iPad 6th generation iOS 16 black screen

The last two times I have tried updating my 6th gen iPad to the latest iOS 16.x has caused the black screen of death. In both cases the iPad downloads, verifies, and installs the update. Then, it reboots to a black screen, it's unresponsive, and no amount of holding the Home + Sleep works to force a restart.

The first time this happened was mid-July 2023. I can't recall the version of iOS 16.x, but the update rendered my iPad useless (I thought), and at the time I had no time to troubleshoot. When I came back to it a couple of weeks later, I opened the case and magically, the screen came on. I have no explanation as to how it finally started working again, short of letting it rest.

The second time happened two days ago, Aug 20, 2023. I initiated an update to iOS 16.6. Again, it downloaded, verified, and installed the update. Then after it rebooted, again, black screen of death. Again, a forced restart (Home + Sleep) did nothing.

Researching "black screen of death" online led me to try restoring my iPad with iTunes. I plugged (my seemingly dead) iPad into my laptop, iTunes did recognize it, and I tried to perform a non-destructive reset, or whatever option it said would not erase all of my data. That did not work, iPad still had unresponsive black screen.

Then, while still connected to iTunes, I put the iPad into DFU mode - hold Home + Sleep for ~10s, then still holding Home, release Sleep, until iTunes says the device is in DFU mode and needs to be restored. I performed the DFU restore, and when the iPad rebooted, iTunes recognized it and asked me how I wanted to set up my new iPad - as a new iPad, or from a backup. I said new (because I didn't have a local backup), but the screen was black and unresponsive. Yet I could tell it was "working" because when I would close the case, I would hear the camera shutter click noise.

Again, no amount of Home + Sleep to perform a forced restart would work. Just a black screen, and now, a camera shutter noise when I closed the case ... progress? I guess so. I decided to plug the iPad into its charger and leave it overnight. The next, morning, I checked it, and again, an unresponsive black screen, the camera shutter noise, the only sign of life.

So, I decided I'd try a DFU restore, again, twice more, actually. But the last time, after the restore was complete, I removed the iPad from my laptop and set it next to my phone.

My phone asked if I wanted to set up my new iPad with my iCloud setting. I said yes, and my phone brought up the screen to scan the authentication image (blue sphere of dots) on my iPad. Which would be great and all, except, my iPad was still showing a black display ... nothing. I was about to give up, and closed the case on my iPad to see if I heard the camera shutter sound. I did not, but then, when I reopened the iPad case ... wait for it ... the display worked, showing the setup image.

My phone could not scan the set up image for some reason, but I was able to manually setup, which required entering a 6-digit code on the iPad. I got through setup on the iPad, and so far, so good. I checked Settings-About, and it shows the iPad is running iOS 16.6.

I'm posting this in case anyone else has experienced this same problem with older iPads and iOS 16.x. I can't say for sure the multiple DFU restores fixed it - remember, the first time it happened, I just let it rest. If anything, maybe this post will help some others troubleshoot their own black screen of death and know that with repeated DFU restores, it may eventually fix it.

Apple Support, @Apple, calling all geniuses, I think there is a problem with iOS 16.x updates and 6th generation iPads. Please investigate so that I can continue to update my iPad without fear of killing it. I'm not ready to buy a new iPad yet. This one works just fine ... at least, until the next update.