CrackMacMacBook screen only works at certain angles? It's the display cable
That's the display cable. It runs from the logic board, through the hinge, to the screen, and it bends every time you open or close the lid. When it wears, the connection only holds at some angles, so the screen goes black, flickers or shows stripes at others. It gets worse over time, so get it repaired while the screen still works.
Not ready to pay for a repair? If the damage sits along an edge, you can block off the broken part and keep using the rest.
Typical signs
- The screen works half open but goes black when fully open.
- Uneven light or spotlights along the bottom edge, sometimes called the stage light effect.
- Flicker or lines that appear and disappear as the lid moves.
- An external monitor works perfectly at the same time.
Which MacBooks
The best-known case is the 2016 and 2017 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro, where the cable was a little too short and wore out with normal use. Apple ran a free repair program for the 2016 13-inch model, which has ended. Later models use a longer cable, but any MacBook can develop the fault after years of use, a knock to the hinge, or liquid.
Repair options
- Apple usually replaces the whole display assembly, priced like any screen repair. See screen replacement cost.
- Independent shops can often replace or extend the cable alone on affected models, for a fraction of that. Ask for a cable-only quote.
Until it's fixed
- Find the angle that works and leave the lid there.
- Use an external monitor, and close the lid. See clamshell mode.
- Back up now, while you can still see the screen.
If the damage runs along one edge, CrackMac can keep windows, menus and the pointer off it. There's a free 30-minute trial.
Quick answers
Why does my MacBook screen only work when partly closed?
The display cable runs through the hinge and flexes every time the lid moves. When it wears or cracks, the connection only holds at certain angles. Some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models are well known for it.
Can a MacBook display cable be replaced on its own?
On some models, independent repair shops replace just the cable for much less than a full display. Apple usually replaces the whole display assembly.
Cable fine, panel damaged?
If the screen works at every angle but a strip along one edge is dead, the cable isn't the problem, the panel is. CrackMac keeps windows, menus and the pointer on the part that still works.
- Works on macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Free for 30 minutes of use, then a one-time price. No subscription.
- A refund within 7 days, no questions asked.