The rubber around MacBook Pro screen melting...

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.

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

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.

Apple finally replaced my screen - 'as a gesture of goodwill' - after I brought the matter to a consumer tribunal. In countries where this option is available, it is the last resort if Apple refuses to fix the problem. I still dispute that it is a 'cosmetic issue' as it is clearly a material problem. The steps are fairly straightforward, please keep receipts and proof - screenshots, visits to repair centre - that you contacted Apple to resolve the problem. Then file your case.

Good luck.

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...

"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.

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

Apple support does not participate here; these are user to user forums. We do not work for Apple.

In order to contact Apple, use the contact support link in the upper right corner of this page and start a repair ticket or go to your nearest Apple store (if open) or an authorized service provider.

I was on the phone with an Apple staff and was told they have never heard of this issue before. They booked a date for me to send my

macbook to a service provider. Before going there, I called the service provider and told them about this issue and also showed them the link to this page. Was told the same thing, changing rubber = changing screen. My MacBook was bought from Apple site, on Jul 2018. It’s a 2017 refurbished set. Noticed the rubber peeling early this year in Feb.

In case this helps anyone. I ordered this last night:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085W9TM44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hey...I went to A.LAB @Changi City Point to replace but before that I call Apple to raise my concerns escalated to manager. Since mine out of warranty, I paid the service fee at about sgd120...

Hey Jiaxin

i escalated to Apple first complaining to the manager before going to authorised service Center. But I pay for the service fee $120. They change the whole screen. Think still worth it.

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 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

Oh sorry, my post was meant for the OP. I can't comment why yours is happening like that since I don't know how you use your machine daily but I've had 6 MacBook Pros, a MacBook and several Powerbooks and I've never seen this happen on any of my machines. Did you get AppleCare Plus? That would cover it.