iPad (4th gen) screen scrambled (static) with smart cover.

For me, I'm pretty sure it is just a screen problem. I can turn the iPad off. I can turn it on, I can access the iPad by entering my passcode (by guestimating where the numbers for the keypad are and by looking at my fingerprint smudges). From there, I can use siri to open apps and the like. Thus the gadget works. It is just some sort of screen problem which like the others, seemed to start after recent contact with a smartcover.

I realize this reply is a little late but same thing just happened to me and I fixed it - hopefully it will help any others reading this. The same bar appeared across the bottom of my ipad3 in the same place as yours, and then the whole screen would go static sometimes. I could make the static and the bar go away by removing and slapping on the magnetic smartcover sometimes - it was definitely related to the magnet thing. Pics attached. Over a week or so it got worse and worse - the bar never disappeared and it was hard to return the rest of the screen from grey static. But taking a screenshot would look normal, so the ipad saw itself as normal, which led me to believe (naively? luckily?) that it was the LCD or LCD connection. Also torquing the iPad 3 would sometimes bring the screen back to 'normal' (non static grey fuzz) but always with that striped bar across the bottom. Buttons behind the stripe would still work, you just can't see em.

Anyway - apple store said they dont fix these - "too hard to take apart" (uh huh, sure) and offered me an equal ipad 3 refurb for $300 since it was two days out of my one year warranty (of course), and so I took it to a local non-apple cellphone fixy place that deals with ipads, and had them replace the LCD and glass for $150 (glass also had a crack for 6 mo+). Now it seems to work like a charm. So if you see the dancing pink and grey or white stripe of death - you might just need an LCD. You can also order parts and do it yourself for half that price, but I thought someone w experience in prodding these things in the correct places (so as not to damage the antennae etc) was worth the extra $. I lucked out doing it myself on an ipod once, but decided to not spend hours stressing over this one.

Oh, also, restoring the ipad, and whacking it in all different manners and angles (other common suggestions for screen problems) did nothing for me.

First, try a system reset. It cures many ills and it's quick, easy and harmless...

Hold down the on/off switch and the Home button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo. Ignore the "Slide to power off" text if it appears. You will not lose any apps, data, music, movies, settings, etc.

If the Reset doesn't work, try a Restore. Note that it's nowhere near as quick as a Reset. It could take well over an hour! Connect via cable to the computer that you use for sync. From iTunes, select the iPad/iPod and then select the Summary tab. Follow the on-screen directions for Restore and be sure to say "yes" to the backup. You will be warned that all data (apps, music, movies, etc.) will be erased but, as the Restore finishes, you will be asked if you wish the contents of the backup to be copied to the iPad/iPod. Again, say "yes."

At the end of the basic Restore, you will be asked if you wish to sync the iPad/iPod. As before, say "yes." Note that that sync selection will disappear and the Restore will end if you do not respond within a reasonable time. If that happens, only the apps that are part of the IOS will appear on your device. Corrective action is simple - choose manual "Sync" from the bottom right of iTunes.

If you're unable to do the Restore, go into Recovery Mode per the instructions here. Also, if you have IOS-7, read this.

You'll need to have it checked for a hardware failure. I read another user's report here last week that he had a problem with the magnets and he had to have his replaced. Apple verified it with a hardware check, first.

Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

I have this exact same problem, happened a few days ago, static lines and flickering screen caused by Smart Cover, I left my ipad on my shelf with the cover on when I woke up and came to it the screen was all static, unfortunately my ipad is no longer under warranty, but I refuse to pay £100 to fix a £400 product broken by something made by Apple, apple need to take this issue seriously and offer repairs or replacements for this fault.

Try reconnecting the Smart Cover and disconnecting it again, the past three days my ipad has had static lines all over the side where the cover connects I disconnected the cover and the lines have disappeared, however I suspect the magnet has caused internal damage, it will be interesting to see if apple take notice of this problem or try dismiss it as no fault of theres

Seems lke a lot of people coming across this problem, my screen is still working but I now have to put up with a black vertical line about two inches thick near the bottom end of my screen, I know it was the Smart Cover causing the screen to all go fuzzy as as soon as I stopped using the cover it stopped happening but left the vertical line my advise to people would be to not use an apple Smart Cover and if you are using one take it of before you encounter this problem, my ipad 4 was my first apple product and most likely my last

I'm in Australia and even though my iPad (4th gen) was 18 months old and out of its original 12 months warranty (I didn't not buy apple care), Apple replaced my iPad for free 2 days ago. Practically no questions asked. The product was covered by Australian consumer law which basically states that a product sold should last a reasonable amount of time. "Reasonable" for an iPad has been interpreted as 2-3 yrs. Hence apple had no qualm in replacing it. I hope this helps all others who have the problem in their dealings with apple.

I too am a little late to this thread, but own an iPad 2 and after updating to the latest IOS 8, experienced the same scrambled screen described by others. I too went to the Apple Genius Bar, and they told me that the iPad was, in essence, broken and since it is out of warranty, they would gladly sell me a refurbished one for $299. I declined, since I didn't have a spare $300 to waste on this (especially since they would only give me a 90 day warranty on the refurbished one!).

Based on other's responses on this site and other websites, I used a heavy duty magnet and after much effort, discovered that I can bring the screen "back to normal" if I gently maneuver the magnet across the bottom of the iPad. However, it doesn't always work.

So I am in agreement with others that this definitely has something to do with the magnets in the iPad. Is there a way to remove them?

I am going to head to my local iPhone/iPad "repair" store to see about replacing the LCD, but thought in the interim I would ask about possibly removing or demagnetizing the magnets first.

Many thanks in advance!

Jenn

Yeah, I'm skeptical of the magnets too, Im afraid to use the smartcover now, so I don't dislodge anything (or whatever was happening when the magnetic cover made the screen flip out / come back). But, the two times I have needed to cover it up and did use the smartcover, my new LCD has not reverted back to the crazy screen. And everything is still working well (knock on wood), almost one month in with my new LCD.

Can't respond to the magnet removal / demagnetizing, but Im with you, if I had my druthers now I'd want em gone.

If in the end you need a new ipad (if other options are a no-go), the refurbs you order on the online apple store come with a 1 year warranty! Same price as the store deal, and maybe even cheaper, depending which model ipad2 you have: $250/ 16g $300/32g $290/16g+3G $340/32g+3G Plus you get to keep your broken ipad and you can probably sell it for at least a little something....

good luck!