Popping Sound, MBP 2016

There is no way this is a fan issue. Not saying that your issue is not related to your fan but the majority of people on this thread seem to believe it is not the fan and I, too, am one of those people. This popping sound is sporadic. If it was the fan then there would be more then one "Pop" every few minutes or hours. You'd hear a fan hitting something constantly.

I understand what you are saying, but I also thought there was no way the sound I had was the fan. Well I was wrong when I opened the laptop. My problem was the axis on the fan that was shifting, yes! That was the issue. I lubricated the bearing, pulled the axis up and it was solved for a couple of months. Eventually it came back again because once the bearing goes bad lubrication will not stop the axis from shifting again. (Faulty fan design must be the issue for you) of course we are talking about apple, they wouldn't get this wrong right?

It's just my two cents on the issue guys, it is very hard to identify the sound unless you open the laptop and replicate the scenario with the bottom opened like I I had to do, was until then that I was able to get The source of it. I will post a video on YouTube so you guys can see that it seems more speakers like I thought it was than the fan itself.

Hopefully the company finds the problem.

NOTE: I dont advice to open the laptop since you will lose your warranty. I was over the year so that's why I did it.

I have been having the exact same issue. I have a mbp 15in 256gb solid state. model # MLH32LL/A

NOTE: I use the abbreviation of MacBook pro as MBP

I have noticed that it happens one of two ways.

1. I will be using the MBP at a very high-stress level IE: using premiere pro running a 4K video and using final cut pro in tandem.

2. I will be using the MBP stationary but charging and I will still encounter the popping sound.

Another note is that when the popping sound occurs, the trackpad area and around it (where the battery is) will get very hot without the cooling fans turning on unless I am using the computer as described in issue number one listed above.

troubleshooting I have done includes, restarting the MBP, re-installing OS Siera, doing a SMC RESET, and removing all information from the system and reinstalling everything. I have yet to find a solution.

I have contacted apple support and they were of no help. They did suggest going into an apple store to see a technician. I will be going there tomorrow, and I will update this if need be.

anything helps!!!

Ross

UPDATE: MAY 3RD 2017

After visiting the genius bar at the apple store in rosedale center in roseville minnesota, the person there was able to replicate it in store after i ran my MBP at full capacity IE: final cut pro, premier pro, Lightroom, and logic at the same time. They could not determine the exact problem but they said it could be a multitude of issues, she said it is most likely the battery due to thermal expansion, or it could be the fan although they replaced the fan under warranty but the problem was still there, they set up a date to drop it off for another repair to replace the battery. as of this time apple still has not recognized the issue and probably will continue not too. if you have the problem and it is under warranty, get it fixed or replaced if you can.

I already posted above a few weeks ago. However, I wanted to give a small update.

A few days after I posted about these issues on this discussion board, I received a call from an AppleCare Senior Advisor in the US (to my surprise, since I currently live in Germany). I described the problem to him and uploaded a number of videos showing different occurrences of the issue. He said engineering was interested in the problem (hence the videos) and they were also interested in bringing my machine in to investigate the problem first-hand, providing me with a new machine with identical specs in the process. Of course, I happily agreed. So far I'm very satisfied and I can reassure you that Apple is aware of the issue.

He also said that AppleCare Germany would have to take care of the replacement and that they would contact me very soon. However, I haven't heard from then since and it has been over two weeks. I contacted the advisor after one week, but haven't received a reply. I just sent him another email, so let's see whether that helps. I'm quite disappointed that AppleCare suggested to replace the machine and now nothing happens. Is anyone experiencing a similar situation?

Just got a call from Ireland (in German this time 🙂) and arranged for the replacement. Seems either my email or my post here got through to somebody. So far so good! Now let's hope the replacement machine doesn't suffer from the same issues.

Anyhow, I'm impressed that someone at Apple actually reads our posts on this board! To whoever that might be: Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I'm experiencing the same problem. I have a 2016 Macbook Pro 15" the $2400 model and it makes a popping noise intermittently. I have noticed the pops are more proactive when the computer is warming up. The noise seems to be coming from the top part of the touch bar where the hinges of the screen are. While the pops are random there is also a clack noise when opening the display.

Heres a video of the noise. Notice in this video the pops are more consistent but not as loud:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38CuHhgsLg0

I spoke with a genius today and he nor did anyone else at the store have any idea about the issue. They ended up submitting a report about the problem to engineering and told me to contact them in a week because they didn't want to start replacing parts until apple came up with a solution.

P.s The mac is about a month and a half old and the noise has just now become more prominent, annoying, and frustrating.

15"\512\260. Getting a "cracking" noise upon opening lid after period of inactivity and also popping noises as it warms under moderate load (playing game downloaded from App Store for about 2 minutes does the trick). There will be about 3-4 pops spread out over the course of 7 minutes or so.

Took it in to the Apple Store and left it there for two days. Got a call saying they couldn't replicate the issue and no repairs were made. I went to pick it up and they told me to take a video if I continued to experience the issue. I took my MBP back to my car and replicated the issues within 5 minutes of sitting in the parking lot, recorded it, and brought it back into the Apple Store. The genius told me to email them the video of the lid cracking noise as he said that would be sufficient evidence to warrant a repair of some sort.

Got a call yesterday from an admin saying that at this time there are no repairs that could be made as it's unclear of what the issue is. I asked if I could be issued a replacement. They told me they'd call me back the next day. Got another call today saying that I probably won't be receiving a replacement and that they still couldn't replicated the second popping issue. They told me to come pick up the machine and said to record a video of it happening and Email it to them if it happens again. I told them I'd already taken a video and sent emailed it to them after hanging up. Awaiting a call back.

What the ****? I've heard of Apple issuing replacements for a lot less. The least they could do is humor me by sending me a new machine. Not a happy camper.

I totally agree, they already replaced my motherboard and topcase, the keyboard makes a weird sound to now besides the pop sound.

I saw some people on this topic saying they got a replacement but when i contacted the store i bought it from (a belgian offical apple dealer who only sell's apple products) they told me it was not an option to replace the macbook...

So basicly they make you pay €2500+ for a laptop and don't even replace it within warranty when it doesn't work like it should be. Never buying apple again because of such a poor customer service...

Adding my 15" macbook pro touchbar base spec model to the list: this issue is super annoying because it's loud and distracting.

I'm a developer so I frequently put the CPU to 100% max while compiling etc - i can definitely say for me this issue is a thermal (heat expansion) issue. Example: I ride to work in the cold, I get my laptop out at work and it's quite cold. If I then compile something, clack Clack CLACK several times. Ditto if I wake the laptop up from sleeping at room temperature, then immediately compile something.

Also: occasionally as I pick up my macbook closed (clamshell) and hold it portrait orientation, I hear a sliding THUNK as something seems to move inside. Ridiculous for a $4000 machine (I live in Canada, that's how expensive they are here)

Come on Apple, bite the bullet and spend some of that mountain of cash fixing this annoying issue. You should never have shipped laptops with this problem.

It seems that there is no solution and apple does nothing about it, I have the laptop in the technical service because the keys make different noise and they do not work well and for the random noises that are mentioned in this forum, I have changed the keyboard and I They will give it soon, but I'm afraid they have not solved the problem, I have not had the laptop for 3 months between one thing and another.

I will report in my country in the consumer office and I will not buy an Apple laptop again, this company has lost all its value to me. If this had happened 4 years ago apple would have solved it now they have lost everything that made them special for me

I took mine into the Apple Store today. They were able to replicate the pop and they said they had to ship it off to be repaired. They described the issue for the engineers to reproduce the issue (but poorly). Hopefully they'll be able to replicate it once it arrives and fix it. Also having them fix my keyboard - a couple keys aren't triggering or are hard to press in the corner. Hoping it comes back with both issues fixed!

I took mine in on Wednesday, they were unable to replicate the sound, and when I took it home I did not experience the sound for several hours but, it came back :( It has been quite frequent today, the last one 20 minutes ago was different, it had a resonance to the end of it, like when you tap a speaker cone with your finger finger or quickly expose a speaker to a dc voltage. I think it may be random electrical discharges going to the speakers. This is getting frustrating!

Have had my MacBook Pro 15" for around 2 months. First month there were no popping noises. Now they happen throughout the day. They most certainly happen when the computer has been under a large workload (gaming, using Final Cut) and they also seem to occur at random. Just wondering what apples response will be to all this. Spent too much money on the computer for there not to be a definitive fix to this issue.

Pretty much mimics my experience except they couldn't replicate the noise aside from the cracking of the lid upon opening. I was told to wait until apple had a solution and that little could be done on their end in the interim. I called Apple and they've requested that I send the machine in to them to see if they can fix it before they issue me a replacement. I suggest you give them a call also. The more people calling in with this problem the faster the issue will get resolved.

If all of the same type of macs are doing it - its a design issue --

If some are doing it - may be a job-shop issue (Job shops are used when a manufacturer has to ship at 100% and they do not have the capacity to do so (see JIT(just in time-manufacturing))) From overseas usually qty required to fill a container.

If you brought it in to an apple store - Keep any paper work you have from the apple store that you did have them check it out -- if the case breaks later on because of the fault - that is proof you brought it to their attention.