My Macbook Pro M3 Max screen/display has gone off after upgrading to Tahoe 26.7.1

irugoy wrote:

... how do I know if it's a hardware issue, the macbook was simply working nice and suddenly bam! black screen after update and the issue started to happen.

The fact that the external display does work properly seems to point to the laptop display hardware as the thing that no longer works. In fact that is one standard troubleshooting step for display issues, connect an external display and test. Another is try (as best you can) to take a screen capture or snapshot (for instance with COMMAND SHIFT 5 keys held together). Maybe you can do this somehow staring at the laptop screen or in conjunction with your external display. If the screen snapshot looks ok, that would further implicate the display hardware itself.

Sometimes when a system update or upgrade is executed, the computer revs up and has to work much harder than usual, heats up, fans come on etc. A weak or aging solder joint can reach the breaking point under that extra stress. Or it could be coincidence; if the display is going to fail, at that instant your computer was doing SOMETHING but that does not mean that this SOMETHING caused it.

That said, an M3 MacBook Pro is not an older machine, it is still a recent Mac in my view, and quite a powerful one at that. A full screen replacement is on the order of $1000, I believe, but the exact problem must first be diagnosed, as there are cables that pass through the joint connecting the screen/display and the keyboard/main section of the computer and the problem could lie with those cables.

You can get Apple authorized service in Uruguay. I don't see actual Apple Stores listed in Uruguay but Apple has certified Apple Authorized Service Providers in Uruguay and I believe you can find those on Apple's web site. There are also Apple Premium Resellers in Uruguay but I do not know what level of diagnosis and repair service they provide, so you would need to call them first. In fact I would call any of these, including AASPs, to find out what is involved for carry in service options. If you have AppleCare+ the repair may be free. If you don't have AppleCare+, I suspect your Mac is out of the 1-year warranty period and you would have to pay. I think worst case would be the entirely new display/screen, but again, a good diagnosis is needed first before proceeding with anything.

I'm outside of USA, concretly in Uruguay, do I also get free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment?

Thanks

irugoy wrote:

My Macbook Pro M3 Max screen/display has gone off after upgrading to Tahoe 26.7.1

I faintly see the Mac logo and the login input field while the computer is starting up but very soft in the dark, after logging in the display stays black and not image is shown.

Connecting an external monitor works ok. It looks like the display kind of work ok but the screen backlight is not properly working and that is why I don't see anything.

I've tried upgrading to Golden Gate 27.0.1 (26A434) and the problem has not been solved.

I tried shutting down the computer, closing the lid, waiting for 60 seconds and try starting up again and still not working.

I've tried booting in Safe Boot mode and restart and the problem has not been solved.

Has anyone experienced this issue? I need some help please, it's my work computer :(

Thanks in advance

Verify your screen brightness is turned up...(?)

if it is a hardware issue take it in—

In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment

Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Outside the USA

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

The image you posted also looks out of focus.

You said booting into Safe Mode does not help -- the screen appearance is still wrong?

Can you boot into Recovery:

How to start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support (and see instructions for diagnostics and repairs you can do once booted into Recovery)

If neither Safe Mode nor Recovery works, I would suspect hardware as I mentioned before and would expect service is required.

Most Macs last much longer, I have a 2010 Macbook Air with all original equipment still running. And a 2019 Macbook Pro 16" Intel running excellently in all respects so far. Its battery has shown 85% or original capacity for about the past year. Two years is still "new" in my view. But it is outside the 1-year warranty period. Apple takes its warranty period seriously, hence it also offers AppleCare for those who wish to extend warranty-like coverage. I still get AppleCare+ but have spent much more on it than I would have on repairs, which I have never needed outside the warranty period on ~ a dozen Macs, an Apple TV, and multiple iPhones, but my daughter did get two new iPhones that failed and my wife did get a new iPhone battery while her iPhone was under AppleCare+. I even have that 2019 Macbook Pro still covered under an AppleCare One policy, it is 7 years old and has never needed any service. I am not making excuses for a laptop that may have failed after only 2 years, but this is actually quite rare (Consumer Reports, based on many thousands of customer surveys, rates Apple laptops as the most reliable, by far, versus PC laptops of any maker), which means you have been very unlucky if you indeed do need that screen/display repair.

Thanks @leroydouglas for your quick response, I've already verified the brightness and is fully turned up.

Thanks for the tip, que question is, how do I know if it's a hardware issue, the macbook was simply working nice and suddenly bam! black screen after update and the issue started to happen.

I'm outside of USA, concretly in Uruguay, do I also get free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment?

Thanks

Thanks Steve for the comprehensive feedback, the thing is that I actually see something while the computer is starting up. As mentioned I faintly see the Mac Apple logo and the login input (check attached image).

As soon as I login with my password it goes to the desktop view and I loose any other detail, I can use it with an external monitor.

Since it occurred right after the update I was thinking on driver issue, but the thing is event the Safe Boot window also look bad.

As you say, it's a quite powerful computer and looks pretty new actually :( , it's a pretty bad experience after bought a not-cheap piece of Apple hardware that does not last longer than 2 years ¿?

[Edited by Moderator]

Thanks Steve for your answer, I do also have a couple of other Apple devices, a couple of MacBook pretty old which had battery issue now, and a couple of iPhones working well.

Exactly the image is also out of focus.

In regards to the Apple's hardware I kind of share your opinion but to be honest I have the feeling that time is changing.

If they were so confident about their hardware they should give a stronger/longer warranty. 1 year warranty for a super powerful laptop that costs us + USD 3500?

Well known hardware brands as Kingston, Asus offers life time warranty or 3 years warranty on their hardware as memory, ssds, motherboards, and so.

I bought this computer for working, I'm programmer which requires to run multiple VMs at once and multiple monitors, invested quite a few bucks on it expecting to last longer than almos 3 years.

The machine was ok until I updated to Tahoe 26.1.7, I did it, trusting that everything would go well. Overheating a motherboard chip because of an update is unacceptable for device at this price tag, sorry to say that.

I have found this video in YouTube which shows a very similar (or same) issue on a M3 Macbook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJMxe3C9y28

So I think these M3s have been shipped with and internal issue about the backlight/display and Apple should considering offer a support for that.

I need to see what it going with this device but if I take it to the service I do not have a backup machine to keep working.

Any way, so far a pretty unhappy customer experience with this Apple device.

Thanks for your support

irugoy wrote:

... they should give a stronger/longer warranty. 1 year warranty for a super powerful laptop that costs us + USD 3500?

Similar PC laptops come with 1 year warranties as well. It seems standard in the broader industry. With Macs as well as PCs, longer coverage can be purchased for extra cost. Some low cost computers (not Apple) come with only 90 days.

Well known hardware brands as Kingston, Asus offers life time warranty or 3 years warranty on their hardware as memory, ssds, motherboards, and so.

Yes, that is true for components or peripherals, I have some external drives that have 5 year warranties (most come with 3 years or in some cases only 1 year).

I bought this computer for working, I'm programmer which requires to run multiple VMs at once and multiple monitors, invested quite a few bucks on it expecting to last longer than almost 3 years.

Understood. Back several years ago I had an M3 Max for work as did several thousands of my cohorts, the employer provided them. I don't recall any of them being reported as defective or having failed (all of that is posted on a company Slack channel, so it is easy to track problems). The only issues reported were relative to the mandatory anti-virus and VPN the company requires. So I think what you experienced is not common. You can protect your investment with AppleCare+ which you can keep for just about as long as you want (my 2019 Macbook Pro 16" Intel is still covered under an Apple One policy, but I have never needed it). That said, it doesn't cover the inconvenience of having to get service (and the interruptions that leads to).

My employer requires replenishment of all computers every 3 years and cell phones every two years. Perhaps that is not especially practical for many individuals and small businesses, but that is how one large employer handles it. My personal devices have lasted a lot longer than that, however.

The machine was ok until I updated to Tahoe 26.1.7, I did it, trusting that everything would go well. Overheating a motherboard chip because of an update is unacceptable for device at this price tag, sorry to say that.



I was speculating about what went wrong, and it's not overheating per se but rather temperature cycling that can wear out a lone weak solder joint. It can also be a part defect or a manufacturing defect, as those show up in a very small percentage of commercial devices like these.

I think for mission critical uses, one probably should have a minimal "backup" computing capability. My daughter for her small business has kept her old laptop (also a 2019 Macbook Pro) but now is mainly using her new 2025 M4 Max Macbook Pro. My wife and I have multiple computers here for personal use as well so the loss of any one device for a time will not majorly impact us.

irugoy wrote:

Thanks again for your feedback Steve,

At the end I have to live with it, buying a brand new USD 3.5K laptop that will last 2 years.

Apple doing its trick once again.

Before you do that, find out what needs to be repaired. If the repair is $1000 or $500 (or less), I would have it repaired. There is a warranty on the repair work. It might be something relatively simple or small.

If you get a new Mac, you have the option for AppleCare. I think over the long term, with Apple products one might be better off without AppleCare, although we have it on a slew of iPhones and Mac computers (mostly laptops plus one iMac). AppleCare+ is about $150/year on a new Macbook Pro 16" M5 so after ~ 6 years one has essentially paid for a new screen, basically.

Thanks again for your feedback Steve,

At the end I have to live with it, buying a brand new USD 3.5K laptop that will last 2 years.

Apple doing its trick once again.