How to fix a dead first generation iPad for free!

Before attempting this repair, try charging your iPad with a known good cable, wall adapter and wall outlet for a couple days. Your iPad may just need more time to recharge. (Especially if you have a wifi model, A1219) If that doesn’t work, this video may help you out!

**** Lithium-ion batteries such as the ones used in iPads can be dangerous, PLEASE PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY AND AT YOUR OWN RISK IF YOU ATTEMPT THIS REPAIR. There is a possibility it may catch fire, I recommend performing this repair away from any flammable materials and that you have something to extinguish fires nearby. I am not responsible for any damage that could occur to your iPad or other personal property during the repair process. ****

If you've got a first generation iPad (model A1219 or A1337) that won't power on, it's very likely the battery has dropped below the minimum voltage required to charge. This tutorial shows how to bring a first generation iPad back to life for free.

After successfully recharging the battery, charge your iPad up to 100%, unplug it and begin charging it again. Repeat until the battery remains at 100% after you unplug it and start charging it again.

I recommend following iFixit's guide for the opening procedure

for Wi-Fi only models (A1219):

for Wi-Fi + Cellular models (A1337):

This recharging process may also work on other lithium-ion batteries, I have only attempted it on iPads, so please be careful.

music used in this video:

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

[tbwalker]

Thank you! I had an old iPad 1st gen that wouldnt start that I wanted to get some old information off of. I couldn't take out the screws, so I rolled the dice and taped leads to the negative an positive just like in your video but without disconnecting any of the electronics. When I first tested the battery it was at .005 volts... dead dead... I hooked it up for 10 minutes and it brought the battery to 3.6 volts... I then disconnected the taped wires, reconnected all the ribbon cables, and plugged in the proper charger... it started right up! thank you so much!!!

[TheAnvok]

I have a 1st Gen iPad that’s been dead for a while now. I now have 2 other iPads, but still gonna try this to make the original work. Thanks a bunch, Liam!!!

[gregblumenthal]

Thanks, invaluable info that brought back my 1st Gen iPad today (if only it were possible to run apps on it in 2022). One comment is that connecting a 5-volt charger to a 3.7v Li-ion cell can easily destroy the battery, since they are only designed to charge up to 4.2v. It probably worked OK for you because a few hours at 1A wasn't enough to get above 4.2v, but if you had left it connected that way for much longer, it would go over-voltage (which according to my understanding would be bad). I modified the procedure a bit to use a DC power supply to charge at a maximum voltage of 4.2v and a maximum current of 600mA. After maybe 3 hours of that it was up to around 4.1v, so I put it back together and connected to a normal charger. That was enough to get the battery charge screen, it booted maybe half an hour later at something like 5%

[bestbest]

From all the searching this is 1 of the best videos ever I saw on fixing the dead battery very neat and clear n reliable chill to hear too not messy too I give u credits for that 👍🏻💙

[faisaldsouza]

Hi Liam, Great video. I had the same problem with mine. I tried a tick I used with old batteries when I was a kid. This is not the right way, so you are on your own and I am not responsible for any loss or damage. I left my iPad indoors in the sun for 30mins. I then let it cool off and plugged it into a charger. It gave the battery enough charge to turn on with 1% life left. I was happy I didnt have to take it apart because I am not as gentle as you :) your video was going to be my next move.

[negrilsand]

Dude YOU ROCK .. I followed this to the exact video instructions .. IT WORKED ! .. only thing I would ask you about which I did anyways is to cut holes on the other side of the battery pair and test that side too.. Only thing I did differently is put the LIPO charger onto it for about 30 seconds to get it up to 2+ volts.. ((yeah I used my ONYX245 LIPO charger on NIMH setting)). then connected everything back like you said and let the regular charging go for a few hours.. worked like a charm .. Thanks Man !

[derbrot]

Thanks for this video! I bought a 3$ broken iPad and this fixed it, thx so much mate

[brianbarlow]

This helped me determine which side was positive and negative in my totally dead batteries. Thanks!

[KooErwin]

Thanks this brings my dead Ipad back to life.❤.

[caseycollins]

I just used this trick to repair an old ipad. But instead of hacking an old usb cable i hooked up a lithium ion battery charger to the exposed terminals

[isaackingvideos]

Thanks this worked for me. My iPad 1 is Officially Fixed!

[johnramsden]

Really great tutorial, I followed every step and it worked perfect, I charged to 4.4v and that got it to 70% charge, unfortunately I broke the power button when opening, ordered a new one tho. many thanks

[gretasnipe]

Unfortunately you don’t show clearly how to disconnect the digitiser and display leads; you need to show what you are doing behind screen after lifting it from the frame. Also you don’t mention the type of screwdriver needed. I don’t have one for those screws after getting inside. 🙁

[joris]

I didn’t think this would bring my iPad back to life. Sadly the touchscreen doesn’t work anymore. Maybe because u broke that clip thing on one of those cables. Otherwise great video. I’m glad I found it. Thanks

[BestAlexOfficial]

*A MUCH EASIER TRICK*

Just heat up the back with a hair dryer for a few seconds depends on how hot the hair drawer is and then try charging.
*this heating trick worked for me*

[Eeeeeeeee]

thanks for all the help, i might come back to this later because i was trying to charge mine with FireWire 400 lol, if it still doesn't charge, i'll remember this video.

[shazstar]

great video! really enjoyed the chill music you put into the video and your voice 👀🔥

[thatsnotthepoint-__-]

If your original ipad is boot looping on the charger, try getting it onto dfu mode and leave it pligged into a computer or charger that way for a couple hours and then attempt a normal boot

[PedroBastozz]

Sometimes using apple’s usbc 30w and an adapter will make it boot up.

[silentexe]

I have mine it’s still works 2022 i have 3 iPads