Popping Sound, MBP 2016

After numerous visits to the apple Service Centre I was able to convince them to replace my display. Got my laptop back today with a brand new display.

My initial tests confirm that replacing the display has fixed the popping sound issue.

I have also noticed that the new display does not make any noises when pressed against at the bottom of the screen. The new display feels more sturdy. Hopefully the issue won't reoccur again after extended usage. Fingers crossed!!

I urge everyone having this issue to be persistent and get the display replaced.

A big thanks to everyone who updated this thread, It was very helpful in getting the problem fixed!

I have an update, I have now gotten a new display and a new topcase+battery, it seems to have solved all the problems entirely. There are so far no more pops and the entire laptop feels somehow more rigid then before. Everybody that has this problem, make a video that illustrates the popping sound and request a new display case and a topcase.

The cause of this problems is clearly a quality problem in the manufacturing process.

Mine (2017 15-inch top non-custom config, i.e. 512GB SSD etc.) had a real nasty case of the popping issue. Fortunately for me, it was very consistent and therefore easy to reproduce both in video and at the Genius Bar.

Short version: Replace the display assembly. This completely fixed the popping problem. It caused others that ultimately led to my receiving a replacement laptop, though. Some have said display + top case works; I don't doubt them, but in my case replacing only the display assembly was sufficient.

Long version, in case anyone out there is interested: Out of the box, the display hinge creaked whenever opening the lid after a few hours cold. I didn't think a thing about it and it did not bother me at all. Maybe a couple weeks later, I noticed a much louder pop if I adjusted the display angle after it had remained at any normal viewing angle for several minutes or more. It did this once and then seemed fine, but leave it alone for a few more minutes and it would do it again. I still decided it wasn't worth worrying over at that point. Three months or so into ownership, I was doing something processor-intensive, the machine was hot and the fans were at full, and it popped very loudly (sounded like a somewhat muted firecracker sound) when I wasn't even touching it. Few minutes later, same thing and I felt it through the palm rests. As it cooled down, it popped several times at random intervals. Pushing lightly against the back of the display (in the area behind the "MacBook Pro" logo) made it sound like a creaky wood floor or someone playing with an empty plastic bottle, regardless of temperature. An Internet search brought me here, where I discovered that these symptoms were all common.

I made several short videos, including one where the machine was clearly powered down and I could still make the hinge pop by merely adjusting the display angle. This video evidence helped me at the Genius Bar, and I easily secured a work order to have the display assembly replaced. As I said above, this completely fixed the popping and all seemed well.

Upon returning home, however, I noticed two long, shallow dents in the bottom case that had absolutely not been there before. Looked like a clamp was used during display replacement and was overtightened, causing these dents. I immediately took the laptop back and they ordered a bottom case replacement.

When I got it back from that repair, I noticed at least one dead pixel in the middle of the new screen. Back to the store I go, where the (otherwise very nice and helpful) store manager attempted to refuse further action because this was "within Apple spec." I firmly argued that my original screen had no dead pixels, and if it had I would've exercised my 14-day return right. I further argued that my very expensive laptop with AppleCare+ had already undergone two repairs and that additional damage had resulted from each of those repairs. And this, within three months of ownership. I was politely but firmly requesting a replacement machine.

In this case, it worked. I'm a couple of weeks in with the new one and have found no issues at all so far---and I've tested everything I'm capable of testing. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

Best of luck to those experiencing this issue.

Hello All,

I had experienced this problem almost immediately after buying a 2016 MacBook Pro in December of 2016. First, I took it in for repair in February 2017 and they replaced the upper case. This did not fix the popping sound.

During the next 10 months, then computer continued to make the popping sound. I recently took it in again in November 2017 before the end of my 1 year warranty. This time, they decided to replace the display. So far (approx. 2 weeks) this has remedied the popping sound. Crossing my fingers that this has solved the problem.

For what it is worth, my screen was also a bit "loose." That helped with the Genius Bar diagnosing the problem. Thought I do not know the exact problem that caused the popping sound, I suspect it may be with the way the display was connected to the rest of the laptop. Also possible it was a defective hinge assembly. Apple did not specify the exact cause.

For now, just happy that the problem has been resolved because, outside of the popping sound, I think this is a phenomenal machine.

From my experience (having had this issue for a while, and finally having it fixed), it turned out that it was related to rapid acceleration in temperature due to the heat dissipated from the processor / vents.

At first, the issue seemed as random as you described it, but I was eventually able to replicate the issue on command by subjecting the laptop to graphic intensive programs from a relatively low powered state (preferably asleep). The sudden change in temperature, in my opinion, leads to some expansion in or around the screen or hinge mechanism, which after a certain level of stress, lead to a minor ‘shift’ in the structure thereby causing the ‘popping’ sound.

I could recreate this effect following the steps mentioned above to be able to convince the ‘geniuses’ that the issue actually existed.

This was followed by two attempts at changing the mother board and finally switching the entire top case including the screen (and thereby the hinge mechanism) which finally solved the issue.

I waited to send the late 2016 MBP in to see if more problems cropped up besides the popping noise. I started having problems with two of the keys on the keyboard (despite being gentle while typing, IMO) and I sent it in for repair. I received the machine back on October 27, 2017. The keyboard was repaired and the popping was gone completely. The popping noises I experienced were (almost completely) heard through the speakers. I may have had some popping noise coming from the hardware, it was hard to tell the difference.

The repair summary listed the parts replaced:

Logic board, 2.9GHZ Quad core Intel Core i7 process

Display Assembly Space Gray

Top Case with Battery ANSI Space Gray

Mylar BMU eDP TCON

The Machine continues to work perfectly since the repair, (cross fingers!).

"Yesterday I took my macbook pro to a technical service to check the display and the popping sound. Technician told me that they had no information about this fault and for Apple"

I don't believe one word of that. 2 years ago I had a 2016 MBP 15" with the popping noise. I took it to the Apple store Genius Bar and they said the issue was discovered and is well documented throughout the company. They took my MacBook Pro in for repair and replaced the display assembly and I've had no more issues since then. I have since upgraded to a 2018 MBP.

Disable force touch on trackpad and the popping sound should stop.

System Preference -> Trackpad -> Point & Click -> Force Click & Heptic Feedback (Untick)

Turns out it's the bottom. The 2016/17 MBPs are so thin that the bottom covers are flimsy. This means when you apply pressure the bottom will press against internals (yeah scary!) and make that pop sound at the center mostly. I never noticed this was the issue until today. I will be taking it to the Apple Service Center today but this is totally a quality issue from Apple. Mine is 2016 MBP. Its possible they fixed this in 2017 MBP like they did when iPhone6 was too slim and could bend easily.

A quick update from my case: 15" late 2016 model, loud popping sound after cold start. I brought the MacBook into the Apple Store in Berlin, where the genius wasn't immediately aware of the problem when I described it. He then left me for 5 minutes and talked to his supervisor about it. Luckily when he returned he told me that the supervisor is aware of the problem and that they will immediately replace the display and the top case. They were pretty sure it has to do with the display. I received my machine back for about more than 4 weeks now and everything seems to be good now: No more popping.

For those of you who still have the problem. Refer to this thread or refer to the Apple Store in Berlin. Maybe they are able to share their knowledge a bit better with each other. It seems to be that Apple Retail is not in sync.

A logic board change did NOT resolve this for me.To make matter worst , Apple returned the laptop after 2 weeks with a wonky wireless antenna or card that made it impossible to see any wifi networks nearby. Took it back and explained to the technician with screenshots of the thread here and he was quick to agree that the display/lid assembly is the issue. The lid/display assembly was replaced and so far seems ok. Although, like others here , I have to say only time will tell if it holds up.

Those that are experiencing this issue and want a guaranteed fix...

Apple is now aware of this and has a standard process of repair for it.

Take it to an Apple store and describe the noise as mechanical and not generated by the speakers. They will ship out your mac for what they call "flat-rate service." The service depot will replace the entire top (display panel/hinge/metal backing) panel with brand new or like new parts. My mac no longer makes the noises and the turn-around was 4 days from drop-off at apple store to pickup at my front door.

Under warranty/AppleCare this service is free, outside of that it will run you $795.

Best,

Matt

Another South African user here. Took my 2016 MacBook Pro in around April last year for the popping sounds.

They replaced the top display assembly upon my insistence. Issue went away since then.

Unfortunately about a week ago noticed a very light popping sound. Exactly the same as last time just not as audible yet coming from the MacBook. I’m going to monitor but if it gets worse. I’m taking it back before my one year warranty expires.

Had the same thing happen to my MacBook 15inch last year. Had to spend a few months going back and forth to the nearest Apple store. They tried changing the mother board at first, which of course didn't rectify the issue.

I called apple care and demanded to speak to someone 'higher up', in order to escalate the issue. After sending across a few videos of the defect, other online references proving this defect to be more widespread than they'd like to admit and multiple phone calls later, they finally agreed to change the entire top case. That got rid of the problem for good.

I'm just glad I was able to push this fix through before my warranty ended.

Update from me:

I dropped off my 2017 15" MBP on May 16th and it was ready for pickup on May 26th.

My issues included: Popping sound, keyboard issues (repeating X and B keys), screen changing tint/color abruptly, trackpad becoming unresponsive when the machine is cold.

They replaced: The entire top case which includes the keyboard and battery, the entire screen and screen case.

I havent had any issues yet and the keyboard itself seems more... muffled? Less clicky/plasticky?

I'll report back if issues arise again.