Smart devices such as iPads are very handy for daily tasks. However, there are myths about charging Apple devices and other gadgets powered by lithium batteries. For example, many people believe that it can damage your iOS device when you charge it for a long period, but I will tell you how leaving your iPad plugged in all-night is beneficial to the battery.
According to Apple, it’s okay to leave your iPad charging overnight. It won’t overcharge because the device uses smart trickle charging to slowly charge the battery from 80% to 100% based on your daily usage, lengthening your battery’s life.
Keep reading to understand why it’s okay to let your iPad charge overnight, and if you let your iPad charge 24/7
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Is It Okay to Leave Your iPad Charging Overnight?
It is good for your iPads battery to let it charge overnight. The iPad lithium-ion battery uses smart charging, which delays charging past 80% then slowly charges to 100% when the iPads not in use, reducing strain on the battery.
All Apple batteries only have 1000 complete charge cycles (one cycle is 100%-0%) before they only retain 80% of their charging capacity.
Apples below diagram show that only one charge cycle is completed when it does 100% of one charge, which doesn’t happen in one day. So, for example, you used 75%, and if you used 25% on Tuesday, your battery has discharged 100% – one full charge cycle.
Charging your iPad at night allows your iPad to use optimized battery charging to only charge past 80% when the iPads not in use which is at night when you go to bed.
Lithium-ion batteries perform better when they are charged, charging your iPad overnight. It allows Apple’s smart AI to learn from your charging habits and keep the batter percentage high, reducing the number of charge cycles the battery goes through, prolonging its life.
When charging, you also don’t need to turn off the device. Turning off your iPad before charging it is a bad idea as it can damage the battery. On the other hand, you can use your device even when it’s plugged in if you need to.
It’s smart to charge your iPad overnight because it automatically stops when it reaches 100% while ensuring that it’s fully charged the next time you need it.
What Happens If You Leave Your iPad Charging Overnight?
The iPad will use optimized battery charging to charge 80% then slowly charge to 100%, reducing strain on the battery. In addition, if the iPad has an automatic backup setup via iCloud or iTunes, it will backup overnight using Wi-Fi or cellular data.
If optimized battery charging is on, the iPad will use the main power rather than its battery power which allows the iPad battery to rest, so the need to charge is reduced while extending the life of your battery.
The device will pick up your usage pattern to determine when to resume charging so that it reaches 100% before you use your iPad again. It’s how the Optimized Charging mode works. Your device starts charging at a particular time and then pauses at 80% before resuming an hour before your intended use.
You can charge your iPad using any USB-A or USB-C type power source and matching cable. Any cable and Apple power source compatible with your connectors are safe to use. However, you will notice some differences in terms of performance since USB-A is slower than USB-C.
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If you want more details, I’ll tell you some secrets. The charger for iPads and other iOS devices is built inside the machine. It’s not the charger you plug into a power source and not the cables that connect the charger or adaptor.
The adaptor and the cables only help pass the current through the device to charge it. However, if you completely drain your battery, it will likely kill it. So it’s important to charge your iPad with still some battery left to keep it working.
The built-in charge of iOS devices is smart, preventing them from overcharging. At the same time, it prevents Apple devices from draining their batteries by turning them off before they get exhausted. Therefore, when your iPad shuts down, it doesn’t mean it reached 0% because there is still some charge on your device.
Likewise, 100% battery doesn’t mean maximum charge since your device will stop charging before the full amount to prevent overcharging. I recommend charging your iPad below 20% to prevent the battery from going zero.
Are you curious about how long your iPad percentage lasts? Then, read my article Complete Guide iPad Charging & How Long iPad Percentages Last.
Can You Leave iPad Plugged in 24/7?
You can leave your iPad plugged in 24/7 because iPads use lithium batteries that stop charging when the device is at 100% charge. But, according to Apple, iOS devices continue to charge and discharge with their advanced recharging technology, so your device won’t get damaged even if it’s plugged in all day.
While it’s okay to keep your iPad plugged in, I recommend you to give it a break to allow the electrons to flow once in a while and maximize your battery’s lifespan. Of course, if you want to unplug your iPad at 100%, it’s also perfectly fine.
With regular use of your iPad, it doesn’t matter if you’re always on it. The lithium battery is designed for heavy use, so there won’t be any problem using and charging your device. One tip from me if you don’t use your Apple device regularly, make sure to perform one complete charging cycle every month wherein you should totally discharge your battery and then charge it again at 100%.
On average, iPads can last up to four to 5 years. After that, either the iPadOS becomes outdated or the hardware, usually the battery or screen, needs replacing. One of the most common issues of Apple users is when the time comes that software updates no longer support their devices.
The worst thing you could do to your device is completely depleted your battery to zero and not charge the iPad immediately. Trust me. I’ve killed my battery for doing this even just once.
Have a bad iPad, and your thinking if you should replace the battery? If so, I suggest you read my helpful battery replacing guide that details how much money you should pay.
At What Percentage Should I Unplug My iPad?
You can unplug your iPad since it has lithium-ion batteries, so you cannot overcharge it. In addition, any partial discharge or partial charge cycles are harmless to the iPad battery.
Many people believe that they should drain their batteries before charging their Apple devices to 100% capacity. However, unplugging your iPad before it’s completely charged won’t damage the battery or degrade its lifespan.
Moreover, it’s also okay to use your device while charging without harming the battery. Even if lithium batteries don’t get overcharged, unplugging your device may prevent the battery from overheating, just like when you leave it under the sun.
If you want to turn off your iPad when charging it, you might just put it on airplane mode to speed up charging time and easily use the device again. But it’s okay to shut it down after plugging your device to charge it quickly.
Always remember to check your battery because allowing it to reach 20% or below may fully discharge it and kill the battery. The only exception is when you need to calibrate your device. The bottom line is that you can safely unplug your iPad when the battery percentage is between 80% or even lower and 100%.
Here are some signs that you should replace your old iPad:
- The battery drains faster than before.
- Apps crash more often.
- Unresponsive hardware keys.
- iOS compatibility problems.
- Running out of memory space.
If you want to maintain your iPad battery’s health, I wrote an article about How Long Can You Leave An iPad Plugged In (iPad Battery Health Guide) that you can get many tips from.