lcd screen coating repair price

Have you ever noticed a weird stain on your MacBook or MacBook Pro screen that just won’t go away? Did you try to wipe it off, only for it to get bigger? You may be experiencing staingate.

In 2015, Apple announced a repair program for several MacBook models affected by issues with its anti-reflective coating. Users who have found that they are affected by these issues can get Apple to replace the anti-reflective coating for free.

Staingate, or delamination, is when the anti-reflective coating on screens wears off, causing a stain-like appearance. It is a known issue in MacBook models and tends to happen after several months of regular use. A common aggravator of staingate is the pressure exerted on the screen by the keys and trackpad when a MacBook is closed. Additionally, staingate can also occur due to the recurred use of cleaning agents and microfiber cloths.

Once the reflective surface begins to peel, it is only a matter of time before it affects the rest of your screen. Not only does this look concerning, but it can also affect your webcam and color clarity. For professionals that need these a perfect screen, it is well worth the effort to fix any staingate issues that arise.

If you are not sure if your Mac has problems with its reflective coating, you can contact Apple for a proper diagnosis. Apple will also be able to tell you if your device is included in its recall program or not.

In addition, your MacBook purchase date must be within four years for it to be eligible for free repair. It must also have no history of tampering from a non-authorized service provider.

Depending on your MacBook model, out-of-pocket repairs for the anti-reflective coating can run anywhere from $500 to $800. While unauthorized repair centers will be able to do this at a lower price, Apple insists on replacing the whole screen to avoid any potential issues.

On the next screen, you can select your registered MacBook or manually type in the serial number. Afterward, set your location so Apple can recommend the nearest authorized Apple repair centers. From there, you can choose your preferred repair date and time.

MacBook users who have previously paid for a reflective coating replacement at an authorized Apple repair center may also be eligible for a refund. However, this is decided on a case-to-case basis, and you will need to consult with a Genius bar representative if you might qualify.

Aside from the aesthetic issue, most delamination in MacBook screens won’t cause any real problems for daily use. If staingate doesn’t bother you so much, be sure to weigh out the risks before you decide to do a DIY screen repair.

On the Mohs Hardness scale of materials, glass has a hardness level between 5.5 to 7. On the other hand, baking soda or Sodium Bicarbonate is 2.5. As a result, it should be impossible for baking soda to scratch the display, though it is abrasive enough to remove the rest of the coating on your MacBook screen.

For this method, mix baking soda with water until it creates a paste. Then, apply the solution to your screen in a circular motion with a light touch. Next, wipe off the solution using a cloth dampened with water. Lastly, use a toothpick or dry toothbrush to scrape out any remaining baking soda from the sides of the screen.

As an alternative to baking soda, you may also use all-purpose wet wipes. Although, the effectiveness of wet wipes depends on the brand and composition. Use wet wipes in a circular motion on your screen. Then, wipe off any remaining wet spots with a microfiber cloth.

While there are other recommendations online, be careful which ones you follow, as brands may not have the same formulation across countries. Additionally, anything that wasn"t explicitly designed for the purpose of cleaning your screen is not without risk.

When it comes to removing staingate, don’t feel the need to remove everything in one go. You can remove parts of the screen stains intermittently to lessen the possibility of damage.

Avoid using cleaning agents that are corrosive to your screens, such as mouthwash or toothpaste. If you are determined to use these, use only a small amount because they can degrade the quality of your screen. If you want to be careful, test a small area of your screen before using the product on the whole screen.

Whether it is water or a screen cleaning agent, never pour bulk liquid into your screen. All you need to use is a damp cloth. Be very careful of having liquids seep into the sides of your screen and wipe off any that get too close.

Unfortunately, even for Apple-certified repairs, staingate has a history of recurring within a few years. However, you can make some changes to avoid it happening again.

For example, avoid touching the screen unless necessary. You can use your laptop hinge to open your MacBook. You should also leave your device slightly open when not in use to avoid pressure on the lid. In addition, don’t overclean your screen. Avoid strong screen display cleaning agents and use a light touch when possible.

After successfully removing your reflective coating, it is best to invest in a screen protector film to take its place. Not only will this protect your eyes from glare, but it should protect the screen itself from being damaged further.

Taking a closer look, Staingate is the term used to describe the issue that is causing MacBook Pro owners with Retina displays to wear off or peel, leaving what looks like large, ugly and obstructive stains across the screen.

Apple said Retina display laptops with the issue include models of the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro and the discontinued 12-inch MacBooks released between early 2015 and 2017. MacBook Air models with Retina displays may have issues with their anti-reflective coating too, causing the laptop’s screen to look blotchy.

The anti-reflective coating, used to help cut out glare and make the display easier to see, is prone to wearing off due to pressure from the laptop’s keys and trackpad or the use of cleaning solutions, according to MacRumors.

According to those affected, the issue can begin as soon as seven months after the MacBook is purchased. "There is no clear pattern as to how it starts: some experience it in small spots around the edge, on other screens it appears in the middle as large patches."

At ClickAway, MacBook Pro retina screen coating repair cost is $99. Depending on the model of your MacBook Pro, the repair of the anti-reflective coating at other places will cost between $500 and $800. The high price of their repairs is due to the fact that they have to replace the whole screen. If you have a current Apple Care plan then it"s not an issue but if your device is out of warranty you may have to pay in full. The MacBook experts at ClickAway know how to re-coat the display and prevent it from happening again.

Just drop it off to us and we’ll repair it right away. We even have loaners available should you need a spare. Our technicians are well experienced with MacBook Pro retina screen repairs of all types. Just make an appointment online or stop in. Our repair experts at ClickAway have been diagnosing and fixing laptops since 2002. We will diagnose what"s wrong for free and then make all necessary repairs or upgrades after discussing the options with you.

This article was co-authored by Linh Le and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Linh Le is a Certified Mobile Repair Specialist and the Owner of SC Mobile Repairs in San Clemente, California. With more than 12 years of experience, he specializes in smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch hardware repair. Linh has an iTech Mobile Device Repair Certification and an iOS Certification. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Franciscan University of Steubenville.

I ordered a replacement screen from China on eBay. I followed this write-up to disassemble the screen unit from the car, then disassembled the electronics from the screen (no biggie) plugged the FRESH new screen into the circuit board, replaced the metal protector and connected it back to the plastics, reinstalled it into the car, and voila, totally fresh new screen. Total time. 20 minutes to remove from car and check to make sure it was part number LQ088K9LA02, 2 weeks wait to receive the part from China. Then about 1 hour to remove and replace the screen. Perfect replacement, perfect fit, really pretty easy job.

Thank you, it worked like a charm. It took me some 20 minutes in total, I’d say 10 minutes to remove the coating alone. There where two spots which were hydro repellent initially, but that was because of the coating. After some time they finally came off. The result is amazing, I almost forgot how bright the screen was. Thank you very much, spot on!

Hi Deanne! It is not clear whether Apple has done any change to the anti-reflective coating of their Macbook lineup. While researching this topic, I noticed a couple of instances of people having this issue even on a never laptops (2018, 2019). If the problem arises in a greater measure again, Apple will likely just add the newer models to the repair program. Hope that helps, Jakub.

Thank you for this!! My screen was looking so bad. There were scratches and blotches everywhere from the coating wearing away. I think it must have taken me about 20 minutes as well. Mine was really bad so it took about 4 different wipe downs but my laptop looks brand new now!!! I am so beyond happy. Apple wouldn’t help me with it and wanted to charge me to replace the glass costing me an arm and a leg.. pfffff. Thank you so much OP!

Same here my screen was looking very bad i didn’t used to have interest but must say just four days ago after I tried it’s amazing laptop looks almost new now

Thank you so very much Jakub! As the title says, this is the best and easiest way to remove the anti-reflective coating from my MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)!

Jakub you are the man! I got some rain drops on my screen when I was outside during a zoom meeting and the screen was streaked and looked BAD and I had no idea why! I rubbed it hard with a lens cloth and it got worse! It looked like a coating on the screen was coming off – and it turns out that’s exactly what was happening. I am an educator and multimedia specialist – so my screen and its sharpness and color is critical. It is PERFECT now – THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Hi Erik, thank you for the tip, I’m glad you found a good alternative that works for you! If I can get my hands on the W5 Multi-purpose cleaning wipes I’ll give it a try, since my wife’s MacBook screen is getting pretty bad as well.

Hi. I’ve tried W5 cleaning wipes from LIDL as well and I was shocked how easy it is going down. Thanks for a tip. W5 works perfectly. 10min est. time. No issues, screen as new. THANK YOU ALL guys!

Thanks so much Jakub! I didnt have staining that was too bad, but it was where it was that was annoying. I could basically see an outline of the trackpad where the anti-glare had come off. I’m a qualified apple service tech but I didnt know about the baking soda. It absolutely works a treat and I’m actually not too bothered about how reflective the clean screen is. Only difficult bits were the edges of the screen, especially near the keyboard. No scratches whatsoever – you sold me when you talked about the Moh’s scale, it gave me the confidence that you knew what you were talking about.

Hi Kola, thank you for the nice comment! Honestly, after some time, I really do not notice the higher reflectivity of the screen, so I’m quite positive after a while, you will barely notice it if at all! I’m glad I could help!

I have a Macbook air 2011 that accidentally got residue from a Method cleaner used to clean the rest of the machine. The screen looked terrible where the keys and trackpad smudge the AR coating. I used your baking soda method and was able to get about 90% of the coating removed, however, since then nothing I do seems to budge the remaining 10% which is very visible. I’ve tried, Lysol wipes, Isopropyl alcohol, glass cleaner, method cleanser (originally caused the problem), cook top cleaner, auto polish, glasses cleaner, screen cleaner, and Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I am super frustrated because the original suggestion of baking soda seemed like a good solution, but not able to do the complete job. Any ideas why some of it is so stubborn and anything else I can try??

Hi Andy! If you notice the Macbook Air 2011 is not on the list of reported devices with possible AR issues, which indicates Apple used different type of screen, and thus I would not recommand to use the method described in this article. As far as I know, older models such as Macbook Air didn’t have a glasss screen protecting the LCD panel which sits behind it, like the newer Macbook Pro’s have. Unfortunately in your case I’cant give you any further advice, since I’ve tested my method on device with a glass screen. The good news is that the older displays for devices such yours are much cheaper to purchase.

I just finished removing my anti reflective coating. I used hand wet wipes to remove the coating and after I used some floor anti bacterial solution and let it soften the residue that remained after removing the coating. Polished with micro fiber cloth and it is shinny. Looks good.

The bad stuff. Viewing angle is poor from side to side. The display has a green-ish tint for darker colours and the colours seem a bit faded (i was kind of expecting this). However, I recommend changing the colour profile from the default Colour LCD to Generic RGB Profile. Why? Because it darkens the image a bit and adds a touch of colour, feels more like it used to be.

Hi Roajah, thanks for the comment. I’m glad you find your way to deal with this issue. Personally, I haven’t noticed any change to the colors of the display after removing the AR coating using the baking soda method. The only downside is the higher reflectivity. Anyways thanks for the tip about changing the color profile of the display, maybe someone will have a similar issue as you had.

*EDIT: This is a great technique for removing the AR coating, BUT it has altered the colour profile of my screen. the dark tones now have a green hue to them, which isn’t ideal if you’re in any form of visual arts job. Luckily, this laptop is only my secondary back-up computer which I use for emergencies and data mining, so it doesn’t really bother me. But be warned that this can happen

Hi Jon, could you tell us what model of Macbook Pro you have? And what method of removing the anti-reflective coating did you use so that others know what to avoid? Thanks! Jakub

Thank you so much for sharing this method Jakub! I thought the only way to resolve my terrible screen was to replace it. You shared your experience and saved me $800! My screen looks perfect now. Thank you Jakub!!

It worked! Took me 20 minutes too. I found that a cloth took longer than just using my fingers with the paste. I used the cloth to polish it afterwards. I had to use a little more pressure than I would have liked but, it came off and the screen still works! Thanks for the tip!

holy hell 3 minutes of baking soda and just a little baby wipe and i got a new screen … AR poor in the sun AR poor without but holy mother after removing the AR i got a new computer thanks so much. I never leave comments on these forums. but this got me so damned hyped up thank you so much

Thank you very much! worked perfectly on my MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2015). Although I ignored his advice about “don’t perform the procedure if it’s just for aesthetic reasons”. My slight TOC reached very high limits looking every day at my stained screen.

Brilliant! Thank you. My screen has been bothering me SO MUCH for over a year. It took a bit of elbow grease but so worth it. There is still a tiny tiny strip (about 2mm wide) where I struggled to get into the edges. I will tackle that later with a q-tip and alcohol. Unless someone has a better suggestion! I feel like I have a new laptop