Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Did your iMac got dust in the screen or you know someone with this issue?

  • Yes

    Votes: 103 42.7%
  • No

    Votes: 57 23.7%
  • I didn't even know this is an issue

    Votes: 81 33.6%

  • Total voters
    241

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTVWXYZ

macrumors newbie
Feb 6, 2019
25
0
i chatted with apple's online customer service and they wouldn't fix the dust in my imac 27" 2013 for free because it was out of apple care. should i try asking in-store?
 

geo.

macrumors newbie
Apr 1, 2019
14
3
Hi guys,

I just observed that my iMac 5K Late 2015 got dust inside the display. My Apple Care+ just expired a few weeks ago, I guess I'm out of luck.

Has anyone found a way to clean the dust? It's even possible?

Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0087.jpg
    IMG_0087.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 518
  • IMG_0088.jpg
    IMG_0088.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 523

a2jack

macrumors 6502
Feb 5, 2013
482
337
The front glass plate comes off easily with a pair of suction cups from Amazon, no other tools needed. This will allow you to clean the screen.

The inside is another matter. It's a job for your neighborhood apple tech.

Here's the CPU fans in my 27" just two years out of the Apple shop. This machine was always run in a clean office environment. a2
IMG_1772 (1).jpg
IMG_1769.jpg
 

a2jack

macrumors 6502
Feb 5, 2013
482
337
Ouch ! Behind the times here. Late 2012 up. Thanks for that info.

I was just going to pick up a 2012, 27" referb. Now I will pass. a2
 

andreborges

macrumors newbie
Jul 19, 2015
2
1
Not from late 2012 onwards. Screen and glass laminated together and display taped to body. Don't understand how the dust can get between glass and display, must be a faulty seal

I saw this video on youtube from a guy doing this on 4K/5K display! Maybe i can do this on mine too, no?

I have a late 2012 27" iMac (Slim Version) with dust on both botton corners

 

ProTruckDriver

macrumors 6502
Jul 28, 2016
283
340
Virginia
Don't understand how the dust can get between glass and display, must be a faulty seal
I believe you maybe right. I had my iMac in the shop for the same reason over a year ago under Apple Care. They replaced the screen free of charge. Haven't seen any dark smudges behind the glass anymore. Fingers and toes crossed I will not have the same problem again because my Apple Care has just run out this month.
 

ZipZap

macrumors 603
Dec 14, 2007
6,112
1,467
I had no idea that was dust under the screen. Out of warranty, I guess not much I can do but join the class action. Pretty pissed that this was not corrected by Apple, and recalled. Bought mine 05-30-2015.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WrightBrain

lishaoalox

macrumors member
Jun 17, 2018
51
15
Didn't know about this until considering to buy one.
Surprising that after so many years (I mean, 5~6 years are quite long in the technology world.) this problem is still being left unsolved.
Saw the news about the Class-Action Lawsuit for the dust problem, hope it could help.

But still, iMac could be a good machine if purchasing an AppleCare+, lol.
Shall still considering have one recently for the new 2019 model.
And hopefully, the problem is already fixed.
 

Crash0veride

macrumors regular
Oct 10, 2016
221
143
Cincinnati
Just really starting to notice this on my 2017 iMac at just shy of the two year mark. I guess I'll take mine into the store and hope the tech doesn't try to charge me the $99 fee for screen damage in apple care. What does everyone else say? Just that there's dust appearing trapped between the display and glass?

When they repair it, I'm thinking I'll sell it and tap out on the all in one computer for now. Wish there was news on the new Mac Pros. I guess I'll have to decide between the mini+egpu or MBP with a likely faulty keyboard + egpu.
 

Retroworldnews

macrumors regular
May 19, 2019
121
5
I don't know, I send my old iMac mid 2011 fix due to power supply faulty
I got show my another iMac 2015 side got thin mark , he told me is it i use it intensive like do a lot photo edit etc.
I said nope, I does use daily and almost whole day for work. He told me kinda " no choice " is like that. Well I don't know how true as every repair man got their own theories etc.

my old iMac mid 2011 irony don't have mark on the screen , is more like dust stuffs at corner , When I use shortcut keys to off the display will see it.
 

lishaoalox

macrumors member
Jun 17, 2018
51
15
Wondering if 2019 models have fixed it silently (probably not I guess.)
Only 2-3 months since 2019 models released, anyone has noticed or already facing the dust problem?

Also, didn’t hear any news from the lawsuit for a while, supposed to be a long-long war over years.
 

Crash0veride

macrumors regular
Oct 10, 2016
221
143
Cincinnati
For anyone interested in a follow up, they replaced my 2017 iMac display with grey streaks / smudges, minimal question asked. It seemed like a known issue by the way it was handled, but maybe they were just being efficient. However, to corroborate the fears of others, my microphone barely works since the display was replaced and I'll be taking it in again to fix what they likely broke replacing the display (slightly picks up snippets of shouting at full volume, replicated the issue in bootcamp so definitely hardware).

Definitely selling my iMac on eBay, but to wait for possible 16" MBP or not.... I'll probably have to bring in my laptop for repairs but at least it won't be as big of a PIA as the iMac to tote into the apple store.
 
  • Like
Reactions: geo. and vddobrev

ProTruckDriver

macrumors 6502
Jul 28, 2016
283
340
Virginia
I'll probably have to bring in my laptop for repairs but at least it won't be as big of a PIA as the iMac to tote into the apple store.
Just a note for the handicap: If you are handicap, Apple employees will carry your computer from your vehicle to the store and after the repair they will carry it from the store to your vehicle. Call the Apple store first to make arrangements. All the Apple stores should do this. I know the stores in the Virginia Beach area do. They have for me when I had to have my 27 inch iMac display replaced. :)
 

geo.

macrumors newbie
Apr 1, 2019
14
3
For anyone interested in a follow up, they replaced my 2017 iMac display with grey streaks / smudges, minimal question asked. It seemed like a known issue by the way it was handled, but maybe they were just being efficient. However, to corroborate the fears of others, my microphone barely works since the display was replaced and I'll be taking it in again to fix what they likely broke replacing the display (slightly picks up snippets of shouting at full volume, replicated the issue in bootcamp so definitely hardware).

Definitely selling my iMac on eBay, but to wait for possible 16" MBP or not.... I'll probably have to bring in my laptop for repairs but at least it won't be as big of a PIA as the iMac to tote into the apple store.

I guess you still had warranty valid? I went to Apple Store too but refused to repair because I was out of warranty (just 20 days after Apple Care expired). So, no luck.
 

Crash0veride

macrumors regular
Oct 10, 2016
221
143
Cincinnati
I guess you still had warranty valid? I went to Apple Store too but refused to repair because I was out of warranty (just 20 days after Apple Care expired). So, no luck.
Yeah I've still got a little less than a year left of AppleCare. It's a shame AppleCare is so necessary.
 

sprucemoose

macrumors member
Jun 26, 2015
66
34
Does anyone think this could be related to the relative workload your iMac experiences? My thinking is that perhaps it's only when the fan runs at high RPMs for prolonged periods that there's enough suction created to pull dust into the backlight assembly.

For the people affected by this, do you regularly use the machine for heavy workloads / gaming that spins up the fan? Or does this occur even when your iMac is only used for light workloads with the fan at idle speed?
 

Darajavahus

macrumors regular
Aug 8, 2015
194
313
Does anyone think this could be related to the relative workload your iMac experiences? My thinking is that perhaps it's only when the fan runs at high RPMs for prolonged periods that there's enough suction created to pull dust into the backlight assembly.

For the people affected by this, do you regularly use the machine for heavy workloads / gaming that spins up the fan? Or does this occur even when your iMac is only used for light workloads with the fan at idle speed?

My not a single time increased its speed above 1403 rpm, not while gaming or rendering, never ?
 

sprucemoose

macrumors member
Jun 26, 2015
66
34
My not a single time increased its speed above 1403 rpm, not while gaming or rendering, never ?

I had this thought because, like you, my iMac is kept very cool and the fans never spin up above normal. However, the other day I ran Apple Diagnostics (where you hold down D on startup), and during the diagnostics, the fan went to full speed. I assume this was a hardware test on the fan. But I wonder if months of collected dust inside the machine could get swept up into the display assembly during even a random one-off event like this.
 

geo.

macrumors newbie
Apr 1, 2019
14
3
Does anyone think this could be related to the relative workload your iMac experiences? My thinking is that perhaps it's only when the fan runs at high RPMs for prolonged periods that there's enough suction created to pull dust into the backlight assembly.

For the people affected by this, do you regularly use the machine for heavy workloads / gaming that spins up the fan? Or does this occur even when your iMac is only used for light workloads with the fan at idle speed?

I can say that in my case the iMac it was used mainly for Graphic Design workload, so there were times the fan was at its full speed, but normally at idle speed. Anyway I think this is an issue of hardware design, this shouldn't happen and Apple won't be responsible for it.
 

phobos

macrumors 6502
Feb 25, 2008
256
117
Sorry for reviving an old thread but I just wanted to add my own experiences with the dust issue.
I was very lucky and I didn't witness that problem with the late 2012 iMac but unfortunately my 2 2017 iMac Pros were not spared!
They both have dust smudges at the bottom right of the screen.
Apple really needs to solve this issue.
 

ProTruckDriver

macrumors 6502
Jul 28, 2016
283
340
Virginia
but unfortunately my 2 2017 iMac Pros were not spared!
They both have dust smudges at the bottom right of the screen.
They haven't fixed this problem yet? Come on Apple, get on the ball and fix it.
They replaced my screen under AppleCare about 2 years ago for the same reason. (Knock on Wood) All is still well, haven't seen any black smudges with the new screen. ;)
 

phobos

macrumors 6502
Feb 25, 2008
256
117
And because we're talking about the iMac Pro the cost is also extremely high...
To repair something that is an obvious manufacturing issue the premium resellers (there are no Apple stores in Greece) are asking for 800 euros plus...
I don't blame these guys since the only thing they can do is replace the complete screen. If they don't have an official recall from Apple they cannot replace the screen for free.
The whole situation is just ridiculous...
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.