You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

MacBook Pro 13' 2019 screen - weird colors and flickering? - Part 2

Hello,

I have exactly the same problem with the display on my MacBook Pro 13' 2019 as described by EnzoPL in the post below, but unfortunately I don't see a way to solve it.

Maybe someone could help???

__________


MacBook Pro 13' 2019 screen - weird color… - Apple Community


"Hello,


I have no idea how to call my issue properly so I am sorry for my messy explanation of what is happening. Some time ago I discovered that screen of my 2019 MacBook Pro does something weird with the brightness - in a split second it turns down and up and back to normal. It does it very subtle so I can barely notice it. At first I thought that maybe that's the way TrueTone works but after switching it off and auto-brightness off as well I noticed that it still does it. Because my warranty expired I decided not to do anything with it since it was very small issue (if any).


Last time I decided to update to Ventura so I erased my drive and installed clean copy on the MacBook. I just wanted to get rid of all small settings that I could change over the years and now it does something funky. So now I have factory settings (I've only changed dock look, etc) and the screen still does it! I have noticed another issue with the screen and this is the thing I cannot call properly. Pictures or videos are like blurry on bright/light areas. Please see attached screen from my iPhone and photo of the MacBook screen to see what I mean. Look at the face, it is very pink, like contrast-less with a smudge.


How to talk with the service about it? What is it?"


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jun 26, 2023 5:11 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 3, 2023 1:17 PM

It turns out that problems with changing colors on the display appear only when the screen is tilted more than 90 degrees. So it looks like some kind of connection problem between the display and the computer.

I heard that this problem is known and there is an Apple service action related to this issue. Is it true?

My model is Macbook Pro 13 (A1989)

Similar questions

13 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 3, 2023 1:17 PM in response to ryane77

It turns out that problems with changing colors on the display appear only when the screen is tilted more than 90 degrees. So it looks like some kind of connection problem between the display and the computer.

I heard that this problem is known and there is an Apple service action related to this issue. Is it true?

My model is Macbook Pro 13 (A1989)

Jul 5, 2023 5:12 AM in response to mingoslkd

I contacted an authorized service center in Warsaw, where I was told that this is a known issue related to a faulty ribbon connecting the laptpp to the screen. Unfortunately, the repair consists in replacing the entire retina display, the cost of which exceeds the current value of the computer... ups!


The Macbook Pro was used all the time at home and stayed at the desk while connected to an external monitor, so this is a very strange and surprising malfunction, especially for such a high-end device...


Does Apple really not plan to launch a service action for this problem, because from what I see on the forums and hearing what the service told me, this is a very common fault?


If not, I'll seriously think twice before spending that much money on an Apple computer again... it's a big disappointment...

Jan 3, 2024 1:48 PM in response to Zielnik

i also have a pro 13” from 2019 and the display colors flicker and most dark colors turn a bright green color also whenever there’s gray, you can see stripes: i have no idea what’s causing this but once the computer fell off a desk and the display was back to 100% normal. it did go back to the flickering and discolouration after an hour or so though.

Dec 13, 2023 12:56 AM in response to Motorcycle Michael

I have the same display problem. It appeared suddenly. I took it to apple and they told me it's a hardware issue and that the display needs changing at a cost of £600. I took it also to another 2 independant experts and they said it is a hardware issue with display - most likely a manufacturing defect. I'm bothered that Apple have done nothing to sort this out. There are numerous complaints on apple forum and other forums about this issue but they're scattered.


Dec 17, 2023 9:28 PM in response to Zielnik

All of the problems listed in this thread are related to the same issue: The ribbon connector for the display was designed a little short, and it gets strained when opening and closing the lid.

I have replaced the screen on my wife's 2019 13 inch MacBook pro 3 times. Only once was under 3rd party warranty.

I am disappointed that Apple will not stand behind this manufacturing defect and recall these computers. This affects a whole lot of 2019 MacBook's and the Apple Store just says its out of warranty and it will cost $600.00 to replace the display with the same connector as the one that has failed.

It is really sad but I am moving on from Apple products. Typing this response on a 5 year old Acer laptop that was less than $400.00 and still works like it did the day I bought it.


Jun 28, 2023 7:38 AM in response to Zielnik

Hello Zielnik,


If our understanding of your issue is correct, your MacBook Pro display brightness is adjusting on its own occasionally. From looking at the post you linked, there were steps provided for this issue that may help with yours as well.


Make sure you don't have any type of color profile set up for the display.


1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Displays  in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
2. Click the pop-up menu next to “Color profile” on the right, then choose the profile you want to use.


Change your Mac display’s color profile


If the issue still persists, you may need to look at getting your Mac repaired or inspected by a technician physically. Here's a great link to find service: Mac Repair & Service


Warm regards.

Jun 28, 2023 8:36 AM in response to Zielnik

Thanks for following up Zielnik,


If you found the issue does not occur in safe mode, that does make it sound likely that this is a software issue. Based on that, we have a few steps below that could help. How to use safe mode on your Mac:


"If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode

If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode, leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally. Then test for the issue again. The issue might be resolved.

If the issue returns after leaving safe mode, startup items are probably at fault. Apps can install such items in numerous places, and they aren't always easy to find or recognize. For that reason, you should first make sure that you've installed any available updates for your Apple software and third-party apps.

If updating your software doesn't help, try any of these solutions:

  • Test your login items.
  • To learn whether software in your user account is causing the issue, set up a new user account, then log in to it and try to reproduce the issue in that account.
  • Unplug all accessories from your Mac, including printers, drives, USB hubs, and other nonessential devices. You could have an issue with one or more of those devices or their cables.
  • Reinstall macOS."


If you cover these steps and find the issue persists, use this link to reach us directly: Get Support


Take care.

Dec 17, 2023 10:33 PM in response to hammeru

I too made the decision to move away from all things apple. Their products are way too overpriced and fail miserably. I have 2 other laptops that cost less than half the price of my macbook pro and they all still work just fine. I think all apple cares about is enriching their shareholders by creating fast-tech - that’s tech that you trash right after the warranty expires so they can upsell you to another device, or charge extortionate amount to fix the problem they created. It’s disappointing.

Jun 28, 2023 8:21 AM in response to Soosie_J215

The brightness of the screen remains ok and unchanged, but some colors, mainly bright ones, flash with a frequency of about 1 second, especially at the top of the screen but also only periodically. In addition, there are distortions of colors, as shown on the attached photos, although also not always... strange. Interestingly, in safe mode these problems do not occur, so I don't know if it's a hardware problem. I have done all possible steps like NVRAM clear, etc. also created a new user, but nothing helps.

MacBook Pro 13' 2019 screen - weird colors and flickering? - Part 2

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.