MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 Touch Bar unresponsive and flickering

On MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020), the Touch Bar can bug out after updates and start flickering or freezing.

A few things to try:

• Restart in Safe Mode and check if the Touch Bar still flickers there
• Open Terminal and run sudo pkill TouchBarServer instead of just quitting it in Activity Monitor
• Reset the Control Strip in System Settings and restart again
• Check if it happens only in certain apps or all the time

If it’s still acting up:

• Shut down fully for a few minutes, then power back on
• Try creating a new user account and test there, just to rule out profile corruption
• If it started immediately after the update, it could just be a macOS bug that needs the next patch

If it’s flickering with flashing lights even during startup/login, not just after logging in, that’s more likely hardware related (Touch Bar ribbon/display itself), not software. That part usually needs service, since the Touch Bar is its own hardware component.

Since yours worked before the update, I’d try Safe Mode first. If it still flickers there too, I’d start suspecting hardware rather than the update itself.

thy262 wrote:

Hi! I got a stressful problem with my older MacBook pro 13 inch m1 2020 touchbar it’s not responding but sometimes it’s flickering with flashing lights.

I did updated to the latest update for my MacBook pro m1’s software update to macOS tahoe 26.5

I don’t know why my MacBook pro m1 2020 13 inch gets so many problems with the touchbar being super stubborn today. Any suggestions helping my situation out?

Sounds like a hardware issue to be honest,

— I would still suggest a Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support   to sort anomalies

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically, even after your 26.5 update.

—You can try the User Diagnostics to test your Mac for hardware issues and see if it kicks out an error code.

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

Shift Command 6 will capture the Touch bar including the Control strip

—Could be worth a try —How to revive or restore Mac firmware if no insight or resolve on a hope and a prayer.

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

for ref only:

Welcome and thank you for sharing your concerns, thy262. 😉

First, let’s see if this issue happens in Safe Mode:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac. As you continue to hold the power button, your Mac turns on and loads startup options. When you see Options, release the power button.
3. Select your startup disk. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name.
4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click the “Continue in Safe Mode” button below your startup disk.
5. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

If the strange behaviors do not occur, then it may possibly be a software issue.

If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode:

Leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally, then try to reproduce the issue.

If the issue doesn't return, it might have been resolved by the other things that safe mode did at startup, such as checking your disk and clearing caches.

If the problem persists, then let’s try this:

• Software Update.
• Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac.

If none of those ideas work, then I recommend service.

Service Checklist:

• Mac service pricing.
• Check AppleCare Coverage.
• Get your Mac ready for service.

Click ▶︎ Start a Service Request. ⚛️

Need more help?

• United States: 1-800-APLCARE.
• Contact Support.
• Mac Support.
• Mac User Guide.

Click ▶︎ Check Repair Status. 🔧

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian