Apple is extending the display backlight service program for 13-inch MacBook Pro models to 5 years

Apple has extended its display backlight service program for 13-inch MacBook Pro models from four to five years. This covers display issues that either cause vertical bright areas at the bottom of the display or the backlight to stop working properly. The program applies to some 13-inch MacBook Pro models from 2016 with two and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The company had announced four years of free service for these models when the problem emerged, which has now been extended to five years.

Apple’s support page states that a very small percentage of 13-inch MacBook Pro displays may have an issue. The page has been updated to show that the display backlight service program has now been extended by one year. Eligible models include the 13 MacBook Pro with two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports, which were sold between October 2016 and February 2018. As mentioned earlier, according to Apple, some of these models may display vertical bright areas along the entire bottom of the screen or the backlight will stop working completely.

The support page also mentions that this is a worldwide program that does not extend the standard MacBook Pro warranty. Users who originally paid to fix this issue can request a refund. Eligible MacBook Pro models will be able to use the program for five years from the first retail sale of their MacBook or three years from the program start date (May 2019), whichever is longer.

If you are having these issues and you are eligible for free service, you can contact an Apple-authorized service provider. Apple recommends that you back up your data to prepare for service.

These display issues were first noticed on MacBook Pro models in early 2019 and were referred to as “Flexgate”. These problems appear to be due to flexible ribbon cables connecting the display to a controller card. At the time, Apple had announced coverage of up to four years.

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