The rubber around MacBook Pro screen melting...

I too have the same problem. MacBook Pro bought in 2017. The rubber bezel around the screen has become sticky and leaves black marks on the aluminium body. Edges on the screen around the bezel also remain dirty due to smudged rubbe, despite regular cleaning. I take care of the MacBook quite well. Looks like a material defect on the rubber gasket ?

I too am looking around for solutions that doesn't burn my pocket

Yes, I'm having the same issue, the rubber gasket at the display edge near the opener melted or cracked off.

I've actually replaced the whole display in 2017 after it cracked due to a fall.

I hope someone from Apple can reply or address this matter.

Is it due to wear and tear or manufacturing defects?

I have the same macbook and same issue, fed up of apple's sub par quality of materials. even cheap windows laptops don't melt like that. do you think it's covered in warranty?

I believe this is a chemical reaction caused between rubber material and aluminium. I have this exactly the same issue with my Macbook pro 2013 15". If I leave my macbook lid open for 5 cm, rubber gets hardened after some time and the chemical process does not continue. However, if I close screen and I try to open it after 2 days, the rubber material glues screen to hand rest part of my macbook. It glues so strong, that I have to open it wth with both hands and then I find sticky rubber material marks on the bottom part of macbook, (where the hands rest).

I suggest you, not to close your screen lid if this is not needed (if you don't put your macbook into a bag). This way you will not see the rubber material age as fast.

Definetly not cosmetic. The rubber seal once off, results in openings for little dust and bugs (real one not the software kind) to enter the space between glass and screen. I thought it was Cosmetic too and ignored it. One fine day a dust mite or something of the sort is lodged right there on my screen ...no way to clear it out unless I replace the screen. Which needless to say is far too costly.

"fed up of apple's sub par quality of materials. even cheap windows laptops don't melt like that. do you think it's covered in warranty?"

The OP's machine is 8 years old so there's no warranty, and it's understandable that the build quality deteriorates for a nearly 10 year old laptop. I would argue that after 8 years no consumer Windows laptop's bezel and build quality hold up better.

Latex or rubber is chemically hardened during production. There is a natural tendency for all rubber to turn soft and sticky after a while.

I am disappointed because I bought this Macbook just over a year ago. My previous Macbook Pro 13 inch from 2013 did not have this issue. Quality was better in those days. Even my iphone 7 from 2018 is starting to show black horizontal streaks at the top of the screen.

I visited my local Apple Service Provider and was told that this rubber issue was just cosmetic and would not damage the LCD screen if it continued peeling off. This is different from the opinion given online at Apple support. I read one other website that also said that was just a cosmetic issue.

The service centre wanted to give me a quote to replace the whole screen. I read somewhere this cost a bomb. Replace with possibly the same defective rubber inside?

do we need a class action lawsuit? Lol That would be time consuming. Just avoid macbook in the future for me.

does iPad experience such issues? Maybe get an iPad instead of a macbook in the future

I own 4 MacBooks and 3 of them have this problem but some more severe than others. My MBA 13 2010's gasket gets sticky but never fell apart or broke off. It was just sticky at times. My MBP 15 2013's gasket got sticky after 3 years, it run out of Apple Care and they will not fix it for free. I left it at that ant now it is crumbling and falling apart. My MBP 13 TB 2016 started to get sticky after 3 years and chunks fell off. Lucky that one was covered by apple and the screen got replaced lately because of a screen failure for 2016s MBP13 (the keyboard also new as it broke). It just shows Apple's stuff is not as long lasting as it once was but they still have less problems than other brands. So that is why I still go back to them. I am a proud owner of a MBP 16 and I hope this one is better built than its predecessors.

After reading this thread, I also think heat has to do something with the deterioration of these rubber gaskets. I remember my MBA 13 never got as hot as my MBP 15 and my MBP 13 is just silly hot most of the times. Sometimes it heats up while charging with the lid closed.

I am gonna try and wait for my new MBP to cool down before I put it away and not charge it with the lid closed. 🤪

And try and not put heavy items on top of it.

Hi,

How did you make them agree? I tried to call apple support a few times including one session with a “senior adviser” and non of them allowed me to replace the sticky rubber on the screen of my 2018 MacBook 12inch without spending $700-800 to replace entire screen. My MacBook is still under AppleCare warranty. I even brought it down to the Genius at Jewel and they refused to replace too.

Hey All....apple had offered me to replace the whole screen free but i have to pay for the labour charge about SGD$130...i go ahead with it...i can't stand the melting rubber...

My MacBook Pro 2017 is starting to develop the same issue. It was never subjected to poor care. This "rubber softening" thing is called reversion. I was told that the screen integrity could be compromised. May I check if anyone has developed actual LCD issue due to this rubbery issue?

I have the exact same issue, the rubber is melting and very irritating, it's look like quality issue. I hope apple can do something to this. I am always confident of apple product quality but not this time round. I bought the MacBook Pro 13" in 2018 Aug, less than 2 years.....

BUT for this to happen is because like sometimes you might forgot to unplug the charger after it is at 100% the battery can become hot on some devices....or...Maybe after u used it for a long time like for some work..and running too many applications at a time may occur this kind of problem and runaway applications can cause the processor to work overtime and affect the heat level of your computer. If the apps I use on my MacBook were in a road race, Chrome would have lapped the field. When your MacBook's CPU works overtime, its cooling fan kicks in to dissipate the heat and you said that your Mac was Mid 2012 which has a fan with some dust which doesn't allow air to pass through properly.....If this same problem occurs on your MacBook air please let me know i am ready to help

"Does Apple provide any specific replacement for the rubber part nowadays? "

ANS: They CAN but if you only have a warranty on your MBP

"Is there better way to fix my this or should i just ignore this problem... ?"

ANS: If you start ignoring for too long the screen might come off so my suggestion is you can go to a repairing shop which you trust maybe...or like if you are an expert on fixing macBook you can just order the items

Thank you

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities.

I want to make sure you reach the right team for help with your MacBook. I recommend that you contact Apple Support directly. Depending on your region, you may be able to reach them here: Contact Apple Support