iPad Pro 11" iPad Pro's unresponsive screen seems to be working again

[DragonX]

I think there may be a software glitch for some mostly with the keyboard and YouTube that may get fixed by some Apple update.

But in most cases it's a hardware problem, especially on Pros (including 2017 and 2018) but minis and regulars are affected too. Here are more threads on the problem:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/irresponsive-screen-ipad-pro-12-9-2nd-gen.2121051/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2016-ipad-pro-12-9-screen-intermittently-unresponsive.2118824/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/12-9-ipad-pro-gen-3-touchscreen-problem.2154220/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-pro-stuttering-issue-now-more-widespread.2165593/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/missing-keystrokes.2166241/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/known-problem.2168160/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/10-5-pro-with-unresponsive-screen.2170164/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2nd-gen-10-5”-degraded-touch-screen-sensitivity.2172781/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-pro-12-9-2018-screen-latency-issues.2173735/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/screen-stutter-ipad-pro-2018.2161383/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/screen-touch-unresponsive-on-2018-ipad-pros.2176116/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/screen-stuttering-issue-on-11-ipad-pros.2176379/#post-27268554

Also a long thread on ifixit where people try numerous software solutions that in the end never help:

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View...ouchscreen+is+unresponsive+from+time+to+timeh

In most cases it's hardware problem that cannot be fixed by simply resetting, pressing buttons or updating. It should be fixed by Apple on their manufacturing side.

 

[masotime]

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View...ouchscreen+is+unresponsive+from+time+to+timeh

This link is useful. For the record, I own the Smart Keyboard Folio for both the 12.9" and 11" 2018 iPad Pros - that may be the reason why I don't see this issue.

 

[Newtons Apple]

This isn’t the issue being talked about. This is a software glitch. That isn’t.

I have seen no proof indicating if hardware or software.

Does not happen often and is not an issue for me.

 

[aevan]

It is a temp fix. It is a hardware issue.

You have seen this truth in a vision.

 

[aakshey]

I have seen no proof indicating if hardware or software.

Does not happen often and is not an issue for me.

Your issue isn’t hardware. The OP’s issue was the same as mine. It was hardware.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Your issue isn’t hardware. The OP’s issue was the same as mine. It was hardware.

Sorry not buying your logic.

 

[aakshey]

Sorry not buying your logic.

It doesn’t matter. I’m not telling you my opinion. It’s a matter of fact. You don’t have a hardware issue. He does.

 

[nnvt]

It doesn’t matter. I’m not telling you my opinion. It’s a matter of fact. You don’t have a hardware issue. He does.

Do you have any idea on what triggers the unresponsive screen? I have a 2017 12.9 Pro with this issue but I feel like the Apple Store would call me crazy because I can't reliably reproduce it. Sometimes it's fine for days and sometimes it happens more than once per hour.

 

[azentropy]

Mine has returned with a vengeance. it is driving me crazy... I've tried many things and now I'm doing an Erase All and going to set up as new to see if it returns. I'd prefer to not do that as I have some apps/games that have settings/progress that I'll completely loose. If that doesn't work going to make an Apple Store appointment but since it isn't easily reproducible I'll probably just be frustrated with their response.

 

[aakshey]

Do you have any idea on what triggers the unresponsive screen? I have a 2017 12.9 Pro with this issue but I feel like the Apple Store would call me crazy because I can't reliably reproduce it. Sometimes it's fine for days and sometimes it happens more than once per hour.

I don’t have a clue.

But if you disable multi touch gestures, that helps a bit.

 

[kazmac]

It is also present in 2015 12.9 iPad Pros... but not to the extent as later models. I haven't heard or experienced it with the 2018 9.7 iPads.

Had it happen a couple of times on our 2018 iPad and badly on the returned 2019 iPad Mini.

This just frustrates me so much.

I want to use the iPads for drawing because I love Procreate, but after any iPad I owned gets very hot, that seems to start this. I've gotten to the point where I am seriously considering a Wacom tablet. I do not feel like learning/paying for that and something like Painter.

The10.5 iPad Pros I tried and the 2017 12.9 iPad Pro all had this.

 

[klky]

Back here to report that I finally gave up on my 11" iPad Pro.

I've been dealing with this unresponsive screen issue for over 3 months and I finally had enough. These iPad Pros aren't cheap so I wasn't going to be shy about returning it for one that works properly.

I took it into the Apple Store today (Hong Kong). Luckily, I was able to record some short videos of the issue (on different days) as I was unable to replicate it in the store as expected.

Kudos to the Apple staff who helped me. After explaining my case and showing him the videos, he did a quick hardware diagnostics test and agreed to replace it with a new unit. Interestingly, the diagnostics showed that there were no issues with my iPad. He explained that unresponsive screen issues don't show up on the test. I asked if he had seen this before, and without missing a beat, he said yes. I was surprised by his honesty and found it very refreshing.

As replacement units were out of stock, I will get the new one next week. Fingers crossed, the new one works as it should. My defective unit was a launch day model.

 

[Khedron]

Why does this only happen to the iPad Pro?

More common on the Pro because it’s easier to bend. Tiny bends lead to touch disease just like the iPhone 6.

 

[aevan]

More common on the Pro because it’s easier to bend. Tiny bends lead to touch disease just like the iPhone 6.

It was reported by many 10.5” owners here, and that one is not easier to bend than regular iPads. Also, the issue wasn’t reported by 1st gen Pro owners which has the same body as 2nd gen (which is the most affected than 3rd gen, I had the issue on my 2nd gen). People speculate it has something to with ProMotion.

 

[minulet]

Back here to report that I finally gave up on my 11" iPad Pro.

I've been dealing with this unresponsive screen issue for over 3 months and I finally had enough. These iPad Pros aren't cheap so I wasn't going to be shy about returning it for one that works properly.

I took it into the Apple Store today (Hong Kong). Luckily, I was able to record some short videos of the issue (on different days) as I was unable to replicate it in the store as expected.

Kudos to the Apple staff who helped me. After explaining my case and showing him the videos, he did a quick hardware diagnostics test and agreed to replace it with a new unit. Interestingly, the diagnostics showed that there were no issues with my iPad. He explained that unresponsive screen issues don't show up on the test. I asked if he had seen this before, and without missing a beat, he said yes. I was surprised by his honesty and found it very refreshing.

As replacement units were out of stock, I will get the new one next week. Fingers crossed, the new one works as it should. My defective unit was a launch day model.

I was having the same problems on my 11" ipad pro. I found a post on apple support forums suggesting to disable tap to wake. I did it and since then it has been working flawlessly. Go to Settings>Accessibility then disable Tap to Wake and restart your device.

 

[DragonX]

I was having the same problems on my 11" ipad pro. I found a post on apple support forums suggesting to disable tap to wake. I did it and since then it has been working flawlessly. Go to Settings>Accessibility then disable Tap to Wake and restart your device.

You're lucky, congrats! It seems you have a separate software issue that can be fixed by using Accessibility settings.
Unfortunately for most of us there's a more severe hardware issue with touch screen that cannot be fixed by software switches.

 

[aevan]

You're lucky, congrats! It seems you have a separate software issue that can be fixed by using Accessibility settings.
Unfortunately for most of us there's a more severe hardware issue with touch screen that cannot be fixed by software switches.

We don’t really know what kind of issue it is, everything here is speculation.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Well I had response issues with my 10.5” after 18 months and just lived with it until the 11” model was released. A few months later I started having the same issue with the 11”. I spoke to Apple who scheduled a Genius appointment but I cancelled it and that was because the response issue suddenly went away. I didn’t do anything. It just seemed to fix itself. Three weeks in and it’s behaving perfectly so it has to be a hardware problem that has either permanently or temporarily fixed itself

 

[keeper]

I’m not going with hardware as a reboot always cures mine for a while.
I’ll see what IOS13 brings

 

[Chuckieboy]

I’m not going with hardware as a reboot always cures mine for a while.
I’ll see what IOS13 brings

Bought a pro 11 last year. Loved it to death until I had this problem after a few months.

Took it to Apple store where then could never reproduce the issue. After 3 trips, they agreed to replace with a new iPad. New unit was awesome...

Until now. 2 months and the issue now affects the brand new iPad Pro 11.

Don’t know what to do now!

 

[klky]

Just got my replacement unit this morning. It's nice to have a properly working iPad again but I'm being cautiously optimistic given the numerous and persistent issues with the latest pro units.

Nobody seems to know what's really causing this issue. To be safe, I picked up an Otterbox case which is stronger than Apple's Smart Folio. Hopefully this helps to prolong the life of the iPad. The Otterbox also holds the pencil in place which is a bonus.

If the screen issue returns, I will see what Apple is willing to do at that time. I feel of late, Apple's QC has really slipped. While I still think their customer service is very good, that will only get you so far especially considering how much we all pay to use their products and services.

 

[missyagogo]

Do you have any idea on what triggers the unresponsive screen? I have a 2017 12.9 Pro with this issue but I feel like the Apple Store would call me crazy because I can't reliably reproduce it. Sometimes it's fine for days and sometimes it happens more than once per hour.

I have this issue with my 2018 12.9" iPad Pro. I cannot reliably reproduce it. Online Apple Support did a diagnostics test, and said my screen was fine, but failed to tell me what was stated earlier about unresponsive screens not being detected in diagnostics tests.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I think the only thing you can do is when the issue is happening is to video it with your phone and show it to Apple Support.
As I said in a previous post, my iPad is behaving perfectly again and has been for weeks. I didn’t kick it, bend it, freeze it or reboot it. It just suddenly started working properly.
I don’t see how it can be software, App or iOS related because I hadn’t changed anything and when I did have the issue, I did a complete rebuild and it was being unresponsive when I started the rebuild.

 

[klky]

I think the only thing you can do is when the issue is happening is to video it with your phone and show it to Apple Support.
As I said in a previous post, my iPad is behaving perfectly again and has been for weeks. I didn’t kick it, bend it, freeze it or reboot it. It just suddenly started working properly.
I don’t see how it can be software, App or iOS related because I hadn’t changed anything and when I did have the issue, I did a complete rebuild and it was being unresponsive when I started the rebuild.

Agreed. Taking videos and showing it to Apple support is probably the best thing you can do. After showing them the couple of videos I had, I didn’t have to say much more before they promptly agreed to replace it with a new unit.

As the replacement unit maintains the warranty period of the original unit, (in my case until November 2019), I still have a few months to use it and see if it’s ok. Should it fail again within the warranty period, I will replace it again, then just sell it.

 

[azentropy]

I think the only thing you can do is when the issue is happening is to video it with your phone and show it to Apple Support.

The issue with mine is it that when it goes unresponsive it only does so for a handful of seconds. It is difficult to get video of it unless I have my iPhone already recording. On a side note after installing iOS 13b2 I don't believe it has happened. I did have a freeze or two, but the whole iPad froze not just the screen input.