How do you protect your MacBook screen from keyboard marks without a screen protector?

brsm1990 wrote:

No they do not. It's packed with a thin piece of translucent paper covering the keys. This is not a "hand washing issue".

For one thing it seems like a good design would not have the keys making physical contact with the screen when closed, but that's a different issue.

I would use that paper when you close the lid if it is an issue. i wouldn't use anything thicker.

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Using a camera cover, palm rest, or keyboard cover on a Mac notebook - Apple Support

MacMikeInOK wrote:

I've never seen these "...horrible keyboard imprints..." on any of the MacBooks I've had over the last 8 years. Maybe I'm lucky?

I've seen it on some of my organization's laptops. My guess is how tightly they hold the laptop and how much stuff is in their laptop bag pressing against the laptop. There is so little clearance when the lid is closed, it doesn't take a whole lot of pressure to have the display making contact with the keyboard. Usually the marks on the screen are caused by the keys rubbing off the anti-reflective coating, but I have also seen key imprints from the oils & grease as well, but the latter can be wiped off the screen with a microfiber cloth.

Constant screen cleaning shouldn't cause damage to the screen, unless you're not doing it properly.

Actually even if you do it properly, anything rubbing across the anti-reflective coating can sometimes cause the anti-reflective coating to wear off. Apple has had some issues with the anti-reflective coating since 2014. Even a person's fingers on the glass when opening & closing the lid is enough to wear off the anti-reflective coating since 2014.

brsm1990 wrote:

I have seen multiple threads in the forum where anyone questioning the need for a screen protector on a MacBook is told over and over Apple doesn't recommend screen protectors. OK, what does Apple recommend to prevent the horrid keyboard imprints that show up on all MacBooks from the last Intel (and perhaps before) generation through the M2 generation?

I have a brand new M3 and I want to keep it pristine. My old screen was destroyed by these horrible keyboard imprints. Initially they could be scrubbed off but the constant need for screen cleaning eventually caused surface damage to my screen.

wash your hands

use the cleaning cloth...don't they still include one(?)

ref: Clean your Mac computer's screen or display

brsm1990 wrote:

No they do not. It's packed with a thin piece of translucent paper covering the keys. This is not a "hand washing issue".

It very much is a handwashing and keyboard cleaning issue. If your hands are clean and you clean the keyboard regularly, you won't get keyboard marks on the screen.

A couple of observations:

• I've never seen these "...horrible keyboard imprints..." on any of the MacBooks I've had over the last 8 years. Maybe I'm lucky?
• Constant screen cleaning shouldn't cause damage to the screen, unless you're not doing it properly. Here's how Apple recommends this cleaning be performed: How to clean your Apple products - Apple Support

brsm1990 wrote:

Literally everybody has this problem or at least everybody that actually packs up their laptop in a bag and takes it places. Use a piece of disposable tissue paper? For the life of a 4-5 year product that costs thousands of dollars? 🤡

I've carried MBAs and MBPs around for years and never, ever had a keyboard imprint on the screen.

In the rare instances when a damp microfiber towel isn't up to the task, I use a product called Whoosh, which works very well. (They claim it's used in the Apple Stores, but I've no idea if that claim is true).