Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Hmmm... I might have some extra info. I also have the problem. I have a MBP 15 with almost all the extras you could get. For me the popping/clicking appears a lot (in 10 seconds i probably hear it 3 times, randomly) when I play music or watch movies. The popping also follow the volume, so if I raise the volume the popping/clicking gets stronger. I think I've never heard it when just working on my mac. Was about to go to Apple center to get it fixed since I thought there was something wrong with my speakers. But yesterday I discovered that my popping/clicking sound only appears when I don't have my dongle (with mouse) connected. If I connect the dongle the popping disappears. When I disconnect it takes some seconds, then the popping/clicking comes back. Anyone that experience the same thing?

After exploring a bit further it seems like is has to do with power. If I have the dongle connected with the mouse connected I almost never hear the popping. But if I disconnect the mouse from the dongle I hear it more often. My knowledge about ohm and resistance is very limited, but it might have to do with power in some way. Any other perspectives on this?

Off the top of my head, I'd say it's a design flaw due to thermal expansion.

Apple should conduct some tests, as It's too random for us to define the cause, IMHO.

As for me, the popping/crackling sound happens not very often and in different situations:

- while charging and not charging;

- with connected devices and not;

- while running heavy software and idle;

- while running mac os, during the boot or recovery mode;

- after turning it on and after a while.

😟

I agree. I tried via twitter to tell Apple support the same but nothing came out of it.

We should try to send emails to popular websites like macrumours or 9to5 about the problem to force Apple to start an investigation.

This has been driving me insane! Good to know I'm not the only one. I haven't been able to track it down but I believe it's the hinge causing this. The sound originates from behind the screen and it often occurs while typing with the machine on your lap and the resulting screen wobble. Apple really needs to find a solution as this is clearly not an isolated incident.

I'm experiencing similar issues with my 15" MacBook Pro. The computer makes the random popping sound every once in a while; to me it seems to be related to the device getting warm. It seems to happen much more frequently when I connect an external display (which causes the dedicated GPU to turn on and therefore increases the amount of heat). I can also (at least sometimes) reproduce the issue by running a program to get the CPU usage to 100%.

Additionally, I have the hinge noise issue: Whenever I open the laptop for the first time after not using it for a while, the hinge makes a "clacking"-sound. Closing and opening the laptop again does not reproduce the sound. However, a similar noise also occurs when the computer warms up and I adjust the display angle.

Finally, I am experiencing loud high-pitched noises from certain keys of the keyboard whenever the machine is hot.

Overall a really disappointing experience considering the amount of money I spent on the computer. The local certified service provider seems to be clueless about the issues and the nearest apple store is more than 100km away from where I live. I already chatted with the apple support and called the support (and then the after-sales support) but they were not helpful. I guess I have to bite the bullet at some point and travel to the nearest apple store ...

I have the same issue and it's happening on two different 15" MacBook Pros with Touchbar. I can't recreate by physically pressing or pushing on the device. It just happens randomly all the time. I can't figure out any rhyme or reason why.

I am having this exact same problem myself.

To add some value to this conversation... I use my laptop both closed and open on my lap. This sound ONLY happens when it is open on my lap. My assumption is that it's the hinge because it will usually make the sound when I shift in my seat or some movement happens. Like when I goto move my hand to use the trackpad.

Mine does the same, I thought it was coming from the speakers at 40-60% of set volume levels, I found it happened most when using word or other office programs, or in the progress of changing pages on the net. It never seems to happen on it's own, always seems to happen as a result of activity. My two bob.

I'm also experiencing the same issue with my Late 2016 15" MBP. (Radeon Pro 460, 2.9GhZ i7, 1TB SSD).

In my case it sounds like it's coming from the display. To me it sounds like there are two layers of material that are delaminating. It seems to happen most when opening and closing the display, especially in the first 15 min after waking up the (closed) computer from sleep.

I have the same model as you, with the only difference of the capacity of the SSD disk that is 256GB, I have that random sound that you comment, I have taken the laptop to the authorized technical service of my city and I have not been fixed, Laptop to another official apple service and I'm afraid they will not solve the problem, I'm very upset with the apple service and the time I've had to be without laptop so I can not solve the problem.

Apart from the problem of sounds that you comment I have these two other problems:

Problem with key 0 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IrEtGP1PaU

Problem with laptop lid -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZO4P_w9xOI

I have tried sending my machine for repair twice. First they replace the cover that includes the speakers. Second they replaced the screen. Now they ordered new machine (will see how this will go). The problem for me started with 10.12.3 update, which replaced the Audio Driver (https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/macos-10-12-3-update.212177/).

15, 2.6, 512go 450 on my side

I haven't encounter the poping issue HOWEVER I have exactly the same issue with the CLAC ! when I open the lid for the first time (starting the day), after that if I try to open/close the lid I have the sound pretty similar to the CLAC but less noisy...

Another issue is the "Keyboard Clicking/Sticking" specially with Enter button...

I have this on a non touch bar 13", 16GB RAM and 512GB hard drive.

The Apple Store had it for 4 days but couldn't replicate the issue.

I had it back for 5 minutes and it instantly returned.

If I leave the MacBook at work overnight, it gets quite cold and the first open in the morning definitely causes a noise from the hinge. Then for a good hour it just randomly pops as it warms up. Can't really be sure of where it's from. Then it goes off maybe once an hour during the day.

It's started interfering with the keyboard now, some keys feel different and aren't responsive until a few pops have happened, then they return to normal. My space bar only works with a proper hard press now which is frustrating.

The Apple Store have it back now and say they are going to replace the lower half (keyboard etc). Hopefully that'll achieve something this time.

Same issue for me. I've hear the occasional pop under the track pad, but for me the most noticeable pop is right at the bottom middle of the screen. It sounds like there is room in one of the hinges and it is sticking to something and popping unstuck. It only happens when the screen is open and I'm using the laptop on my lap, but can replicated it but pressing lightly in the area. None of it is bothersome, but noticeable and unexpected with the build quality of Apple.