The Accidental Activation
Modern iPads are equipped with highly sensitive accelerometers. Apple utilizes these sensors for a feature called “Raise to Wake.” By default, the moment you physically pick up your iPad from a table, the screen instantly turns on, anticipating that you want to use it. While this is incredibly convenient when sitting on a couch, it is a massive battery drain if you travel with your iPad. If the tablet is sitting inside a backpack while you walk, the constant bouncing motion tricks the accelerometer into believing you are picking the device up. The screen will constantly turn on inside the darkness of your bag, draining your battery before you even reach your destination. If you carry your iPad frequently, you must disable this feature.
How to Turn Off Raise to Wake
You can revoke the screen’s permission to respond to physical movement via the display settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and tap on Display & Brightness.
- Look at the main window on the right side of the screen.
- Scroll down until you find the toggle switch labeled Raise to Wake.
- Tap the switch to turn it Off (the green background will disappear).
Restoring Manual Control
The change is absolute and instantaneous. You can now throw your iPad into a messenger bag and run for a train; the screen will remain completely black and asleep, preserving your battery life. When you actually want to use the tablet, you must intentionally tap the physical Power button (or simply tap the glass screen once with your finger) to wake the device up.