Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Macbook Pro 2016 15'. I'm experiencing this random popping sound too (the videos in this thread "show" the issue pretty well). I don't think it has anything to do with warm up. I already chatted with Apple Support and they only recommended software solutions. Didn't want to try those and checked if anything could make the popping noise on my Macbook.

I might have found the source:

The screen / screen hinge. If I press on the in the middle of the screens backplate near the screen hinge (close to or on the edge) I hear a very similar popping sound. Works in opened and closed position.

Please check if this could be the source on your Macbook too and reply to this comment.

I'm hearing the exact same issue! I've scoured the internet and have found nothing about it. Your post is the first thing I've seen on this topic.

I have identical specs, albeit the 512GB storage on mine.

My single pop noise also sounds like it's coming from under the trackpad. Very weird.

VegasNewYorker71: if your AppleCare is expiring you should def bring it in ASAP.

They will try different things, sometimes together and sometimes in various successions (this is based on my reading of the forums since I've very familiar with this issue, and also because I went through 3 different repairs on my MBP and also had to try 3-4 MBPS which all had different iterations of the issue before I eventually found one that is quiet and works normally. That said, this MacBook Pro now has a Touch Bar issue https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8659564 but that's a different story).

They will try:

• replacing the Display,
• then the Top Case,
• then the MLB (Main Logic Board).

Hopefully, one of these will work for you. All the best.

I found 2 videos with the popping sound on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umx5MVeeq_o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oST0bDjSjDw

I hear it several times a day. I can't tell if it is heat/cold related, or capacitance build-up. It's definitely a problem, though. It sometimes happens several times over the course of a few minutes and other times there can be hours in between when I hear it. I feel like it hear it more regularly shortly after I plug it in to charge.

Yep, I have this issue too. Initially I thought I was the only one with this problem when I received my rMBPtb in November 2016, I couldn't find anyone else in any online forums exhibiting the same behaviour. I have the 2.7Ghz i7 with Radeon Pro 460 and 512Gb SSD. Mine only exhibits the popping sound when it warms up under processor load, then I don't hear it again until it cools down. I concur, I think it's to do with expansion and contraction somewhere in the body of the casing. Battery model is the same as Michael DN. I'm in the UK. Apart from this occasional annoying pop the machine is absolutely superb, no other issues or sticky keyboard keys etc.

The same for me, on my 15 inches, 2,6 Ghz 1TB 460, TB MBPr

The pops occur when heating up, and cooling down. 2 to 3 pops each time

Another annoying thing : a CLAC ! located near the left side of the trackpad, when I open the lid.

What is strange is that the CLAC occurs the first time I open : If I immediately close, no CLAC when reopening...it occurs after 15 to 30 minutes closing time.

it looks like my MBPr will come back to Apple. it's a pity regarding that otherwise, it works absolutely fine.

Maybe I will wait for the end of warranty.

Did some one met this CLAC issue ?

I have the same noise coming from the back of my MacBook Pro. Mine was fine until 2 weeks ago, when one evening started popping and cracking from the back. After some research on the internet I found that a lot of people have the same issue and most think it is heat related. If the laptop is open, and is in my lap, it will crack and pop every couple of minutes if I use it normally. If I use an app that will turn up the fans and the heated air is pushed through the back vent below the screen it will not crack at all. This made me think that the noise is in the screen part of the laptop and is definitely activated if the temperature is lower.

I HAVE FOUND WHERE THE CRACKING AND POPING NOISE IS COMING FROM.

Pick up the laptop, with the screen open at 90 degrees and press right at the bottom of the screen assembly in the middle.

It will crack and pop like a candy.

Now, I think the problem is actually from the hinges, as there is some natural flexing in the aluminium back of the display. I think the heat has affected the glue or some plastic mount in the display assembly.

I have looked at the iFixit teardown pictures and theres is no hinge in the middle, but there are 2 contact strips in the middle. I hope this is the same for everyone and I hope Apple will fins a solution and a fix.

Please let me know if you guys have tried this and if is the noise comes from the same place.

Yes, his is exactly where the noise is coming from on my laptop. I am worried that this is a design flaw with the product. My computer is currently with apple and the screen and logic board are both getting replaced. If the flaw is inherit with all 15" MacBook pros I will find out soon. The noise is not just annoying it presents real issues with those doing live recording / podcasts / audio recording etc. the noise makes the computer feel cheap and badly manufactured. It would be one thing if this was a chrome book but the fact that this laptop is over 3k makes it completely unacceptable.

I don't have this issue to your degree of frequency, but I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread because I thought I was going crazy. I would hear this strange popping noise, but could never pinpoint its location (my rMBP 2016 is connected to two Apple Thunderbolt monitors - a widespread [real-estate] configuration). My configuration is similar to yours (Pro 460) but have the 1TB SSD and 2.7GHz i7.

Update: Apple is definitely reading the post and researching the issue. Working with AppleCare and Engineering now! Hopefully we will all get a fix soon, hang tight! My popping sound is coming from the screen hinge area directly behind the MacBook Pro logo, especially when open 90 degrees and wider. I'm able to reproduce by reaching around and pressing, its the same sound I hear from thermal expansion since the fans exhaust there as well.

Have the cracking/popping noise problem too (MBP 15” / 512 / Radeon 460). At first only when opening the display, now it happens every time the macbook is heating up or cooling down. Don’t even have to touch anything it just cracks from itself.

Yesterday I brought it back to the apple store. Although it was a bit difficult to hear the crack, because of the noise levels in the stores. So the genius took the machine to the back (maybe also to copy my naked photos, who knows 😉 ). She confirmed that she could hear the popping sound, also there was another crack later, while the machine was cooling down. Furthermore I showed the videos I’ve made with some loud cracks.

Then she started explaining how this was natural, since the aluminium extends and contracts when heated / cooled… ***? Unfortunately she cared little, when I pointed out that the previous macbooks were also made from aluminium, and they did not have these issues.

Also did not worked to say that I would not expect this from a 3500 CHF supposedly “high quality” product.

So I got no repair and no replacement. She said, a repair would probably not solve this, and other macbooks might have the same issue, so they won’t replace it either. Great!

It seems to me that Apple - at least here in Switzerland - does not even try to fix this anymore. They just ******** you and hope you accept a faulty product. After this visit I’m extremely disappointed in Apple, both in the product and the customer service.

Also I miss my 2012 macbook air 🙂 , that thing was rock solid, in 4 years not a single issue. Now I’m stuck with a machine, which did cost a fortune, and after only 5 months it feels like garbage, cracking and popping all the time.

Anyway,

this morning I noticed a small bump on the hinge. I’m not sure this is causing any noise, or it was created by the heat, or it was just sitting there all along and I did not see it before. Strange is, that its on the CPU side, which is usually the main heat source…

Does anyone have something similar?

While I haven't been checking temperature, I have had the Activity Monitor open in the background to take screenshots.

These are two of fourteen others.

From the screenshots, it appears as if the sound happens even when the CPU is under very low stress. I also know for a fact the fans were not on while these two were taken.

I'd be interested installing a utility to monitor temperature. Can you recommend any?

I have been with this issues for about six months until I decide to send it for a fix.

I had clacking sound when opening the laptop screen, also, random pops from the keyboard area.

I recorded videos that show all the issues and send it to Apple later with the Laptop.

Last week I got the Laptop back, and for now, all is good. No crazy pooping sounds.

I'm attaching a screenshot of the list of parts I got replaced.

Hope it help.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3 Radeon Pro 460 4 GB

I'm living in Israel; I have a USA AppleCare service.

The laptop sent to USA labs for this repair.

They didn't charge me extra for any of this parts or service.

Here is the full document, if you show it that way it will be more legit.

same here, Macbook Pro 15 2016.

Seems to be hardware related since it often, maybe even always appears when the machine heats up or cools down.

Never or rarely hear the popping sound when Macbook is idle, except it was heated up before.

If it is hardware related it is definitely unacceptable for a 2,6K laptop, hopefully not even dangerous if it is a thermal expansion

I think the new Macbook Pro has some heating issues since i also have this problem

MacBook Pro (15" with Touch Bar) Keyboard Clicking/Sticking When Machine is Warm