Keyboard marks on Macbook Pro M1 14" screen

I try to avoid putting pressure on the display when carrying the laptop because there is so little clearance between the display & keyboard. This has always been an issue with Apple laptops even back on the 2012-2015 Retina models and the clearance is even less today. Keep in mind Apple does place a piece of very thin foam/cloth between the display & keyboard when shipping the laptops from the factory even though the laptop is within a very sturdy box. I don't recommend putting anything between the display & keyboard except perhaps the original material Apple used from the factory or you risk cracking the glass and/or LCD panel.

The keys are rubbing the anti-reflective coating from the Display. You can have Apple check the laptop to see if they will do anything. I know that Apple has a secret free repair program available for the older models, but I don't think that program applies to Apple Silicon Macs. Even if the program is valid for Apple Silicon Macs, I don't think the coating is affected enough to even qualify for the program. Apple has some very strict guidelines for determining how bad the anti-reflective coating issue must be especially if it is just the key impressions.

tavares2021 wrote:

How can a microfiber cloth, that’s is just as soft as toilet paper, crack/damage the screen?

When the object takes up more space than exists when the lid is closed, something is bound to give. The glass & LCD Panel are the items which "give" and break. Many microfiber cloths are not that thin, plus if it kinks or doubles up, then it suddenly is taking up twice the thickness. Just simple physics.

Plus I thought of something else while replying to another similar thread: Even if the item is thin enough to fit in the very narrow gap with the lid closed, that item may be able to press against the keys or even the trackpad causing the laptop to wake/power on. With recent Macs, pressing any key or even the Trackpad will cause the laptop to wake or power on. There is currently no way to disable this dreadful "feature". This may cause the laptop to overheat & drain the battery while traveling leaving the user with a laptop that cannot be used without a power adapter connected until the battery is recharged.

Why do people want to risk a $1,000 repair of an already expensive laptop?

When carrying the laptop do not hold it in such a way as to press the display/lid into the keyboard. The same goes for carrying the laptop in a laptop bag. Do not put any other items into the bag with the laptop so nothing gets pressed against the display. I have both an M1 2020 and M2 2023 laptop and so far have not had any keyboard marks on either of my laptop's display. In fact I only see the issue with just a small number of my organization's thousands of Apple laptops.

If the keyboard impression on the screen is really a wide spread issue, then I suggest users contact Apple corporate directly to let them know your displeasure. You can also provide Apple with product feedback here although it is hard to say whether Apple does anything with the feedback.

Did you ever use a keyboard cover or protector?

This is Apple's take on those: Using a camera cover, palm rest, or keyboard cover on a Mac notebook - Apple Support

How to proceed? With all honestly, live with it. The display assembly is a sealed unit. Any damage to any part of the assembly requires complete replacement to fix. That will cost a minimum of US$500; could be more for a 14"

Since a few weeks, I was using a 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper that I place on my keyboard before closing the lid. The thickness of this sheet of paper is 0.09 mm.

Last week, I found a long lost pad of tracing paper of 8 1/2" x 11". The thickness of one sheet of this tracing paper is 0,04 mm.

Now I use this sheet of tracing paper to protect my screen and I also wipe the keys with a sheet of cleansing wipes before putting the tracing paper in place.

I seldom close the lid on my Macbook Pro and do all the above mentioned procedure only before closing the lid. I also avoid putting too much pressure on the laptop when stored in its carrying bag.

My point, and I know it has been mentionned by other users, is that we shouldn't have to do that to circumvent a design flaw by Apple. Hey, Apple, make your laptop 1 or 2 millimetres thicker. This will not prevent me from buying a Mac laptop. The race to produce the absolute thinnest laptop is ridiculous.

hi! i used microfiber cloth moistened with ethyl alcohol (just one drop). i tried to clean it as lightly as possible to avoid damaging any screen protective coating that apple may have. i also started using a microfiber keyboard blanket/cloth and avoided placing anything on top of my laptop. hope this helps!

I fear that a micro fibre cloth might prove too thick.

I now regularly use a letter size sheet of paper that I place on the keyboard before closing the lid.

tavares2021 wrote:

Just found this although it wont help if the damage is done.

NEVER Close Your Macbook Lid Without Doing THIS!

Be EXTREMELY careful since there is very little clearance between the display and the keyboard (different models may have different amounts of clearance). You may end up cracking the glass & LCD Panel of the display which would result in a very expensive repair. The best option would be to keep the original liner that Apple had between the display from the factory since it is even thinner than a piece of paper.

Caleb3423 wrote:

I use a keyboard protector and it still causes issues. I would't recommend it.

The marks on the screen are from the oils on your hands that you leave on the keyboard. So, if you took the keyboard protector off before closing, the screen would stay much cleaner. And be less likely to crack.

Natyd27 wrote:

First, I spray directly onto the MacBook screen and then a little more onto the towel. Using circular motions, I wipe the screen.

Never spray anything directly on the screen. Liquid can run into the speakers or get into other places. Apple also recommends against using anything but water or, if absolutely necessary, alcohol. Other substances can damage the coating on the screen. Are the makers of the product you're recommending going to pay to have your screen replaced if that happens?

Avoid getting moisture in any openings. Don't spray liquid directly on the computer. Don't use aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide that might damage the finish.

How to clean your Apple products - Apple Support

2 weeks ago I brought my m2 max 16 inch MacBook Pro in for this problem and the apple store WORLD TRADE CENTER fixed it for free it was covered by my apple care and thats its a DESIGN FLAW

Jean (Johnny) Lemire wrote:

My point, and I know it has been mentionned by other users, is that we shouldn't have to do that to circumvent a design flaw by Apple. Hey, Apple, make your laptop 1 or 2 millimetres thicker.

You can provide Apple with product feedback here:

Product Feedback - Apple

This will not prevent me from buying a Mac laptop. The race to produce the absolute thinnest laptop is ridiculous.

And this is why Apple keeps doing it. No one is willing to vote with their wallet and purchase a product from another manufacturer. As long as Apple sees sales, they take it as a sign that their customers agree with their decisions.

Even before the Retina model laptops, I used to see keyboard impressions on the screen. Other manufacturers had the screen bezels protrude just enough to keep the screen from contacting the keyboard. This issue is nothing new with Apple. Somehow my two laptops an M1 & M2 don't have marks on the screen and I've been carrying them around for a while (I don't have anything in my laptop bag that will press against the laptop, so that may help).

hi i had the same issue. i wiped my macbook air’s screen keyboard marks with microfiber cloth moistened with alcohol (just one drop of alcohol) lightly in a circular motion a couple of times and it did the trick. genuinely thought the marks were permanent because it took a while to get rid of them. hope this helps!!

tavares2021 wrote:

Just found this although it wont help if the damage is done.

NEVER Close Your Macbook Lid Without Doing THIS!

https://youtu.be/FZGeCmJ-c_8

Bad idea.

What you need to do BEFORE using your laptop is wash your hands and dry them. And don't put on lotion. Also, don't eat while using your laptop.

I have the same issue with my M1 pro. The screen is constantly dirty, and gets imprinted with keyboard marks after a time, obviously from finger grease. Previously, I had an Intel Mac (2013 model) that I used for 10 years and this problem never occurred. Seems to me that this is a design issue; the newer macs are getting so thin that they don't leave enough space between the keys and the display. Apple should address this problem.

Hello Nasar

I usually use a cleaning product called Screen Mom, which comes with its own microfibre towel. First, I spray directly onto the MacBook screen and then a little more onto the towel. Using circular motions, I wipe the screen.

I repeat this process every other day to keep it spotless.

Hope you find this helpful.