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MacBook screen – cracked, black, lines or flexgate

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Quick answer

MacBook displays fail in four classic ways: physical cracks, black screen at boot, vertical lines, or 'stage light' / flexgate at the bottom of 2016–2017 Pro models. Most issues can be fixed with a screen replacement at our workshop — often significantly cheaper than going through Apple.

What kind of screen fault do you have?

MacBook screen faults fall into four categories — the diagnosis drives both the price and how quickly you can have it repaired.

1. Cracked glass or LCD. Visible physical damage from a drop or pressure. The whole screen has to be replaced (it’s been a bonded assembly since 2012).

2. Black screen at boot. The MacBook starts (you can hear the fans and chime) but no image. Test with an external display — if that works, the fault is in the display or flex cable.

3. Vertical or horizontal lines. Almost always a hardware fault in the LCD itself or its driver. Rarely software.

4. Flexgate / “stage light”. Uneven backlighting along the bottom of the screen, or the screen cuts out when the lid is opened wide. A classic fault on 2016–2017 MacBook Pro 13” and 15” models due to a flex cable that’s too short.

What does a new display cost?

Between DKK 1,900 and DKK 8,000 depending on model and fault:

  • MacBook Air and older MacBook: DKK 1,900-2,500
  • MacBook Pro Retina 13”/15”: DKK 2,200-3,500
  • MacBook Pro 14”/16” M-series (mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR): DKK 6,000-8,000
  • Flexgate cable alone (on 2016-2017 Pro where possible): DKK 1,500-2,500

See the current price for your model at macmo.dk/reparation.

With us you get a free diagnosis and a concrete quote before the repair starts — all backed by 2 years’ warranty.

Where can I get a screen replaced in Denmark?

A screen replacement is one of the most delicate MacBook repairs — antennas, cameras, microphones and flex cables all have to come off and back on without damage. We have experience with every generation, from older Retina displays to the newest Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED, and we use original or quality-approved components with a warranty.

At a general PC workshop, the risk of collateral damage is high — flex cables are extremely thin, and the smallest scratch on the bonded aluminium can mean you end up needing a whole new top case afterwards.

Self-help before sending it in

Before paying for a new display, try:

  1. Reset NVRAM (Cmd+Option+P+R for 20 seconds at boot). Rarely fixes screen faults, but free to try.
  2. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift at boot). If the fault is gone in Safe Mode, it’s software.
  3. Test an external display to separate the screen from the logic board.
  4. Check the lid angle. If the fault only occurs at certain angles, it’s the flex cable.

If nothing helps, get in touch with us for a diagnosis.

How to tell if the issue is in the screen or the logic board

⏱ PT5M

  1. Connect an external display. Connect the MacBook to an external display via USB-C or an HDMI adapter.
  2. Check whether the external image works. If the external image is fine, the fault is in the LCD itself or the flex cable. If no image shows, it's most likely the logic board.
  3. Test by opening the lid slowly. If the image only disappears when the lid is opened past around 80 degrees, that's classic flexgate.
  4. Check for lines at boot. Restart and hold Option+Cmd+P+R to reset NVRAM. If the lines appear in both the boot screen and macOS, it's hardware — not software.
  5. Book a diagnosis with us. Send it to us for a definitive diagnosis — diagnosis is typically free if you proceed with a repair.

Frequently asked questions

What does a new MacBook display cost?
Between DKK 1,900 and DKK 8,000 depending on model — DKK 1,900-2,500 for older MacBook Air, DKK 2,200-3,500 for MacBook Pro Retina 13''/15'', DKK 6,000-8,000 for the mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR on Pro 14''/16'' M-series. Flexgate cable alone (where possible): DKK 1,500-2,500. See the current price for your model at macmo.dk/reparation. With us: free diagnosis, a fixed quote before we start, and 2 years' warranty.
What is flexgate on the MacBook Pro?
Flexgate is a known fault on the 2016–2017 MacBook Pro 13'' and 15'', where the thin flex cable between display and logic board breaks after many open/close cycles. The result: a 'stage light' effect along the bottom of the screen, or a completely black screen when the lid is opened wide. We replace either the cable or the entire display.
Can a cracked MacBook display be repaired without replacing the whole assembly?
On newer MacBooks the glass, LCD and backlight are bonded into a single assembly — so the whole display has to be swapped. On older models (pre-2012) the glass was separate and could be replaced on its own. We always assess whether a partial repair is possible.
My MacBook shows a black screen but I can hear it boot — what do I do?
First try closing and opening the lid, turn the brightness up, and connect an external display via USB-C. If the external display works, the fault is in one of three places: the display itself, the flex cable (typically flexgate on 2016-2017 Pro), or the internal display path on the logic board. If the external display also doesn't work, it's definitely a logic board fault. Diagnosis tells us which — all three are repairable at our workshop.
Is a screen replacement covered by warranty?
Apple's warranty doesn't cover physical damage (cracks, impacts). Apple has run a repair programme for certain issues like flexgate, but it has expired for most models. We can check whether your model is still covered — otherwise our price is typically 30–50% below Apple's.