Apple Launches Repair Program for Blank Screen Issue Affecting Third-Generation iPad Air

Friday March 6, 2020 6:13 pm PST by Juli Clover

Apple today launched a repair program for third-generation iPad Air models that are affected by a bug that can cause the screen to go suddenly and permanently blank.

ipadairgold

Apple has determined that, under certain circumstances, the screen on a limited number of iPad Air (3rd generation) devices may go blank permanently. A brief flicker or flash may appear before the screen goes blank.

Apple says that affected devices were manufactured between March 2019 and October 2019, and that any iPad experiencing this issue will be repaired by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider free of charge.

Customers who have an iPad Air with a screen that's gone blank should find an Apple Authorized Service Provider, make an appointment at an Apple retail location, or contact Apple support to arrange a mail-in service through the Apple Repair Center.

The new repair program covers affected third-generation ‌iPad Air‌ models for two years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Related Roundup: iPad Air

Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)

Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple Card Promo to Offer Free AirPods Pro 3

Friday May 15, 2026 8:59 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Starting as early as next week, customers who sign up for an Apple Card at Apple's retail stores in the U.S. will receive $249 cash back when they purchase AirPods Pro 3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The promotion has yet to be officially announced by Apple, so exact terms and conditions are not available at this time. AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the U.S., so customers who...

• 55 comments

New Apple Card Holders Can Get Free AirPods Pro 3, But There's a Catch

Monday May 18, 2026 8:11 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple today launched a new promotion offering new Apple Card holders the chance to earn back the cost of AirPods Pro 3 through monthly cash rebates, but there is a recurring spend requirement attached. Customers who open a new Apple Card account and purchase AirPods Pro 3 directly from Apple by June 15 will qualify. Starting July 1 and running through April 30, 2027, cardholders can earn $25 ...

• 70 comments

Apple Announces WWDC 2026 Schedule, Sends Media Invites

Monday May 18, 2026 10:23 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today provided a schedule for its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts on June 8 and ends on June 12. Apple also sent out invites to members of the media who have been invited to attend an in-person keynote viewing at Apple Park. Both the invites and schedule confirm that the keynote will begin at the standard time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 1:00 p.m Eastern Time....

• 34 comments

Top Rated Comments

scupking

81 months ago

Yet Apple wouldn't do this with the white spot issue on the pro 10.5 and a lot more people had issues with that.

Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)

magicschoolbus

81 months ago

Would be nice to get my 10.5 covered under warranty for the cancerous bright spots all over my display.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TheShadowKnows!

81 months ago

"Apple has determined that, under certain circumstances, the screen on a limited number of iPad Air (3rd generation) devices may go blank permanently. A brief flicker or flash may appear before the screen goes blank."

Ahhh... there it is.
"a small number" ,"a limited number", "a tiny, tiny, tiny, (almost microscopic) number" of [insert model] ... /s

Just a personal thought:
Clarity, unambiguity are seldom, if ever, a part of Apple's corporate dialect.
So stupid because, at the end, clarity and truthfulness only purifies and increases customer trust.

Some fast notes (I was curious):
[LIST=1]
* The iPaid Air 3 (3rd. generation) was sold starting mid-March 2019.
* This potential flaw involves, most likely than not, all iPad 3's bought in 2019 (manufactured up to, and including, October 2019)
* Apple sells, conservatively, on average, about 10M iPads per-quarter.
* Even if 1:3 Pads bought in 2019 are iPad 3's -- a conservative estimate -- this covers about 10M units.
* And, the graphics core of iPads 3 is an Apple 4-core graphics processor -- all in-house. This is Why? they know.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

spinedoc77

81 months ago

Just went through with this on my mom's shiny new ipad air. Did a full reset/restore through itunes and I knew it was bad because the text voiceover worked but screen was dead. Apple replaced it no questions asked, hopefully the new one won't have the issue down the line.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)