MacBook screen cracked, but was it my fault?

A MacBook Air shouldn’t have failed at just 4½ years. Mine has a cracked screen, not visibly shattered but cracked inside. It’s inoperable but fixable, according to a repair shop, which wanted $330 to replace the screen. Although I hate to throw away repairable items, the same model was on sale for just $599 at Walmart, so I sprang for a new one.

Before the blank dark screen appeared, while the laptop had thin horizontal lines across its lower half but was still usable, I searched for ways to fix it. None worked, but I learned that MacBook Airs with Apple’s M1 chip are prone to mysterious screen cracks. Thousands of people have reported on Reddit and Apple Communities that their M1 MacBook screens have cracked for no apparent reason. Like them, I hadn’t dropped the laptop or banged down the lid. 

What causes the screens to crack is uncertain. Apple hasn’t acknowledged the problem but cautions M1 MacBook Air and Pro users to handle the laptops gently because “the clearance between the display and the top case is engineered to tight tolerances.” A class action lawsuit against Apple notes, however, that screen defects “develop on their own,” not through “user interference.” 

Unable to live without a computer, I ordered a new MacBook Air hurriedly, not doing my usual consumer research. Now, finding out how prevalent cracked screens are, I fear it was foolish to buy the exact same model. But problems have been reported with all MacBook Air models with the silicon-M chips used since 2020, and there’s no evidence to suggest that the laptops with M2 and M3 chips are less fragile. If another screen cracks, however, I’m going to consider a Chromebook.

Even though I probably wasn’t to blame for the cracked screen, a fragile display ought to be treated gently. Here are habits I — and maybe you, too — should adopt.

• Stop eating at the computer. Crumbs and debris trapped between the keyboard and screen can damage the display when the lid is closed, and they also can obstruct airflow, leading to overheating. Greasy fingers on keyboards exacerbate the problem. 

• Keep beverages far enough away that spills won’t touch the computer. Better yet, stop drinking at the computer. Liquid spills can cause short circuits or destroy internal components. 

• Stop propping the laptop on a pillow. That blocks the vents, leading to overheating, leading to stress fractures and cracks. A laptop should rest on a hard, flat surface. I’ve ordered a lap desk with ventilation because I don’t want to sit at a desk whenever I’m using the computer.

• Don’t pick up the laptop by the screen. The screen and hinges aren’t designed to carry to full weight of the computer. Either carry the laptop closed or with both hands on opposite sides of the base.

• Close the lid gently. 

• Keep the screen and the keyboard clean. Screens should be cleaned with a microfiber cloth. For stubborn stains, dampen the cloth with water or alcohol. Use the dampened microfiber cloth on the keyboard, too, and remove loose debris with compressed air.

• Shut the computer down every few days to reduce heat buildup.

I gave the damaged laptop to a tech-savvy maintenance man in my building. I hope he can fix the screen and use the computer; it should have a longer life.