MacBook Pro screen flickering solution

New MacBook bought 8/17 no problems, then flickering screen started happening, started after the update the end of 3/18, took many videos of it. Took it in, first they replaced the top of computer, did a wipe and restore.... happened again...then they replaced the bottom and said to call software mgr. next. Googled online, found this: go to >system preferences>energy saver>(turn off-uncheck) automatic graphics switching. I did that 11 days ago and hasn't happened again. Read that some apple software mgr. said there will be an update fix, but not until 2/19????? Crazy. Will see if this has fixed it, but was happening every other day/every day and hasn't since I turned off auto graphics switching.

I see this on 10.14.2 on MBP 2018. My workaround was to turn off:

System Preferences > Energy Saver > Automatic graphics switching

Yes on an iMac late 2015 model. It started after I took the update to 10.13.4.

If you keep your display pref open and can switch ti a different scaled resolution, it will go away. You can switch back, and for awhile it seems to hold.

Thanks. I'm just trying to narrow it down. I'm not saying it is Firefox exclusively but perhaps one of a handful that injects a deleterious effect on the way the GPU works. Knock on wood, I'm entering my third day and haven't seen the flickering. I'm only using Safari at the moment, I do not use Chrome, and have since uninstalled Firefox.

Some of my personal usage patterns that demonstrate graphic anomalies, including the all-black screen flickering...

When I'm on Lucidchart.com (CPU & GPU-intensive site), and this black screen/flickering upon wake issue was happening, the site would periodically show fuzziness and distortions in the graphics while working on flowcharts (zooming in/out, panning, etc.); however, I've not seen any of these distortions since I completely removed Firefox, reset the SMC, reset the NVRAM. Previously, resetting SMC and NVRAM did not resolve the issue but I was using Firefox periodically for compatibility reasons on a few work-related sites.

Netflix does flicker one time only as the status bars disappear, and YouTube has been flawless.

My external monitor would periodically go "fuzzy" or "out of focus" (best example I can give). I sent the monitor in to ACER, and they sent it back to me with a "no trouble found" note. My wife uses the monitor with DVI (not HDMI as I do) and hasn't had a problem with it. The issues with fuzziness or flickering have not spawned in the last three days so I am hopeful that whatever was causing the problem may have been addressed but we'll see.

That's all I can come up with, hopefully it is of some use to you all as we wait for either a fix or workaround.

PS: this is the exact model I have...

Sometimes I have the flickering, sometimes not. I couldn't relate to any software used.

Then I noticed that I could specifically reproduce the flickering, i.e. in the moments when it also occurred by changing the automatic switching option of the chipset graphics and the graphics card on or off.

After turning off the option, so my MacBook no longer switches itself between chipset graphic and graphic card, and always uses the graphics card, the problem no longer exists.

This solves for me the flickering problem.

But I still don't know what's causing the flickering. Because sometimes it didn't happen for days in a row and then suddenly again.

After all, it's permanently gone for now. Simply switch permanently to the graphics card.

There is Some fix available just try with this..

Method 1: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac

NVRAM is short term of Nonvolatile Random-Access Memory. It is a short memory for quick access to certain settings. Systems that can be stored in NVRAM include sound volume, display resolution, boot-disk selection, time zone and recent kernel frighten information.

Steps to to reset NVRAM:

• Press Option, Command, P, and R Keys all together.
• Release after 20 seconds.
• Meanwhile that time Mac can restart.

Note: If your Mac uses a firmware password, this key combination will not mix or boot your Mac from MacOS retrieval. To restore NVRAM, first turn off the firmware password.

Method 2: Reset SMC

SMC is short term of System Management Controller. We have to reset and try because it is responsible for other low-level functions of Intel based Mac book.Steps to reset the SMC:For Non Removable Battery

• Go to Apple menu and Shut Down it.
• When shuts down process completes then press on the left side of the built-in keyboard, Shift-Control-Option, the power button all together.
• Release after 10 seconds.
• Now press the power button to re-run your Mac.

For more..http://www.techmazza.com/how-to-fix-macbook-screen-flickering-issue/

I noticed someone else who claimed to have this issue said that it was Firefox causing it, it went away the minute he stopped using it.

Acting on this hunch, I run Firefox mainly for work-related stuff (esp. Canvas, Turnitin, etc.) so I took it off of my Mac, removed all the residuals (see link below), rebooted, reset SMC and NVRAM, and knock-on-wood I'm not seeing the issue (for now).

I don't run Chrome or any other browsers than Safari so I can't say if this is affecting any other browsers or not. I just read somewhere it was Firefox that made the difference. I don't know if this is going to help anyone but it may be worth a shot. ♂

Link: Uninstall Firefox from your computer | Firefox Help

My screen has been flickering and it was completely annoying, but yesterday I applied the fix described above, I switched off automatic switching for graphics and seems my dear MacBook doesn't do it again.

But anyway, this is just a workaround and I do believe it must be fixed in the new MacOS.

Has anyone tried to update to MacOS Mojave and check whether this problem occurs or not?

As the loyal Apple product owner, I am so disappointed about 2017 macbook pro 15 inch. I started seeing this issue a couple of months right after I paid around $2700 to get the top model last year. At the beginning, I thought it might be the software glitch and will be addressed by the later OS update. But recently, I started the screen flickering issue more frequently. So I decided to do some google search and found a lot of 2017 macbook pro owners reporting the same issue.

Today, I finally got a chance to stop by the Apple store at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA. The Apple technician did some hardware diagnostics. After that, he told me that he saw this similar issue before. It is the hardware issue, not related to my daily usage, However, I need to pay $800 for the logic board replacement because my 2017 macbook pro just passed the 1-year warranty. I was shocked. Then he asked me to talk with his manager. His manager came. The guy (Josh Yu) started convincing me that it is my problem, not Apple's, if it passed the 1-year warranty. It is my responsibility to pay all the cost to fix the hardware issue even though it is not related to my daily usage. He even gave me an example of buying a BWM car which could have the hardware issue as well. What a ********!

We paid the premium price for the Apple product, because of its reputation in the product quality. I can pay $2700 to get almost any latest laptop model in the market. The quality of 2017 macbook pro 15 inch is really bad. I will not make the same mistake again. This is probably the last Apple macbook I will purchase.

To All the current 2017 macbook pro users:

If you see the screen flickering issue and it is under 1-year warranty, please go to the Apple store or contact their customer support ASAP.

If it is out of the 1-year warranty, it will be your responsibility to pay $800 for the hardware issue introduced by the Apple design.

Apple is not here. Apple Support Communities is a User-to-User support forum. If other users can not help you think of a fix, No further help is likely to be forthcoming using this medium. There are no standard mechanisms for escalating problems to Apple Support from here, and Apple Engineering and Marketing Movers and Shakers do NOT monitor these forums looking for trends and outstanding issues.

DO NOT "wait for Apple to provide a fix". Unless and until a large number of users present their issues through standard problem-reporting channels, Apple does not know there is a problem, and is NOT working on a fix. Being selfish is the best policy, getting yours fixed helps everyone.

If advice supplied here does not provide resolution, You must take additional steps to resolve your issues. Contact Apple support directly through one of these methods:

• contact telephone support (free for 90 days with a new Mac, of for three years with AppleCare purchase)

• make an appointment at the genius bar at an Apple-owned store for hardware evaluation and advice (free anytime, but after five years parts may no longer be available).

• initiate an Online chat 

• Visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider (there may be an "evaluation fee", but if they perform any service for a fee, ask for a rebate of the evaluation fee).

• if you are running beta test software, use the supplied method for reporting your issues with Beta software.

• If you are registered as a developer, use the Developer Bug Reporting system. Be sure to supply all the information they are asking for.

Thanks. I just got off of the phone with AppleCare. It started doing it again this afternoon.

The rep had me do a Disk First Aid, then do an in-place reinstall of macOS. It’s dubious if this will fix it but I’m willing to try anything. The next step is to do a complete wipe/re-install, then go to the store for repair.

My logic board and display were replaced for an unrelated issue a two months ago so this is on a replacement board and display.

Has anyone had any success with reinstalling macOS? Fingers crossed.

As frustrated as I've been with this issue, I don't know if a recall will be the answer but rather a software update or a repair extension. I've come close a few times to just throwing in the towel but I have to remind myself that it's Apple, not [insert name of PC company here], and it'll get fixed eventually.

If the issue is hardware, and the Apple Store (or AppleCare Customer Service) is unable to find the problem, then it's worth it to keep pressing for a resolution, especially if you have AppleCare coverage. Just because they can't reproduce it doesn't mean it isn't happening. I went in with two (2) videos of the issue while it was happening, and put them on the computer itself. --It may be worth it to do the same, especially noting the time it happened.

I spoke with a Genius at the local store, and it was suggested that AppleCare can "escalate" the issue to their engineering department. If you are under warranty or have AppleCare coverage on the machine, it is definitely worth your time to contact AppleCare (customer service) for resolve first, and build a solid case history, too.

Meanwhile, I am curious if anyone affected has tried the 10.13.6 Public Beta or "downgraded" back to Sierra; it may be worth a try to see if the issue is resolved (my $$$ says if it is software, and it is fixed then it'll be in the High Sierra beta).

One other thing...

+ Microsoft Office 2016. When reinstalling, has anyone ran their machine without installing Office 2016 (if you use it), and replicated the issue? I've seen a few comments that said it started when they installed Office 2016 on Google searches but it may be a red herring. I am allergic to Microsoft products but have used Office 2016. I did not install it after the last wipe/reinstall, and am currently crossing my fingers.

It has never happened to me. 13" or 15"? You should follow idenizen's advice above. The graphical issues are usually the result of overheating. Try downloading smcfancontrol and set the fan to a higher rpm to see it gets rid of the glitches for a while to rule out overheating.

So I have the MacBook Pro 15 2017 and I randomly experience the screen flickering from wake. My flicking is screen going off and on.

Now I only seem to notice this when it's not plugged to the power. I used have to restart the system to fix it. But I think the problem for at least my flickering is the 2 video cards. So what I do to stop the flickering (while it's flickering) is to go to System Preferences > Energy Saver > Then Un-Check "Automatic Graphics Switching" and flickering immediately stops. At this point you can re-check that option again. The next time it happens I'll make a video of it and post it.

Good news (maybe). I just received a follow up on Bug Reporter after that I sent a video with the issue and also a sysdiagnose. The support said that:

The original report on this issue is closed as resolved in macOS 10.14 beta 4. If you still see the issue in that or a newer release, please file a new bug report.

So at now our bug would be solved. Let will see!