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MacBook Air 2013 Weird Horizontal Lines

KompleX said:
maybe the people reporting the issue can post the name of the software that's running on their macs to see if they have any software in common which might be causing the lines?
Click to expand...

MBA mid 2013, i7, 128 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM.

Yesterday I installed Mavericks (10.9.5) from scratch and i still have this annoying "bug". So for me it's not a problem with adobe or other non-apple-software because none has been installed so far.

It could be a problem with the display. Apple uses LG and Samsung units. This explains why some of us see the lines and some don't.

I have a Samsung display (LSN133BT01A02)

To check which display you have simply copy this command to your terminal:

Code: 
ioreg -lw0 | grep IODisplayEDID | sed "/[^<]*</s///" | xxd -p -r | strings -6
 
I think I may have noticed that on my MacBook Air a few times before, but when it happens (and it is very rare), it occurs for less than a second. Maybe it's a software/firmware issue? Certainly from personal experience, I am not convinced it is a hardware issue at the moment. Whatever it is, it hasn't happened for quite some time. If it is really annoying you or seems to happen regularly, then you should call Apple or go to an Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider to have them check it. You might need to take some proof with you to show them that it does actually happen - perhaps the photos you have taken of the horizontal line appearing on the screen.
 
bbnck said:
I think I may have noticed that on my MacBook Air a few times before, but when it happens (and it is very rare), it occurs for less than a second. Maybe it's a software/firmware issue? Certainly from personal experience, I am not convinced it is a hardware issue at the moment. Whatever it is, it hasn't happened for quite some time. If it is really annoying you or seems to happen regularly, then you should call Apple or go to an Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider to have them check it. You might need to take some proof with you to show them that it does actually happen - perhaps the photos you have taken of the horizontal line appearing on the screen.
Click to expand...

Huh, just saw one of these lines on my own MBA. I've been using it heavily for over a month and never saw a line until today. Mine was a white line, 1 pixel tall, in the middle of the screen that appeared when I switched to the Finder. It was odd because it wasn't completely solid--several pixels still had the correct colors. It went away after a second.

Oh well, if this happens for 1 second per month I'm not bothered by it. :) Would be annoying if it happened a lot though.
 
@motrek: please let us know whether you have an LG or Samsung display.
 
So it seems that this is an issue with Samsung displays and your posts confirm my theory.
 
Hi to all,
I would like also to add my problem. I bought this September a Macbook Air (i7,8GB RAM, 256GB, Samsung Display) and I had this horizontal lines problem. As you understand the problem is not great and it does not affect the performance of my Mac but since I bought it I want everything to be perfect (it is not a cheap machine). So, I contacted Apple and they suggested me to go to an Apple Service Centre. The "geniuses" changed the Logic board and they have done a mistake in its order, so I had it back with an i5 processor. Fortunately, even with the downgraded machine I had the same problem. So, I recontacted Apple and I had a replacement of my machine. Now, I have one new machine (i7,8GB RAM, 256GB, Samsung Display) and again the same problem. Guys this situation drives me crazy and completely disappointed with my Air (ok, I know that I may overreact), but my main issue is to find out if this is a software or hardware issue. In both cases (old and new machine), the lines were appearing after many hours of usage, they had a length varying from few inches to the whole screen and their number were mainly one (one pixel wide). An other interesting point (that makes me believe in the software issue) is that the colour of this line was the one of the previous window that I open. As a result, having many windows open, the colour of the line is the the "damaged" colour of the previous window that I minimise. This is my experience. But the thing with the software issue would be universal and not to only few guys? Don't you think?
Also, is there anything new or another one fixed the problem somehow? I start to believe that the model of the display (Samsung or LG) is a critical matter (my girlfriend with the same Air but with LG screen has no problem).
Thank you all!
 
Last edited:
ckotscv said:
Hi to all,
I would like also to add my problem. I bought this September a Macbook Air (i7,8GB RAM, 256GB, Samsung Display) and I had this horizontal lines problem. As you understand the problem is not great and it does not affect the performance of my Mac but since I bought it I want everything to be perfect (it is not a cheap machine). So, I contacted Apple and they suggested me to go to an Apple Service Centre. The "geniuses" changed the Logic board and they have done a mistake in its order, so I had it back with an i5 processor. Fortunately, even with the downgraded machine I had the same problem. So, I recontacted Apple and I had a replacement of my machine. Now, I have one new machine (i7,8GB RAM, 256GB, Samsung Display) and again the same problem. Guys this situation drives me crazy and completely disappointed with my Air (ok, I know that I may overreact), but my main issue is to find out if this is a software or hardware issue. In both cases (old and new machine), the lines were appearing after many hours of usage, they had a length varying from few inches to the whole screen and their number were mainly one (one pixel wide). An other interesting point (that makes me believe in the software issue) is that the colour of this line was the one of the previous window that I open. As a result, having many windows open, the colour of the line is the the "damaged" colour of the previous window that I minimise. This is my experience. But the thing with the software issue would be universal and not to only few guys? Don't you think?
Also, is there anything new or another one fixed the problem somehow? I start to believe that the model of the display (Samsung or LG) is a critical matter (my girlfriend with the same Air but with LG screen has no problem).
Thank you all!
Click to expand...

I feel your pain; it is such a simple issue but still annoying considering the quality of everything else on the Air, and considering the price. Still not sure what Apple could do about it; they told me flat out that there would be no more replacements after this. Which I found a bit rude since if this is indeed their fault they should do everything possible to fix it. Anyway, I've pretty much given up on the issue now. There is nothing else Apple could do, anyway.
 
Actually I am thinking to give up, because I really do not enjoy this wonderful machine. From what I see this is something that may not affect my Air more than having these few lines. I hope that this problem will not be developed into an important hardware issue later. Additionally, having the Apple care protection plan anybody has 3years of "testing" (and for this I am very relieved)
Anyway thanks for your feedback!:)
 
Horizontal Lines on MB/Air 13" Late 2010

Just found a bizarre solution to the problem of flickering horizontal lines on my wife's MB/Air 13" Late 2010. This is what happened:
1. A few days ago the MBA started flickering horizontal lines for the first time ever
2. When attached to an external monitor the picture was fine, which suggested to me the graphics card is okay.
3. Research would suggest either the cables got loose or the monitor needs replacing.
4. Before sending it out for replacement (at not insignificant cost), I decided to Firevault the disk to protect her personal files from inquisitive eyes.
5. After Firevault encryption the issue is completely RESOLVED.

Why? I have no clue.

Bottom line - our issue was not hardware [monitor/graphics] related, but likely down to a glitch on the HDD or software?

Hope it helps any others with the same issue.

Good luck.
 
MBP2014 said:
Just found a bizarre solution to the problem of flickering horizontal lines on my wife's MB/Air 13" Late 2010. This is what happened:
1. A few days ago the MBA started flickering horizontal lines for the first time ever
2. When attached to an external monitor the picture was fine, which suggested to me the graphics card is okay.
3. Research would suggest either the cables got loose or the monitor needs replacing.
4. Before sending it out for replacement (at not insignificant cost), I decided to Firevault the disk to protect her personal files from inquisitive eyes.
5. After Firevault encryption the issue is completely RESOLVED.

Why? I have no clue.

Bottom line - our issue was not hardware [monitor/graphics] related, but likely down to a glitch on the HDD or software?

Hope it helps any others with the same issue.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Weird that it goes all the way back to the 2010 model. Obviously Apple has an issue on their hands that they aren't admitting to.
 
MBP2014 said:
Just found a bizarre solution to the problem of flickering horizontal lines on my wife's MB/Air 13" Late 2010. This is what happened:
1. A few days ago the MBA started flickering horizontal lines for the first time ever
2. When attached to an external monitor the picture was fine, which suggested to me the graphics card is okay.
3. Research would suggest either the cables got loose or the monitor needs replacing.
4. Before sending it out for replacement (at not insignificant cost), I decided to Firevault the disk to protect her personal files from inquisitive eyes.
5. After Firevault encryption the issue is completely RESOLVED.

Why? I have no clue.

Bottom line - our issue was not hardware [monitor/graphics] related, but likely down to a glitch on the HDD or software?

Hope it helps any others with the same issue.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Not really sure you can draw this conclusion. The flickering might still come down to a hardware issue that only manifests itself at certain ambient temperatures, or when the screen is at certain angles, or maybe when there's certain electromagnetic interference either from other components in the laptop or externally.

It might be that FileVault somehow solved your flickering problem but I doubt it. I suspect something else changed about your situation at the same time that you are attributing to turning on FileVault.
 
motrek said:
Not really sure you can draw this conclusion. The flickering might still come down to a hardware issue that only manifests itself at certain ambient temperatures, or when the screen is at certain angles, or maybe when there's certain electromagnetic interference either from other components in the laptop or externally.

It might be that FileVault somehow solved your flickering problem but I doubt it. I suspect something else changed about your situation at the same time that you are attributing to turning on FileVault.
Click to expand...

You could be right. I tried basic recommended diagnostics like [sleep, reboot, power down]; SMC reset, and moving screen angle, etc.

Nothing worked.

I don't profess to know the answer or solution, but thought I would share my experience in case it assisted anyone. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Certainly, I wouldn't want to start repairing the laptop at huge cost without knowing if hardware failure is the issue.

I will monitor and report back if the issue is fixed or comes back again.
 
Adding to this thread as I'm not sure if this has been solved yet.

I've had my macbook air 11" (mid 2013) model for just over a year and within the last two weeks horizontal flickering lines started to appear which look identical to the ones posted by OP. Also have a samsung screen, which seems like a common trait among these bugged out models.

One thing I've noticed was it was only after I upgraded from Mavericks to Yosemite that these lines started to appear. Unfortunately as I haven't set up time machine before the upgrade, I don't think I can revert to Mavericks.
 
Further to my Comments #61, I am able to confirm that I have had no further flickering lines since the date that I did the Firevault encryption.

As far as I am concerned it was a solution for this MBPro even if it was a unique problem. It's fixed. Period.
 
I got samsung also with errors.

Does it help updating firmware ?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518

I didnt try before it get a replacement screen.

I got a new screen also by samsung and updated firmware when i got it back. Problem seems to be gone.

So I dont know what did it ? new screen or the firmware update ?
 
JerTheGeek said:
Weird that it goes all the way back to the 2010 model. Obviously Apple has an issue on their hands that they aren't admitting to.
Click to expand...

I have a MBA 13" 2013. I have been amazed to see this issue is on many MBAs. I bought mine after WWDC in July 2013. It is on all day very day. I watch Netflix everyday.

I have never seen this line issue. Sorry to see this as a huge problem for so may.
 
Last edited:
Interesting!

Just looked back at the pictures in your OP
Do the lines still appear that way? (line on background interrupted by windows, OR the line only appears on the windows, and not on the background)
That would seem to not be hardware at all, as that looks like a screen redraw (software) issue.

But, if it is hardware, then a screenshot (not a picture) would never show any lines like that.
I guess you have already tried the screenshot to verify a hardware issue.... That distinction is not apparent in your previous posts.
 
DeltaMac said:
Interesting!

Just looked back at the pictures in your OP
Do the lines still appear that way? (line on background interrupted by windows, OR the line only appears on the windows, and not on the background)
That would seem to not be hardware at all, as that looks like a screen redraw (software) issue.

But, if it is hardware, then a screenshot (not a picture) would never show any lines like that.
I guess you have already tried the screenshot to verify a hardware issue.... That distinction is not apparent in your previous posts.
Click to expand...
It is totally random. Reason I remembered the issue is I just saw a line, hasn't seen one in a good long while, the other night.
And, screenshots have never shown the issue.
 
MBP2014 said:
Horizontal Lines on MB/Air 13" Late 2010

Just found a bizarre solution to the problem of flickering horizontal lines on my wife's MB/Air 13" Late 2010. This is what happened:
1. A few days ago the MBA started flickering horizontal lines for the first time ever
2. When attached to an external monitor the picture was fine, which suggested to me the graphics card is okay.
3. Research would suggest either the cables got loose or the monitor needs replacing.
4. Before sending it out for replacement (at not insignificant cost), I decided to Firevault the disk to protect her personal files from inquisitive eyes.
5. After Firevault encryption the issue is completely RESOLVED.

Why? I have no clue.

Bottom line - our issue was not hardware [monitor/graphics] related, but likely down to a glitch on the HDD or software?

Hope it helps any others with the same issue.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I actually have the same problem. It just randomly appeared and SMC, PRAM reset does not work. I have connected it to an external monitor and it looks good so I guess it's the screen that needs to be replaced. Does anybody know how much does it cost at Apple? I might consider buying a used one... but it won't come cheap.

I'm trying the "file vault" option, it is encripting it now so will report back if there's a fix for it.
 
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