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

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 (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...

Top Rated Comments

scupking Avatar
77 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 Avatar
77 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)
The Clark Avatar
77 months ago
My dad has a 3rd gen and hasn't experienced this issue. It's nice to see Apple take responsibility for it and not try to sweep it under the rug.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheShadowKnows! Avatar
77 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 Avatar
77 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)
Patriks7 Avatar
77 months ago
What about a repair program for the 10.5" iPad Pro and the unresponsive screen?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)