Having trouble with your iPad Air 3 touchscreen that keeps freezing or getting stuck? If you do, then this post may be able to help you. Read on for more information.
It sounds bizarre for a new Apple device to give into performance issues like random freezes and system crashes. Nonetheless, these are inevitable problems especially when triggered by software-related culprits. Memory-related issues like when the device is running low on storage are usually the underlying cause. But there are also other software-related factors that can trigger the same symptoms. Highlighted below are recommended solutions to a similar issue on the iPad Air 3 (2019) touchscreen that keeps freezing. You can try performing these methods before setting up a service appointment at the genius bar.
Troubleshooting an iPad Air (2019) touchscreen that keeps freezing
The following procedures will help eliminate software-related factors that trigger your iPad Air 3 touchscreen to keep freezing or get stuck unexpectedly. Any of these should work for as long as your iPad isn’t having any sort of memory issues and doesn’t have any damaged components. If the problem persists after applying all these methods, then your device might have obtained hardware damage. Before rushing to a service center, try fixing software-inflicted touchscreen freezes on your iPad Air 3 with these outlined solutions.
First solution: Force restart your iPad Air 3 touchscreen that’s freezing.
The first potential solution to random system issues on iPhones and iPads is a soft reset. However, it isn’t possible to carry out this method if your device screen is frozen or unresponsive. As an alternative solution, performing a forced restart is on the frozen device is recommended. And here’s how it’s done:
- Press and hold both the Power button and Home button on your iPad Air 3 at the same time for a few seconds.
- Release both buttons the Apple logo appears.
A forced restart is a simulated battery-removal procedure that is used to forcibly shutdown and restart a frozen iOS device. Through this process, minor firmware crashes that trigger random performance issues on your iPad are rectified. It doesn’t affect the internal data so there’s no need to back up files beforehand. You should consider this among the very first procedure to carry out.
Second solution: Install updates.
If your iPad is able to boot up and work normally again after a forced restart, install all pending updates for your apps and iOS, if available. This is imperative to make sure that none of your apps would trigger your iPad touchscreen to freeze and stop working again. Considering that the internet connection is working perfectly fine and your iPad has ample of storage space and battery, you can proceed to these steps and install the latest iOS version available for your device.
- Go to the Home screen then tap Settings.
- Select General.
- Tap Software Update.
If an update is available, follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the update.
You can also update your iPad manually through iTunes. This is a better option since you don’t know when your iPad touchscreen freezes or gets stuck again.
- Connect your iPad to the computer using the original USB cable or Lightning cable that came with it.
- Open iTunes on your computer and wait for it to detect your iPad.
- When your iPad appears in iTunes, click on its icon to select it.
- Then click the Summary pane.
- Click the button to Check for Update.
- If a new update is available, click Download and Update.
- Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.
Aside from iOS updates, installing all pending app updates on your iPad Air 3 can also help especially if outdated apps are the main culprits.
- From the Home screen, tap App Store. Doing so launches the Apple Store app.
- Scroll to the bottom of the App Store screen then tap on Updates. A list of apps with pending updates will appear.
- Navigate to the list of apps and then tap the Update button next to the name of the app to install individual update.
- If multiple app updates are available, tap the Update All button on the top-right corner of the screen.
Updates usually entrenched fix patches to get rid of stubborn system bugs that caused various issues including touchscreen freezes and other performance problems. Updates for both and iOS do offer such bug fixes, hence it’s recommended to keep your device and apps up to date.
ALSO READ: How to fix an iPad Air 3 that keeps lagging and freezing
Third solution: Reset all settings.
Settings that are configured incorrectly can also result in the same issue. This is likely the case if your iPad Air 3 (2019) touchscreen started freezing after customizing system settings. The same thing can happen if a new update is installed. Some updates can override settings automatically. While update overrides are designed for good purposes, they could end up causing conflicts if they don’t blend with your device customizations. To rule this out, try to reset all settings on your iPad Air 3 using these steps:
- Tap Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap on Reset.
- Choose Reset all settings from the given options.
- Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.
- Then, tap the option to confirm all settings reset.
Performing this reset doesn’t affect any saved information your iPad storage so you don’t need to create backups. After the reset, original values and options are restored thus you need to re-enable necessary features, particularly those that are disabled by default so you can use them again.
Fourth solution: Restore your iPad in iTunes (recovery mode).
Resorting to iOS restore can be deemed among the last options if your iPad Air 3 touchscreen is still freezing after exhausting prior methods. What you’re dealing with could be a major system issue that require more advanced solutions. As your next option, try restoring your iPad Air 3 in recovery mode. This will put your device in a recovery state and allows iTunes to repair any damage system components. To get started, you will need to secure a computer that has the latest version of iTunes app in it. Then proceed to these steps whenever you’re ready to restore your device:
- If your iPad is turned on, turn it off first.
- On your computer, launch or open iTunes. Be sure to use the latest version of iTunes app to avoid system conflicts.
- Then connect your iPad to the computer while pressing and holding down the Home button.
- Release the Home button when the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
- At this point, iTunes should prompt a message saying that it has detected your iPad in recovery mode and will ask you to restore your device. Just click the Restore iPad button to instigate recovery mode restore through iTunes.
The recovery mode restore process usually takes several minutes to complete. Be sure not to disconnect your iPad from the computer so as not to disrupt the process. Otherwise, things could turn upside down if that happens.
Fifth solution: Put your iPad Air 3 in DFU mode.
The last possible solution you can resort to if all else failed to fix the problem is a DFU mode restore. It’s the deepest type of system restore you can do an iOS device. It’s been used among the ultimate solutions to fatal iOS issues including those inflicted by complex iOS bugs from an update or system data corruption. Similar to a recovery mode restore, a DFU mode restore also offers a higher chance of fixing your iPad touchscreen that keeps freezing for as long as hardware damage does not exist. If you’re willing to give it a shot, then get your computer and iTunes ready and proceed to these steps:
- Turn off your iPad if it’s still turned on.
- Connect your iPad to the computer using the Apple-supplied USB cable.
- While the device is connected, simultaneously press and hold the Home button and Power/Top button for about 8 seconds.
- After the elapsed time, release the Power/Top button but continue to hold down the Home button until the screen turns completely black.
- If the Apple logo appears after releasing the Power/Top button, it means that you’ve held the button for too long. In that case, you’ll have to start all over from the very beginning.
- If nothing is showing on your iPad screen, then it denotes that the device has successfully entered DFU mode.
At this point, you can use iTunes to repair and restore your iPad Air 3 and to completely eliminate fatal system errors that caused random touchscreen freezes.
Last resort: Use alternative iOS repair/recovery tools.
Not all iOS issues can be handled through iTunes and hence, your iPad Air 3 could still end up having the same problem on stuck display. If that’s what happened after restoring your device in iTunes, then this is when you should consider utilizing third-party tools. Similar to iTunes, third-party programmed iOS repair and recovery tools can also be used to eliminate and repair major system errors and stubborn bugs that might have triggered your iPad Air 3’s touchscreen to freeze or stop working unexpectedly. To find out if this will solve stuck display problem on your iPad Air 3, download and install any of the leading iOS repair and recovery tools that’s compatible with your computer and iOS device. Once you have the tool ready, you can connect your iPad to the computer via USB cable/Lightning cable and then launch the software whenever you’re ready to fix your device.
There are actually a lot of third-party software you can choose to fix your stuck iPad Air 3. Five of the widely used alternative tools to fix major iOS problems including stuck or frozen displays on an iPad are PhoneRescue, Dr. Fone Repair, FonePaw, Joyoshare UltFix and Tenorshare ReiBoot software.
ALSO READ: How to fix iPad Air 3 problem on delayed touchscreen response
Is your iPad Air 3 (2019) touchscreen still freezing or stuck?
Reaching this point with the same problem means that you’ve exhausted all possible means to fix the problem on your end but to no avail. This is usually the case if your device has something more to fix than software errors. And the worst possibility is that hardware damage could be present on your iPad. To clear this out, you can take your device to the nearest Apple Genius bar and ask an authorized technician to inspect the hardware, particularly its screen components. If hardware damage is present, then your iPad needs service. Contact your iPad provider/carrier if you wish to avail for service warranty or new unit replacement, if necessary.