iPad Black Screen? Complete Fix Guide

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A music teacher came in yesterday, iPad in hand. "It just went black mid-lesson," she said. "Won't respond to anything." I tried a force restart - Apple logo appeared, iPad came back to life. She looked at me like I'd performed magic. "That's it?" We diagnose black screen issues 15-20 times a month.

About 60% are software freezes or dead batteries that look scarier than they are. If your iPad completely won't turn on at all, or has charging problems, those guides may be more specific to your situation.

Pro Tip

Before you panic: Most iPad black screens are fixable. Start with a force restart (it works even if the screen shows nothing), then try charging for at least an hour. These two steps solve the majority of cases.

Did You Know?

Our iPad Black Screen Diagnosis Results (2025)

• • 287 "black screen" iPads diagnosed
• • 61% fixed with no parts needed - frozen software or dead battery
• • 23% had backlight failure - repairable, display still works
• • 12% needed display replacement - usually after drop damage
• • Only 4% were logic board issues - more complex, but often fixable
• • Free diagnosis: We identify the cause before you spend anything

Data from celltech repair logs, January-December 2025

Is It Actually a Black Screen?

First, let's figure out what kind of "black screen" you're dealing with. The fix depends on the symptoms:

Completely Dark - No Response

Screen is totally black, no sounds, no vibrations, no light at all. This is usually either a completely dead battery or a software crash that's frozen the iPad. Try a force restart, then charge it.

Black Screen But You Can Hear It

If you hear notification sounds, Siri responds, or you can feel vibrations, the iPad is working - you just can't see it. This is typically a failed backlight (the LED array that illuminates the display). The LCD panel itself may be fine.

Very Faint Image Visible

Shine a bright torch at the screen at an angle. If you can see a faint image of your home screen or lock screen, that confirms backlight failure. The display is working; the lighting isn't.

Black With Apple Logo Loop

If the screen shows the Apple logo repeatedly but never fully boots, that's a boot loop - usually a software or firmware issue. This needs Recovery Mode to fix.

Force Restart Your iPad

This is the single most effective fix for an iPad black screen. Even if the screen is completely dark, the physical buttons still work. A force restart doesn't delete any data - it just forces the iPad to reboot.

iPads Without a Home Button (Face ID models)

iPad Pro (all generations), iPad Air (4th gen and later), iPad mini (6th gen), iPad (10th gen)

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button
3. Press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo (can take 15-20 seconds)

iPads With a Home Button

iPad (9th gen and earlier), iPad Air (3rd gen and earlier), iPad mini (5th gen and earlier)

1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Top button
2. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears (about 10-15 seconds)
3. Release both buttons and wait for iPad to boot

Did You Know?

Keep holding: If nothing happens after 10 seconds, keep holding the buttons for up to 30 seconds. Sometimes it takes longer, especially if the battery is very low.

If the Apple logo appears and your iPad boots normally, you're done. If nothing happens, move on to the battery test.

The Battery Test

A completely dead battery can make an iPad appear broken when it's actually fine. The screen won't show anything - not even a low battery indicator - until there's enough charge.

1. Use a known-good charger - Ideally Apple's original charger, or at least a 20W+ USB-C or Lightning adapter. Lower-wattage chargers may not provide enough power.
2. Check the cable - Damaged cables are incredibly common. Try a different cable if possible.
3. Plug directly into the wall - Not a computer USB port or cheap power strip. Wall outlets provide the most reliable power.
4. Leave it for at least 30-60 minutes - A deeply discharged battery may take time before showing any signs of life.

After an hour, try the force restart again. If you see the Apple logo or a battery indicator, the battery was just flat. If still nothing, there may be a charging issue (port, battery, or charging circuit).

Warning

Check the charging port: Shine a torch into the port and look for lint, debris, or damage. Compacted lint is one of the most common reasons iPads stop charging - and therefore appear dead.

What Causes iPad Black Screens

Based on the hundreds of "dead" iPads we see each year, here are the actual causes:

The good news: about 60% of iPad black screen cases are solved by a force restart or charging. The hardware issues (backlight, display, logic board) require professional repair but are usually fixable.

Recovery Mode Options

If force restart and charging don't work, Recovery Mode lets you reinstall iPadOS without necessarily losing your data. You'll need a computer (Mac or Windows PC).

How to Enter Recovery Mode

1. Connect your iPad to a computer using a USB cable
2. Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes/Apple Devices app (Windows)
3. For iPads without a Home button: Press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Top button until Recovery Mode screen appears
4. For iPads with a Home button: Hold both Home and Top buttons until Recovery Mode screen appears
5. Your computer should detect the iPad in Recovery Mode

Update vs Restore

You'll see two options:

• Update - Reinstalls iPadOS without erasing your data. Try this first.
• Restore - Completely erases the iPad and reinstalls iPadOS. You'll need a backup to recover your data.

Did You Know?

If Update takes too long: Apple says if the update process takes more than 15 minutes, your iPad will exit Recovery Mode. You may need to repeat the steps to re-enter Recovery Mode.

Hardware vs Software Issues

Here's how to tell whether you're dealing with a software problem (usually fixable at home) or hardware damage (needs professional repair):

Signs of a Software Issue

• Force restart brings the iPad back to life
• Problem started after an iOS update
• iPad works fine after reboot but may freeze again later
• Recovery Mode restore fixes the issue

Signs of a Hardware Issue

• You can hear sounds but see nothing on screen (backlight)
• Faint image visible with a torch (backlight)
• iPad was dropped before the black screen appeared
• Force restart and Recovery Mode don't help
• iPad gets warm but screen stays black
• Charging indicator never appears, even after hours of charging

If your symptoms point to hardware, you'll need professional diagnosis. We offer free assessment - you only pay if we can fix it.

UK Repair Costs

If your iPad black screen is a hardware issue, here are typical UK repair costs. Prices vary by iPad model - Pro and newer models cost more due to complex displays.

Did You Know?

Our pricing: These are typical UK market rates. We offer competitive pricing with a 27-month warranty on all repairs. Free diagnosis means you know exactly what's wrong before committing to any repair.

When Repair Doesn't Make Sense

Sometimes the repair cost approaches or exceeds the iPad's value. We'll always tell you honestly if that's the case. For older iPads (iPad 4th gen and earlier), logic board repairs often aren't cost-effective. For newer models, most repairs make financial sense.

Pro Tip

Related guides: If your iPad won't respond at all, see our iPad not turning on guide. If you suspect battery issues, check our iPad battery replacement guide.

Frequently Asked Questions