Stains on your MacBook screen can be three things: dirt you can wipe off, a coating that has worn, or damage inside the screen itself. The difference matters a lot, because cleaning only helps with the first, and can make the other two worse. This article explains how to tell the difference, what "staingate" is and what you can do about it.
Blue Apple repairs MacBook screens in Amsterdam. Stains that will not go away are a common reason people come to us.
Test: is the stain on or in the screen?
- Turn the MacBook off and look at the black screen under a lamp. Do you see the stain now too, as a dull patch in the reflection? Then it is on the glass: dirt or coating.
- Turn the MacBook on with a plain white and then a black background. Do you only see the stain when the screen is on, as a lighter or darker patch in the picture? Then it is in the screen.
Dirt and keyboard marks
Light rectangles in the shape of the keys are marks of grease from the keyboard. They come off with a slightly damp microfibre cloth, without pressure. How to do that safely is explained in how to clean your MacBook screen without damaging it.
Damaged coating ("staingate")
The glass of MacBook screens has a thin anti-reflective layer. On some MacBook Pro and Air models, especially from about 2013 to 2017, that layer comes loose over time. It got the nickname staingate. You recognise it like this:
- Dull, blotchy patches, often first at the edges or where the keys touch the screen.
- Patches that do not come off with cleaning, and sometimes get bigger.
- A reflection that looks different in one place than in another.
Cleaning products with alcohol or ammonia, and hard rubbing, make it worse. Apple had a temporary repair programme for some models, but for most models it has ended.
Stains inside the screen
- White or light patches: often from pressure on the screen, for example something caught between screen and keyboard. The layer that spreads the light is then damaged.
- Dark patches that spread: damage to the display itself, for example after a drop or knock.
- Yellow or pinkish patches at the edges: sometimes moisture or a backlight problem.
These stains do not go away with cleaning. They often grow gradually. Also read lines on your MacBook screen if lines appear as well as stains.
What can you do yourself?
- For dirt: clean as described above.
- For coating: stop polishing with products. Some people remove the whole coating, but that gives an uneven result and can damage the glass. We advise against it.
- For stains inside the screen: avoid further pressure. Put nothing on the keyboard when you close the MacBook and do not use a thick screen protector or camera cover.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We look at the stain in good light and test the screen with different backgrounds. For a damaged coating or damage inside the screen, the solution is a new screen. You hear beforehand which options there are for your model and what it costs. More on our page about MacBook screen repair.
Frequently asked questions
Can a damaged coating be repaired?
Not really. The coating is bonded to the screen's glass; the only clean solution is replacing the screen.
Are stains caused by the MacBook's heat?
Usually not. They come from pressure, moisture, wear of the coating or cleaning products.
I see a white patch after closing the lid. What now?
Something was probably caught in between. Have it checked; such a patch often grows.
