MacBook screen flicker: how bad is bad?

Sounds like the back light or inverter is dying. I hope your machine is still under warranty (or AppleCare).

Have the same problem but I don't have applecare. It is so annoying.

yojitani said:

As the title asks, how bad does screen flicker get on early macbooks? I started experiencing some flicker about 4- 6 weeks ago, it was intermittent and not too bad, but I'm noticing a gradual worsening of the problem. It used to be that the screen would just flicker between light and dim, but now I'll occasionally get a full-screen black flash before the screen goes back to normal. ... the problem is definitely worse when I'm running on battery. So is this going to continue to get worse in your experience or is it a problem that levels out at some point?

Thanks!

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It's very very common both of my macbooks have had the issue

AlexanderTgreat said:

It's very very common both of my macbooks have had the issue

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How did you solve the problem? I have a hard time believing it is very very common.

Try and take a video of it happening so that you can show it to apple if need be. Mine we a bit crazy last night and I managed to get it recorded.

xUKHCx said:

Try and take a video of it happening so that you can show it to apple if need be. Mine we a bit crazy last night and I managed to get it recorded.

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Whisky-Tango-Foxtrot!
That ain't right.

I highly doubt the entire computer will get replaced but you'll probably get a new LCD and/or backlight to fix the problem.

My screen was having trouble too, but my friend was able to connect it to a TV and I could see all my stuff.

So I was wondering if anyone has had any luck getting this fixed. My Macbook has a screen crack on the left palm where it closes and the screen flicker. Both things drive me crazy. I don't want to waste time if I send it in and nothing gets fixed. So just wondering what to expect.

The nearest Apple store is over two hours away and not an option for me right now as I am pregnant an due any time now.

xUKHCx said:

Try and take a video of it happening so that you can show it to apple if need be. Mine we a bit crazy last night and I managed to get it recorded.

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Man that really stinks. I wouldn't tolerate that at all. Time for a repair for sure. Great video showing this issue. Another reason IM getting Apple Care for sure.

mine flickers only wen its the brightest wen i charge it like once in a month

Same problem!

I have been experiencing the same problem as well. It's been happening over the past year, but only recently has gotten worse and worse. It happens about 20 seconds before my MacBook goes into idle mode and the screen turns black. Any solutions or help to this problem would be greatly appreciated.

MacHappytjg said:

mine flickers only wen its the brightest wen i charge it like once in a month

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What?????

yojitani said:

As the title asks, how bad does screen flicker get on early macbooks? I started experiencing some flicker about 4- 6 weeks ago, it was intermittent and not too bad, but I'm noticing a gradual worsening of the problem. It used to be that the screen would just flicker between light and dim, but now I'll occasionally get a full-screen black flash before the screen goes back to normal. ... the problem is definitely worse when I'm running on battery. So is this going to continue to get worse in your experience or is it a problem that levels out at some point?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

My Macbook's in for flickering right now along with a host of other issues. This would be my fourth repair in 12 months. Could've asked for a replacement machine, but the so-called Genius didn't believe I had any issues and said it'd get sent in for "diagnostic."

Lesson learned?
Never go to an Apple Store if you have a problem, instead call them up on the phone and ask for a replacement machine. While the Apple Store would have to pull the replacement out of their stock, the Applecare call center has a bunch of replacements just waiting to get sent out.

Also, does your Macbook constantly flicker a little or is it just intermittent bouts of strobe-light flickering? What mine does is both: It always flickers a little and hence my eyes hurt like heck after 30 minutes, and then after the machine gets hot it goes strobe-light on me.

Me2

I also just got the flickering. At this point it only happens when it's running on battery and when set to the lowest or brightest backlight setting.

Has anyone gotten this repaired yet? And does it get progressively worse?