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Mac Screen Fixes To Prevent Derailing Your Design Workflow

By Bastien, on June 2, 2024 - 3 min read

Imagine this: You are crafting a design masterpiece and you have almost finished adding all the final touches when suddenly your Mac screen throws a tantrum. This is a designer’s worst nightmare!

Flickering screen, distorted colors, or dead pixels – these Mac screen problems are enough to make one scream. A malfunctioning concern can completely derail your design workflow and make you want to smash your Mac against a wall.

But before you take such an extreme step, here’s a guide to equip you with the knowledge to diagnose and troubleshoot common Mac screen problems so you can quickly get back on track.

Identifying and Diagnosing the Problem

Not all screen problems require the intervention of an Apple technician. Some of them can be solved on your own. So, take a deep breath and assess the problem.

  • Observe specific symptoms to pinpoint the source. Check whether the screen has gone completely black or white. You also need to check if you can see any colored lines on the screen or find it flickering.
  • Try to think about whether anything happened recently that may have contributed to the screen issue. For instance, you may have bumped your Mac, which has damaged the screen. Or you have installed a new software, and right after that, the screen started behaving weirdly.
  • Find out whether it is the screen itself or the connection that is causing the problem. You can connect an external monitor to check whether the issue lies with the connection or the internal display.

Remember, you have to carefully analyze the problem to be able to find the right solution. If the screen is damaged physically, there’s not much you can do but run to the nearest Apple service center. Continue reading to learn about common screen issues and troubleshooting tips.

Mac Screen Issues and Troubleshooting Tips

  • White Screen Of Death

White screen of death Mac is an issue where you’ll find your Mac’s screen turns completely white on startup. This indicates that something is really wrong with your system and until you fix the issue, you won’t be able to meet your design project deadline.

Usually, this issue occurs after a major operating system update. It may also happen if there are incompatible drivers on your Mac. Fix the issue by following these tips:

  1. Check your Mac’s hardware systematically and ensure there are no compatibility issues.
  2. Boot your Mac in Safe mode to clean it up.
  3. Reset PRAM/NVRAM if the issue persists.
  4. Dead Pixels

Dead pixels appear as tiny, permanently stuck dots on the Mac screen, and they cannot be repaired. However, you can temporarily mask them with the help of JSCreenFix and similar tools. These tools can rapidly switch pixels on and off in an attempt to revive them.

  • Distorted Or Flickering Screen

Screen flickering or distortion might be caused due to a loose cable connection within the display unit. Shut down your system and adjust the display hinge gently.

If the issue persists, you have to seek professional help.

  • Vertical Or Horizontal Lines

Vertical or horizontal lines appearing on the Mac screen can seriously disrupt your design workflow. It will make it difficult for you to accurately work on your design.

These lines appearing on the screen are indicative of a damaged display panel. You have to immediately call a professional and have the screen replaced.

  • Unresponsive Or Dim Screen

If the screen is dim, you can check the brightness levels. Simply increasing the brightness level might solve the issue. However, if this doesn’t work, you can try resetting the SMC.

If the screen is unresponsive, it might be caused by an unruly or misbehaving application. You can force quit the application to see if normal functions are restored. Also, the screen might be unresponsive because you are running too many resource-intensive design applications. Check Activity Monitor and relieve some resources so you can work without a glitch.

  • Software Issues

Display problems might also be caused due to software glitches. If that happens, restart your Mac in Safe mode. Fixing the conflicting application causing the problem can ensure you can work in peace.

Additional Tips For Optimizing Your Mac Display For Design

  • Calibrate the display to ensure accurate color representation. You can use Display Calibrator Assistant or other similar tools.
  • Enable the Night Shift so you can work for long hours without straining your eyes and reducing exposure to blue light.

Final Thoughts

Your Mac screen is your window to the design world. It is only through proper understanding of common screen issues and taking preventative measures that you will ensure your design workflow does not get derailed. Are you a designer using Mac for your projects? What screen problems have you encountered, and how did you tackle them? Share your thoughts.

Cover Photo by Nao Triponez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/macbook-pro-129208/

Bastien