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Weird scratches/dust appearing every time on screen MBP 16"
- Thread starter BoomerJay
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Do you keep something like a cloth between the keyboard and screen when you close your MacBook?
It does look like staingate but then it should not clean off at all.
Hi, I don't own a MBP 16" but it looks like staingate!
It does look like staingate but then it should not clean off at all.
What do you clean it with? Did you use anything other than water?
Edit:
I usually clean mine with a simple cloth like this one with a bit of water.
If this is returning within minutes after cleaning I would take it back since it doesn't seem like you used any chemicals or abrasive cloth/paper.
OP:
If you used much pressure against the surface of the display when "cleaning" it, you've probably damaged the anti-glare coating. Hence, the streaks and stains.
The MBP's use a very thin "sprayed-on" anti-glare coating.
It's VERY fragile, and may not hold up to "normal cleaning routines".
It's VERY easily damaged.
That may sound ridiculous, but "that's the way it is" with MacBook Pros.
The scratches and streaks you see in the anti-glare coating are generally called "StainGate". There are topics about that here at MacRumors.
Apple has (had?) a free display replacement program for this.
I suggest that you make an appointment at a brick-n-mortar Apple Store genius bar right away.
Let them have a look at it, but "be reserved" about what you tell them about cleaning it.
They -might- offer to repair or replace it.
AND A WORD OF WARNING ABOUT A NEW DISPLAY:
DO NOT "clean it" as you've been doing.
The more you "clean it", the greater the risk of this happening again.
Instead, your goal should be "don't get it dirty in the first place".
If dust gets on the surface, take a soft cloth and gently "dust it" across the surface, WITHOUT applying pressure.
If something gets on the surface that you can't get off with dusting, use a cloth moistened with water, and ONLY AS LITTLE PRESSURE AS POSSIBLE to remove it. Then, "dust it dry".
Try to avoid touching the surface of the display when opening or closing the lid.
It shouldn't have to be this way.
But... that's the way it is.
If you used much pressure against the surface of the display when "cleaning" it, you've probably damaged the anti-glare coating. Hence, the streaks and stains.
The MBP's use a very thin "sprayed-on" anti-glare coating.
It's VERY fragile, and may not hold up to "normal cleaning routines".
It's VERY easily damaged.
That may sound ridiculous, but "that's the way it is" with MacBook Pros.
The scratches and streaks you see in the anti-glare coating are generally called "StainGate". There are topics about that here at MacRumors.
Apple has (had?) a free display replacement program for this.
I suggest that you make an appointment at a brick-n-mortar Apple Store genius bar right away.
Let them have a look at it, but "be reserved" about what you tell them about cleaning it.
They -might- offer to repair or replace it.
AND A WORD OF WARNING ABOUT A NEW DISPLAY:
DO NOT "clean it" as you've been doing.
The more you "clean it", the greater the risk of this happening again.
Instead, your goal should be "don't get it dirty in the first place".
If dust gets on the surface, take a soft cloth and gently "dust it" across the surface, WITHOUT applying pressure.
If something gets on the surface that you can't get off with dusting, use a cloth moistened with water, and ONLY AS LITTLE PRESSURE AS POSSIBLE to remove it. Then, "dust it dry".
Try to avoid touching the surface of the display when opening or closing the lid.
It shouldn't have to be this way.
But... that's the way it is.
Looks like the display is damaged, and it reappearing would suggest the coating is damaged and you just can't see it.
You really do have to treat it like a family heirloom and avoid getting it dirty. My 2015 screen not once got dirty. I blew it off side to side top to bottom before every closure and if there were anything stuck I GENTLY wiped that spot with a lint free/microfiber as gently as humanly possible. If there was something stubborn, a tiny corner of that cloth dampened and then followed up with a dry corner. Again, teeny tiny pressure and the tiniest amount of contact possible.
Also, get a Radtech Screensavr for it.
You really do have to treat it like a family heirloom and avoid getting it dirty. My 2015 screen not once got dirty. I blew it off side to side top to bottom before every closure and if there were anything stuck I GENTLY wiped that spot with a lint free/microfiber as gently as humanly possible. If there was something stubborn, a tiny corner of that cloth dampened and then followed up with a dry corner. Again, teeny tiny pressure and the tiniest amount of contact possible.
Also, get a Radtech Screensavr for it.
From looking at your pictures, I would say that the following happened:
1. You sprayed the screen with some caustic cleaner.
2. You wiped the caustic cleaner off, which is evidenced by the smears.
The only reason the screen ever appears to be “fixed” is because it is damp, which effectively hides the damage. Once the water (or whatever you are using now after you damaged the screen) evaporates, the damage reappeared.
This is definitely not Apple’s fault. You created the damage. I hope you purchased AppleCare, because if you did not, and if Apple decides not to replace your screen out of good will, you have an expensive repair coming up.
In the future, spray a cloth (not the screen) with water, wipe the screen with the damp cloth, and then dry it immediately with another completely dry microfiber cloth.
Let us know what Apple indicates. Whatever you do, do NOT suggest that the damage is due to a faulty screen because it most definitely is not.
Joe
1. You sprayed the screen with some caustic cleaner.
2. You wiped the caustic cleaner off, which is evidenced by the smears.
The only reason the screen ever appears to be “fixed” is because it is damp, which effectively hides the damage. Once the water (or whatever you are using now after you damaged the screen) evaporates, the damage reappeared.
This is definitely not Apple’s fault. You created the damage. I hope you purchased AppleCare, because if you did not, and if Apple decides not to replace your screen out of good will, you have an expensive repair coming up.
In the future, spray a cloth (not the screen) with water, wipe the screen with the damp cloth, and then dry it immediately with another completely dry microfiber cloth.
Let us know what Apple indicates. Whatever you do, do NOT suggest that the damage is due to a faulty screen because it most definitely is not.
Joe
I did not spray cleaner or wiped it with something weird. I used ONLY the microfiber cloth that they also use at the apple store.
I still can return the MacBook until 01/08/2020 so there won't be a expensive repair happening
Hi, I don't own a MBP 16" but it looks like staingate!
OMG, I really hope the is not the case. I just got my 16" this past Thursday to replace an aging mid 2014 13" MBP that had the "staingate" issue. Screen replaced twice in 3 years (under AppleCare) and then refused to replace again after it happened for the third time. It would be hysterical if this 16" displays have the same issue.
You can return it, but Apple will send it right back to you. They do not accept damaged product back.
Additionally, what you are saying is absolutely impossible. You can SEE the spray pattern from whatever you sprayed on the screen. If, as you indicate, you simply dampened a rag, the pattern would look completely different. The pattern is not one that a damp rag would make, period.
Additionally, if you claim you sprayed water on it, this too is impossible.
It is fine if you want to fabricate a story for us here in the forum, but if you do this with Apple, they will absolutely know you are not telling the truth about what happened. I would highly recommend you mea culpa up and ask if they will assist you, and if they will not, man up and offer to pay.
It is my opinion that lying to Apple will remove any chance that they will help you. This said, there is of course, a chance that they will not notice the damage, and you will get away with the lie.
Please do not respond to this comment by doubling down on your innocence. You, or someone else with a desire to clean your screen with a caustic spray caused this damage. It’s fine, we all make mistakes. I hope you do not make another mistake by lying to Apple. If you decide to lie to them, I hope you find yourself with the same computer coming back to you.
Additionally, what you are saying is absolutely impossible. You can SEE the spray pattern from whatever you sprayed on the screen. If, as you indicate, you simply dampened a rag, the pattern would look completely different. The pattern is not one that a damp rag would make, period.
Additionally, if you claim you sprayed water on it, this too is impossible.
It is fine if you want to fabricate a story for us here in the forum, but if you do this with Apple, they will absolutely know you are not telling the truth about what happened. I would highly recommend you mea culpa up and ask if they will assist you, and if they will not, man up and offer to pay.
It is my opinion that lying to Apple will remove any chance that they will help you. This said, there is of course, a chance that they will not notice the damage, and you will get away with the lie.
Please do not respond to this comment by doubling down on your innocence. You, or someone else with a desire to clean your screen with a caustic spray caused this damage. It’s fine, we all make mistakes. I hope you do not make another mistake by lying to Apple. If you decide to lie to them, I hope you find yourself with the same computer coming back to you.
I did not spray cleaner or wiped it with something weird. I used ONLY the microfiber cloth that they also use at the apple store.
I still can return the MacBook until 01/08/2020 so there won't be a expensive repair happening
Unfortunately, speaking from experience, that looks exactly like a screen with a damaged anti-glare coating.
The scratches are the result of contaminants acting as abrasives on the screen surface, and even with some microfiber cloths, can result from the material itself if it's poor quality, or the backing or edging makes contact.
Back in the CRT days, I unwittingly discovered that even cleaning solutions designated as "safe" for screens can damage and remove the delicate glare coatings.
As noted above, the best practice is to try to avoid soiling them in the first place, including being wary of "those people" who like to use their fingers to point to and touch the screen.
And when cleaning is called for, and only when it's called for, start with the least aggressive method, and avoid chemicals.
There are situations where being proactive with maintenance and cleaning is good. But when surface coatings are delicate, or finite, is not one of them.
An example of the latter is the paint on a car. People who habitually "polish" them or apply abrasives are needlessly wearing down the layers of the paint when it likely isn't called for.
The scratches are the result of contaminants acting as abrasives on the screen surface, and even with some microfiber cloths, can result from the material itself if it's poor quality, or the backing or edging makes contact.
Back in the CRT days, I unwittingly discovered that even cleaning solutions designated as "safe" for screens can damage and remove the delicate glare coatings.
As noted above, the best practice is to try to avoid soiling them in the first place, including being wary of "those people" who like to use their fingers to point to and touch the screen.
And when cleaning is called for, and only when it's called for, start with the least aggressive method, and avoid chemicals.
There are situations where being proactive with maintenance and cleaning is good. But when surface coatings are delicate, or finite, is not one of them.
An example of the latter is the paint on a car. People who habitually "polish" them or apply abrasives are needlessly wearing down the layers of the paint when it likely isn't called for.
I've only used microfiber cloths dampened with distilled water to gently clean my screens. And I don't do it that often since I try to keep the screen clean in the first place. And I make sure the screen is cool before cleaning it. It's best not to use tap water since it can contain minerals depending on where you live. The minerals can leave visible residue on the screen.
The two, prominent, parallel lines looks to outline part of the Touch Bar. Maybe you had something on your hands, which got on the Touch Bar area, and then when you closed the MacBook it damaged the coating. Then when you cleaned that smudges in that area, it spread.
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lol
Last edited:
No, it looks like grease on the screen.Hi, I don't own a MBP 16" but it looks like staingate!
Windex (at least in some iterations) has a little ammonia in it.
I can't imagine that as being good for the fragile anti-glare coating on the retina displays.
OP:
If you still have the option to return it, you'd better do so.
If you snooze on this, you're gonna lose.
And take seriously the precautions about handling retina displays that I (and others) have given above...
I can't imagine that as being good for the fragile anti-glare coating on the retina displays.
OP:
If you still have the option to return it, you'd better do so.
If you snooze on this, you're gonna lose.
And take seriously the precautions about handling retina displays that I (and others) have given above...
Ah right. Well we have a version without that. It's not called windex either. But it's similar.
This is an issue that's plagued MacBooks since their inception due to the anti-glare coating Apple use on the screens.
It helps to making sure your hands are clean before using the keyboard as the less oils on your fingers means the less crap transferring to the screen.
It helps to making sure your hands are clean before using the keyboard as the less oils on your fingers means the less crap transferring to the screen.
I have the exact same thing on my MacBook Pro 14inch. No I did not use any spray/chemical/water to wipe the screen. To the guy who keeps saying you aren't telling the truth - what do you know? Were you there to see it happen?