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MacBook Air M2 hinge noise

MBA M2 2022 - midnight.

Had hinge noise since purchased during summer '22, had the top / screen replaced once at the Williamsburg (BK) store. It didn't fix the issue even though the repair was done off site and took ~5 days which they didn't attempt to compensate me for. Significant QC issues with the repairers they use.

Very difficult to replicate in a busy Apple Store - yep they also be noisy.

Purchased on Apple Card and have disputed the CC transaction as Apple won't help me.
 
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I made an account just to reply to this thread. I have the same problem on the left side of my M2 MacBook Air Space Grey. I visited the Genius Bar four times:
  1. They said they'd never seen the problem before and tried looking inside at the hinges. Couldn't see a problem. This somehow made the problem worse - multiple clicks on left side and a few on the right
  2. They opened it up again and said there was a lot of debris. It sounded okay in the store. Tried it in the car. It was still there. Walked back in.
  3. A more senior Genius came out and said they will replace the screen. At this point, the hinge was making the noise more reliably than ever. Every time you full open to the screen, you get the click. The Genius Bar agreed to do a repair. They replaced the screen and I collected my Mac the next day. But the sound is somehow louder than ever when you fully open the screen, and appears when you adjust the screen from any position after a few minutes.
  4. Took it in after about a week and said the sound is still there. The staff didn't even look at it this time. The Genius just agreed to do a replacement "because it's such a niche issue", but then couldn't do the replacement because I bought the device on loan, which changes the rules on exchange and return. They told me to call the online store (I bought it online).
After much discussion on the phone, a senior adviser agreed to personally arrange a postal return. But he didn't call back on Friday when he said he would. I'm moving abroad next week so the return probably won't happen in time. I'm stuck with this faulty device just like everyone else in this thread.

I've noticed that if you push down on the corner where the noise is, the noise stops. That suggests that the cause is a loose or warped part in the build. But how can the Apple Geniuses not realise that? What are they not seeing? Is it a warp of less than 1mm that is causing this to happen?
 
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HingeNoiseHater said:
I made an account just to reply to this thread. I have the same problem on the left side of my M2 MacBook Air Space Grey. I visited the Genius Bar four times:
  1. They said they'd never seen the problem before and tried looking inside at the hinges. Couldn't see a problem. This somehow made the problem worse - multiple clicks on left side and a few on the right
  2. They opened it up again and said there was a lot of debris. It sounded okay in the store. Tried it in the car. It was still there. Walked back in.
  3. A more senior Genius came out and said they will replace the screen. At this point, the hinge was making the noise more reliably than ever. Every time you full open to the screen, you get the click. The Genius Bar agreed to do a repair. They replaced the screen and I collected my Mac the next day. But the sound is somehow louder than ever when you fully open the screen, and appears when you adjust the screen from any position after a few minutes.
  4. Took it in after about a week and said the sound is still there. The staff didn't even look at it this time. The Genius just agreed to do a replacement "because it's such a niche issue", but then couldn't do the replacement because I bought the device on loan, which changes the rules on exchange and return. They told me to call the online store (I bought it online).
After much discussion on the phone, a senior adviser agreed to personally arrange a postal return. But he didn't call back on Friday when he said he would. I'm moving abroad next week so the return probably won't happen in time. I'm stuck with this faulty device just like everyone else in this thread.

I've noticed that if you push down on the corner where the noise is, the noise stops. That suggests that the cause is a loose or warped part in the build. But how can the Apple Geniuses not realise that? What are they not seeing? Is it a warp of less than 1mm that is causing this to happen?
Click to expand...
Hi. I’m sorry to hear that you’re facing the same issue. There’s lid angle sensor on the right side of LCD for MacBook Air M2. I think it could make this noise in my case, but I might be wrong. I can also hear a rubber sound from the right side while opening MacBook lid. Honestly, I didn’t have a lot of time spending with my MacBook after repair because I found backlight bleeding and went to the AASP again. Repair takes nearly 2 months in my country and it’s awful. I think most of the MBA M2 have some defects and replacing with the same device won’t help.
 
Update: I’ve got my MacBook from the second repair with tight hinges, rubbing hinges noise and bigger backlight bleeding. Apple Customer Support agent said that I can go back to the AASP and they will reassemble display. They refused to replace LCD because backlight bleeding isn’t that bad (but it’s bigger then before any repair). Brought my MacBook home after reassemble, used for hour with an open screen and LCD started making clicking noise after closing and adjusting. To sup um, I have spent nearly 3 months without my one month old MacBook Air M2. The hinge noise is still here and now I have big backlight bleeding in the corners. AASP has also scratched top case near hinges area.
 
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midnightrain said:
Update: I’ve got my MacBook from the second repair with tight hinges, rubbing hinges noise and bigger backlight bleeding. Apple Customer Support agent said that I can go back to the AASP and they will reassemble display. They refused to replace LCD because backlight bleeding isn’t that bad (but it’s bigger then before any repair). Brought my MacBook home after reassemble, used for hour with an open screen and LCD started making clicking noise after closing and adjusting. To sup um, I have spent nearly 3 months without my one month old MacBook Air M2. The hinge noise is still here and now I have big backlight bleeding in the corners. AASP has also scratched top case near hinges area.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that you had such poor experience. Did you happen to see my previous response? I was able to fix my noisy hinge by simply removing and re-seating the back cover. It took my whole 5 minutes and my M2 is noise free. Good luck!
 
mlody said:
Sorry to hear that you had such poor experience. Did you happen to see my previous response? I was able to fix my noisy hinge by simply removing and re-seating the back cover. It took my whole 5 minutes and my M2 is noise free. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Hi. Yes, I’ve seen your previous response. Thanks. AASP engineer did the same thing but it didn’t help. This noise sometimes disappears and then comes back again. I think that many MacBooks Air M2 have this problem.
 
Hi Everyone, I got my macbook air around Jan 2023. The noise started to come up like 2 weeks ago. I though it gonna go away but seems like it is to stay. I also read some post on redit people got it fixed after Apple Store replace the screen. So I open the bottom case. You need to use Iphone/Apple trox screw driver for that. I took out the 4 screws that hold the back cover and try to open the back cover because the inside clip was holding it rather thight towards the back, I only managed to pry open a little the front side (touch pad) side. I then put back the cover (make sure the clip inside snapped). The put back the 4 screws. However, I did not tigthen the screw with such a high force, just tight enough to hold it in place. The creaking sounds actually went away. I am happy now.
 

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midnightrain said:
Hi. I’ve been using my MBA M2 over 3 weeks and today it started make some sort of noise. I think it’s coming from the left hinge or bazel. The noise appears when I close or adjust my MacBook lid. Is it sounds normal?

View attachment 2119142
Click to expand...
MBP M2P 14" Here. Same issue but the sound isn't that loud compared to this video. IDK how to fix this but I think it's been a common issue with new MacBooks, the quality is good compared to other laptops but when you spend more than 2000$ for a laptop then the materials and quality must be at 99%
 
laikos said:
Hi Everyone, I got my macbook air around Jan 2023. The noise started to come up like 2 weeks ago. I thought it gonna go away but seems like it is to stay. I also read some post on redit people got it fixed after Apple Store replace the screen. So I open the bottom case. You need to use Iphone/Apple trox screw driver for that. I took out the 4 screws that hold the back cover and try to open the back cover because the inside clip was holding it rather thight towards the back, I only managed to pry open a little the front side (touch pad) side. I then put back the cover (make sure the clip inside snapped). The put back the 4 screws. However, I did not tigthen the screw with such a high force, just tight enough to hold it in place. The creaking sounds actually went away. I am happy now.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking of opening it up and tight the hinges but I don't want to mess with it since it's new and I don't have any AASP in my country so I have to live with it until maybe 2-3 years then look for this solution. I'll make sure to update haha!
 
i1egend said:
I've been thinking of opening it up and tight the hinges but I don't want to mess with it since it's new and I don't have any AASP in my country so I have to live with it until maybe 2-3 years then look for this solution. I'll make sure to update haha!
Click to expand...
you no need to touch anything on the hinge. Just the cover, infact just losen abit the cover screw.
 
Hey. So here’s an update:
I went through a lot of AASP and they couldn’t fix this issue.
I contacted the government organization that defends citizens rights and they contacted the seller and he gave me my money back. It was a couple months ago.
So here’s the deal: I’m sure that all MacBooks have this noise but most people are not that OCD so they don’t hear it or/and don’t care about it.

I don’t care that many people say that Apple products have the best built quality. It’s not true because I’ve exchanged a looooots of Apple products and every product had a couple of cosmetic issues. If you say that I’m lying it’s because you don’t care about those things as much I do…
I literally exchanged 3 iPhones this year and everyone of them had over 2 cosmetic issues out of box.

I won’t say that you should accept it as it is. Nope! Your brain will tell you that maybe the exchanged device will be better but I’m 99% sure that it won’t! It won’t as long as you care about these tiny issues.
And after you’ll go through these exchanges you’ll be very tired of trying your best and maybe you’ll care about this things less…
 
Last edited:
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midnightrain said:
Hey. So here’s an update:
I went through a lot of AASP and they couldn’t fix this issue.
I contacted the government organization that defends citizens rights and they contacted the seller and he gave me my money back. It was a couple months ago.
So here’s the deal: I’m sure that all MacBooks have this noise but most people are not that OCD so they don’t hear it or/and don’t care about it.

I don’t care that many people say that Apple products have the best built quality. It’s not true because I’ve exchanged a looooots of Apple products and every product had a couple of cosmetic issues. If you say that I’m lying it’s because you don’t care about those things as much I do…
I literally exchanged 3 iPhones this year and everyone of them had over 2 cosmetic issues out of box.

I won’t say that you should accept it as it is. Nope! Your brain will tell you that maybe the exchanged device will be better but I’m 99% sure that it won’t! It won’t as long as you care about these tiny issues.
And after you’ll go through these exchanges you’ll be very tired of trying your best and maybe you’ll care about this things less…
Click to expand...
Hi, friend! Did you return the money and buy a new MacBook? Does it also have this problem?

By the way, I have an MPB14 M1P - the lid creaks (what else would I do in this thread haha)
 
denisch said:
Hi, friend! Did you return the money and buy a new MacBook? Does it also have this problem?

By the way, I have an MPB14 M1P - the lid creaks (what else would I do in this thread haha)
Click to expand...
Hey! I haven’t bought the new one yet. I think I might wait for MBA M3…
By the way, I tested different MacBooks before and all new MacBooks have this sound. I’m 99 percent sure that the noise will be here if you repair or replace the device. Otherwise it will appear sooner or later.
 
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denisch said:
Hi, friend! Did you return the money and buy a new MacBook? Does it also have this problem?

By the way, I have an MPB14 M1P - the lid creaks (what else would I do in this thread haha)
Click to expand...
Same, have you tried loosing (taking off and placing back on) 4 back cover screws a bit and then replacing the back cover on its place, as some guys here previously suggested?
 
Exactly the same sound and behavior with my 14 inch MacBook pro m1 pro, previously, there was someone in the comments who solved the issue with unscrewing 4 screws at the bottom of the laptop, anyone tried?
 
midnightrain said:
Hey! I haven’t bought the new one yet. I think I might wait for MBA M3…
By the way, I tested different MacBooks before and all new MacBooks have this sound. I’m 99 percent sure that the noise will be here if you repair or replace the device. Otherwise it will appear sooner or later.
Click to expand...
So you have also tested m3 pro, right? Does the same issue persist?
 
Apple_Robert said:
If I am not mistaken, some owners of the M1 Air experienced the same. There were a few threads on here about it.
Click to expand...
Hey, I've noticed that you have mbp m3 pro, can you please clarify if this model has any issues mentioned in the thread?
 
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