF]

It's a hardware failure. I found that an Apple Lightning cable had gone bad and I suspect it damaged the iPad's electronics.

OOW iPad Air 2 replacement is $299, which is not a good deal deal when there's a brand new $329 iPad on sale two days later. (Or when I bought my wife's iPad Air 2 for ~$250 a month ago on some super Target sale.)

 

[Mlrollin91]

It's a hardware failure. I found that an Apple Lightning cable had gone bad and I suspect it damaged the iPad's electronics.

OOW iPad Air 2 replacement is $299, which is not a good deal deal when there's a brand new $329 iPad on sale two days later. (Or when I bought my wife's iPad Air 2 for ~$250 a month ago on some super Target sale.)

Depending on what you use your iPad for, the new iPad could possibly be a downgrade for you, not an upgrade. I would recommend a lot of research on it if you plan on buying it. It is slightly faster single core, and a brighter display. But it's heavier, thicker, non-fully laminated display and slower multi-core.