Macbook pro 2017 popping noise?!

Hi there. Just a quickie to recommend you take it straight to Apple store whilst under warranty. I did so last week. The store was too noisy for them (or me) to hear any popping on my MacBook Pro (2017 / 15-in / touchbar) and the gentleman said he's not heard of the problem, then I showed him this and many other online discussions. He went out the back of the store and came back with 'Article EM992 from the Knowledge Base', which directed him to proceed to replace the display under warranty. It must be the lower part of the screen heating up and popping, but Apple knows about it and fixes it. I've now got my laptop back and all seems well after AUD$900 of service covered by warranty. Hopefully it'll stay that way.

The sound is absolutely coming from the speakers. The thing is, I don't see it indicating anything wrong with the speakers but rather the drivers (I think its a software problem).

To prove its not the speakers take some earphones or headphones put them on, then plug them into the jack on the laptop, you will hear the exact sound.

People have been saying it comes from putting the amplifier into sleep which causes the sound.

Here is a post from another forum which accurately describes when the sound occurs:

Any news on this? Definetly happens when the amp is turned off after playback. That takes 38 seconds in Safari and 32 seconds in iTunes. Does all 2016/2017 Macbook Pros have this?

A few years ago I bought three Nokia phones with this excact issue.

There have also been many discussions on using some basic software called Antipop which stops the audio output from sleeping and ultimately eliminating that sound.

To be honest, after multiple interactions with the Apple store and leaving my MacBook Pro 15" they even changed the ventilators which is one of the few moving parts of this laptop.

I escalated the case because I was already bored of spending so much time without my computer and finally Apple exchanged my laptop for a new one, with a stronger processor because they didnt have the model I had. Since then no more noises at all.

This is the first video where you can check how the popping sound is perceived:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYVQth4uyFQ

This is the second video after they exchanged the coolers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI3C76utfPc

The only way to fix it was to get Apple to completely exchange it because they didnt know what generated the issue. They said they were going to send the laptop I gave back and send it for analysis but not sure if somebody actually checked it at all.

Hope this helps

ChristopherES wrote:

Just a quickie to recommend you take it straight to Apple store whilst under warranty. I did so last week. The store was too noisy for them (or me) to hear any popping on my MacBook Pro (2017 / 15-in / touchbar)

In another thread you state you have a 2016 (Re: Macbook Pro Popping Sound: The Worst Experience in Customer Support ever existed). Is it a 2016 or 2017?

My Macbook Pro 2016 (touch bar) does this multiple times a day. Took it to the Genius bar last week and the guy who helped me heard it once. It's surprisingly loud, and doesn't sound like it's coming from the speakers. He said he wasn't familiar with the issue, and advised me to keep a log of the frequency. He thought perhaps it was something inside the computer "resetting itself" and that it might be normal.

It might be normal—TBD. But it's LOUD. And concerning.

My MBP 15" 2017 started having sound card issues too three months in.

Don't know if the High Sierra update is the cause, but the sound through speakers got terrible.

Lot's of crackling. No such issue when I use headphones.

Brought it to the store to get it checked. Staff could hear the issue right away, but only offered to take the macbook in for a week. Of course they don't offer a temporary replacement, which is bull because I need something for work.

Good product. Unfortunate circumstance. Bad service.

Yes, I hear a popping sound pretty much everytime I use my new MacBook Pro w touchbar. I had this for a year and final looked it up today to search youtube and apple to see if other new owners are hearing the same popping cracking sound. I thought the same is it just mine that is defective. Have you taken it in? What is the diagnosis? How long does it take for them to fix?

Hi,

I would bring the Mac to an Apple Store “genius” bar for a free diagnosis and free repair if deemed appropriate: https://support.apple.com/contact I don't know how else you're going to have peace of mind for years to come worrying if it's going to get worse.

It's 2016 ... that was a typo. I'll keep an ear out for any more pops, but the Apple store employee seemed quite convinced that they had identified the issue.

Thanks for clarifying.

Hey, did you go to apple to tell them about the problem? If so, what did they do about it?

Hi there,

I started experiencing the same issue with a 2017 MacBook Pro 15".

I noticed it when I was using the computer in the bed on my lap.

This is the video I recorded and sent to Apple Support, waiting for their feedback:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kzona58rtnpliml/Video%2025.08.17%2C%2023%2000%2023.mov ?dl=0

Good plan. Run the video as long as you can, and if it makes the sound, then stop it right there so you can easily find it again. If not, start the video over if it runs out of tape/storage and keep repeating as necessary until you capture it. Hope you'll post back with results when this is over.