I’m struggling to figure out how to turn off my iPad. It’s my first time with an Apple device and I can’t seem to get it powered down. Can someone guide me through the steps or let me know what I’m doing wrong?
Turning off your iPad isn’t rocket science, but I get it—Apple loves making even basic stuff feel like a secret handshake. Anyway, here’s the deal:
If you have one of the newer models (with Face ID—aka no home button), you’re gonna want to:
- Press and hold the top button and one of the volume buttons (either works) at the same time.
- Hold until you see the “Slide to Power Off” thing pop up.
- Drag that slider across the screen. Bam, done.
Now, if you’ve got one of the older models (home button gang), just hold the top button down until that same power-off slider appears, then slide it. No fancy two-button dance needed.
Struggling because it’s not working? Make sure you’re not just doing a quick press (that’ll just put your iPad to sleep). You gotta hold those buttons down for a few seconds. Oh, and if it’s frozen? You might need to force restart instead (different steps entirely—let’s not go there unless you really need to).
It’s weirdly counterintuitive at first, but you’ll get the hang of it. Apple loves their “simple” design, but sometimes it’s just confusing.
If it’s any consolation, Apple’s “intuitive” design has been confusing literally everyone since the dawn of time (or at least the release of the first iPhone). While @shizuka gave some solid steps, I gotta say, the whole “press and hold two buttons like you’re cracking a safe” thing can feel so un-Apple-like to me.
Here’s another angle: If the whole button-pressing method feels like wrestling with a toddler to get them to nap, you can go the settings route. Yup, there’s a way to turn off your iPad through the settings menu—totally button-free and a thousand times easier if your hands are like, refusing to cooperate (been there).
- Open the Settings app (that gray gear icon thing).
- Scroll down to the General section—it’s oddly buried in there.
- At the very bottom, you’ll see a button that literally says Shut Down. Tap it.
- The slider to power off pops up. Slide it like it’s the 2007 iPod classic you wish you still had.
Boom. You’re officially off the “mystical button combination” train and gliding into no-strength-needed territory. Sure, this method’s slower, but hey, no button awkwardness.
Honestly, I sometimes question why Apple makes stuff like turning off a device such a process. You’d think a company centered on “simplicity” wouldn’t need multiple methods to power down their rectangular piece of metal. Maybe they think we’re all bored and need these weird little puzzles to spice up our tech habits.