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2016 MacBook Pro Display Glitch

S

SurfaceBookUser

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 13, 2016
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I received my 13" touch bar MacBook pro yesterday. I've noticed that if I logout and login I'll see my desktop appear but a couple seconds later my display quickly flickers (scrambled red, green and blue colors appear for about half a second). Anyone else experiencing this issue? Not sure if it's hardware or Sierra related.

Interesting Observation: It's just the built-in display that does this. I have an external monitor hooked up as a second monitor and it doesn't flash. This leads me to believe it could be the display itself and not GPU/Software related?
 
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If you search the forum, you will find a few threads already discussing this.

If you disable file vault, it should make that screen glitch that happens seconds after you input your password and hit enter disappear. I have spoken with Apple support and submitted a video of it happening. They originally tried to get me a replacement at a local apple store and that offer still stands. However, according to the senior advisor, Apple engineers wanted to take a look at a video as well because they believe it could be software related.
 
You mean it only happens on the login screen? My 15" does that too... maybe only half a second too. I thought it might be the graphics GPU switching, but if the 13" does it I guess that's not it. I haven't seen it anywhere else so I wasn't concerned about it.
 
poorcody said:
You mean it only happens on the login screen? My 15" does that too... maybe only half a second too. I thought it might be the graphics GPU switching, but if the 13" does it I guess that's not it. I haven't seen it anywhere else so I wasn't concerned about it.
Click to expand...

Turn off file vault. It will stop.
 
Mike84 said:
Turn off file vault. It will stop.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I'm not going to turn off encryption just for a minor screen artifact... what I'm wondering is if this is a sign of any graphics-chip issues, or just a software thing...
 
poorcody said:
Thanks, but I'm not going to turn off encryption just for a minor screen artifact... what I'm wondering is if this is a sign of any graphics-chip issues, or just a software thing...
Click to expand...

Apple support seems to think it may be software-related. No word yet on what it is with any certainty.
 
I'm having the same issue. Happens on the login screen, usually after it resumes from hibernation. The screen is fine after I've logged in, which makes it look like a software issue, but I'm sending it back anyway. Can't risk it being hardware.

 
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levymetal said:
I'm having the same issue. Happens on the login screen, usually after it resumes from hibernation. The screen is fine after I've logged in, which makes it look like a software issue, but I'm sending it back anyway. Can't risk it being hardware.

Click to expand...

Mine did that too today for the first time, then once I logged in did the same thing, but only in black. The only "fix" was restarting.
 
Here's mine, with or without FileVault

MacBook Pro 15 2016.jpg
 
miamialley said:
Mine did that too today for the first time, then once I logged in did the same thing, but only in black. The only "fix" was restarting.
Click to expand...

How old is yours? I'm still within the 14 day no-questions-asked return window, so I'm just going to return it and buy one in a few generations when they've sorted these issues out.
 
Mine did something similar but all the time - not just when logging in. Also had vertical distortion lines. It did it in recovery mode too. Swapped in store yesterday.

IMG_4078.JPG IMG_4077.JPG
 
If it's just a <1 second glitch when logging in, with Filevault enabled, it's normal. All Macs I've seen so far do this: my work 2015 MacBook Pro, my 2015 Retina MacBook 12", and now my Late 2016 MacBook Pro 15". On some you notice it more, on some less, but it's there. I guess it's a graphic driver switching thing.
 
levymetal said:
How old is yours? I'm still within the 14 day no-questions-asked return window, so I'm just going to return it and buy one in a few generations when they've sorted these issues out.
Click to expand...
Mine was through best buy. Got delivered 7 days ago. I can't return it apple as I understand it. Right?
 
I'm not having such issues even with Filevault enabled... But i'm using the macbook pro early 2015 13". Maybe it has to do with the graphic driver specific for 2016 models?
 
I have a screen flicker issues on my non TB 13"... When the screen goes to sleep / times out and I wake it back up, the screen quickly flickers... I do realize this is a different issue than the OP and others are having but it's still disappointing..

For what it's worth, file vault is off...
 
Just came on to post similar and found this thread! Have been having similar little glitches but had one needing a reboot tonight as it was all over the place after logging in.

I'm just outside the 14 day buyer's remorse term but am guessing I could take it back and see about swapping it due to this issue?

glitch.jpg
 
I get it every once in awhile on login on my 13" non touch. No file vault.
 
ascender said:
Just came on to post similar and found this thread! Have been having similar little glitches but had one needing a reboot tonight as it was all over the place after logging in.

I'm just outside the 14 day buyer's remorse term but am guessing I could take it back and see about swapping it due to this issue?

glitch.jpg
Click to expand...
If you bought it on or after Nov 10th you can still return it. Apple is in the holiday return policy period.
[doublepost=1480015993][/doublepost]I'm having the same issues ... here's a video of what is happening to mine.
 
SurfaceBookUser said:
I received my 13" touch bar MacBook pro yesterday. I've noticed that if I logout and login I'll see my desktop appear but a couple seconds later my display quickly flickers (scrambled red, green and blue colors appear for about half a second). Anyone else experiencing this issue? Not sure if it's hardware or Sierra related.

Interesting Observation: It's just the built-in display that does this. I have an external monitor hooked up as a second monitor and it doesn't flash. This leads me to believe it could be the display itself and not GPU/Software related?
Click to expand...

I am having the exact same symptoms. 13"/3.3ghz/16gb/512gb.

I went to the Apple Store and they expedited my case to the Genius Bar. They really wanted to get a sysdiagnose dump from my machine. They said the engineering team wants to understand what's going on and these early dumps are valuable. Usually they take machines and ship them back to get the data, but in my case we just did it on the spot and put it on a USB key.

The more of us that go to Apple and give them these data dumps, the more info engineers will have to draw conclusions and get a fix out to the App Store. So, if you're having this issue, the best thing you can do is go to the Apple Store and have them do a sysdiagnose.

--

More on sys diagnose:
If you press shift-control-option-command and then period, you should see the screen flash brightly for a moment. I found that this starts dumping a system diagnostic to disk. The best time to do this base d on reading up on it is during the issue. The man page said it captures a few seconds of various places data sits. This file can go to Apple, and if you go to a apple store they can do a dump with you.

man page:
Screen Shot 2016-11-24 at 4.18.47 PM.png
 
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