There are horizontal lines blinking at the top of my screen after some heavy using time.
Model: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
Processor 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5
macOS Catalina: version 10.15.4
I have tried reseting SMC and PRAM, but the lines were still there.
Does anyone encounter this problem as well?
The repair program seems to be only for MacBook Pro 2016, isn't it?
MacBook
GUYS I HAVE IMPORTANT NEWS: I GOT FREE REPAIR
be prepared for what i am going to say, it will be unpleasant for most of you but i hope to let you get my impression and what i feel like it worked in order to get a free repair.
I write from Italy, Milan and my problem regards a MacBook Pro 2017 13'' (2 thunderbolts, no touch bar) since september 2020, i tried a lot of calls to Apple support, at least two different practices with long trials via software updates, computer formatting and many other useless solutions: the problem was definitely hardware.
I think that someone in this discussion got the keypoint: it seems a detail but i seriously think that what makes really the difference in this terrible situation is the Keyboard Service Program (https://support.apple.com/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks), i don't know why but i had a feeling that there was a correlation between this program and the other one (yes you read it correctly: THERE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM).
Yesterday, unfortunately, or now i would say fortunately, one key fell off, i also noticed the barspace having some issues when writing (sometimes double space was written with one touch) and in my mind i remember also the bottom arrow being sticky.
Without any hope i went to Apple Support and also tried again to talk about the horizontal lines problem: they recognized in 5 minutes the keyboard problem, and BE PREPARED... they also recognized the horizontal lines, they even didn't want to see it, a picture was enough for them (and by the way is the same pic you can find above this answer and that other apple workers refused) mentioning that there is "another repair program", i literally asked for the name of it and where to find it, the worker smiled and told me that "some of these programs are silent", can you imagine guys? SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE SILENT. I had spent lot of time asking about this problem and the answer was always the same: there is no repair program for this.
I don't know if those of you that received this response went phisically to genius bar, i feel like this is an internal procedure that they apply in certain situations (and here i think that they apply it mostly if you have also keyboard problem), but if no information is provided on their website (like with the first repair program) maybe online they will tell you that it doesn't exist simply because they don't know it and they read the info from the website.
At the end of the day they recognized both problems and give a free repair for a total amount of almost 1000 euros, this can't be real.
I will add an extra point: to me the worker was a lot aware of the problem of horizontal lines, in 2 seconds he said that he knew well that problem and that was related to "some connectors" that had this issue and which is causing in these models sometimes horizontal, sometimes vertical lines, to me it looks that he literally said that apple knows well this problem, this strategy seems a sneaky way to minimize free repairs. YOU MUST INSIST GUYS.
I don't know, i am seriously confused, happy for me but sad for you, i want you all to insist as i did, trying the approach i pointed in this answer. The following pics proof what i am saying.
Hi AndréOrozco,
it’s sad to hear you have the same problem with your MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, there is still no repair plan released for this problem which I believe is a manufacturer’s defects.
Pls report your problem to Apple and encourage more users with same problem to do so. The more users report the same problem, the more likely is Apple to face it.
yes, overheat of the t-con that apart of the screen , since it damaged from the heat you have to pay for new screen. I thought that macbook pro it's a trustworthy devise. now we need to spend like almost a half of the price of the mac..or to hope that they have a responsibility to their products and that they will open a program for people like us..
Hi. I've been facing this issue since December, 2019. Apple assistance charged me to replace entire display. I've also started a discussion at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250948729
I posted a video on YouTube with this issue. You can also sign some petitions created by other users available at video description. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgumwHeffYs&lc=Ugx6Ow3v1fP8PAxVZD14AaABAg&feature=em-comments
Regards.
OMG I’m so terrified because I got this problem too. Mine is MBP 2017.
Just realized it yesterday when the black line covered half of my dock. Too terrified, then I turned off my laptop all night. This morning I turned on my laptop and it worked fine for like... 15 - 20 mins? Then it started to show faint line that looks more visible as it gets warmer.
I do research and the only reason is overheating, but due to design you must replace THE WHOLE display, which cost almost half of the price itself. I went to several technicians, both from authorized / non authorized dealer, all of them suggested display replacement.
My only issue is, even if I replace it, IF the problem is overheating... then I would encounter the same problem if I’m not careful??? I mean, I’m not crapping money for this?
This is devastating because this is actually my second MBP (my first was MBP 2011 and worked FINE). I put much faith in MBP and after almost 3 years of usage, I have to encounter this problem. Right when I have to work from home.
Seriously, Apple needs to address this as manufactory defect. Already signed the petition and I hope I’d hear good news soon. I’m aware that more people will address the same issue due to activities from home.
Stay safe.
I’m just coming from Apple Store Genius in Osnabruck Germany, after I made an appointment, they told me that Apple doesn’t cover my MacBook repair and it costs 850€ including taxes....it takes one week.
I asked if I get my dold display also because is functional, the only thing that is broken at the “Flexgate problem“are those 2 connections from the lateral that connect the screen to the main body, but they don’t give nothing back, they change the entire screen for 2 connections that cost I think 6$ and charge me with 850€ for an hardware problem, that they fix it from 2018 making those 2 connections longer with 3mm......Why are eligible only models of MacBook pro 13” 2016 with the same problem for repairs and the rest of people that paid 3000€ on an MacBook from 2015-2017 have to pay so much money for an Apple issue???????
I’m with Apple from many years with phone , laptop, airpods...even Apple shares on the Stock market.....I’m totally disappointed about how they treat me as a customer...I had still hope until I got at the shop....now is all gone...Shame on you Apple if you don’t do something about this problem... hope the people with this problem to make a legal petition and go to court with this problem, is inadmissible at thi level and with this prices to treat your customers like this !!!!!!
Greetings,
Same thing I have a 2017 Macbook pro. I tried everything under the sun, and it was just getting worse every day went by. I did the diagnostics came back 100% clean and all the solution Apple has on their website.
The only thing that solved the problem is wiping off everything from the computer and installing fresh macOS. The funny part is even after the installation, I thought it didn't work. I still had so many lines over the screen, and it was flickering but after an hour or so now, it's back to 100% normal.
Everyone is saying it might be hardware. It's not, folks. There is something so deep going on with macOS causing this problem, but so far right now, it seems like this fixed the issue.
This is 100%, exactly the same thing I had. Throughout the installation process, did you completely wipe everything out and reinstall the macOS?
Also, I think I did differently I changed the main harddrive's name. So I made sure it was not picking up anything from the previous installation.
And when mine started for the first time, I still had the lines after about 45 minutes, everything went back to normal. I am thinking it updated the video card's drive or something like that. I have no idea but it did something itself and fixed it.
TCON or Logic failure I believe. I've updated and nothing has changed. When the computer is "cold" after being shut off for awhile there are no lines, but after working for a few hours they come back, get worse, and are now severely impacting my visibility at the top of my screen. It's a hardware failure, and I'm not willing to put in another $600-$800 for a new screen and/or internal repairs.
Apple clearly needs to do something about this.
Hello, I also have the same problem after 4 years of usage. However, I see that my problem appear to be latter than most of the users here. I also know that it's frustrated, however, I did expected some defects after a long period of intensive use. My battery reach 550 cycles and in poor condition, heating, manufacturing effects may all contribute to the issue.
Since apple haven't yet offered any solution and coverage. I have some tips to cope with it. I use apple native app most of the time (especially browser Safari, chrome somehow really overwhelm RAM and CPU force the fan work maniacally). My horizontal lines start to show up after every 2 hours of usage and start increasing from there, so I take some time away to let my MacBook rest. Also I will change to Apple Silicon this Fall, so 4 years of using and 1k3 can be compensate for it
Definitely out of warranty, they said that the repair program was valid 4-5 years after the purchase.
I shared the receipt above in my previous message, you can see that for the lines problem they replaced the display.
So the problem is the screen? not the graphic board? What about if you use an external screen?
did they try to connect the MacBook to an external screen?
Did you do a diagnostics? Do you get an error showing something is failing?
Here is a link how to do it,
My friend and I have brought our two MacBook Pros, both of them have exactly the same issue, to Apple Genius Bar to seek their help as well as directly conveyed my disappointment. The staff at Apple (Orchard, Singapore) seemed has already seen many cases like us, but he reported that so far there were still no official repair program for this.
I asked the staff how does Apple decide which problem they will address? The reply was that Apple decision is based on case numbers, if there is a big enough group of users who encounter the same issue, they will roll out the repair plan. Apple gathers data from mainly direct in-store complaints, Apple community reports or third party reports. Therefore, it's necessary for all the users to report the problems they encounter on Apple community or Apple store in order to raise Apple's awareness.
Hope we can get the justice and fix our beloved MacBook pros.
Thanks fahadrumana for that link. I just submitted a request and described my issue, please everyone do the same! Apple will only pay attention to this issue if enough people bring it to their attention, and this link is the best way to do it. Please everyone submit their problem!!
13" MacBook Pro 2017 - Blinking horizontal lines at the top of the screen
