Mac Book Pro 2019, Touch Bar started flickering and won't stop.

Hello, same issue here but it comforts to know that I'm not the only one and that it's clearly not a hardware damage caused by me. I have a 2019 Intel MacBook Pro and my Touchbar started acting up roughly two year after I got it in 2019. Since then I have tried all of the common fixes: NVRAM reset, SMC reset, resetting the Touchbar process, deleting caches, and keeping my Mac up to date.

Still, the issue only seems to be getting worse as my room turns into a nightclub as soon as I haven't moved my cursor for a while or when waking up my Mac from standby.

Contacted Apple Support again today but they don't know of any more solutions besides those discussed here. And it seems as if they clearly know of this issue. I just don't understand why there hasn't been any recall program even though this is clearly a production issue on their side.

Anyhow, support staff recommended to send in feedback about the issue here. Apparently if lots of user report issues they will be forwarded to mgmt. Worth giving it a try.

This makes so much sense. I am using the fix from the medium, where you run a script which restarts the touchbar process after 59 seconds of inactivity, because after 60 seconds of inactivity, the touchbar dims and this is what causes it to flicker. I could not figure out why my mac was crashing in sleep mode with the lid closed. But now it makes sense, as it probably triggers the light sensor trying to dim the touchbar, which leads to flickering. Now I wonder if there is a way to overwrite the touchbar instructions to dim or override the light sensor to fix the issue.

However, I am still not sure if the problem is purely software. After each crash, my touchbar is usually gone and it takes a few minutes before the next kernel panic and crash, after which I reset the SMC key by holding the power button for 10 seconds, and the issue is always fixed until next sleep mode and kernel panic.

Hello! So I found a very interesting workaround for this super annoying issue. Until now I had been working with this computer in clamshell mode with a monitor, in part because I couldn't stand the flashing anymore. However, I need this one as a travel laptop and so out of frustration I put a piece of black electrical tape across the Touch Bar, leaving the Touch ID button exposed. Lo and behold I opened my laptop this morning and no flashing (you could still see a tiny bit of it yesterday) and it didn't crash after I closed the laptop -- like it does EVERY TIME. I hope this weird workaround works for you. I programmed the "fn" button as my new Escape key and I use the uppermost bar at the top for sound, display, etc.

I have a 2020 MBP and I am having the same issue. It flickers and then goes black and stops working until I restart the computer. I'm concerned that this is a sign that it will die soon. This is a very expensive laptop and I can't afford a new one.

I got my 13'' Macbook pro with $2400+ in late 2019. And my computer touchbar started flashing in 2022 After investigation of this issue, it seems replacing the motherboard would be the only possible way and possibly the issue would still come back, however it would charge much more since the warranty already passed.

I was a big fan of Apple products (MBP, iPhone, iPad, Airpods, watch etc), however given Apple passive attitude of dealing with such massive issues on touchbar and my awful experience on this one, I almost pressed the "Place Order button" on getting a new MBP M3 and seriously held off my idea. Now I may start thinking about other non-Apple alternatives.

My MacBook Pro 2019 has this flickering Touch Bar since 2020.

I find that some time the touchbar will goes totally black without any light,

so this is better than flashing with bright light.

(I cover the camera with thick black tape maybe that is the reason).

But once I close the lid put it in my travelling bag, reached office and open the lid the flickering come back.

Next I am thinking to cut a black tape into an equal size (with the touchbar),

and put the black tape on the touchbar,

This black tape is the one electrician use as an insulator to cover the exposed wire.

The good news is even with a black tape on the touchbar, the touch sensor still able to sense my touching.

Then next I need to do is to write labels ESC, F1, F2 ...etc

by using a white marker pen onto the black tape on the correct location.

That is all I need, I don't need other keys like sound control, screen brightness control,

I can do the setting to have these control on the screen's top right menu.

And the [fast forward], [fast rewind], [Play/Pause] keys are just redundant.

Your dismissal of the "flashing" Touch Bar issue as merely unfortunate, and your assertion that it hasn't affected your own device, reflects a profound ignorance of the gravity of the situation. The fact that not every affected individual voices their concerns on this forum does not diminish the validity or urgency of the problem. There is ample justification for a recall, as this issue undermines the functionality and reliability of affected MacBook Pros, impacting users' productivity and overall experience. It's essential to acknowledge the widespread nature of the problem and take decisive action to rectify it, rather than downplaying its significance based on individual experiences.

Yup, I went down the black tape route. I covered the entire bar except for brightness controls which don't seem to flicker as much.

The rest of the bar I do not need.

The device (2020, 1st gen M1) does still crash numerous times a day if not being used and when I shut down it restarts instead.

My faith in Apple products is much diminished.

[Edited by Moderator]

I have a MPB 13" Touch Bar and have the same issue.

I tried the torch light on the light sensor and it did stop flickering, so this might be to lower the intensity of the light going through the Touch Bar. Thanks to the one stating that it is indeed avoidable by removing the adjusting to the ambient light in Settings. Hope that Apple will do a recall and be kind enough as this is a real issue and these machines ain't cheap

I have been and currently am using ventura, got the flickering issue for more than half a year since then.

I tried the light/camera fix. Did nothing. I went to a Windows computer. Apple has let me down.

So, just got back. No. It's not a free repair.

I know the Genius bar at the store. Since I was one of the original Geniuses at that store when it opened.

There are no recalls and no emergent issues in their system either for this issue either.

So for now, it's a black duct tape and wait and see issue.

Yes, I put a black tape to cover the touchbar, and use a white marker pen to write "ESC, F1, F2.....etc" on the black tape.

My MacBook Pro will not crashes nor auto-reboot. If your's crashes, it is not caursed by flickering touchbar, most likely you need to re-format hard disk and reinstall Mac OS. Of course you will need to backup your data files first before re-format and re-install. I re-install mine two months ago and that solve the (another problem) of keyboard not responsive.

Same here, Macbook Pro 2020, touch bar flickers after clamshell mode. Also having the flexgate issue on this laptop, so all I can do is use the laptop as a network server.. :(

It's free repair now