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Flexgate issue in MacBook Pro 2019

I started having the symptoms of the Flexgate issue in my macbook pro 2019 13" with touch bar and 2 thunderbolt ports. Contacted Apple and they told me to go to a service provider. Two technicians in two different service providers told me the problem is the flex cable and that a screen change would be needed.


When is Apple going to extend the service repair program to older Macbooks? They claim to have solved the problem, but a macbook without design flaws does not break after 3 years of normal use.



MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.3

Posted on May 3, 2023 8:50 AM

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Posted on Mar 4, 2024 7:40 AM

I'm having the same issue with my 2019 13-inch with touchbar model(4 ports). I've been using it for almost 5 years now. Never had any issues with the screen. A couple of days ago I saw light flickering on the screen, but it disappeared after a while. Today when I open my laptop, all I can see is flickering colors and occasionally the screen goes completely wild as if I have a new abstract wallpaper and I can't use the screen anymore.


Closing the hinge past a point fixes the completely useless screen and makes it a flickering screen again. Not sure how much the repairs is gonna cost me.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 4, 2024 7:40 AM in response to DanielDAD

I'm having the same issue with my 2019 13-inch with touchbar model(4 ports). I've been using it for almost 5 years now. Never had any issues with the screen. A couple of days ago I saw light flickering on the screen, but it disappeared after a while. Today when I open my laptop, all I can see is flickering colors and occasionally the screen goes completely wild as if I have a new abstract wallpaper and I can't use the screen anymore.


Closing the hinge past a point fixes the completely useless screen and makes it a flickering screen again. Not sure how much the repairs is gonna cost me.

Nov 8, 2023 8:44 AM in response to DanielDAD

Don't know if this is going to be of help to anyone here but I just wanted to pass on what has happened with my flexgate issue.

After experiencing screen blackout when opening my MacBook past the 30-40 degree angle I decided to clean the hinge with an alcohol wipe and, hey presto, it's now working normally!

I have opened and closed the laptop and, so far, all seems ok. I don't know if something has reconnected or I have shifted some 'crud' that was causing a problem but touch wood , everything is working fine.

I will update if the situation changes.....

Nov 1, 2023 5:02 PM in response to subashn

I'm in the exact same situation. Bought my MacBook Pro in 2019, financed it with AppleCare, ended up paying a total of almost $4000 for it in the end, four years after of very light use and gentle care, the screen is completely useless, one of the ports is broken too. Have had issues with the display almost a year after I bought it. What do I do? I'm extremely disappointed, cannot afford the fix, and cannot afford to purchase a new Mac. Won't ever be buying from Apple again, what a let down.


What did you end up doing?

May 3, 2023 6:28 PM in response to DanielDAD

I started having flickering issue with 2019 16 inch model 2 days ago. It seems that many other people have flickering issue due to bad flex cable. I did not see any recall programs for this issue. We dont have apple store around our area. Not sure what to do. Paid almost 3k for this computer only to be dissapointed in few year of very light use. Other people encountering same issue can be found here (Flickering screen on MacBook Pro (2019) - Apple Community).


Jan 7, 2024 10:39 PM in response to TyAndersonAjax

HOW TO CLEAN THE HINGES: I used a sensor cleaning swab soaked in DIGGERS' isopropyl alcohol. After closing the notebook, I flipped it over and gently cleaned the groove along the screen. This fixed a backlight issue on my 15" MacBook Pro 2016 - a black screen that occasionally disappeared when opening/closing the screen to certain angles. Hope this helps someone!


Dec 22, 2023 5:40 AM in response to DanielDAD

Seems I’m experiencing the same issue. About 3 weeks ago I started experiencing glitchy horizontal lines across the screen. It’s a 13 inch MacBook Pro 2019. I’ve had it for 4 years now. Out of warranty now and no Apple care. Knowing my experience of Apple with my old MacBook Pro which I had for 10 years before I needed a swollen battery replacing I was told from staff in store that Apple would not look at anything over 4 years old as they were deemed classic machines and they didn’t keep replacement parts. I was told to go to an independent Apple certified IT specialist. Well this time round I did just that. I had my screen replaced for £300 and it seemed to have done the trick. Only after using it 3 times since( 2 weeks after the repair) I’m having the exact same problem. Took it back to IT specialist and he got sassy with me claiming it’s not the screen but apples new OS update. I now no longer trust Apple or have any confidence in their products. Sort it out Apple. I expect a laptop costing £1400 to last longer than 4 years. My old Macbook lasted over 10 years.

Dec 8, 2023 12:26 AM in response to TyAndersonAjax

Cleaning the hinge with an a small and soft artist painting brush socked in alcohol solved also the backlight issue .

The stage scene effet disappeared and everything 's Ok up to now but I'm always checking that the hinge is very clean .

I didn't dismount anything just moving the brush up and down along the hinge

The geek in the Apple Store , who diagnosed the flexgate issue , told me I was very lucky but did not understand what happened. Certainly some dust somewhere.


I hope it will work for you


Apr 23, 2024 6:29 AM in response to DanielDAD

yup. having the same problem with my macbook pro 13inch from 2019. as of yesterday the screen started flickering depending on the angle of the screen. it's getting worse now. i've seen some articles about flixgate but apple only seems to be taking the fall for the 2016 models.


i live in france and don't have any apple store near me. i will be on vacation in japan soon though, so i'll go to an apple store and see what they'll say about it and how much it'll cost. there's been a class action in the us from my understanding?


i refuse to pay for this factory damage but i'm guessing apple isn't giving us any other option :) they'll probably tell me to change the whole screen but i've seen that it's actually not necessary as it's coming from cables?


anyway. i'm guessing repair will be cheaper in japan and it's still better than buying a whole new computer.... if anyone has found anything to fix the problem, let me know!

Dec 26, 2023 11:24 AM in response to DanielDAD

woww, apple playing good, it happened to my 2017 apple MacBook pro, and they told me same things and i asked them what is the problem and can u give guaranty it will not happen again same problem because it is 4th time same problem happens,and they said my macbook vintage they can not help and i have to pay 599$ even if i want to upgrade my laptop they took my laptop for 399$ we need help legal way because they do not care...

Apr 30, 2024 2:06 PM in response to frankap

HI


I have been managing the situation for 2 months only cleaning the hinge , Than it happened again and I cleaned the Mac after opening it [ a lot of dust inside ] but the problem being still more and more frequent I think dust could have damaged the screen cables. I decided to change the Mac and take benefit of the trade in as long it was working properly. I took a MacBook Air because there is no more cooling fan bringing spoiled air in the case.

Flexgate issue in MacBook Pro 2019

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