Some users find iPad not charging on USB ports

updated 04:45 pm EDT, Sat April 3, 2010

USB hubs, Windows PCs struggling with iPad power

A number of early iPad buyers have reported that the tablet isn't charging from their computers' USB ports. Even when using rear ports, some Windows PC owners have noticed their iPads refusing to charge at all. Most Mac owners haven't had issues, and all have successfully charged from the bundled AC adapter.

Apple already has a support document warning that the iPad won't charge from low-power ports, such as those on wired keyboards or some front-mounted ports on Windows computers. The iPad's much larger 9.7-inch screen and possibly other demands call for more energy than the iPhone or iPod.

Whether or not the problem is widespread or can be fixed with a firmware update isn't known given the small amount of time the iPad has been on sale. Company representatives have so far told shoppers to charge directly through USB in the interim.

By Electronista Staff

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gadgets, Apple, iPad

abusamer

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2009

04/03, 05:07pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

iPad not charging from MBP

I just picked up my 32GB iPad and it's not charging from the USB port on my Mac Book Pro.

cartoonasaur

Joined: May 2009

04/03, 05:15pm | report spam | close reply

USB 1 or 2?

The reason could be that USB 1.0 can't charge the iPad AND also it could be that the PC folks disabled that port (for some reason or problem) or the port isn't properly recognized by Windows. There are so many issues with USB on both platforms, but many more issues on Windows due to configuration abilities that Mac users typically never have to deal with.

Roehlstation

Joined: Aug 2001

+10

04/03, 05:56pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

No secret

A lot of logic boards used in Windows PCs have underpowered USB ports, I'm not surprised at all.

panjandrum

Joined: Dec 2004

+12

04/03, 05:57pm | report spam | close reply

Mac Pro Tower, not charging

My 32GB iPad does not charge from any port on my Mac Pro tower, nor does it change when attached to a powered usb hub.

James Katt

Joined: Mar 2008

04/03, 06:42pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

Old News - Some USB Ports don't have power.

This is old news.

Some USB Ports do not provide the standard 500 mAH x 5 volts of power to peripherals.

Many manufacturers did this as a cost cutting measure.

Apple did this for example.

The latest MacBooks and MacBook Pros will only allow a SINGLE 500 mAH device TOTAL on the available USB Ports. The other ports will only support low power devices such as keyboards.

Some Manufacturers have NO 500 mAH USB port (called a powered port). Thus, the iPad will not charge on such a port. The iPod and iPhone may themselves not charge on such a port.

The solution is to connect the iPad to a powered USB HUB - where every USB port can have a 500 mAH device, or use the iPads own charging block.

Feathers

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Oct 1999

-5

04/03, 07:04pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

So what!

There's a 10w charger in the box. Why would anyone want to charge at a painfully slow rate from a USB socket when there's a faster charger in the box. WTF?

Mrjinglesusa

Professional Poster

Joined: Feb 2002

04/03, 07:41pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

@feathers

Because we want to charge and sync to computer at same time. Duh.

cashxx

Joined: Apr 2009

04/03, 11:35pm | report spam | close reply

Put iPad to sleep

Has anyone tried putting the iPad in sleep mode or turning it off? Should charge then.

To get the fastest charging use the charger in the box. For slow charge use a USB while the iPad is off or on the latest Macs that support the full power of a USB port you should be able to run the iPad and have it charge at the same time.

If you do have the iPad off and plugged in you may still get the not charging message. Ignore it and check the battery level on the iPad after an hour or something.

TRRosen

Joined: May 2002

04/04, 02:51am | report spam | close reply

Surprised

The situation doesn't surprise me. Underpowered USB ports have been an issue for a while and the fact that windows doesn't always properly operate the USB bus isn't new either (it's not always that the computer doesn't provide the power but that it doesn't tell the device it can).

What does surprise me is that Apple did not add extra power to its dock to allow fast charging and syncing from any USB port. I expect a host of third parties to do just that. The question is can you bypass USB power on the dock to charge at full speed without slowing or cutting USB communications (part of the USB Battery Charging Spec).

For an alternate universe take, could this issue indicate that Apple intends to add wireless syncing in iPhone OS 4.0 negating the need for a computers USB port.

04/04, 03:26am | report spam | close reply

Sort of amazing - ISSUE EXPLAINED

I didn't really think about exactly how much energy the iPad used until today and the USB issues. Realize this it CHARGES at a rate of 10W. Let that sink in then realize it runs at an AVERAGE OF 2.5 WATTS. I say again an AVERAGE OF 2.5 WATTS.

While that is Fracking amazing it is also to total power of a standard high power USB port so it can't really charge and be operating at the same time on such a bus. So it you can see the screen to look at the charging indicator it will never say charging on a standard USB high power port. However once syncing is complete and the unit sleeps it should charge just fine albiet slowly (one hour of charge = one hour of use).

WAIT - c*** I just solved the whole damn issue didn't I.

On a standard high powered USB port you can't both charge the device and turn it on to see if its charging at the same time !!!!

It will and does charge but not when your watching. Its a pot of water!!!

04/04, 03:38am | report spam | close reply

Yep thats it

Official Apple statement.

"When attached to a computer via a standard USB port (most PCs or older Mac computers) iPad will charge, but only when it's in sleep mode."

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060

A warning here, many PC's and hubs turn off the bus when they sleep no matter whats attached which would stop charging the iPad.

CmdrGampu

Joined: Aug 2009

04/04, 09:47am | report spam | close reply

Use some common sense!

ingenious

Joined: Oct 2009

04/04, 09:59am | report spam | close reply

This isn't an "issue"

Most USB ports just don't provide enough power... that's why Apple included a charger.

Jojokokomo

Joined: Mar 2010

04/04, 10:52am | report spam | close reply

See page 136 - iPad User Manual

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPad_User_Guide.pdf

JeffHarris

04/04, 05:50pm | report spam | close reply

Apple Says:

There's not enough power in a standard USB port (1 or 2) to charge an iPad. Some newer macs have higher powered USB ports and are capable of SLOWLY charging an iPad.

This why Apple included the cute little USB power supply with the iPad.

I discovered the same with my MacBook Pro. I plugged it into a powered USB2 hub. No charge. i plugged it directly into the MBP. No charge.

The plug-in charger is kind of a drag, but it sure works quick. I ran my iPad until it shut down (it has a 10% charge warning! yay) and it got a full charge in about 3 hours.

aspooner

Joined: Apr 2005

-1

04/05, 06:50am | report spam | close reply

Doesn't charge from my iMac

It's not just an issue for Windows machines. My iPad does not charge when syncing to my 20" iMac.

testudo

Forum Regular

-2

04/05, 10:45am | report spam | close reply

Re: Yep, that's it

A warning here, many PC's and hubs turn off the bus when they sleep no matter whats attached which would stop charging the iPad.

Some macs do that too (my PPC G5 does this, irritates the h*** out of me).

04/05, 10:49am | report spam | close reply

Re: Use some common sense!

Estimates put the power consumption of the iPad at about 5w. Does anyone think a 2.5w input would be able to run the screen AND provide enough power on top of that to charge the battery? Put it to sleep and it will charge just fine, if slowly.

Fine, that's 'common sense'. But how many iPad owners know how much wattages the iPad uses, let alone how many watts of power a USB port pushes out? Very few.

BTW, some newer Macs may charge the iPad better or faster because they use non-standard power on their ports, to support Apples USB DVD drive.

This inflammatory and vague MacNN article doesn't help.

It isn't inflamatory if a lot of iPad owners, thinking the iPad would work like an iPhone or iPod, are finding it isn't charging like their other Apple devices.

And whoever said "look at page 136 of the user's manual" must be smoking something. Who in the h*** reads User's Manuals, let alone PDF versions, and gets through to page 136?

Sukoshi

04/06, 08:56am | report spam | close reply

comment title

my ipad charges when hooked up to my imac, but shows "not charging" when I boot the imac into windows.

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Some users find iPad not charging on USB ports

updated 04:45 pm EDT, Sat April 3, 2010

USB hubs, Windows PCs struggling with iPad power

iPad not charging from MBP

USB 1 or 2?

comment title

No Problem Here

No secret

Mac Pro Tower, not charging

Old News - Some USB Ports don't have power.

So what!

@feathers

Put iPad to sleep

Surprised

Sort of amazing - ISSUE EXPLAINED

Yep thats it

Use some common sense!

This isn't an "issue"

See page 136 - iPad User Manual

Apple Says:

iPhone....

Doesn't charge from my iMac

Re: Yep, that's it

Re: Use some common sense!

comment title

Login Here

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Some users find iPad not charging on USB ports

updated 04:45 pm EDT, Sat April 3, 2010

USB hubs, Windows PCs struggling with iPad power

Related Articles

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iPad not charging from MBP

USB 1 or 2?

comment title

No Problem Here

No secret

Mac Pro Tower, not charging

Old News - Some USB Ports don't have power.

So what!

@feathers

Put iPad to sleep

Surprised

Sort of amazing - ISSUE EXPLAINED

Yep thats it

Use some common sense!

This isn't an "issue"

See page 136 - iPad User Manual

Apple Says:

iPhone....

Doesn't charge from my iMac

Re: Yep, that's it

Re: Use some common sense!

comment title

Login Here

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