MacBook Pro 2021 16.2" Case Creaking

[Jtrose9898]

I believe TS4 is equal to a P5, so if you have a P5 that may work too.

Yes I have that too but I found the TS4 to be more gentle on the screws

 

[pendragon1984]

I have a new MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro. It's a great computer but I noticed that the bottom case creaks or pops when I pick it up. It doesn't make any noises when it's on my lap. The computer feels sturdy but that popping sound is disconcerting. I tried taking the screws out and retightening and it didn't help. I will try again.

 

[pendragon1984]

Loosened screws and retightened slowing going through all of them and then starting over. I'm not sure it's better. It may be a little better.

 

[teh_hunterer]

This is happening on my new 14". It's really starting to annoy me. If this wasn't a work provided machine I'd be asking for a replacement. A device this expensive should not be making these creaking noises.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Interestingly enough, this problem has kind of disappeared on mine... I used to be able to reproduce it by pressing on the aluminium case between the keyboard and the screen, which would sort of prime it, and then pressing on the right palm rest which would make the cracking sound. But it's just gone now. Hopefully it stays gone!

 

[ubercool]

My 16-inch MBP M1 Max is creaking too, very annoying. Barely two months old, started using it on March 24. I want to take it to a Genius and ask if they can fix it. This thing will fall apart in one year at this rate. 🤬

 

[ubercool]

I took my MBP to the Apple Store to be inspected by a Genius who took it to the back to give it a quiet listen. Upon his return, he claimed that he and two others were unable to hear any creaks! I think that’s the beginning of a new joke:

“How many Geniuses does it take to hear creaks in a MacCreak Pro?”

Anyway, I insisted he take the screws off and tighten the chassis, and by Jove that appears to have fixed the problem. He claims it was “dusty” in there. Two months old and dusty?

Hope that helps others with the problem.

 

[MajorFubar]

Accepting that the unibody enclosure can't itself creak, this is just going to be an artefact of the base->unibody. Doesn't it fasten into clips, as well as being screwed? Probably the clips that are creaking.

A redesign to have the feet adhere to the unibody and not to the screwed-on base would instantly fix this.

 

[rumonmh]

Hey All!

I've had a 16.2" 2021 MacBook Pro since October 26th. I love this thing, but....

The case has just started creaking. A lot. When I type on the keyboard, or when I gently touch the wrist pads, and when I open and shut the screen. I had the original 2012 rMBP, and I recall the bottom panel not being screwed in quite right in some units, so that it would creak when you put a decent amount of downward pressure on it, or picked it up, but this feels way worse. It's weird how originally it was great, and this just started. I baby my computers, so there was no abuse done to it.

For such a quiet machine, it's very noticeable. I'm probably going to have to take it to an apple store 😢.

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

Blame the thin bottom case for this issue... in the older model with the curved bottom case they did not have this issue but ever since they flattened out the design and made it look like a box. They added a super thin bottom casing to the latest generation macs. I have been having this issue ever since I purchased my computer and the issue still persists and come back over time as the metal flexes due to hot and cold temperatures plus how u hold it with one hand. U just gotta get a pentalobe screw and retighten the screw now and then if it bothers u a lot of the creaking increases. But I doubt u can fully get rid of the creak. But you just gotta keep tightening them now and then if that helps your OCD now and then. Initially I tried taking it to the apple store but this did not qualify as a potential issue for them to replace the bottom case or make any other major changes. So guess we just gotta live with it. You are just one of the unlucky ones like me who got one of the models that creak lol.

 

[rumonmh]

I took my MBP to the Apple Store to be inspected by a Genius who took it to the back to give it a quiet listen. Upon his return, he claimed that he and two others were unable to hear any creaks! I think that’s the beginning of a new joke:

“How many Geniuses does it take to hear creaks in a MacCreak Pro?”

Anyway, I insisted he take the screws off and tighten the chassis, and by Jove that appears to have fixed the problem. He claims it was “dusty” in there. Two months old and dusty?

Hope that helps others with the problem.

Yea there is no fix for this... they will just give u random ******** like that. I got some similar response when I initially took mine back in 2022. Now am just used to and I occassionally retighten the screws myself.

 

[calpoldealer]

Hey All!

I've had a 16.2" 2021 MacBook Pro since October 26th. I love this thing, but....

The case has just started creaking. A lot. When I type on the keyboard, or when I gently touch the wrist pads, and when I open and shut the screen. I had the original 2012 rMBP, and I recall the bottom panel not being screwed in quite right in some units, so that it would creak when you put a decent amount of downward pressure on it, or picked it up, but this feels way worse. It's weird how originally it was great, and this just started. I baby my computers, so there was no abuse done to it.

For such a quiet machine, it's very noticeable. I'm probably going to have to take it to an apple store ?.

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

woah my M2 MacBook Air is making the same sounds in the same situations