Apple extends MacBook Pro 13 backlight repair program for one year

Apple is extending its repair program for MacBook Pro 13 models sold between October 2016 and February 2018. These models may experience backlight problems. Apple originally promised repairs for four years, now it’s five years.

In May 2019, Apple announced the repair program and then the manufacturer promised to process requests for up to four years after the models start selling. The Apple website was updated this week and the service program page now states that the program will be extended by one year. Apple has not explained why that term has been changed, but users who only experience problems after a number of years can still claim the program for free repair.

The program was set up for the problems with the backlight of the MacBook Pro 13 from 2016. Under the name flexgate, these problems were brought to the attention with a petition. After a lot of attention for that, Apple started the repair program.

On affected MacBooks, the backlight may continuously or occasionally show bright vertical areas at the bottom of the screen. Also, the backlight can stop working completely. According to Apple, both problems occur in “a small percentage” of the MacBook Pro 13 models from 2016.

The problems are caused by wear and tear on the flex cable that connects the display to the motherboard. The MacBook in question has a relatively short cable; models that don’t have the issues come with a longer cable, iFixit found.