Apple Staingate

Let's start with the basics! What do you need to know about Apple Staingate?

What is Apple Staingate exactly? It is worth knowing the answer if you are planning to buy a Mac soon, especially a refurbished one.Staingate is the name given to a very common cosmetic fault on Apple machines. The anti-glare layer on the glass surface of the screen peels away over time, either across the whole panel or in patches. The result is visible marks on the display. It does not affect how the machine works, everything still runs normally, but the screen looks bad. We have seen cases where the coating had come away from the entire display. Apple acknowledged the fault on machines made before 2017. In our experience it affects later machines as well, but Apple has not acknowledged that. It is an odd position to hold, because the coating has not been changed in any way that would stop the problem happening. On the 2016 MacBook Pro and the 2018 MacBook Air, for example, it looks exactly the same. So the staining still occurs, years later, and it affects a lot of owners, MacBook Air users in particular.

Staingate can be dealt with. Here is how.

It is a fair question how a fault found eight years ago can still be around. Apple's answer has not been convincing either. The display replacement programme came about under legal pressure rather than out of concern for the user.The machines have been redesigned twice since then, and the coating is still the same. There is still no better one and no permanent fix. Apple's replacement programme covered the 2015 to 2017 MacBook Pro in 13 and 15 inch, and the 12 inch MacBook, for four years from the date the machine was first sold. That window has now closed for every one of these models, so in practice no machine still qualifies, and a stained screen is fixed at the owner's cost.These were the machines covered by Apple's programme, for reference:

• MacBook Pro 13" Early 2015
• MacBook Pro 13" 2016
• MacBook Pro 13" 2017

• MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2015
• MacBook Pro 15" 2016
• MacBook Pro 15" 2017
• Macbook 12" Early 2015
• Macbook 12" Early 2016
• Macbook 12" Early 2017

Staingate removalMany MacBook Pro and MacBook machines fall outside that programme. So what can you do if yours is one of them? You can carry on using it, but the patches spread with use, and the screen gets worse over time. You can ask for a display replacement, or you can have the anti-glare coating removed. Owners usually find that second option hard to believe at first, but it is not as drastic as it sounds. It is one of the most common fixes. There are several ways to take the coating off, from isopropyl alcohol or baby wipes to polishing compounds. A Dremel or a drill with a polishing head takes some of the work out of it, but we have found that patience and a soft cloth give the better result.Without the anti-glare layer the screen is more reflective, but the image underneath is clear again. This is not a perfect solution either. The marks cannot be removed completely, and traces often stay in the corners and along the edges. Those areas are outside the part of the screen you actually work on, but we tell our customers before we start, so that nothing comes as a surprise afterwards. It is not the same as a new display, but it is the cheapest way to get a clear picture back.We have been doing this repair for years. We keep hoping Apple will change the coating, but that has not happened yet. If you are about to buy a MacBook Pro, it is worth checking the screen for Staingate first.We hope Apple will redesign it and fix this properly. If you want advice before buying a repaired or a new machine, get in touch.

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