How to fix ipad with black screen

Is your iPad stuck on a black screen? This could be because your battery power is low. Put your iPad to charge and try turning it on again. The issue could also be due to something as simple as your screen brightness being low.

However, software issues could also be responsible. You would have to force-restart or enter DFU mode to fix this.

My iPad Air got stuck on the black screen of death a couple of months after I got it. I have discussed all the tips and tricks that helped below.

Let's get to it.

How Do I Fix An Unresponsive iPad Screen?

There are many fixes, and they include:

Solution 1: Charge The Battery

There's a chance that you're not dealing with any scary software or hardware problem. Instead, you could just be stuck on the black screen because your battery is dead. Put your iPad to charge for around half an hour and try turning it on again.

If you've put your device to charge but it doesn't fix the issue, this could be because your charger is broken. Alternatively, it may not be compatible with your iPad model. Plug the charger into another compatible iOS device to check.

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Solution 2: Adjust Your Screen Brightness

It's possible that you may just be stuck on the black screen because your screen brightness is low. If Siri has been enabled, you can ask her to increase your display brightness.

Otherwise, you can:

• Swipe up from the bottom to open the Control Center
• Drag the brightness slider to the right

You may be dealing with a minor software crash. It's hard to say why it popped up, but you should be able to clear it with a hard-reset. This would jump-start your tablet, and turn it on.

The hard-reset process differs for iPad models.

Here's what you can do on iPads with home buttons:

• Simultaneously press and hold the Home and Power buttons, then let go when the Apple logo appears

iPads without home buttons:

• Keep holding the Volume Up button, then do the same for the Volume Down button. Release them when you see the Apple logo pop up

Although a hard-reset should help, it might only be a temporary fix from the black screen of death. Your tablet may be dealing with underlying problems. I've discussed some of them below, and how to fix them as well.

1. Outdated Operating System

When was the last time you updated iOS? It might have been a while, so you could be dealing with a nasty system bug. Once your device restarts, download the latest firmware. There are two ways to do this, and I've run through each below:

• Method 1:
  • Open Settings > General > Software Update
  • Tap Install Now if there is any firmware file available

• Method 2:
  • Open iTunes on your desktop
  • Plug your iPad to your computer's USB port
  • Close all the other programs that are running, as they can interrupt the download process
  • Open the Summary tab
  • Click Update iPad

Your iPad should restart afterwards. Hopefully, the iPad black screen issue would permanently be gone.

2. Buggy Apps

You will also have to update your apps. A few may not have been updated in a while, so they could be bugging out badly and causing the iPad black screen problem.

Here's how to update apps:

• Open the Apple app store
• Scroll down to find all the updates available
• Click Update All

Apple is strict with the apps they allow into the app store, but this doesn't mean that it's 100% safe. You may have downloaded a malicious program without knowing it.

The application you downloaded right before the iPad black screen problem popped up would probably be responsible.

Here's how to uninstall an app:

• Find the application icon and hold it down
• Tap Remove
• Tap Delete

If the problem is due to a stubborn system error, factory-resetting should permanently get rid of it. However, you will lose all your personal data. Backup your files beforehand.

Here's how iPad users can factory-reset:

• Go to Settings > General > Reset (or Transfer or Reset iPhone)
• Choose Erase All Content & Settings
• Enter your Apple ID password to confirm

The issue could be due to a stubborn software error or glitch if not even a factory reset does the trick. Don't fear. Entering recovery mode should save the day.

It's more comprehensive, as it can identify and tackle many system errors. However, entering recovery mode can be a bit risky if you disconnect your device midway - you will get stuck on a reboot loop or face some other issues.

When you enter recovery mode, all your personal data will be erased in a bid to clear the software problem that may be responsible. Backup your files beforehand.

Here's what you do:

• Open iTunes on your computer (should be the latest version)
• Connect your tablet to your desktop through your lightning or USB cable
• Close all the other programs that are running, as they can interrupt the recovery process
• Follow these instructions which differ with each iPad model:
  • Here's what you do on models with Home buttons: Press and hold he Home button and Power button at the same time. Let go of both when the recovery mode screen appears
  • Here's what you do on models without Home buttons: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then do the same for the Volume Down button. Have your finger on the Power button until the recovery mode screen appears
• Click Restore iPad

Your handset will restart afterwards. Hopefully, the black screen issue will now be a thing of the past.

Uneasy about entering recovery mode? I don't blame you, as all your personal data will be erased. You will find using system repair tools useful in this case. They are more comprehensive and can identify and tackle many system problems, but more importantly, they don't result in any data loss.

However, all good things come at a price. Most recovery software are not free.

Here's how you use one of the most popular repair tools - Dr. Fone:

• Download and launch the program
• Connect your iPad to your computer
• Tap on Repair System
• Follow the instructions that appear

Solution 6: Enter DFU Mode

Entering DFU mode is reserved for the most complex software problems, which you may be dealing with if none of the above fixes worked. Just remember that entering DFU mode can be risky if you've jailbroken your system before. You could brick iOS. Also, disconnecting midway can cause some annoying errors as well.

Here's how you enter DFU Mode:

• Open iTunes (should be the latest version)
• Connect your tablet to your desktop
• Close all other programs that are running, as they can interrupt the DFU process
• Press the following buttons, depending on your device's model
  • iPads without home buttons: Switch your tablet off, then press the Power button for a couple of seconds. While holding the Power button, hold the Volume Down button for around 10 seconds. Release the Power button but continue to hold the Volume Down button. Your screen will stay black if you've followed my instructions properly
  • Here's what you do on iPads with home buttons: Switch your tablet off, then place your finger on the On/Off button for a few seconds. Start holding the Home button at the same time for 10 seconds. Let go of the On/Off button but hold down the Home button for about 5 more seconds. Your screen will stay black if you've followed my instructions properly
• Tap Restore iPad

As mentioned, you shouldn't disconnect your device midway. This can cause various errors to pop up, which could be worse than getting stuck on the black screen.

Solution 7: Contact Apple Support

Did none of the above solutions work? You may be stuck on the black screen due to a hardware issue. Your logic board may have water damage and could be wreaking havoc. Depending on your device's warranty, your local Apple store should fix the problem for free.

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FAQ

I've answered some popular questions below.

Why Is My iPad Screen Black?

There are many possible reasons:

• Your battery may be low. You probably haven't charged it in a while, or the charger you're using could be broken. Try plugging it to another compatible iOS device and see if it charges. Alternatively, the cable you're using may not be fit for your iPad model.
• There may not be anything wrong with your iPad. Instead, your screen may just be black because your screen brightness is on low. You can tell Siri to increase it, or open the Control Center and do it yourself.
• You could be dealing with a software glitch. You should be able to clear it with a force-restart. If the glitch (or error) is stubborn, you can exit the black screen of death by using recovery software or entering recovery or device firmware update mode.
• Your operating system may be outdated. The boot up error you're facing could be due to a bug. You can update iOS after you get your tab back on after the force-restart, or use iTunes to download the latest firmware.
• The issue could be due to outdated or malicious apps. Update or uninstall them.
• The issue could also be hardware-related. You might have dropped and broken your iPad display. Or, water might have gotten inside and affected your logic board. Your local Apple store should fix any hardware damage for free according to your warranty

How Do I Reset My iPad Without Losing Everything?

Factoring-resetting your iPad will help fix many different issues, including the black screen of death. However, a factory-reset will not result in lost data. This is true when entering recovery and Device Firmware Update mode. Your best bet would be to use recovery software. I have discussed how you can download one above.

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Final Thoughts

Although the iPad screen being black problem may seem serious, it could just be due to your battery or screen brightness being low. These troubleshooting tips will work on all iPad models, like the iPad Pro, iPad Mini, iPad Air as well as iPhones and iPod Touches.