MacBook Pro flexgate: stage-light effect at the bottom, screen going dark at an angle

A known display fault on the 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro is called “flexgate”. The first sign is usually light and dark bands along the bottom edge of the screen, resembling theatre stage lights. Over time the screen goes completely dark once the lid is opened beyond a certain angle.

Which models?

• A1706 — MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2016–2017, with Touch Bar
• A1708 — MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2016–2017, without Touch Bar
• A1707 — MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2016–2017

The model number is printed in small type on the underside of the laptop.

Symptoms and progression

1. Stage-light effect: uneven light and dark areas along the bottom edge of the screen.
2. Angle-dependent blackout: the backlight going off when the lid is opened more than halfway and coming back when it is closed a little.
3. Complete blackout: no backlight at all. Shine a torch close to the screen and the image is faintly visible — the panel works, the light does not.

The cause

The thin flex cables that carry the display backlight wrap around the display controller board and are pulled tight every time the lid is opened and closed. On these models the cable slack is short, so the repeated strain fatigues the cable and its conductive traces crack. Apple moved to a longer cable on the 2018 models.

Apple ran a “Display Backlight Service Program” for the 13-inch 2016 models; however, it did not cover the 2017 models, and coverage for the 2016 models is long over. The standard fix for this fault at an authorised service centre is replacing the entire display assembly.

Repair options

• Backlight cable repair: if the panel and picture are fine, the damaged backlight connection can be repaired under the microscope and the cable given enough slack. Whether this is possible is decided after inspection.
• Logic board backlight circuit check: while the cable is failing, the backlight circuit on the logic board can also be damaged; it is checked by measurement and, if needed, a MacBook logic board repair is done.
• Display assembly replacement: if the panel is damaged too or the cable cannot be repaired, the display assembly is replaced (see screen replacement).

When the symptom first appears, not opening the screen wider than necessary slows further wear of the cable. The earlier the laptop comes in, the more limited the repair.

We hand every repair back with a guarantee; if the same fault returns within the warranty period, we assess your device free of charge.

For other Apple devices, see our Apple repair service page. If your MacBook Pro shows these symptoms, submit a fault report. You can bring it to our lab in Küçükçekmece, or if you are outside Istanbul, you can send it to us by cargo.