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My Retina Display has stain damage, HELP!!!

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I dont know how it happened, but somehow my retina display got some weird clear-ish stain damage that is very noticable on a black background. I have tried to clean it with water and a micro fiber cloth like usual, but i think this is not something on top of the screen as much as it is something has like eaten away a part of the screen... I need help! what do i do to solve this aside from replacing the screen... if water and microfiber arent working, what else can i use? I am worried that windex or alcohol will excacerbae the problem, as i suspect it might have been alcohol that caused the problem in the first place, but im not sure... any insight, please? this is driving me nuts

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Apr 7, 2014 10:44 AM

Reply
1,596 replies

Jan 24, 2017 11:58 PM in response to bradymott

I have the same exact issue, in the same exact place. I think the screen's anti reflective coating is reacting with the oils that are released from the pores in peoples in skin, since it seems to be occurring most prevalently in places where the screen touches the case/keys but especially in places where peoples hands rest and keys which are most popular - ie the spacebar.


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Jan 25, 2017 12:53 AM in response to RensoYeldarb

UPDATE

January 24, 2017


To all staingate victims--


Apple has you covered. They know they f'd up big time so they are offering to fix the screens under their "quality program." No warranty needed. It was a manufacturer's defect that took them a while to figure out. Just visit an Apple Store, drop off your MacBook, and you'll have a new, stain-free screen in under a week.


I brought my MacBook Pro into the Manhattan Beach store on Saturday, no hassles. They estimated five business days but probably sooner than that. I have my work laptop in the meantime so it's not too inconvenient.


Hope this puts some of you at ease. Again, just bring your computer in to an Apple Store and they will take care of it free of charge.


Mark

Oct 2, 2018 1:07 PM in response to bradymott

I have the exact same issue here! Even though not as much as I've seen with many of you here. I'm very happy to have found this post. And I have actually contacted Apple Support a while back and "trying" to explain what I was looking at. Kind of hard just to try to snap it with my camera. I got the advice to contact a service center, haven't done so yet. My Macbook Pro is a late 2013.User uploaded fileUser uploaded file

Jan 2, 2018 12:44 PM in response to Jennifer from port angeles

I joined the club this morning. I had not cleaned my screen in a long time. I wiped it dry with a microfiber and noticed what i thought were scratches. one in the middle of the screen scratching east and west, and what look like the beginnings on delaminating on the bevel itself beginning on the west side of the laptop. I bought this model August 25th 2014. I do not know its model make date.


So I called apple and made an appointment at the store for Saturday. well see , they indicated on the phone that screen replacement would not be covered, even though I paid for 3 years of coverage through applecare. I should have bought geek sqaud or Farmers insurance it looks like. After I got off the phone I started googling "macbook screen delimitation" and ended up here. Wow. I just cant believe it. We are recent mac converts we started moving over in 2012. I absolutely despise windows anything and Linux takes too much time to keep going, so I figured a buy in at apple was just the ticket. Actually I was set make another buy for my husbands upgrade, and then this happened, we had 2500$ in the cart this morning at best buy and I have just dumped it all until we see what happens at the store from this.


I keep my mac in a Book Book case , it gets zipped up, and stays protected. There is no customer damage here. This is just unreal. User uploaded file


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Jan 10, 2017 7:09 AM in response to CT

I know what you are saying the post is asking for trouble - but I had been "gently" cleaning with just water for a long time and with a bit more robust cleaning - the marks went. I appreciate it is opening up a can of worms, but it worked for me and I have been frustrated with a filthy screen for months - even years !!


I did all the safety stuff - switched off the machine, tested in a small area etc etc - No MBP's were harmed in the process :-)

see... no coating removed



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Apr 25, 2017 6:38 PM in response to bradymott

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Mine is a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 16G, 512G SSD.

Bought it in August, 2015. It just one and half year so far.


I got the same issue, I'm in New Zealand. At first I thought it was my fault, but after found a lot of similar cases on Facebook, I stopped thinking of that. I delivered it to Apple authorised dealer, they changed the whole screen for free.

I'm now concerning about the StainGate (AR coating issue) will come back after replacement as I found many people had this case, some of them even had five screen replacements.

Anyway, there is no source that apple has addressed this issue and nowhere says the replacement screen is different with the previous one with AR problems. $4000 NZD bought a baby that has to be taken care of now. Not happy.

Oct 22, 2017 6:06 AM in response to lifeisgreen

I have the same problem. Last year when the problem became severe I read on discussion boards that Apple closed the program of repairs and so I left it as it was. But my screen is getting more and more stained and thus preventing me from working on my Mac 😟


I've just read here that the program of replacement has been prolonged up till 19th of Oct 2017 but I didn't know that and I MISSED the date! What can I do now? Should I contact my Apple local service or shop and ask for this issue to be seen to anyway? I live in Poland and I've had bad experiences with every single service no matter the brand (even while during warranty period) as they always told me to pay for the repairs. What kind of documentation (if any) I can provide to have my screen replaced under the warranty? Or is it a lost case now? I love my Mac but I can't work on it like this.

Thanks for any input!


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Oct 23, 2017 7:20 AM in response to JDW1

PLEASE. Please..


Anyone who has this issue and is concerned about Apple paying for it read my post on the previous page. All of the information is verified and accurate.


Here is a photo of the post:


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In response to JDW1:


You're dead wrong. The reason Apple is using a glass case is so people wont start to 3D print their own mods, and to make wireless charging more efficient. Case closed, that is it my friend.


Apple is a proprietary company and always has been. If you think Apple is going to make a glass case for a MacBook you're crazy. Aluminium is way cheaper.


Basic economics. It's cheaper to replace the screens.

Oct 26, 2017 5:37 AM in response to bradymott

I'm faced with staingate in 3rd time, after two replacements. I always keeped microfiber between display and keyboard, but yesterday, when I wiped my screen with microfiber cloth it caused hairline scratches to appear! And when I tried to clean it, they became a staingate scratches!


My MacBook activated in April 2014, so 3 years is left and today is October 26, but replacement program was closed on October 16.


I'm live in Ukraine, Kharkiv, there's no Apple Stores, but one AASP exists.


My 1st time replacement in summer 2016 was really easy, I just came to AASP, showed my display, they took my MacBook, no questions asked, no receipts needed, and replaced display for free.


After 3 month I faced with issue again, but this time AASP dismissed my claim, due to keyboard imprints on screen. I asked Apple support via chat, and they told me to come to AASP again. I came to AASP, they took my MacBook, but after a few days returned it back without repair, telling me that Apple had rejected this repair due to keyboard imprints. I asked Apple support in chat again, reached the Apple Senior Adviser and he sent me CS code for free display replace.


And now I'm in trouble again. I'm really losing my mind. Can't work and sleep normally.


Yesterday I had a chat with Aple support, they told me to come to my local AASP.

Today I come and I had a hard enough to get them take my MacBook for inspection. They checked there's no keyboard imprints on display, but said anyway was is a little hope.

:((

I keep my fingers crossed and going mad.

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Nov 21, 2017 8:21 AM in response to Rob-buni

Rob, that was how it started for me....gradual small micro-centimeters, right up to this current state....


Ritual d'Habitual: Cleaning the keyboard with 70-95% rubbing alcohol after each working session.


My prior 2010 MBP Pro none-retina aged twice the lifespan of this young one - I am not even approaching 2.2 years and a growing desire to replace this 13.3" is counting down by the nano-seconds...


My 1999 Powerbook G3 Bronze keyboard is still looking sharper than this POS.

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What an eye-sore, and Apples we all have invested to give rise to a global #1 wealthiest conglomerate - only to have our once beloved machines mocked at by non-Apple users, and Starbucking human traffic today.


Truly, Deeply & Undoubtedly 100% Disgraceful.


Jobs, I repeat Jobs, will be "Simon Cowell'ishly" ******, at this lacklustre performance we have been monkey'ed out of....Applers live in mansions, and MacBookers are shabbily-struggling with this inverted dive into a technicolour-no-more....


Bill Gates, hey come on back...reinstate The New World Order of Windows before this

Apple-LION grind us right into our bone marrows...discreetly & effortlessly.




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My Retina Display has stain damage, HELP!!!

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