IN THIS SECTION

iPad Problems

Consult the resources below for solutions to common iPad problems.

  • Email support@sfhs.com
  • Visit the Tech Hub in the Library, during collaboration, lunch & immediately after school. 
    • You can make an appointment here.
    • Phone: 650-694-6366
    • Need help finding the Tech Hub? Here is a map.
Short Battery Life

The iPad battery can be expected to last for up to 10 hours under normal usage. You do need to charge your iPad every night as the simplest and best way to make sure your iPad has enough power to make it through the school day. 

If, in general, your battery life is consistently short and you're basically just watching the indicator drain down before your eyes, here are some things to try:

1. Restart your iPad

If you haven't rebooted in a while, give it a try. There could be a rogue process or something else doing what it shouldn't be doing, and a hard restart can often fix that. Double click the home button and swipe away all open apps. Then hold both the power button and the home button at the same time until the iPad goes off and only release when you see the apple icon appear.

2. Power Cycle

About once a month, and certainly if you're having problems, you should completely drain your iPad's battery (drain it until it shuts down on its own) and then charge it back up to full.

3. Turn Off What You Aren't Using

Anything running on your iPad uses up the battery. So if you've tried everything else and it turns out you're just using your device more than the battery will allow for the length of time you need to use it, you'll need to make some hard choices. You'll need to stop using some of the features you don't really need in order to keep using the ones you do. The more you turn off, the longer your battery will last.

  • Turn off Location Services. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, and turn off any app you really don't need tracking or using your location.
  • Turn off Push Notifications. Likewise, go to Settings > Notifications and turn off any app you don't care to be alerted about.
  • Turn off Notification Center widgets.

4. Miscellaneous Tips

  • Turn off "Background App Refresh" in the "General Settings" of the "Settings" app.
  • Turn off any extra sounds, like keyboard clicks
  • Turn off the iPad sound EQ.
  • Use headphones instead of the speaker if you have to listen to audio or music.
  • Turn down the screen brightness.
Charging Issues

Almost always the reason an iPad will not charge at all or will not charge fully is due to using a faulty or incorrect charger.

Every student was issued a new iPad charger and cable with their iPad. If a charger or cable fails or is damaged it is the student's responsibility to replace it. We recommend using the correct charger (at least 12W) and cable from the Apple Store.

Cell phone chargers, including iPhone chargers and many 3rd party chargers do not supply enough power to fully charge an iPad.

Running out of Space on iCloud

Almost always the reason an iPad will not charge at all or will not charge fully is due to using a faulty or incorrect charger.

Every student was issued a new iPad charger and cable with their iPad. If a charger or cable fails or is damaged it is the student's responsibility to replace it. We recommend using the correct charger (at least 12W) and cable from the Apple Store.

Cell phone chargers, including iPhone chargers and many 3rd party chargers do not supply enough power to fully charge an iPad.

Running out of Space on iCloud

Apple provides 5 GB of iCloud space at no charge with every personal Apple ID. For most users that is more than enough space to backup a single device. However, when you use the same Apple ID on more than one device even 5 GB can be consumed very quickly.

Suggestions:

  1. Use the school provided Apple ID (school email address and school password), as that has 200GB of free backup space.
  2. Delete old or unwanted iCloud backups from your iCloud storage. Go to the "Settings" app, scroll to "iCloud," click on "Storage" & "Manage Storage." Delete backups you no longer need.
  3. Reduce the size of the backup your iPad is trying to include in the iCloud backup. Go to the "Settings" app and scroll to "iCloud." Turn off stuff that you don't want to include in the iCloud backup such as photos, mail, contacts etc.
  4. You could alternatively just delete any unwanted photos or videos from you camera roll or iMovie projects you no longer need.
  5. Don't forget you have a student Google Drive account that has unlimited storage. You can use either to store anything you want to keep, such as movie projects or your documents.
Forgetting iPad Passcode

If you forget your iPad passcode, stop trying to guess it! Too many incorrect guesses will disable the iPad. And if the iPad becomes disabled, the only way forward is to reset the iPad, which will cause all data to be deleted. So, do one of the following:

  1. Go to the Tech Hub or email support@sfhs.com. The Tech Hub has the ability to send a command to your iPad to remove the current passcode.
  2. Follow this process on your own. 

More details:

  • Do not restart the iPad. If you do this the iPad will not connect to a WiFi network and therefore cannot receive the JAMF command to remove the passcode.
  • If the iPad is disabled or will not connect to a WiFi network it will have to be reset using a computer running iTunes. Unfortunately all data on the iPad will be lost. It is not possible to use an iTunes backup of the iPad.
Strange iPad Behavior (ex. unresponsive, apps opening and closing)

Sometimes, the iPad may encounter a problem and behave strangely due to an error that occurred. This may include rapidly entering and exiting apps, not responding to actions on the touchscreen, or even losing the display all together. However, simply restarting the iPad will often fix the problem. 

Powering the iPad off and back on does not restart it. Here is how to restart:

1. Close previously opened apps

Open the task switcher by hitting the home button twice, and then swipe each app up until the page until it disappears. Do this for all the previously opened apps.

2. Force the iPad to Reboot

Hold both the Power button and the Home button at the same time for about 10 seconds until the device reboots itself. Do not release until after the display goes off and the apple icon appears.

Tracking a Lost iPad

Unlike a cell phone, a WiFi iPad cannot be tracked when it is not attached to a WiFi network.

If you lost your iPad at school:

  1. Go back to the place(s) where you last had it!
  2. Go to the Dean's Office. This is where student iPads are taken if found unattended on campus.
  3. If the iPad has not been returned to the Dean's Office go to the Tech Hub. We can tell you in which area of the campus the iPad either is if still connected to SFNet or where it was when it was last connected to SFNet.
Damaged, Lost or Stolen iPads
Your school iPad or keyboard electronically fails (will not turn on or acts strangely).

Resolution: The Tech Hub will replace the device.

Cost: $0 to the student.


Your school iPad is damaged.

Resolution:

  • Student completes this online form.
  • Student prints the email confirmation and gets a parent to sign the hard copy.
  • Student brings the signed email confirmation to the Tech Hub and will be given a replacement iPad.
  • School provides details of the damaged iPad and the repair cost by email.
  • Student makes a claim on their insurance policy if they had purchased that.

Cost: See iPad incident form for details.


Your school iPad is lost or stolen.

Resolution:

  • Student completes this online form.
  • Student prints the email confirmation and gets a parent to sign the hard copy.
  • Student brings the signed email confirmation to the Tech Hub and will be given a replacement iPad and case.
  • School provides details of the lost/stolen iPad for student by email to add to the Police report they must file and make a claim on insurance if they purchased that.

Cost: See iPad incident form for details.


How Can We Help?

Whether you have a quick question or need hands-on support, the Technology Department is here to assist you. Students, parents, and staff are always welcome to reach out by email—or stop by the Tech Hub for in-person help.

Tech Hub Visiting Hours:
Located in the Library on the second floor of Sobrato Commons
Monday–Friday | 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

From troubleshooting iPads to navigating school platforms, we’re here to make sure your technology experience is smooth, supportive, and stress-free. Don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re happy to help!

Tech Support

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