What is MacBook Flexgate? Symptoms, Causes, and Repair Options
If you own a 2016-2018 MacBook Pro and have noticed strange lighting effects at the bottom of your screen, you're not alone. "Flexgate" has affected thousands of MacBook owners, and understanding what it is can help you decide how to fix it.
What is Flexgate?
Flexgate is the name given to a display cable design flaw in certain MacBook Pro models. The flex cable that connects the display to the logic board is too short and wears out from the simple act of opening and closing your laptop.
Affected Models
| Model | Year | Model Numbers |
| MacBook Pro 13" | 2016-2017 | A1706, A1708 |
| MacBook Pro 15" | 2016-2017 | A1707 |
| MacBook Pro 13" | 2018 | A1989 |
| MacBook Pro 15" | 2018 | A1990 |
Flexgate Symptoms
Stage 1: "Stage Lighting" Effect
The first sign is usually a bright, uneven lighting at the very bottom of the screen:
- Looks like spotlights shining up from the bottom
- More noticeable on dark backgrounds
- Appears after some use (when laptop has been opened/closed many times)
Stage 2: Intermittent Backlight
As the cable degrades further:
- Backlight works at some angles
- Screen goes dark when opened past a certain point
- May flicker between working and not working
Stage 3: Complete Backlight Failure
Eventually the cable fails completely:
- No backlight at all
- Screen appears completely black
- LCD still works (can sometimes see faint image)
- External monitor still works
Stage 4: Display Signal Loss
In severe cases:
- No image at all on internal display
- Display may show lines or artifacts
- Complete display failure
Why Does This Happen?
The Design Flaw
Apple routed the display flex cables over the display controller board:
- Cable must bend every time you open/close the lid
- Cable is wrapped around the hinge
- Repeated bending causes wear
- Eventually the backlight wires break
The Numbers
- Typical MacBook can be opened/closed 20,000+ times over its life
- Flexgate symptoms often appear after 12-18 months
- Some users see issues as early as 6 months
Diagnosing Flexgate
Self-Diagnosis Test
- Open your MacBook slowly
- Watch the screen at different angles
- Look for:
Shine a Flashlight
If your screen appears black:
- Turn on MacBook
- Shine a bright flashlight at the screen
- If you can see a faint image, the LCD is working
- This confirms backlight/flex cable failure
Repair Options
Option 1: Apple Display Replacement
What Apple offers:
- Complete display assembly replacement
- Genuine Apple parts
- 90-day warranty on repair
- Very expensive (£450-700+)
- Replaces entire display (wasteful)
- Same design flaw (may recur)
Option 2: Third-Party Display Replacement
What you get:
- New display assembly
- Lower cost than Apple
- Quality aftermarket parts
Consideration: May not have True Tone after repair
Option 3: Flex Cable Repair (Best Value)
What we do at RevivaTech:
- Replace only the failed flex cable
- Use longer aftermarket cable design
- Permanent fix (doesn't recur)
- Preserves original display
- Most affordable option (£149-249)
- Fixes the root cause
- Quick turnaround
- Original display quality maintained
Option 4: DIY Repair
Possible but risky:
- Requires micro-soldering skills
- Risk of further damage
- No warranty on parts
- Special tools needed
Our Flexgate Repair Process
Step 1: Free Diagnosis
- Verify Flexgate vs other issues
- Check overall display health
- Provide honest assessment
Step 2: Cable Replacement
- Carefully disassemble display
- Remove damaged cable
- Install longer replacement cable
- Reassemble with care
Step 3: Testing
- Full backlight test
- All angle positions checked
- True Tone functionality verified
- Stress test for reliability
Step 4: Warranty
- 12-month warranty on repair
- Covers parts and labour
- Peace of mind guarantee
Flexgate Repair Pricing
| Model | Cable Repair | Full Display |
| 13" MacBook Pro | £149 | £349 |
| 15" MacBook Pro | £199 | £449 |
| Touch Bar models | £199 | £449 |
Preventing Flexgate Recurrence
If You Get It Repaired
- Use a stand to keep lid open when working
- Avoid unnecessary opening/closing
- Consider external monitor for desk use
If You Haven't Had Issues Yet
- Open/close lid gently
- Don't leave lid at 45-degree angles
- Keep MacBook clean to reduce need to view at angles
Mail-In Flexgate Repair
We offer UK-wide mail-in service:
- Request shipping box - Free secure packaging
- Send your MacBook - Fully insured shipping
- Quick repair - 2-3 day turnaround
- Free return - Tracked delivery back to you
Book Your Flexgate Repair
Don't let Flexgate leave you in the dark. Our specialists have repaired hundreds of affected MacBooks.
📞 Free diagnostic available 💻 Book your repair
Serving all of the UK - Bournemouth workshop for walk-ins, mail-in for everyone else.
RevivaTech has been repairing Flexgate issues since 2018. We've perfected our cable replacement technique for a permanent fix.
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Written by
Ronaldo Dias
Ronaldo Dias is the founder of RevivaTech with extensive experience in Apple device repairs.
