Popping Sound, MBP 2016

I also experienced this problem this morning. Before when I read others on the thread complaining this "popping" sound, I felt I was lucky never heard of it. Until this morning when I opening up many applications and my fans are running fast, I heard a clear and noise popping sound just like anyone else experiece. Beside that my 2016 15'' MBP has been causing many other issues like overheating, random red rectangle when connect to external monitor and black screen when awake up from sleep. This machine is totally PIECE OF ****!!! I will never buy apple product if they continue to produce **** like this!!!

I bought my Macbook Pro around the end of this summer, and haven't had hardly any issues to date. The only thing I've noticed began about in September. I keep hearing this soft popping/clicking noise at random times, and I'm not sure what's causing it. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, it does it after long intervals fairly consistently... It only began happening after I put on a hardshell Incase brand case from Apple's website, so for now I'm hoping that it's just the sound of the case readjusting itself. If it gets worse, more frequent, or louder, I will take it in to an Apple store. For now, I can only hope it's not a sign of a hardware malfunction, this machine is practically brand new and in perfect condition (I am very gentle with my electronics).

Any sort of help would be appreciated. I'm very paranoid about this computer. 😕

My Macbook Pro 2016 with Touch Bar is having the same popping noise issue after upgrading to High Sierra. Earlier I though the sound is from the speakers but later on I figured out that noise is being heard from the hinges. Also there is some movement inside the laptop when we just move the laptop. I noticed the movement when i took the laptop from table and trying to put that inside my backpack. Strange movement, it's like something is loose inside the laptop. Apple let me know if the issues with these laptops. I bought the newer version with high expectations and am here only left with disappointment. Also i do not have an apple store in my country(India)/near to my home town. Kindly assist me for a fix.!

It looks like, the popping doesn't comes, when the macbook is in docked mode (closed with external keyboard and trackpad). Of course IT'S NOT the solution, but maybe could help to the service to get closer to the problem. Does anybody has experience in docked mode?

Well... Adding to the thread so there's a record, and additional info / input is always a good thing...

I have a month-old mid-2017 15-inch MacBook Pro (2.9Ghz, 16GB, 512GB, 4GB AMD Radeon 560) that is ALSO doing the popping-dance...

The sounds coming from my system are definitely those coming from the display section of the device - it seems to be a "loose" display casing of sorts... Reproducible by applying pressure to the display, generally towards the bottom-middle. It will randomy make this sound throughout use and is defintely affected by thermal changes. Opening / closing / manipulating the display in any way usually produces the sound.

I can quite literally feel the bottom of the display casing move slightly in the "depth axis" when physically touching / manipulating it - so it shifts towards and away from "itself" (the outer layer of the display case shifts towards the inner (the actual display) and then away again, causing the sound in question.

It seems apparent to me that this is a design issue. So it really doesn't surprise me that we're getting reports of so many repairs not resolving the situation.

It doesn't seem like this is something that will cause further problems or deterioration down the line... So far... So I can live with it... Especially considering the state of things right now - there being no definitive route to a solution and Apple not yet really recognising the problem (at least not openly).

If and when things get any worse I'll see about attending to it... Hopefully once Apple has moved to a position of recognition and a real potential solution.

I'm further hampered by living in South Africa, where the Apple situation is quite unique - no real, genuine Apple presence, only representation... And the local company doing the representation for Apple is... Not nice... They make things FAR FAR harder here than it should be.

Anyways... Outside of this one (really relatively minor, IMHO) issue I'm ecstatic with the device. I've moved to it from an early-2009 17-inch BTO MBP... Been dying to replace the old machine with something current for YEARS and am truly happy with the device so far.

So. Here's hoping Apple eventually does the right thing... I have some confidence in them - they usually DO eventually do so... It jus ttends to take a while until they actually take full ownership of these kinds of issue.

Luck to all, and keep us up to date everyone - every little bit helps!

The authorized repair center just called me back. Told me they can’t reproduce the sound. They’ll need more time with it. Not sure what else I should tell them to do.

It’s been over a week now without a computer...

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.

This is also happening with my 13" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. It is completely random, happens when I'm opening and closing the display, typing, using the trackpad, picking up the laptop while open or closed. It doesn't seem to matter what I've been doing on the laptop, it is very annoying and happens often. Apple does not do anything about this issue and I will be asking for further assistance until my issue is resolved.

I have the same issue (mbp late 2016 15 touchb). The CLAC CLAC are pretty annoying — I have a baby sleeping next to me and he doesn't like the popping sound too ))

Since we do not have official Apple Store and support in Ukraine -- I took my mbp to the unauthorized service and they said that this is a hinge defect. they cannot fix it ((((

Good for you!

I have MBP 2017 15 with touchbar, having the same issue. Now it happens more often as probably the weather is colder. I sent my macbook to service on 27 Oct 2017, and in the invoice the predicted cost is for display assembly change.

I was so when I read it. I believe they already notice this issue but they don’t want to recognize it as their own failure.

However today 28 Oct, they called me. They explain that this issue is NOT unexpected. So it’s not designed to produce the sound but because of the design, it will happen.

They said changing my display assembly will hit or miss, it won’t guarantee that the sound will be gone completely. Thus, they don’t do anything to my macbook.

They assured me that it won’t harm my computer at all.

I am so disappointed of Apple. Paid so much for thing that is ill designed. And now they act like it was designed like that. What a joke! Year of embarrassment for Apple.

There is absolutely no way I would allow them to get away with that, and neither should you. "Not unexpected" by whom? It certainly IS unexpected by the purchaser, as I've never encountered anyone who said "this thing pops like a firecracker every time it heats up and cools down, but I'm gonna drop a few grand on it anyway, what the ****." PLEASE. Furthermore, can you imagine an auto mechanic refusing to replace your faulty spark plugs just because the new plugs MIGHT also be faulty?

I think you should escalate the issue, call AppleCare directly on the phone and make it clear that they have a problem until you don't.

Don't settle for this bullsh**.

Thank you, I follow your suggestion. I just called them again and book another appointment for another genius guy. Because they said they could not overrule the current technicians findings. (HELLOWW??)

So they still refuse that this is a "known issue". I told the Apple Support to read this thread to ensure that many people experience it and it's a big deal,,,, and the response is hilarious.

"That is a discussion thread for customers to right about their experience, this is in no way indicating a “known issue” or a hardware failure"

I believe it's because there are not many of MBP 2016/2017 15 inch being sold out there compared to the whole mac lines. And this issue only happens in 15 inch design (AFAIK).

Best of luck!

Ohh..

COME ON Apple!!

This is truly unacceptable! I want to change my old MacBook Pro and I visited a retail shop (Greece) to check the 'issue' myself.

This is exactly what I experienced

craigdjm wrote:

Reproducible by applying pressure to the display, generally towards the bottom-middle. It will randomy make this sound throughout use and is defintely affected by thermal changes. Opening / closing / manipulating the display in any way usually produces the sound.

I can quite literally feel the bottom of the display casing move slightly in the "depth axis" when physically touching / manipulating it - so it shifts towards and away from "itself" (the outer layer of the display case shifts towards the inner (the actual display) and then away again, causing the sound in question.

I couldn't actually hear the sound, because there were noise in the store but I can feel the display moving towards the external (depth-axis) when pressing it. I'm not in position to confirm that thermal changes could reproduce the sound but I have no reason to not believe it.

I hesitate to make the purchase for a such an expensive laptop (€3049 for the basic 15'' Pro with TouchBar model) with these kind of issues. Furthermore the after sales support for Apple products in my country is ridiculous (no genius bar), so... it's a deal breaker for me.

I am on my third MacBook Pro Touch.

- Computer #1: 2016 MacBook Pro Touch 15 Space Gray/2.7GHz/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB. Ordered online and picked up the next day 11/18/16 at the Apple Store.

Shortly after it was purchased keyboard issues started. Setup appointment with Genius Bar for 12/30/16 and they determined that the Logic Board was the issue. They refunded my money and fortunately for me had another one in stock, which I purchased.

- Computer #2 2016 MacBook Pro Touch 15 Space Gray/2.7GHz/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB purchased 12/30/16.

Computer was fine and then after about 45 days I heard a faint "pop" noise. It was awhile before it happened again and then it became more frequent and louder.

I setup an appointment with the Genius Bar for 07/12/17. They could not replicate the noise but the log files gave them concern. It was suggested that it be sent back to Apple for further review. This is a work machine and I couldn't be without it for a week so we discussed a loaner, which would be $450.

I specifically held off on taking my machine in until the 2017 models were out and Apple Store had an upgraded model in stock while I was there so I purchased computer 3#, a 2017 MacBook Pro Touch 15 3.1GHz/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB on 07/12/17.

On 07/25/17 had an appointment to take Computer #2 in to the Genus Bar for warranty return to Apple. The computer arrived back at my office about 3 days later. Apple replaced the Logic Board 2.7 GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 Processor for "Kernal Panic/System Crashes" and the Display Assembly for "Mechanical/Physical Damages. Please note that there was no damage to the computer, not even a scratch on it. It looked as new. Also the display made NO noise what-so-ever when opening it or moving the computer around. I will note that the "pop" noise would occur no matter if it was on the desk or in my lap. It RARELY occurred when closed and connected to my LG 5K display (2nd GEN with issues corrected) using external keyboard and mouse.

I sold computer #2 at a $1,700.00 loss (!!!!) to someone locally on 08/29/17 after making sure that the "pop" noise wasn't back.

-#3 2017 MacBook Pro Touch 15 3.1GHz/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB purchased on 07/12/17. The "pop" noise that occurred on computer #2 started on this computer in early September but was MUCH louder than it ever occurred on computer #2. It has yet to occur when the computer is closed and hooked up to my LG 5K display and external keyboard/mouse. On this machine it will happen less frequently when on a desk or solid surface when the display is open but VERY frequently when on your lap. It is EXPLOSIVE sounding! The sound occurs more so when the computer is under heavy loads from file manipulations; 1080p or 4k video playing; downloading large or multiple files or any combo of those. Heat issue, expansion and contraction maybe? There is no noise when opening or closing the display or if you move the computer with the display opened. This is an over $4k machine and this shouldn't be happening!

I don't trust this machine so it does a Time Machine & Carbon Copy Cloner backups to a NAS drive at home and another at my office. Additionally I do generational backups on external drives. I can't be without a computer as I make my money using one. So I'm going to buy a 2nd machine (iMac 27 5k) and send computer #3 back to Apple.

My first Apple computer was a late 2012 MacBook Pro Retina 15. Before that (since 1983) I had been a PC user. After I switched to Apple I learned that there is no difference between an Apple and a PC. Both have hardware failures; new software/updates to the OS never work right and both are nightmares. There is one major difference. A PC user admits and realizes the problems/issues and nightmares of upgrades/updates where as a Apple user will not admit that there are problems/issues; is the first to blindly upgrade; will say thank you for the problems and issues; will pay more money for the problems and issues and will wildly wait in line to be the first to purchase them.

Hey there. I also have this pop sound problem. Mine is MacBook Pro 2016 2.6Ghz. In our country there's no official apple customer service or store or so. So can I take it to nearest apple like maybe in Beijing,China? Notebook was bought in Korea.