If your iPad's battery icon is showing as yellow instead of the usual green while charging, it's a clear indication that Low Power Mode is currently active to conserve battery life. There's no need for concern; this is a normal function designed to extend your device's usage.
Understanding the Yellow Battery Icon
The yellow battery icon is simply your iPad's visual cue that it has entered Low Power Mode. This feature is designed to temporarily reduce power consumption by limiting or disabling certain functions until your iPad is charged to a higher percentage or Low Power Mode is manually turned off.
Key takeaway from the reference:
- "A yellow battery icon is just the way your iPhone (or iPad) lets you know that Low Power Mode is on to preserve battery life."
- "Noticing this for the first time may trigger some unwanted fears of something being wrong, but that is not the case."
What Does Low Power Mode Do?
When Low Power Mode is enabled, your iPad intelligently adjusts various settings to minimize battery drain. These adjustments can include:
- Reducing display brightness
- Optimizing device performance
- Limiting background app refresh
- Disabling automatic downloads
- Pausing iCloud Photos syncing
- Reducing mail fetch frequency
- Turning off some visual effects (e.g., parallax, dynamic wallpapers)
When Does Low Power Mode Activate?
Low Power Mode typically activates automatically when your iPad's battery level drops to 20%, and then again at 10%. You also have the option to enable it manually at any time.
Managing Low Power Mode
Even while your iPad is charging, if Low Power Mode was already active (either automatically or manually), the battery icon will remain yellow until it's deactivated.
How to Turn Off Low Power Mode
You can easily disable Low Power Mode, which will return your battery icon to green (or white/black if not charging).
Steps:
- Open Settings: Tap the Settings app icon on your iPad's Home screen.
- Navigate to Battery: Scroll down and tap on Battery.
- Toggle Low Power Mode: Locate the Low Power Mode toggle and switch it Off.
Alternatively, using Control Center:
- Open Control Center:
- On iPads with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- On iPads without a Home button, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap the Battery Icon: Look for the battery icon in Control Center (it might be yellow). Tapping it will toggle Low Power Mode on or off. If you don't see it, you may need to add it via Settings > Control Center.
Battery Icon Colors Explained
Understanding the different colors of your iPad's battery icon can provide quick insights into its status:
| Icon Color | Status Indication | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Charging & Not in Low Power Mode | Your iPad is actively charging, and Low Power Mode is off. Battery level is typically above 20%. |
| Yellow | Low Power Mode is On | Your iPad is in Low Power Mode to conserve battery life. This can be active while charging or discharging. |
| White | Not Charging & Not in Low Power Mode | Your iPad is running on battery power, Low Power Mode is off, and battery level is typically above 20%. |
| Red | Low Battery Level | Your iPad's battery is critically low (usually 20% or less), and Low Power Mode is likely active (even if not explicitly showing yellow). |
By understanding these indicators, you can quickly assess your iPad's power status and manage its battery life effectively.
