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Level 1

10 points

Macbook Pro Retina when tilted or flipped makes a clicking/popping noise

Hello All.. Not sure if anyone of you have experienced a (formerly faint but growingly clearer) clicking noise from the 13 inch retina macbook pro?

I started hearing this about 3 or 4 months back, from inside the case of my macbook whenever i tilted it, not while working or when the device is stationary, only when I flip the device to one side, usually about 90 degree, whether with lid open or closed.. I already took it to two different Apple Authorised Service Centers in Germany (the place where I live does not have any Genius Bars).. But both of them could not fix it, one of them (Compustore, Nuremberg Germany) I think opened it up and made a bigger mess (now I can hear the noise a bit more louder), and the other (Gravis Retail, Nuremberg Germany) told me that all retina macbooks make the same noise when tilted, which of course I find difficult to believe..

When I bought it, the notebook had absolutely no noise from anywhere.. I live in Europe, and living rooms here can be freakishly quiet.. And I used to love it when there was not a click or a hiss out of place while working or carrying it around... To me, this made the device feel solid, and gave the impression of no moving parts inside, even though there were still the cooling fans.. But even they seemed held together so tight not making any noise out of the ordinary.. Of course one could hear them pretty well when they ran in top speed.. eg. during some heavy graphics, games etc.. But this again was a very steady whir.. which upon closing the heavy graphics app, slowed down steadily bringing the noise back to a zero. (I don't know if it's just me, I always thought it was intentionally part of the design, to try and make the whole device look and sound as solid as possible, like nothing lying loose inside).. I used to admire this in Apple devices.. But maybe I was wrong.. I don't know.. Is it only my macbook, or is it all retina macbooks and only I notice and care about such stuff?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Mar 5, 2015 11:00 PM

71 replies

Oct 13, 2015 11:42 AM in response to zoomzoom1985

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZzTo_Z4fbw

I made a video showing the noise.

Just got a 2nd Macbook and its making the same noise.

This is 2/3 Macbooks that we have purchased from the Apple refurb outlet making this noise.

I am returning both of them. I have never before seen a laptop that has parts moving around inside it.

Oct 13, 2015 12:08 PM in response to brothamon1

The same issue here Macbook Pro knocks while shake or tilt it left to right.

Oct 14, 2015 8:55 PM in response to vintatsh

Same issue with knocking noise here with my 2015 13" MBP.

Girlfriend also has same issue with her 2015 13" MBP.

Nov 8, 2015 11:31 AM in response to arun.vbn

Just noticed this on mine. Purchased around this time last year. Is this something Apple has recognized and is willing to fix now?

Nov 12, 2015 8:45 AM in response to chaindrive

Hey I just got my Macbook back after it spend 2 days shy of 3 weeks at Apple care.

They basically just F'ed it up more and now it has multiple parts moving around inside....

I am returning it and purchasing a brand new one this time after having 3 in a row from Apple refurbished.

update:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-voDGt1Bybw

Nov 12, 2015 8:49 AM in response to brothamon1

It's going to keep happening. Sending it in isn't going to fix it. they're just going to swap out your display matrix and screen for another one that has the same defect. It's just how this line of MacBooks is from what I'm understanding. You can get lucky and get one that doesn't have much movement or unlucky with a display that has a lot of movement. Either way it still *****. Either way, save the time and effort. At the end of the day.. It's just a laptop that you'll be using for a few years until you buy a new one.

boyar01

Level 1

0 points

Nov 23, 2015 11:35 AM in response to Elixir1119

Same problem here... 😟

I think this might be connected to the temperature. Today is first very cold day in Poland and same thing have happened to both me and friend having Early 2015...

Roby_23

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2015 2:43 AM in response to arun.vbn

I have the same problem with my early 2015 13” MBPr. Although I have it since just over 1 month now, I've just felt and heard the moving part issue, last night. At least, I was a little less frustrated, as I saw so many others complaining about the same issue. I am pretty much sure it is something inside the display. I can actually feel the "banging" on the side. It seems like something quite heavy that is moving there. As I see that so many people are still experiencing the problem even after having it replaced with a new unit, it must be some kind of technical/design flaw within the display. If that is the case, there will be no real solution until Apple recognises this problem and then the manufacturer fixes it. However, I guess it is highly unlikely to be something officially recognised by Apple, considering the large volume of units already produced and shipped all around the world. I am disappointed!

Camren55

Level 1

4 points

Jan 2, 2016 7:36 PM in response to arun.vbn

I Bought my Macbook pro retina 13 in July of 2015 and I just noticed this problem as well. I was very very worried in the beginning but after doing some research I found it to be the light guide in the display moving about. Step 13 in iFixit's tear down, after reading all these complaints im still a bit frustrated after having spent 1500+ on this computer but this isnt an issue to be scared about because it cannot affect performance whatsoever. Makes me feel a little better but Apple should still definitely issue a recall as its in every single new MacBook produced. some of them probably don't do it as much as others because they were not used as much, by that I mean putting it in a bag everyday subject to movement that would loosen that part especially the ones in store.

Jan 11, 2016 7:09 PM in response to Camren55

I have same issue with my macbook pro 13 2015 i took it apple they replaced fan since they say it was not spinning before sound was louder now sound is less is there a fix for it i post videos here. I took my machine friday the 8 of jan and got it jan 11 same sound is it normal apple says it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsZh22aH5do and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKv_8A-XP4I

Apr 19, 2016 3:06 AM in response to arun.vbn

Hello again. Yesterday I was in the service center. Employee told me that I was not the first with this problem. He think that the problem is not fixed matrix. Now they order new display, and after 1-2 weeks they should replace it.

Apr 19, 2016 3:40 AM in response to FatFrumos

I uploaded a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPEVZ1Uy-ms&feature=youtu.be

Apr 19, 2016 11:28 PM in response to arun.vbn

I have the same problem.... I took it in twice and they said it was the magnetic strip to the bottom of the casing, the sound varies from laptop to laptop but I didn't spend $1600 for this.

Hulscher

Level 1

13 points

Apr 20, 2016 12:22 AM in response to arun.vbn

I have discovered a similar issue, from what I've read its the backlight behind the screen. If you apply a small amount of pressure on the screen and move your book the sound will not be there, release pressure, sound is there. Overall this is highly unacceptable. I send my best wishes to everyone experiencing this and hope that you are within warranty or have your apple care.

l8l8l8l

Level 1

8 points

Apr 22, 2016 4:37 PM in response to arun.vbn

So basically there is nothing I can do to repair the sound of the cash register my macbook makes?

Macbook Pro Retina when tilted or flipped makes a clicking/popping noise