Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Finally after 5 trips to the Apple Store and 2 repair attempts, they've agreed to give me a refund in the form of store credit. The senior customer relations rep that's been helping me throughout this process told me that because this seems to be a "perception issue" (because they couldn't repliacte the sound in-store?) and not a hardware failure, that there was nothing he could do other than try to convince the Apple Store manager to issue me a refund.

Tl;dr: they're giving me a refund because they feel bad about the experience I've had and not because of the issue itself.

If the technicians at your local Apple Store are able to replicate the sound, then you might have an easier time. Just give Apple customer relations a call and see what they can do for you. Good luck everyone.

They can replicate the sound! Even I can! I did so in the Apple Store. They said my issue is valid. But the problem is I bought it online. The store wants to refund, but it should be done by Apple Online. And they do NOT want to do anything!

Conclusion: Always buy in store. Buying online from Apple is a bad idea!

Also to address your comment about buying directly from the Apple Store. The only downside is they carry only certain variants. If I want to stick with the base processor but upgrade to the 4gb graphics card, then my only option is to order online. Otherwise I'd totally just buy in store.

Yes and yes. And the answer stays: NO. Customer Relations says: “No. Wait a million years till we found the issue”

The Store manager says: “I want to help you and refund you. But unfortunately Apple Online is forbidding me to do so. So sorry but it’s better to sue Apple.”

Next time somebody hears the sound, goto this link to see if you can pin-point the parts where you feel it's coming from

For me, it feels like the center of the Fan. (looking at the picture at least, and comparing it to the vibration)

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Touch+Bar+Teardown/73395

Hi Ethan,

I had a look and to be honest I couldn't pick one part as being the root cause. All I can confirm is that it seems to be coming from the top left quarter of my mbp. I can replicate the sound consistently by running a session on garageband, using smc fan control to monitor fan speed and temp. If I perform the task cold, I get a pop at 25-27 degrees, then another at 32. When I close the program and turn the fans up I get a cooldown pop at around 22 degrees. Every subsequent time I do this, it consistently pops at 32 degrees, and cooldown pop at about 22. Fans are ~2000rpm at warmup pop and they are at ~4000rpm at cooldown pop. I just showed the tech at my store how to replicate it, its booked in for Friday. I will make another post if I manage to get any more info.

All the best.

Ben

I too have this problem.

Bought 15 inch MacBook Pro with touch bar in January, and the popping started about a month later.

When I open the computer in the morning, I can hear a light pop, and can even feel it on my fingertips holding the computer. I'd hold the computer up, resting on my forearm, my finger tips are resting on the monitor side of the hinge part, and when I open the monitor with the other hand, it pops and I can feel it on my fingertips resting on the hinge area.

It feels like the hinge is either vibrating with the pop, or actually moving a bit. Sounds and feels almost like a two separate parts stuck together are coming apart or something.

Once I open the computer, or the computer gets warm, I don't get this pop sound opening the monitor until the computer is put away for a while again.

Start to use the computer for a little while and it pops really loud. Regular emailing or being on safari can do the job.

The sound is coming either from the hinge itself, or maybe even from the monitor (somewhere between the apple logo and the hinge maybe?).

It does not pop as often these days, probably due to the warmer temperature in the room, but when it pops, it pops really really loud. It used to pop few times a day, but now, once or twice a day. Again, I believe it's because of the warmer temperature. The computer is not as cold/cool these days when I start using it first thing in the morning.

As some of you have mentioned, it makes similar, but smaller popping sounds when I push around the hinge area of the monitor side, but I can not recreate the sound every time by pushing there, but sometimes.

It also pops sometimes when I try to adjust the monitor angle. As soon as I touch the monitor top to adjust the angle, it pops. So I am pretty sure it has something to do with the hinge or the monitor.

Reading all of your comments, I have contacted Apple Japan little over a month ago, telling them that I don't need to have this fixed right now as they don't seem to be able to fix the problem at the moment, but I just wanted to have this on the record so when Apple comes out with a solution, they'd know I have been having this problem.

They didn't know anything about this particular issue at Apple Japan (at least when I have contacted them), but they have told me that they have noted the problem with my particular unit, and also have suggested me to write about the problem on their product review page.

I love the computer. but the pop make it sound lot cheaper than what I have paid for, and the noise is so loud sometimes that it gets really really annoying in a quiet room.

My worries right now, is Apple not doing anything about it, and hoping and waiting that people will give up and stop complaining about this issue (as it's not like something is not working, but it's just "sounds"). Specially now that it's getting warmer (for us in Norther hemisphere), and some people like me are getting the noise little less frequently. It will probably gets worse again after Summer.

I don't need a refund as I actually do like this computer (aside from cheap sounding keyboard) and really need this computer for my work. I just want this problem fixed. Soon.

I really hope they are working on this issue at Apple, and not ignoring it.

I called Apple support and they told me that the sound is produced when a metal part expands but an adjacent plastic part doesn't. However, this shouldn't harm the computer in any way.

They also said that Apple will set up a rep program if the issue proves to be causing other problems aside the annoying noise.

I have just asked Apple Japan, and they have told me that the company is aware of the issue, and they are instructed to fix the problem by repairing some parts inside of the monitor, and that will fix the popping noise issue.

They told me that they have many people complaining about the noise.

I can not send my computer out for the repair right now, but I hope they are taking care of this noise problem the right way.

For the record, I have this issue too.

My MBP 15 2016 was perfect for two months, then over the course of a couple of weeks it started to exhibit a clicking and popping sound. It was so loud on one occasion that my pet cat jumped from my desk in surprise! The popping and clicking seemed to be associated with the Mac's thermal performance under heavy loads, but that wasn't the only source of sound. I first noticed an issue when I opened the lid of the Mac one morning. There was a loud, dull click that I could feel through my hand. Once this started, I was greeted by it every morning. It REALLY took the shine off the whole Mac experience :-/

I took the Mac to the local Genius Bar. They said that this issue was unheard of (this was April 2017).They classified it as 'customer perception' and replaced the screen. Things were 'okay' for a bit. There was the slightest feeling of a click when I opened the lid, but it was barely perceptible. I needed the laptop for work and I just didn't want to enter into a warranty cycle over 'customer perception' issues. The thing is though, I fairly quickly stopped using the Mac and started using my Windows Desktop PC again. I guess I was subconsciously 'put off' by the tactile and audio issues with the Mac.

Anyway, I didn't totally abandon the Mac, and over the last couple of weeks I've made a conscious effort to use it as my daily driver again. And as soon as the processor gets hot...pop! Not as loud as before but it's the same thing. The lid clicks when opened too. I can also replicate the sound and feel by pressing the screen lid from behind, just beside the Apple logo.

It's going in to Apple again tomorrow. I'll feed back on the result, but from now on, I'll keep this up until it's resolved, one way or another...

I also have this problem now as well. I purchased in Feb.

It started a few days ago and is doing it at least 40 times a day.

MACBOOK PRO (15-INCH, 2016)

2.6 GHZ INTEL CORE i7

16GB RAM

500G SSD

I've enjoyed the new macbook so far. The only other bugs I've had is sometimes unresponsive click-and-drag and grit getting stuck under keys.

The saddest thing performance-wise is complete battery drain from 100% to 0% within an hour when crunching 1080P h265, which is unacceptable also.

My "popping" noise is definitely the speaker (LHS and sometimes RHS) - It doesn't happen when using the 3.5mm audio jack and it ONLY happens when audio is being played (video or music). I did however hear it through the TV (HDMI) when connecting via the dongle (USB C, HMI & USB) - but only slightly because the TV I have doesn't produce the low end that the new MacBooks can - so it could be driver related. I know there is another "pop" that people are experiencing but this seems to be an entirely different issue.

These new Mac's are a let down. I have also had the grit under the keyboard issue but another incredibly frustrating issue is the keys. Once the laptop is warm the keys start "sticking" and make that "high pitch" sound some have mentioned. For me it happens with the W S U I O P keys. I also experienced an issue where the "alt" (LHS) key would only work when pressed hard.

This makes the keyboard feel consistently inconsistent. The keys are great when the laptop is cold but once it gets a bit warm they become inconsistent and the feel changes completely.

This is all extremely disappointing. Can someone from Apple please respond to this thread.

Mail has also stopped working now, I have restarted my computer 3 times, relaunched finder about 5 times and restarted Mail about 20 times, it just hangs and I have to force quit. *** is going on with Apple!!! AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!

The click is very annoying.
Consistently inconsistency is the reason to replace. It's the worst keyboard. Even a cheap keyboard or their old products won't happen in this way.

Some of their Macbook Pro 2016/2017 showing in the store doesn't have this problem. At least nearly all of them are silent. So, prove it in front of them. I clarify them not to make this problem to become my feeling ONLY.
And there is no problem with my new Macbook.
They helped me to replace the topcase once. BUT the replacement still have the problem, much more serious on different keys. So I talked to the managerssss for a few hours to get the refund finally.
It's obvious their product's problem and they may claim it's not an Official problem. Sad that most of them just followed the rules and just want to ignore it.
Still, most of them did not know the problem until a customer told them.
I asked them to escalate the case and still no reply after one week. I will soon call them for this matter.

I already posted in this topic few weeks ago saying I got this problem too.

10 days ago, I went to an Apple store and speak to a genius. He says he was aware about this topic and about the problem. My MBP was sent to repair and I got it back 3 days after.

ATM, I don't have the problem anymore. Let's see.

I also wanted to mention that my pop noise is not from the speakers as it happens when headphones are plugged in as well and is not coming through them. I don't believe it's coming from the screen either but under the keyboard somewhere.