2015 Retina Macbook Screen Flicker

Hi all,

I had this issue for a while with my 2015 15" retina MBP w/ dual video cards. Resetting the PRAM, updating OSX, clean install of OSX, and other tricks didn't seem to work. The one thing that has worked so far is setting the resolution & scale of the screen to the computer/display's default settings. Go to System Preferences > Displays. Set resolution to "Default for display".

I had the scale on my screen set to show smaller text than the default settings. I noticed with these settings on, I could literally get my screen to flicker by clicking the automatic graphics switching button in the energy saver menu of the system settings on & off. Returning the computer to it's "natural" resolution seems to put less strain on the hardware responsible for transferring the video data between cards and has fixed my problem.

Hopefully this helps!

Yes, I am facing even more frustrating problem with macbook pro. It is keeps darker and reappears. But can't work on it. I have been following all options which are advised but yet to be solved. It is really frustrating. I find it is not reliable one.

I have exactly the same macbook, and the same issue. Nothing seems to help so far, nothing in the logs, nothing. Just from time to time, horizontal lines appear on the screen - both internal and external display alike.

I tried to pin it down to GPU intensive tasks, but having 3d benchmark application run for some time, I havent noticed flickering/artifacts. Changing resolution, automatic GPU switching, reinstallation of osx/macosSierra doesnt help. It usually appears in osx interface and in windowed applications, rather than in 3d games or full-screen applications.

Anyway guys, this is a hardware problem, I suspect bad GPU memory. I tried to bring laptop back to the shop, but they havent figured anything. Since we dont have official Apple stores in my country, and my guarantee will end in next month, I guess thats it. Apple again have failed to deliver quality assurance to dual-GPU laptops.

Not sure that my next laptop will be from Apple. Come on guys, MAKE APPLE GREAT AGAIN! 🙂

I have a mid 2014 MacBook Pro Retina and have this happen from time to time.

I have turned off the Bluetooth before and that seemed to help.

It started back up again though and the Bluetooth is off.

I have had this problem on and off for about a year. I am past the warranty and forgot to buy Applecare.

I have a 2015 15-inch Macbook Pro with the same problem. It happens every time I switch on a graphics intensive piece of software, such as Photos. A screen blink (sometimes though not always) is followed by a flickering blocks of pixels around the mouse and occasionally elsewhere. Turning off automatic graphics switching under energy saver seemed to fix it for me.

I am also facing same problem. I have a mid 2014 Retina. It keeps get back screen for a while and reappears. Tried almost all efforts but i e resetting factory status, erased all photos and large files but yet to be fixed. We have only one Apple Store in Nepal- as they claim. But i do not trust them. Thus, expecting solutions from apple communities.

I had this issue and recently the Apple store replaced my display. When I received it back the problem continued and actually got worse - screen would flicker, turn completely grey and then freeze. And this ensued multiple times per day.

I took it in again and they replaced my logic board. All replacements were free of charge. I hope you resolved your issues.

My specs: 2015 Macbook Pro, 2.5 i7, 16gb RAM, 512gb, Radeon R9 370x.

I have the same problem and nothing helps. On El Capitan - small jitter in Ableton Live but on Sierra - flikering and jitter much worse

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB and the AMD Radion R9 M370X, OS 10.11.5, 10.12.1

I think the table lamp might have been the issue. I don't know why but mine was plugged into the same socket as a table lamp also when this happened. It never happened before that. The table lamp may have a 3 way bulb thing but has an LED bulb in it.

Have been facing the same issue for few months. Meanwhile I visited US and shown the laptop to Apple Genius Bar and they replaced the screen. The issue didn't occur for couple weeks. But after that it started flickering again and it's worst than before. It just doesnt stop. I cant get any work done due to flicker.

Here are my details

Repair No: R212995993

Customer Information

Product Information

Warranty Status: Quality Program(E1)

USA Model: MACBOOK PRO (RETINA, 13-INCH,EARLY 2015)

Date of Purchase: 03-Jul-15

I have the exact same problem from the first week of the purchase.

Mine is MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display (mid- 2015) with discrete graphic card (2.5 GH Intel Core i7)

I've sent my laptop to the factory three times already. This issue has never been fixed!!!

Mine is out of warranty and I showed it to apple service center here in India and they told me that changing screen is not going to help as the issue might be in logical board and it will cost me 40k INR (600 USD appx). they are just trying to rip me off here. This is a consistent issue and still they are not ready to accept it but trying to make money out of it.

I have the same problem with my Macbook pro mid 2015 i7 with AMD video card.

When it is flickering it also restarts all the time. In the Applestore they told me it is a software problem but after reinstalling everything the problem is still there. When I bring it in for repair I have to wait for 2 or 3 weeks. Also the problem is not occuring all the time.

So after consulting other apple store manager who suggested me to first take the backup and try to reinstall the OS. If that doesnt help then the only option is to clean the logic board. I have taken the backup and reinstalled the OS. The flickering has been stopped since reinstalling the OS. It has just been couple of days. But it hasnt happened once. Will update the status after a week.

My "flicker" occurs intermittedly when my MBP wakes up from sleep. I've tried shutting down completely, which usually solves the problem, but the flicker and pixelation occurs every 3 or 4 times waking from sleep mode. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have a 13" MBP