How to Stop iPad from Going to Sleep
Learn practical, step-by-step methods to prevent your iPad from sleeping automatically, including Auto-Lock settings, Guided Access, and power tips for long sessions.
To stop your iPad from going to sleep, adjust Auto-Lock to Never (or a longer interval) and/or use Guided Access for a temporary session. Keep your device plugged in during long tasks. After finishing, revert the setting to conserve battery. This quick change is safe for most iPads on current iPadOS; you can temporarily disable it for tasks like watching videos or following tutorials.
Understanding Auto-Lock and Sleep on iPad
Your iPad uses an automatic sleep feature called Auto-Lock. After a period of inactivity, the screen turns off to save battery and protect your content. This can disrupt tasks like following a recipe, watching a tutorial, or presenting a demonstration. On iPadOS, you can configure how long the device stays awake, or disable it temporarily for focused work. By understanding how Auto-Lock works, you can choose the right balance between convenience and battery life. Tablet Info's research indicates that many users leave Auto-Lock on a short interval, which interrupts tasks that require continuous screen activity. If you plan to rely on the iPad for long sessions, using a longer Auto-Lock setting or Guided Access can help you stay productive without unnecessary interruptions.
Tools & Materials
- iPad with charged battery(At least 20% battery)
- Settings app(Accessible from Home screen)
- Power adapter or charger(Keep device powered during long tasks)
- Apple Pencil(Optional for precise interactions)
Steps
Estimated time: 5-15 minutes
- 1
Open Settings
Access the iPad’s control center for behavior adjustments by launching the Settings app from the Home screen or App Library.
Tip: If you don’t see Display & Brightness immediately, use the search bar at the top of Settings. - 2
Navigate to Display & Brightness
Tap Display & Brightness to locate the Auto-Lock option, which governs how quickly the screen sleeps after inactivity.
Tip: Some iPad models show Auto-Lock under a different subheading; look for Sleep settings if Auto-Lock isn’t obvious. - 3
Tap Auto-Lock
Open the Auto-Lock menu to view available time options; values typically range from 2 minutes to Never, depending on your iPadOS version.
Tip: Choose Never for long tasks or a longer interval like 5–10 minutes if you want occasional auto-sleep protection. - 4
Choose Never or a longer interval
Select Never to keep the screen on indefinitely during a task or pick a longer timeout to balance convenience and battery life.
Tip: If you select Never, remember to revert the setting after your session to save battery. - 5
Test the setting
Leave the iPad idle to verify that the screen stays awake for the chosen duration; adjust if needed.
Tip: Do not leave Never on during idle periods for extended times to avoid unnecessary battery drain. - 6
Exit Settings
Return to the Home screen to continue your activity with the new Sleep behavior in effect.
Tip: Consider enabling a temporary reminder to revert the setting later. - 7
Optional: Enable Guided Access for a single-task session
If you need the device to stay awake while staying within one app, configure Guided Access to lock the session.
Tip: Guided Access helps prevent accidental app switches during demonstrations or tutorials.
Questions & Answers
What is Auto-Lock on iPad?
Auto-Lock is a timer that turns off the screen after a period of inactivity to save battery. You can set how long the iPad remains awake before sleeping.
Auto-Lock is the sleep timer for iPad; it decides how long the screen stays on without input.
Can I turn Auto-Lock off permanently?
Yes, by selecting Never in the Auto-Lock options. However, this can drain battery more quickly and increase screen burn risk.
Yes, you can set Auto-Lock to Never, but watch battery life.
Will Guided Access keep the iPad awake during a session?
Guided Access can keep the iPad within a single app, preventing automatic sleep during that session, but it requires setup and exiting the session to resume normal behavior.
Guided Access locks you into one app and keeps the screen awake during that session.
What if Auto-Lock options are greyed out?
The option may be restricted by Screen Time restrictions or device management (MDM). You may need to adjust those settings or contact an admin.
If Auto-Lock isn’t available, check for restrictions or MDM profiles.
How do I revert to normal sleep behavior after a task?
Open Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and select a shorter interval or a standard time like 2 minutes.
To revert, just pick a shorter Auto-Lock time in Settings.
Watch Video
Highlights
- Set Auto-Lock to Never for long tasks
- Use Guided Access for one-app sessions
- Revert Auto-Lock after tasks to save battery
- Longer Auto-Lock intervals improve user experience during tutorials
