Persistent horizontal lines appear on iMac screen

Good day!

I've had the same problem, bought on Nov 16, 2022. I had the problem of parallel lines appearing at the bottom half of the screen. The technician at the Apple Store said it's a screen replacement. Made a ticket for it. Called apple directly and after speaking with a senior advisor, I was told there was nothing to be done because it was passed the 3 year. Fortunately, I've never had any trouble with any other of the apple products. This is my first time, but I'm quite disappointed that nothing can be done. Do you have any advice? I'm I stuck paying over 700$ for a screen replacement? Thank you in advance for your help!

Hey. A user from India here. Faced the same issue and I contacted support because screen replacement is too expensive and I’m sure I didn’t cause the issue. The support executive first took all the photos and videos of the external part of my iMac for proof that I didn’t damage it. After a few days he calls to ask for a device report which I readily gave. I was cooperative through all this since I was confident that I hadn’t done anything to my iMac for this issue to happen. The support guy made it seem like my case was strong. Today he calls and just plainly tells me that the internal team asked me to go for paid replacement as it’s out of warranty. I got upset and asked for confirmation if I was the cause of the damage or not to which they refused to give an answer. This is a serious quality issue and can be taken to consumer court and at the mention of legality, the support executive stopped being as friendly and finally cut the call after saying he’ll send an email asking for the reason of damage but the resolution would stay the same. He became rude. This is not at all fair and I’ve never been so disappointed in apple. If you guys have any way to solve this or reach a higher authority to re-escalate the issue please lemme know.

Apple AUS published info:

You can try this: Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

This issue has just started to happen on my iMac.

Is there a direct contact number/email in Australia to attempt to resolve this issue?

The same happened to my iMac M1. The lines appeared the 1st December and after 10 days they suddenly disappeared. I almost couldn't believe my eyes! The display was perfect again! Unfortunately it only lasted normal a week because the flickering lines are back again!!!

Is that a must to download use that what TPro Fan control? I do check some users feedback etc. Is more for " technical expert folks " in the sense. A lot claim just temp monitor. The fans will auto switch to default override the software. So you just only try and so far no lines reappear? I think so. As I have mention , I never do anything and happen the lines gone. I don't know. I use as per normal. I never use new software or even play games. I only just surf net , watch youtube videos, and do simple work. When the lines suddenly appear on Oct last year. Daily I using it even now , despite the lines appear at the bottom and flicker. Just that as I have mention suddenly last year Nov the lines gone. Dec whole month never appear. Now Jan suddenly lines are back.

About the replacement screen also just " temp solution " After using one year or so. The lines will appear. A lot already mention is a " Design flaws " according from one Tech used to work in Apple or whatever.

I feel those managed to replace free will not use it, More like trade in or sell to others. I don't know. I just continue using it since the line haven't cover the entire screen. Only still at the bottom but I do see few new lines appear.

Next are you using the latest Mac OSX? If You can make the lines don't appear anymore by " Software ways " indirectly means Mac OSX updates got some stuffs trigger to make the voltage higher near the screen. but the tech mention is a design flaws by Apple come the cable to the screen.

Nevertheless. Obviously this thread will be longer and longer as I expect More M series users going to discover and noticed every M series user encounter this lines issues. Some claim so far use for 3 years no lines. They claim maybe we get " bad batches " I also don't know....

Sorry for My bad Written English. I fee kinda **** off whenever come back here yet Apple never mention anything on us as users concern...

I'm sorry, I feel your frustration. Of course, what I described is just a workaround, because when lines appear the screen is definetly damaged and you will never be able to run it like brand new again. No more full light. But I think it helps to prevent even more damage to the screen while we are waiting for Apple to be nice and cool to us. I heard that some people got their screen fixed for free.

[Edited by Moderator]

Doubt it helps, only " temp " I actually encounter recently from last year. As mention the flicker lines appear on Oct last year for me. Just after two years of usage. I never do anything " tweak " or go install what fan control software.

One day when I wake up the Mac, suddenly the lines seem gone. I feel wow what happen? It last till recently. Suddenly lines appear back and flickering this time. I noticed there are increase of lines. Still at the bottom. I remember is around close to Nov , suddenly the lines don't know why gone. I thought wow is " Magic ". So from Nov to dec , I never see the lines again. But I do know just " temp ".

Yeah and this lines is back just recently... I feel your tweak only Just temp. The lines surely come back just matter of time.. Again the main issues is the Hardware. I feel.

Hello,

In some cases, you might still use the internal display of your iMac by doing the following:

1. Go to System settings. In Desktop & Dock turn off "Animate open Applications". Then go to Accessibility/Display and turn on "Reduce motion" and "Reduce transparency". Dim your screen from the keyboard to about 5 or 6 points. Then let your iMac sit for at least 3 hours.
2. When you turn back to your screen and find out that there are no more lines and the flickering has stopped, you may try the following.
3. Download the shareware TG Pro. They give you a trial period of two weeks. Open the program and observe the five temperature gauges dedicated to the LCD panel. On mine sensor 2 and 3 were the hottest. Note the exact temperature, when the flickering stops. Mine were respectively about 45 and 42°C.
4. Now in TG Pro settings establish two additional rules to limit the temperatures of these two sensors. Activate and use the "Auto boost" feature. Now as soon as the sensors are hot, the fans will turn on and try to cool down the screen. You may dim the screen light to help the fans do their job. Have fun!

I've posted once before in this topic and I'll repeat it again:

You have 3 options:

1 - pay the ~$600 US price for  Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to repair the monitor (which is over ½ of a new M1 Mac Mini).

2 - get a monitor and use it with your M1 iMac. You can get a 27" or 32" monitor from $140 US on up.

3 - get a new Mac. If considering this option consider the following: a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($1084 US) with a 32" LG 4k monitor ($331 US) from Amazon.com)  is $1415 which is $541 less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1956 US)  re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini. 

I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker).  There are many monitors available in 27" size on up for $100 US to $500 US depending on what features you want.  The monitor prices are before tariffs.

Just some food for thought.

ADDENDUM: in addition to the 3 choices above keep tabs on the Apple Service (Recall) Programs - Apple Support

william0129 wrote:

It seems that the issue is downplayed with search result manipulation. May be it is just me, but I am not able to access this thread or any related ones with keyword search such as "iMac horizontal lines".

?

It is literally the first search result from Brave, and the second one from DDG.

You can contact all the specialists you want, but they won't solve the problem. Unfortunately, you'll have to replace the screen at a high price...

Apple, I wish you a Happy New Year...

Experienced the same issue for a 2021 M1 iMac, went to the Apple Store for checking and was quoted a service charge since it's out of warranty. I was told that since it's not on the official recall program, the staff are not able to offer any better options at the moment. I will try to find some senior specialist to see what are the other options.

It seems that the issue is downplayed with search result manipulation. May be it is just me, but I am not able to access this thread or any related ones with keyword search such as "iMac horizontal lines".