Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

I'm having this exact problem, and it only happens with Chrome. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe going back a couple of versions of Chrome?

Yes, same problem for me too. Only very recently. Chrome blinks to reveal desktop for a fraction of a second, usually when opening a new page or tab. If anyone has any solutions that would be much appreciated.

Dump chrome.

I have the exact same problem and I don't know what to do. So far I have re-installed the system three times but the problem comes back after a couple of weeks. It seems that the dock tries to come but is somehow blocked by the blinking wall paper. I have an early 2011 macbook pro with 10.8.5 installed on it but I was having a similar problem with 10.8.4. If anybody has any information, I would really appreciate any help .....

I have the exact same problem and I don't know what to do. So far I have re-installed the system three times but the problem comes back after a couple of weeks. It seems that the dock tries to come but is somehow blocked by the blinking wall paper. I have an early 2011 macbook pro with 10.8.5 installed on it but I was having a similar problem with 10.8.4. If anybody has any information, I would really appreciate any help .....

I have the exact same problem and I don't know what to do. So far I have re-installed the system three times but the problem comes back after a couple of weeks. It seems that the dock tries to come but is somehow blocked by the blinking wall paper. I have an early 2011 macbook pro with 10.8.5 installed on it but I was having a similar problem with 10.8.4. If anybody has any information, I would really appreciate any help .....

I have the same issue with my MacBook, and it doesn't matter if I'm using Chrome, Safari or Firefox.  It started a couple of weeks ago....I believe after doing some software upgrades.  VERY frustrating!  Seems to settle down very briefly after I restart it, but nothing lasts.

Interestingly, i did not have any flicker issues after mavericks upgrade.  It started after i installed a iphoto upgrade patch.  I have a macbook air-2012 model. 

Just started getting this same behavior on OSX 10.9 on my mid-2012 MBP Retina 2.6GHz/16GB.

Feels exactly ike a hardware problem, which is the scary part.

That fits the patter I am seeing.  DId not happen for the first week or so of Mavericks.  Just started after the patches I installed last weekend.

swvantill wrote:

 

Just started getting this same behavior on OSX 10.9 on my mid-2012 MBP Retina 2.6GHz/16GB.

 

Feels exactly ike a hardware problem, which is the scary part.

I'd definitely take it in.  Do you have AppleCare?

Hi Evereyone,

I did a lot of research and found a solution to this problem and I don't have this problem now for the last couple of months. First of all, rest assured that this is not a hardware issue. This is a problem with the vulnerable nature of Launchpad. If you have any third party app, that interacts with Launchpad or Launchpad icons or the dock, you will have this problem. For example, if you are using any app to remove or organize icons from launchpad or if you are using any app to alter the appearance of dock, you might have this problem. You see the thing is, when you start your computer, the first things that start are the launchpad and the dock. Now I have discovered that these small third party apps interfere with the normal processes of the launchpad and dock. When dock and launchpad try to start, they have a conflict with these third party apps, the result is a blinking screen, because desktop is again related to the dock and launchpad. So the desktop tries to come along with dock and lauchpad but their intiation routines get stuck with these third party apps (which are actually trying to alter the dock and launchpad at the same time), resulting in a pretty much bad functioning computer with a blinking screen and no dock, sometimes.

Now, you might think. that unistalling such apps, reinstalling the system and restoring everything from time machine will do the trick but no, this is not it. Do the follwoing to get rid of the issue.

1. Take a time machine backup.

2. Re-install the system. Do not restore from time machine but reinstall a clean system from internet.

3. Again, do not restore your data from time machine, instead re-install all the apps you need from scratch and avoid re-installing any third party app that interact with the dock, desktop or launchpad.

4. Restore your data/documents but not "settings" and "other files" from time machine using "migration assistant" in utlilitiies.

5. Your brand new system is ready. It might take some time but you will get a fresh system without any problem.

I'm having this issue on a 2011 15" MBP, but only after it came back from Apple's repair depot with a new logic board.  Looks like maybe I got an older logic board or something.  The only fix for me was to go into Settings - Engery Saver and uncheck Automatic Graphics Switching.  Battery time will definitely suffer.

I disabled all features related to the graphics i.e. screensaver, automatic graphics switching - and the blue flickering screen went away.

BUT when I installed the latest updates...it returned immediately after months of not flickering...so I can safely say it's the updates that did it for me.

This time even more frequent and annoying than before....since I'm typing blind half the time....only see what I type when the blue screen is transitioning.

I have a late 2012 MBPr.

This is really annoying.  At this rate, I think I'll go back to a PC.  I prefer a bulky PC over an annoying blue schizophrenic screen any day.

Apple...you should really look into this issue - be it a software or hardware issue...it is inherently an issue due to poor design/compatibility.

I do not have any non standard 3rd party software (Adobe photoshop) and this flicker still happens.  This is REALLY ANNOYING.

I'm scraping my iPhone....I was a loyal Apple customer UNTIL NOW.  I think I'll be buying a PC and only using this annoying Apple for designs.

Apple told me the behavior is normal and Mavericks solves it.  I installed Mavericks and so far so good.  (Mavericks feels much heavier and slower than Mountain Lion though.)