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Small accident with mac's screen. Please share your opinion.

I was in a hurry and I closed the screen without seeing that the jack connector from my headset was just a bit on top of the mac. Therefore, when trying to closing it it, the jack penetrated a bit of the lower part of the screen. I don't think it should cause any problem, and everything seems to work fine, but if it affects the screen in the long term i don't want to have to replace it completely. But he damage is so small and seems so harmless that i don't want to spend the amount of money apple suggest for taking care of it (i don't have apple care plan).


Therefore i came here to ask if someone have an opinion on this to know if i should worry and go to apple, or it will just be a harmless scar forever (in which case, i would be happy). I am afraid this could go bigger or start disintegrating the screen or something.


Thank you in advance.

Posted on Aug 10, 2021 11:13 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 10, 2021 12:56 PM

I came here scared at first because its my first accident in a laptop, and it happened on the most expensive laptop i have ever bought (2400€). But after searching everywhere and from your replies, this is what I got summarized in case it helps anyone (remember this is my opinion and i am by no means an expert. Always ask apple first):

  1. The damaged part (called "chin plate" by apple, and you can found it also by "screen bezel" on youtube) is not a part of the screen itself. Its a separate piece, and its purpose is to cover the delicate cables that connect the screen itself with the laptop. Therefore, if you have this chin plate broken but the screen works perfectly, good thing, you don't necessary need to change the complete screen since the cables are intact.
  2. This accident usually happens to people if you close your laptop and (realizing it or not) there is something that cracks it up like a piece of dust or something else (like my case), or if you try to clean it and press too much hard against it.
  3. As far as I have read Apple will not cover it by warranty since it has been your problem/accident, and will make you pay a complete screen replacement. However you don't lose anything by trying to ask.
  4. This type of damages are not a problem by themselves if the screen behaves normally. What should be addressed now is the possible damage that the shattered and sharp small parts fallen from the crack or the sharp edges that could be in the interior due to the crack (in case you have a big crack, and not a "clean" hole as me) can produce to the delicate cables of the screen that are hidden behind. In order to prevent future cable damage you should try to prevent the crack to becoming bigger in time and usage. You can do this by: [1] changing by yourself this part at your own risk, since you can find the specific piece for a reasonable price on ebay (video 1 in english applying heat. More risky, since applying heat should be done super carefully to not damage the screen itself, and using a paper cutter its super risky so u can easily cut the cables of the screen; video 2 in chinese, but the guy don't apply heat and don't use a paper cutter, instead uses a peace of plastic); [2] trying to put a peace of tape on top of it so the glass hopefully stops shattering and to protect anything to enter the cavity (be carefully that the tape don't apply pressure to the screen when the screen is closed); or [3] don't do anything and hopefully the crack won't get worse.


Good luck!

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 10, 2021 12:56 PM in response to SrKatanas

I came here scared at first because its my first accident in a laptop, and it happened on the most expensive laptop i have ever bought (2400€). But after searching everywhere and from your replies, this is what I got summarized in case it helps anyone (remember this is my opinion and i am by no means an expert. Always ask apple first):

  1. The damaged part (called "chin plate" by apple, and you can found it also by "screen bezel" on youtube) is not a part of the screen itself. Its a separate piece, and its purpose is to cover the delicate cables that connect the screen itself with the laptop. Therefore, if you have this chin plate broken but the screen works perfectly, good thing, you don't necessary need to change the complete screen since the cables are intact.
  2. This accident usually happens to people if you close your laptop and (realizing it or not) there is something that cracks it up like a piece of dust or something else (like my case), or if you try to clean it and press too much hard against it.
  3. As far as I have read Apple will not cover it by warranty since it has been your problem/accident, and will make you pay a complete screen replacement. However you don't lose anything by trying to ask.
  4. This type of damages are not a problem by themselves if the screen behaves normally. What should be addressed now is the possible damage that the shattered and sharp small parts fallen from the crack or the sharp edges that could be in the interior due to the crack (in case you have a big crack, and not a "clean" hole as me) can produce to the delicate cables of the screen that are hidden behind. In order to prevent future cable damage you should try to prevent the crack to becoming bigger in time and usage. You can do this by: [1] changing by yourself this part at your own risk, since you can find the specific piece for a reasonable price on ebay (video 1 in english applying heat. More risky, since applying heat should be done super carefully to not damage the screen itself, and using a paper cutter its super risky so u can easily cut the cables of the screen; video 2 in chinese, but the guy don't apply heat and don't use a paper cutter, instead uses a peace of plastic); [2] trying to put a peace of tape on top of it so the glass hopefully stops shattering and to protect anything to enter the cavity (be carefully that the tape don't apply pressure to the screen when the screen is closed); or [3] don't do anything and hopefully the crack won't get worse.


Good luck!

Aug 10, 2021 11:18 AM in response to SrKatanas

If you aren't experiencing any actual issues with the display, it would try to just ignore it. The plastic nameplate below the display tends to crack in newer models of MacBook Pro (2016 and newer), and doesn't serve any actual function for the computer. A display replacement can cost upwards of US $475, so I wouldn't recommend taking your MacBook to the Genius Bar just for cosmetic damage.

Small accident with mac's screen. Please share your opinion.

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