MacBook Air M2 - Display showing LCD BIST (solid colors) after wake.

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MacBook Air M2 - Display showing LCD BIST (solid colors) after wake.

My MacBook Air M2 screen suddenly stopped working and started cycling through solid colors (Red, Green, Blue, White). External monitor works fine. No physical damage. Has anyone seen this before? Is it a firmware or hardware issue? Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sMiffslqmk

P.S.: I was using it with an external monitor. I simply closed the lid and unplugged the USB-C cable. The next day, when I opened it to work, the Arc browser window was still oversized due to the previous monitor resolution. As soon as I double-clicked the window to resize it, the system froze and shut down. When it came back on, the screen was stuck in this state.

MacBook Air

Posted on Feb 5, 2026 9:28 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,506 points

Feb 5, 2026 9:49 AM in response to josueonfroyy

External monitor works fine.

That strongly suggests a hardware failure. You've done one appropriate home check already. Here's another that might narrow down the suspects for a service provider:

While the display is showing anything (good of bad) on-screen, GENTLY move the display assembly through about 60° of it range of motion while looking at the image.

If the image flickers and changes as you move the display and stop when you do, the most likely source of the fault is a worn/damaged display cable.

Still, this is not goingot be an at-home fix, and will be expensive. The display—including its cable—is one sealed assembly and parts cannot be separately replaced. One failed part means a new display assembly.

As other end user from all around the world, we cannot make repair estimates on Apple's behalf. However, based on similar user posts here, it appears parts + labor cost for a laptop display assembly replacement through Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider start aounds US$500 and goes up with screen size.

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