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I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave sh

I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave shapes on the monitor.

riffic 4y ago
wash your hands
fwlr 4y ago
I found this with my first MacBook Air. Ever since, I keep the little paper insert that comes with a new MacBook. It stays in my laptop case, solves this issue perfectly.
kitsunesoba 4y ago
YMMV, but in my experience this happens mainly when the MacBook has been sitting under something else or packed tightly in a bag. I never see it if the laptop has been closed with nothing applying pressure on the lid. Not that this isn’t a design oversight, but it might be mitigable until Apple makes design tweaks to fix it.
- gorbypark 4y ago
  It's been a thing for 10+ years, I don't think Apple has any interest in design tweaks. I have seen the marks on my new MBA M2 after just closing the laptop and carrying it in my hand for 2 minutes. I wasn't gripping it tightly or anything, just carrying it like a normal human would carry it.
  - kitsunesoba 4y ago
    Interesting. I wonder if maybe the smaller models (Air, 13" and maybe 14" Pro) are more prone to this? I've had very little trouble with it on 15" models from 2015 onward or with the 16" M1 Pro.
    - lotsofpulp 4y ago
      I have never seen this in my 2015 13in MacBook Air.
      - gorbypark 4y ago
        I got the marks all the time on my 2016 13" MacBook Pro, too. I even had the keyboard (and by extension battery) replaced in that machine, and Apple "professionally cleaned" the screen. There were still some permanent keyboard marks on the screen after the cleaning. It's not just oil, but permanent abrasion marks after a while.
- Maxburn 4y ago
  I don't think there is anything to tweak. It's probably designed to have less than 1mm when closed normally and the pressure of being in a book bag will easily flex the aluminum that much, if not bend it. As other said leave the original packing cloth in it and use a hard shell carrying case that won't put pressure on the laptop.
- j45 4y ago
  Maybe Apple wants it this way to ensure their machines are handled gingerly and reduce warranty claims
alin23 4y ago
I've gone back to using a thin waxed paper (like the ones you find in shoe boxes) between the keyboard and the screen when closing the lid. It's a bit annoying, but I'm sick of getting delamination after 1 year. I got this M1 Max with the thought that it will be relevant for app development for at least 5 years, and I still want to be able to work outside in the sun until then.
- j45 4y ago
  Wax paper is a much better idea than some of the keyboard covers I’ve used in the past, they can dig into the lcd in other ways but are convenient too
pb7 4y ago
I'm curious, what do you propose here? The keys leave imprints because the screen flexes from pressure applied presumably in your bag or similar. MacBooks already have some of the most rigid screens on the market. This is pure physics at play and the imprints come from your oily fingers. What's your suggestion?
- t344344 4y ago
  Not OP, but I would share my opinion. Too many compromises were made to make macbook thin (unreliable keyboard, cooling, power delivery, battery, ports, non removable SSD...). Apple should make a model that is a bit thicker without those compromises! And my Asus does not have key fingerprints on screen...
  - pb7 4y ago
    Does your Asus have a glass screen? Do you carry it in a backpack where there is pressure on the screen? Mind you, this isn't a well known issue. I've had it happen to me once in a decade of owning and frequently traveling with these and my backpack was stuffed to the point that it might damage the screen. I disagree about making it thicker. The newest MacBook Pros are already extremely thick and heavy. I don't want to be carrying around a brick just because some people don't wash their hands or clean their keyboards every once in a while.
    - t344344 4y ago
      Screen on my Zenbook has touch layer, that makes glass a bit thicker I guess. And yes I keep it in stuffed in backpack and sometimes drop it. It is a tool, not museum exponate! I had other laptops that left fingerprints. But Macbook Air had glass so thin it would randomly pop from temperature difference (well known issue)! Nobody is forcing you to carry brick around. But some people like to carry brick and Apple should make a new model just for them (MacBrick). Is "wash your hands before use" mentioned in macbook manual? And how do you even clean keyboard on Macbooks? That thing falls apart with a bad look, and it costs like $800 to replace. I can not imagine removing key caps just to clean it up!
kylehotchkiss 4y ago
Step 1: Clean your keyboard with some Whoosh! (https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/a38814800/apple-secret-cleaning-solution/ https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/a38814800/apple-secret-clean...) Step 2: Don't work while eating or use your external keyboard

I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave shapes on the monitor.

riffic 4y ago

wash your hands

fwlr 4y ago

I found this with my first MacBook Air. Ever since, I keep the little paper insert that comes with a new MacBook. It stays in my laptop case, solves this issue perfectly.

kitsunesoba 4y ago

YMMV, but in my experience this happens mainly when the MacBook has been sitting under something else or packed tightly in a bag. I never see it if the laptop has been closed with nothing applying pressure on the lid. Not that this isn’t a design oversight, but it might be mitigable until Apple makes design tweaks to fix it.

gorbypark 4y ago
It's been a thing for 10+ years, I don't think Apple has any interest in design tweaks. I have seen the marks on my new MBA M2 after just closing the laptop and carrying it in my hand for 2 minutes. I wasn't gripping it tightly or anything, just carrying it like a normal human would carry it.
- kitsunesoba 4y ago
  Interesting. I wonder if maybe the smaller models (Air, 13" and maybe 14" Pro) are more prone to this? I've had very little trouble with it on 15" models from 2015 onward or with the 16" M1 Pro.
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    I have never seen this in my 2015 13in MacBook Air.
    - gorbypark 4y ago
      I got the marks all the time on my 2016 13" MacBook Pro, too. I even had the keyboard (and by extension battery) replaced in that machine, and Apple "professionally cleaned" the screen. There were still some permanent keyboard marks on the screen after the cleaning. It's not just oil, but permanent abrasion marks after a while.
Maxburn 4y ago
I don't think there is anything to tweak. It's probably designed to have less than 1mm when closed normally and the pressure of being in a book bag will easily flex the aluminum that much, if not bend it. As other said leave the original packing cloth in it and use a hard shell carrying case that won't put pressure on the laptop.
j45 4y ago
Maybe Apple wants it this way to ensure their machines are handled gingerly and reduce warranty claims

alin23 4y ago

I've gone back to using a thin waxed paper (like the ones you find in shoe boxes) between the keyboard and the screen when closing the lid. It's a bit annoying, but I'm sick of getting delamination after 1 year. I got this M1 Max with the thought that it will be relevant for app development for at least 5 years, and I still want to be able to work outside in the sun until then.

j45 4y ago
Wax paper is a much better idea than some of the keyboard covers I’ve used in the past, they can dig into the lcd in other ways but are convenient too

pb7 4y ago

I'm curious, what do you propose here? The keys leave imprints because the screen flexes from pressure applied presumably in your bag or similar. MacBooks already have some of the most rigid screens on the market. This is pure physics at play and the imprints come from your oily fingers. What's your suggestion?

t344344 4y ago
Not OP, but I would share my opinion. Too many compromises were made to make macbook thin (unreliable keyboard, cooling, power delivery, battery, ports, non removable SSD...). Apple should make a model that is a bit thicker without those compromises! And my Asus does not have key fingerprints on screen...
- pb7 4y ago
  Does your Asus have a glass screen? Do you carry it in a backpack where there is pressure on the screen? Mind you, this isn't a well known issue. I've had it happen to me once in a decade of owning and frequently traveling with these and my backpack was stuffed to the point that it might damage the screen. I disagree about making it thicker. The newest MacBook Pros are already extremely thick and heavy. I don't want to be carrying around a brick just because some people don't wash their hands or clean their keyboards every once in a while.
  - t344344 4y ago
    Screen on my Zenbook has touch layer, that makes glass a bit thicker I guess. And yes I keep it in stuffed in backpack and sometimes drop it. It is a tool, not museum exponate! I had other laptops that left fingerprints. But Macbook Air had glass so thin it would randomly pop from temperature difference (well known issue)! Nobody is forcing you to carry brick around. But some people like to carry brick and Apple should make a new model just for them (MacBrick). Is "wash your hands before use" mentioned in macbook manual? And how do you even clean keyboard on Macbooks? That thing falls apart with a bad look, and it costs like $800 to replace. I can not imagine removing key caps just to clean it up!

kylehotchkiss 4y ago

Step 1: Clean your keyboard with some Whoosh! (https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/a38814800/apple-secret-cleaning-solution/ https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/a38814800/apple-secret-clean...) Step 2: Don't work while eating or use your external keyboard