My iPod mini's display is blank

I have the EXACT same problem and it's driving me crazy! I've tried resetting, and it didn't do anything. It's at the point where I can just barely see the display if I turn the backlight on or hold it almost parallel to my sightline. Help would be VERY MUCH appreciated!!!

I am also having this problem. My Ipod 4g mini was brand new out of the box. I hooked it up to my ibook G4 10.3.9. Transferred songs to it from ITunes and then waited for the battery to fully charge for a few hours. I came back. Dismounted the Ipod, unplugged it from the USB and the screen was fine. But while I was scrolling through songs the screen began to get very faint. I went into the contrast and turned it up thinking it might be an 'available light' issue. It seemed better. I put the Ipod down to answer the phone and when I came back the screen was gone. No next, no pixels. No nothing. The backlight still worked, but there was still no text.
Now the weird things is that the music still played and the click wheel still clicked but I just couldn't read what was on the screen.
Being a long time Mac user (back to the SE), I fushed it out, restored it, reset it, tested my connections. Updated Itunes and the Software update etc. Nothing worked. Still no screen display.
(SKIP DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ME RANT)
So I took it back to the store I bought it from and was politely told that because I had opened it, they couldn't take it back. They directed me to the local Apple Store here. I took it there and was told they'd never heard of that problem before and then directed me to call the 1-800 Apple support line. I did that and after waiting on hold for 40 minutes (!!), they suggested I restore, and fiddle with contrast etc etc. After telling them I'd done all they, they said they'd never heard of this problem before. And told me to fill out a form to get it sent in to be fixed. Not to mention I bought it for a trip I'm taking and now won't be able to take it.
(END OF RANT)

Now, Apple said they hadn't heard of this problem before. But clearly, I am not alone in this. I have searched the discussions and found a few more instances where people have had the same exact problem.
We have to let apple know there's some sort of defect on these so other people don't get duped into buyin' them.

Oh, and by the way, if anyone has a solution to this screen fading issue. That'd be great. Thanks.
I mean BESIDES the all-encompassing "Try resetting it."

Also, I've read in this forum that a woman had the same problem, sent it back to apple, got it back and the same thing happened again. What gives?

LINKS TO DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM:

Andrew M., "iPod contrast problems.", 04:23pm Aug 5, 2005 CDT

Karen Schmidt1, "My iPod mini's display is blank", 06:50am Sep 27, 2005 CDT

andrew ruth, "my screen is blank", 04:36pm Sep 26, 2005 CDT

Simone De Stefani, "iPod mini 4GB: contrast problem, screen almost invisible", 03:17pm Sep 22, 2005 CDT

I have the same problem! Does anyone have a phone number or some other way to tell the apple people about this problem?

"Phone Support
Call 1-800-275-2273 for technical assistance. Apple offers complimentary support to eligible customers."

They will likely tell you that they've never heard of this problem.

But after doing some research, it seems there is nothing that can be done from our end (restore, reset, contrast, recharge etc). It is a hardware flaw. They are going to have you go to the Ipod service request page and fill out a form. Then, they will send you a box to send your ipod back (free of charge) to Apple for fixing/replacing (I'm not sure which).
I would suggest saving yourself the 40 minute phone hold time and just fill out the form, but the more of us who call, the more Apple will be aware of this plaguing problem.

To learn more about this problem, SEARCH "In this Topic" for "Contrast" and it will list a number of threads going back to July that have this same exact problem.

hi Brian, Marissa and Karen, You're not alone, except for going back to the store or Apple dealer my scenario is the same as Brian's. I did the restore and as I was reloading my iTunes I saw a very, very faint script that enabled me to, if I held it to the window and angled my iPod, find contrast and turn it way up. I had turned it way down while fiddling to get more contrast.
I cannot understand how Apple can say they've not heard of this as here we sit, frustrated. I seem to have good contrast now but I'm still plugged in an charging with contrast turned way up.
If anyone out there has any insight please help bring us out of the blanka and into the light!!!

Thanks for the great advice- I thought I was alone or out of luck on this issue.. fortunately I am within a week of the 90 day warranty expiring, so I will fill out the form. Apple shouldn't be able to keep looking the other way on this....

Hello everyone!

My iPod Mini had the same exact problem back in June, you would hear the music play and the clicker scrolling through songs, but there was nothing on the display. I called Apple Support and they told me that it was a video problem, and I sent it back and got the exact same model and the screen has been working fine ever since. I would try giving Apple Support a call (even if you already have tried) and tell them that everything works except for the text on the screen. Maybe they will give you another one.

After my post when my screen had disappeared, it came back slowly....for about a week. Thought I'd just see how long that lasted and with normal use it faded again two days ago so that I could just see some dark areas if I turned it in a strong light (forget going through the menu at night using the back light....made a better flashlight!).
I added some more tracks, charged it and used it....until it faded two days ago....now it's come back, though not fully, again while I wasn't doing anything with it!!! I never touched my 'contrast', it's been full on all the time.
I took Brian's advice and filled out the form, it wouldn't let me submit without choosing a faulty item....so I must have clicked 'dock' just to enable the submission as that's what was sent to me!!!!!...I didn't have a dock before!
In my latest MacWorld the article on iPods talks about the Nano phasing out the iPod Mini so I wonder if Apple is just not taking this seriously because the Mini no longer matters, is this so? I love mine and have not had it two months!
After the Thanksgiving holiday (Canada) I'm calling Customer Relations to return my iPod Mini. Perhaps I will just have to keep sending mine back until I get one that has a screen that stays visible!
Also, the 90 days is for Apple Support not Warranty. The warranty is one year. I have a store warranty for two years too. I'm not letting my husband spend over $300 on a gift for me that I cannot use.

hi my ipod has been fine but yesterday the battery was very low and i noticed that one strip across the screen is blank and nothing will show up. when the black scroll is on a word there is a white stripe through it. can someone tell me what to do?

Thanks so much for this advice--I was at a loss as what to do with my daughters ipod mini, I've never had any problems with mine--I just couldn't understand the fading, then blank screen--Thanks again for posting this very helpful info!

I have run into a similar issue. My wife and I both got identical iPod minis in the last month, hers was fine but mine came with a very low contrast display that could only be seen clearly when contrast was pushed above 90%. So, I very carefully followed all instructions on the support site, updated software, did the factory reset, charged the battery, etc. then set up the repair. As people have noted, there is no menu choice for bad display/video issues, it's like they don't really want to hear it. So, I chose the DOA, since it mentioned display in the list. The return box came promptly, and I sent the iPod back the very same day with a slip of paper wrapped around it clearly stating the problem, that the display could only be clearly seen if contrast was at 90% or better. Just a couple of days later, the same unit was returned to me, with the contrast turned up to 90%. Who are they kidding? Did they think I wouldn't check? Why waste my time? So, I calmly called the support number, and after a 30 minute wait I spoke with a very pleasant rep who was kind enough to get a product specialist on the line. He agreed that this wasn't right, and has supposedly set up the unit to be replaced. We'll see what happens, stay tuned. Moral of the story: in spite of the long wait times for service reps on the phone, save yourself a lot of time and hassle and skip the web support step, they'll just ignore your issue.

When I saw the dimmed display panel on my mini my first thought was that I must have accidentally adjusted the contrast. After checking all of the settings and finding no feasible reason why I should have a difficult to read setting, I thought perhaps I would reset it, and start all over with my playlists.

...I decided to come to the ipod site and run a search on the topic before doing so.

I just wanted to say thank you to those that have posted, letting me know that it was a known issue with users, and the fact that mine is barely a month old and has been babied did not save me from this problem. I do have to admit that I am disappointed - I received the pink mini as a gift prior to a conference I had to attend and I love it. It has gotten a good amount of use, and I have had absolutely no problems with it until the display issue. I hate to part with it, even for a few days - it makes my commute (which around here can be anywhere from half an hour to THREE HOURS AND TWENTY ONE MINUTES to travel roughly seventeen miles). I guess I will run it back to the store and see what they might do for me, and if need be, I now know to fill out the form and what to expect.

Thanks again to all those that have posted on this issue!

Followup report: Mini was indeed replaced with a new one that works just fine so far, the replacement just arrived today. All I needed was for them do what they said they were going to do, and they did it.

Contrast on the replacement is a huge improvement, and quite visible at the 50% level. I can finally enjoy the music and other audio I have been waiting for, only took me 30 days from the day I bought it!