Orange Spot on Your MacBook Screen? Troubleshooting Tips & Fixes

Download Article

Learn how to fix that annoying orange spot on your MacBook screen

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: July 20, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

What causes orange spots?

|

How to Fix an Orange Spot

Do you have an orange spot on your MacBook screen? This is a frustrating issue, especially if the orange spot takes up a large portion of your screen. In this article, we'll go over some troubleshooting steps you can try to fix this issue.

Why Your MacBook Screen has Orange Spots

The most common reason for orange spots is a display defect. The spots may get lighter or darker depending on the screen position or how the laptop is stored. Heat and pressure often cause orange spots, and you may need to replace the screen.

Section 1 of 2:

What causes an orange spot on a Macbook screen?

Download Article

Orange spots on a MacBook screen usually relate to heat or pressure. If your MacBook screen suddenly gets orange spots on the screen, it is most likely a display defect caused by storing your MacBook at high temperatures or by putting pressure on certain parts of the MacBook screen.
- While heat and pressure are the most likely culprits for these orange spots, anything that could exacerbate a problem with the layers of your laptop's screen could be causing the spots.

Section 2 of 2:

How to Fix an Orange Spot

Download Article

1
Run some diagnostic tests. If you have a MacBook with Apple silicon, there are two diagnostic tests you can run to determine the cause of the orange spot: The Mac Resource Inspector (MRI) diagnostic suite and the Display Anomalies diagnostic suite. Intel MacBooks are not supported with these diagnostic tools.^{[1]
X
Research source} You also must be on macOS Sonoma 14.1 or later.
- Put your laptop in diagnostics mode. Press and hold the power button/Touch ID until you see "Loading startup options…". When the startup options appear, press and hold Cmd + D to enter diagnostics mode, and follow the on-screen instructions to enter diagnostics mode.
- To run the tests, go to Apple's self-service diagnostic website. Click the blue Continue button, then click Mac.
- Enter your MacBook's serial number (located in the lower-left corner of the diagnostics screen) and click Start Session.
- Click I agree on your MacBook, then select the Mac Resource Inspector (MRI) and Display Anomalies tests.
- Follow the on-screen guide to complete these diagnostic tests.
- If these tests cannot fix the orange spot, you may need to replace the display.
2
Replace the display on your MacBook. While there is a chance other issues could be causing the orange spot on your screen, it's most likely due to a defective display. There are three ways to repair the screen on your MacBook, which are detailed below:
- Bring it to Apple. If you still have a warranty on your MacBook, this is the best method, as the repair will likely be covered. Contact Apple to make a service appointment, or bring your computer to the Genius Bar. If you're not under warranty anymore, you can still go to Apple, but you'll have to pay out of pocket.
- Contact a third-party repair service. Many independent repair providers fix MacBook displays. To find an Apple-approved repair service in your area, go to Apple's Repair Provider Search. Using an independent repair provider will void any active warranty on your laptop, but the repair service may offer you their own warranty.
- Replace the screen yourself. If you're experienced with repairing computers, you can replace the display yourself. Go to Apple's Self Service Repair page to find the parts you need, and use this wikiHow article to learn how to replace a laptop screen yourself. Note that repairing the screen yourself will void any active warranty left on your laptop.
3
Clean the screen to determine if the orange spot is dirt or grime. Unplug your laptop and turn it off, then wipe the screen down with a lint-free cloth. You can dampen the cloth with water or a cleaner specifically made for computer screens.
- Once the screen is clean, turn your MacBook back on. If the orange spot is still there or reappears, try running diagnostics or replacing the screen.