Apple Silicon Mac Laptops: Display Issues

Troubleshooting display and image issues

Troubleshooting camera or ambient light sensor issues

Troubleshooting display and image issues

Identify issues

Read this article if you notice any of the following issues:

  • Distorted, blurred, or illegible image

  • Inconsistent image clarity

  • Vertical lines of nonuniform brightness

  • Flickering or intermittent image

  • Video noise

  • Incorrect or missing colors

  • Nonuniform color, contrast, or brightness

  • Image sticks or remains on screen

  • Light leakage around the display

  • Particles or debris under the glass

  • Pixel anomalies

  • Horizontal or vertical lines

  • Can't change resolution

  • Display not illuminated

  • Display backlight not uniform

  • Display backlight fails after warm-up

  • Display backlight fails at some brightness settings

About LCD display pixel anomalies for Apple products released in 2010 and later

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article, continue to the next section.

Try quick troubleshooting steps

  1. Remove any cases, covers, or screen protectors.

  2. Clean the display with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

    • Caution: Unplug all cables and turn off the computer first. Don't use aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide that might damage the finish. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't spray liquid directly on the computer. Don't use compressed air.

Run manual and diagnostic tests

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:

  1. Run the Mac Resource Inspector (MRI) diagnostic suite.

  2. Run the Display Anomalies diagnostic suite.

  3. While observing the issue, move the display back and forth. Fully open and close the display several times to ensure that internal display cables aren’t pinched or short circuiting.

Open and inspect the computer

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the computer's repair manual to open and inspect the computer. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Replace the part

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the display.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Troubleshooting camera or ambient light sensor issues

Identify issues

  • Camera doesn’t function

  • No camera indicator light

  • Overexposed images

  • Poor white balance

  • Poor focus

  • Distorted or discolored images

  • Display or keyboard brightness doesn’t respond to changing ambient light conditions

  • Camera doesn’t respond to changing ambient light conditions

Try quick troubleshooting steps

  1. Remove any cases, covers, or screen protectors.

  2. Ensure that the ambient light sensor isn’t covered. It’s located at the top of the computer display near the camera.

  3. Clean the display with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

    • Caution: Unplug all cables and turn off the computer first. Don't use aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide that might damage the finish. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't spray liquid directly on the computer. Don't use compressed air.

Run manual and diagnostic tests

If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:

  1. Run the Mac Resource Inspector (MRI) diagnostic suite.

  2. While observing the issue, move the display back and forth. Fully open and close the display several times to ensure that internal display cables aren’t pinched or short circuiting.

Open and inspect the computer

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the computer's repair manual to open and inspect the computer. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

Replace the part

If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the display.

Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.

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