Static on MacBook Pro Screen (early 2015)

Question

Level 1

4 points

Static on MacBook Pro Screen (early 2015)

Hi,

My MBP has been intermittently showing static across sections of the display over the past few weeks but the problem is now becoming more severe affecting the whole screen for longer periods of time. For reference, a screenshot from another thread shows the same 'static' as I'm seeing: https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/b15af59f-1f76-4d99-81bc-2abc1016371a

So far i've tried suggestions from other threads with no luck:

Reset NVRAM/PRAM. http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18761
Reset SMC. Choose the method for “If the battery is non-removable”. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
Fresh install of OS (Monterey).
Fresh install of previous OS versions (BigSur and Catalina).

Booting into safe mode or connecting to an external display resolves the issue which gives me hope there is some setting I could change for a permanent fix.

Any help or ideas on this would be really appreciated.

Cheers

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Jan 4, 2022 3:17 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

69,188 points

Jan 4, 2022 6:46 PM in response to lmpgtt

Booting into Safe Mode disables login items and third party drivers. To look for possible software issues run EtreCheck and post the report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper.

Try running the Apple Diagnostics to see if any hardware issues are detected. Make sure the external display is not connected since that is when the issue shows itself with macOS.

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Answer 2

lmpgtt Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2022 6:08 AM in response to lmpgtt

Can confirm using a dummy HDMI plug has resolved the issue for me. Not a perfect solution but only cost £4 vs £100's for a new display.

Thanks for your help, hopefully this works for others with the same issue.

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

69,188 points

Jan 9, 2022 8:34 AM in response to lmpgtt

Thanks for posting those pictures as it helps to better understand the issue since it does change over time.

Connect an external display and enable mirroring. Do you get the same graphical issues on the external display as well? If not, then the laptop has a hardware issue with the built-in Display Assembly.

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Answer 4

HWTech

Level 9

69,188 points

Jan 6, 2022 5:13 PM in response to lmpgtt

It appears you do have a clean install of macOS with no third party apps installed. If it happens in that configuration (and even with Catalina and Big Sur), then it is either some odd hardware or firmware issue. Did this problem occur immediately after upgrading to Monterey or did you have the issue prior to the Monterey upgrade?

Please post a picture of your static screen so I can see exactly what it looks like. You can post a picture using the "Image Insertion" icon on the forum editing window toolbar which looks like a picture of two mountains (2nd from the right if you discount the help "?" circle at the extreme right).

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Answer 5

lmpgtt Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 9, 2022 11:42 AM in response to HWTech

Tested by extending and mirroring the display to an external monitor, the issue stops while connected with no static on the MBP screen or the external display.

Seems perfectly usable but would be restricted to using at a desk. Wondering if a dummy HDMI plug could trick the OS into thinking an external diplay is connected?

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Answer 6

HWTech

Level 9

69,188 points

Jan 9, 2022 3:53 PM in response to lmpgtt

I've seen a few other reports of people having issues after upgrading to Monterey where the built-in laptop screen has issues, but is Ok whenever an external display is connected. Sounds like you may be another victim. Hopefully Apple will fix the issue in a future update.

It is hard to say whether a dummy video adapter will work, but it is worth a try.

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Answer 7

lmpgtt Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 9, 2022 5:34 AM in response to HWTech

I can't say with 100% certainty but I think this became an issue on Big Sur and thought an upgrade to Monterey might help resolve the issue, after which it got worse. Unsure of updates/software installs for that time period as the macbook was rarely being used at that time.

Couple more observations on the degree of the 'static':

Severity seems to be in line with contrasting colours on the screen. From the images below, dock shows no windows open, twitter screenshot has minimal contrasting colours, and the screenshot of the full static screen was from an attempt to open youtube. This wasn't with playing any video, just from visiting the homepage.
When there is little/no static on the page, moving the mouse increases the severity.

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