Fixing this $100 Broken MacBook Pro Didn't Go Exactly To Plan.

This MacBooks display likely failed due to a design flaw common on the 2016 MacBook Pro. Being too expensive to replace I had another idea for this broken laptop.
Video Schedule Update:
/ weekly-youtube-8-98505782
-------------------------------------Socials------------------------------------
Website: www.hughjeffreys.com
Store: www.hughjeffreys.com/store
Instagram: / hughjeffreys
--------------------------------------Links--------------------------------------
Get parts, tools and repair guides at iFixit:
Shop US: iFixit.com/hughjeffreys
Shop AU: ifix.gd/hughjeffreysau
Tools I Use: www.hughjeffreys.com/tools
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, l will receive a small commission.)

[@HughJeffreys]

*Attention regular viewers:* *This is my last weekly video upload, NO VIDEO NEXT WEEK* After about 8 years I am changing my video schedule from weekly to fortnightly. I explain why I am making this change and how will be beneficial in the long run in this special video: www.patreon.com/posts/weekly-youtube-8-98505782

[@vinnyconte2275]

Why did something happen😮😮

[@SaitoTheSmashGame2005]

Wait, you mean youre going to upload it only once in every 2 weeks?

[@Forrest_O.]

Not another Aussie KZbinr changing their upload schedule.

[@PepperWolfthePup]

The best of luck to you Hugh can’t believe I’ve been watching that long 🫡

[@Julmara]

i have absolutely no idea what fortnightly means lol but good luck on your future uploads :3

[@thomass.6328]

It is completely crazy how i watched nearly all of your videos over the last 5 (or more) years at its release time (here in germany 1 AM) and you never missed once. Thank you so much for that, i really got into repairing stuff and you helped me in so many ways.

[@HughJeffreys]

Thanks for all the support.

[@thomass.6328]

​@@HughJeffreys Thank you for the content.

[@billant2]

​@@HughJeffreys - Damn, I got Rick Rolled today when I realized that Hugh Jeffreys looks like Rick Astley (or vice versa). :D :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLaZapvjMyLmbM

[@billant2]

​@@HughJeffreys - Damn, I got Rick Rolled today when I realized that Hugh Jeffreys looks like Rick Astley (or vice versa). :D :D Apple "Never gonna give you up, Never gonna let you down, Never gonna say goodbye" lol

[@IWANTNOYOUTUBECHANNEL]

​@@HughJeffreyswill miss you. But can't blame you one bit for not being as active on KZbin. Their algorithm is pure cringe at its finest

[@libertarian1637]

Older Macs do mirror; apparently the new ones must not. It wouldn’t surprise me if Apple did this intentionally just to make repair tougher, even software repairs.

[@SaraMorgan-ym6ue]

apple think differently.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BillAnt]

Well that was a "Turning a laptop into a desktop" video by Hugh Jeffreys. lol

[@Radkeyboard7984]

Normal macOS if the lid is closed it will always put the main display on external

[@CaptainRex332]

I find it dumb how apple won’t fix their products when there is a design flaw like there is on this model

[@SayAhh]

I hate Apple but I also hate Microsoft for making perfectly good PCs no longer upgradeable to Windows 11 and higher.

[@CaptainRex332]

@@SayAhh yeah I do too and my way to get around that is to just use Tiny 11

[@compilationvideos4489]

Because if they fixed it then you wouldn't buy a brand new one Thats the logic apple has

[@whisper_ishere518]

Dell Inspiron 15 3511

[@brandon_nope]

@@SayAhh Thankfully Windows 10 is still perfectly usable

[@tomstours2220]

Another excellent video Hugh! Back in 2022 when I was visiting family in Australia my nephew said that his dad spilt some orange juice on their 2016 MacBook Pro 15 inch and then done nothing about it for years. Thus started our uncle/nephew project. We cleaned out the MacBook and bought a new top cover from AliExpress (and kept our fingers crossed). 18 months later and my nephew uses the MacBook everyday. I got my inspiration from watching your videos. I hope that the change is so that you can find time for other things important to your life. It will be strange waking up on a Sunday without a Hugh Jeffreys video... but I will only have to wait a week... or I will revisit your back catalogue.

[@raine_tay]

Just thought I'd leave it here: If you want to do this modification on a Windows laptop, you'll get the most luck out of a Dell laptop, most (if not all of them) automatically switch to an external display if the lid is closed or if there is no internal display connected, it also has a dedicated screen switch button on the keyboard. The second best laptops you can try this on are ThinkPads, but I'm not sure about the newer models, but on the older ones, there's also a dedicated screen switch key, but it will always default to the internal screen, even if there is no screen attached, although there's an option in the BIOS to set the default output when the computer turns on. Finally, don't do this on a Fujitsu laptop. They have a dedicated screen switch key but doesn't always work, and most older models only support that feature if you use a VGA monitor.

[@unsaltedskies]

My old Dell manufactured Alienware M17 R3 won't post without a screen attached.

[@drayke8886]

I use new Lenovo yoga this way (always closed) and it starts on internal display but switches automatically when attempting to log in with external keyboard. I think it's Win11 thing. No such option in bios. Also bios won't display on external (I think). And most importantly: it won't boot with lid closed so I think you would need to use magnets to trick laptop's lid position

[@kbhasi]

Some BIOSes will have the option to set the default display output to an external display. I know that as I set that on my ThinkPad X250.

[@StaticVapour590]

Many of newer HP Elitebooks/Probooks I have used, even my own Probook works works as expected. Type-C docks are bit challenging

[@kekesed97]

Some Dynabooks (Toshiba's business class laptops, oh wait, they aren't Toshiba anymore) let you choose that in the bios.

[@allenorozcolopez3689]

I have been watching your content for the past 4 years, asn always have enjoyed your weekly vidoes, and have inspired me to do not only tech repairs, but a career in computer science. Thank you for the constant uploads, and i still look forward to watching your videos!

[@SaraMorgan-ym6ue]

the recovery mode needs a lot of improvement yes it does because it does not prevent you from fixing the computer yet. apple is working on this issue.🤣🤣🤣

[@JusteSEBA]

I worked at an Apple Authorized repair centre, we used to recover data from that one port A LOT, got a lot of macbooks with that issue come in, we replaced the whole motherboards then it was working again, we connected the two motherboards with the special dongle to transfer the data across the two motherboards, then everything was working fine...

[@ColinsCity]

So it wasn't an issue with the screen but an issue with the motherboard? it's always the motherboard lol my 2009 17" died 2 weeks ago out of nowhere and i think it was the capacitor based on what the forums were saying, luckily the SSD can be removed easily and put into another macbook.

[@user-bp8yg3ko1r]

Especially for the type of content you produce, a weekly schedule is very tough. Bearing in mind how high the quality of your videos are, makes this schedule even more challenging. Thank you so much for creating these extremely valuable repair videos and rising awareness about anti-consumer design decisions and more!

[@nikitazaycev8636]

Fun fact this flexgate issue still affects all the newer models as well, even the current m3 max. When fully closed (thats what you usually do when transporting the laptop) the flex cables are fully exposed to the dust particles. Maybe in the future they would bring back the classic round shielded lcd cable that goes through one of the hinges…

[@SaraMorgan-ym6ue]

Apples working on making the issue worse so they can sell more macs.🤣🤣

[@outervale]

Good on ya Hugh. I've loved your content over the years, and I can't wait to see what you put out with a more relaxed schedule. All the best to ya.

[@trumpetsrlife9692]

its no longer a laptop. its just a lap now

[@krstvsk3872]

After trying with many Apple MacBooks, I can only say that after 2015, none of their machines are worth the money. Paying as much as they ask for a computer that has those kind of failures should be labeled as a SCAM. Also, when having screen issues with a "normal" laptop, a replacement costs not more than 300$, even if the computer costs 2500$.

[@alexandregb566]

Unfortunately, people who give profits for Apple (the customers) or don't care about that because they see value on those good thing the device can provide them (it's a trade-off for them), or they aren't aware of those issues, or they are just fanatics.

[@francisatta5590]

I DON'T BLAME APPLE, I BLAME IT'S USERS. If a thief steals from you once, then it's not your carelessness, twice; then you allowed to happen. I BET YOU APPLE LAUGHS AT IT'S USERS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

[@Hakenfinger-Jakob]

Yeah I don't think the users know or care about that. But I don't think the users are accountable for Apple being shitty. It's more a general obsession with status which is engraved in our societal systems. New technology functions as a status portraying consumable, kind of like fashion, rather than a machine. The way we use technology is just a product of that.

[@ColinsCity]

The 2015 Macbook Pros still sell like crazy on eBay, people still want it because of the keyboard, ports & SD slot and don't want to buy the M series macbooks that cost thousands for 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD. I love my 2015 Macbook Pro, it is so fast for everything i need, it felt like a life changing upgrade from my windows 10 laptop that was actively working against me everyday taking 10-30 minutes extra for basic tasks

[@oh-noe]

I disagree, when they introduced the M chips that was the point when macbooks were finally a viable choice as a windows laptop replacement

[@beogeek]

Trust me when I say this, when come to Apple they did not accidently overlook anything! It's on purpose by design!

[@vinayakdevc6]

i love watching your videos jeff, really appreciate your work

[@leonfuhrmann8579]

I repair these screens quite frequently when the backlight cable breaks. Its a tedious job, but is a lot cheaper than replacing the entire screen.

[@stusue9733]

If you get bored you could always try consumer guarantee to cover flexgate.

[@lenatraceroxton1363]

Hugh showing off his vocabulary by saying he'll move to fortnightly videos instead of just saying he'll move to uploading every two weeks

[@markshellard5894]

It’s our fault it broke but we can’t have you fix that 😂

[@Kalvinjj]

And we won't fix it either, suck it up and buy a new one please, -sheep- loyal costumer!

[@SaraMorgan-ym6ue]

nope it's apple's fault for making it wrong in the first place Apple think differently.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kernoelnerd]

You are opening and closing the display wrong! It's not such a big deal! ;-)

[@itsnotme07]

Very cool Hugh!!

[@jhossain1981]

Fun fact I’m on of your oldest viewers since 2014/2015 I watched your vids keep up the good work of stopping ewaste going to landfill

[@mhtweeter]

i’ve loved the weekly uploads over the past 4.5ish years i’ve been watching you, and although i will miss them, i’m glad you’re taking the extra time. i think spending more time on videos will do you good, keep the burnout away and just let you relax a little more

[@biggles50405]

I did this years ago with a Toshiba laptop running Win2000, thankfully it was straight forward and easy to remove the screen. I used it for a few years as a TV PC until I bought a cheap Acer Revo. Thanks for the videos, always entertaining watching what modern tech looks like inside. 👍

[@Karthig1987]

All the best to your new schedule

[@rock02004]

I got emotional watching your patreon video because I feel that its the end of an era. I am so glad to live in the same time as you. I've never felt alone because I always had your videos every week.

[@jayringo77]

Such a great video! Well done on the heroic effort getting the OS installed.

[@cJeremy]

that is an insane streak man.. your work and work ethic are amazing.

[@BaconFaceMcGee]

He makes this stuff look so easy!

[@cnvrtbl5]

You sir are absolutely brilliant!! Good on ya’!! Thank you for sharing the creative solutions!

[@Aphelia.]

Thank you for 8 years of weekly content. I always thought your videos were similar to Renaissance painting restorations in terms of high quality, presicion and enjoyment. Good luck and see you in March

[@cidsx]

your weekly videos have been a part of my routine for many years at this point, probably for nearly 6 years at this point. i might miss the weekly uploads, but i’m also happy if this means higher-quality content or maybe an improvement to your health or whatever else it could be ❤

[@Ice_VR988]

Bro your so close to 1M keep it up

[@gebenjohnrivera8871]

I used to watch your repair videos every Sunday. So glad to have you, Hugh! As long as I turn on your notifs to your youtube channel, I'll notify to watch your new upload. See ya! Cheers! 🤜

[@jaymueze]

I have been watching your content for many years. Thanks to you, I learned how to repair iPhones. My thanks

[@RobbieCupples]

Hey man! I watched your video on your Patreon and I see the weekly KZbin videos won’t be coming out as often anymore, but I just wanted to say that I wish you the best of luck with what’s to come in the near future

[@everybodysolo]

That was incredibly satisfying to watch.

[@Itsraminstech]

This is awesome mate

[@pedrosimas2642]

I'm gonna miss those weekly videos. Huge fan here from Brazil

[@lilPopper]

Congratulations on this final and informative weekly video Hugh. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the tech community. And thank you for your contributions to the Right To Repair movement. All the best in the next future projects. Continue to do what's right for you. :D

[@michaelg.5862]

You are a very patient man!

[@An7idk]

I also did this a few weeks ago with my macbook pro 13.3 inch 2 thunderbolt 2019 model mac and it worked like a charm, it automaticly showed recovery mode on external moniter!

[@rannaramanath5825]

Very creative troubleshooting

[@thisislilraskal]

Oh man, fortnightly! I usually have my Sunday brunch while watching a Hugh Jeffrey's video. What the hell am I going to do next Sunday Hugh? Haha! 😉😂

[@thorium9190]

I got a 15inch 2016 MacBook Pro with the exact screen issue, but had no issues as you did without a screen. I was able to install Mac OS just fine and use the legacy patcher to get to Sonoma

[@user-gk9ut9qc1o]

My friend had the exact same problem with his, it’s a good thing I remembered this video. We made his MacBook headless too

[@kernoelnerd]

Hi Hugh, I can only speak for myself, of course, but I will stick with your channel even if you decide to go to a quarterly or even yearly release schedule. You have a quality of content and filming that is exceptional since you were a younster (I hope you excuse and old man ;-) this expression) just posting your first videos, a quality that even professional content creators on large broadcasting facilities supported by a large staff regularly and often fail to archive. And your merits for bringing the frivolous methods of a well-known company to bring the right to a purchased device as an owner and the right to repair to it's contrary to a large audience can not be overestimated. Good luck for all your future projects and greetings from a country that is often confused with your home country (we don't have kangaroos here!).

[@apfeldoc1894]

Thanks Jeffrey, you remembered me having a broken Macbook in the lot. Thought it was a bad GPU, but it was the display! Together with an iMac turned into an Apple Studio it should work absolutely fine for my mom :) Thanks again

[@Thatoneperson_8]

don't rush yourself. take your time i understand. don't worry about making videos dont skip the holidays!

[@mikepxg6406]

This is very interesting. Puts me off buying one without screen unless it already has OS installed.

[@CattaRappa]

I have the 15" 2017 model that's also headless but it works fine without a internal display, including the bootpicker and recovery

[@basbasov]

well done, man!

[@lynzoido]

Dude± You were amazing in Jury Duty! Loved it!

[@Apeman_king_of_apes]

I am currently working on a headless Macbook case in the style of the Apple II. Exciting project, I plan to make one in the style of the Atari 800, Radioshack Tandy, and other vintage computers.

[@lawrencemanning]

On the lack of two useable USB ports, a hub would have done the job.

[@marioysikax]

I actually did this same thing for my old compaq laptop that had screen broken. Realized it still had VGA video output so just put up CRT monitor and continued using it.

[@christopherblake88]

All you had to do was unplug the display cable from the logic board then cover with capton tape. Then close it back up.

[@Kwpolska]

Keeping up a weekly upload schedule for so long is a great feat, and a fortnightly schedule is still a lot of videos :)

[@HughJeffreys]

Thanks for the support!

[@andybrooks7228]

Providing you can guarantee there being a TV/Monitor where your going this becomes the ultimate portable desktop replacement.

[@dlewis9760]

It's now a desktop. No different that probably billions of desktops. Nobody is going to take this on the road.

[@andybrooks7228]

@@dlewis9760 Most desktops don't have a keyboard and trackpad built into the case not to mention a rechargeable battery system along with a power supply. This system has everything necessary to be an excellent lightweight portable desktop replacement. Billions I think not tens or hundreds maybe. Most people would just scrap or part out a broken laptop rather than convert it like this one.

[@Doyle69]

Think the Macbook Pro you used had some OS issues in general and its remaining kext driver files where causing issues for you, could also been caused by an old OS installed. I have done a few screenless Macbook Pros now for people and this issue has never happened to me, removing the screen has always made the Mac use external display with no issues, but im really glad you posted this video incase I ever do come across this. If you ever find a way to install Windows on a Macbook Pro Mini (Screenless mac) id be interested as everything I have tried has never worked, but I know its possible.

[@3310wass]

it was funny watching this because I've been dailying a headless 2009 MacBook pro and went through all of the same struggles

[@BrianGlaze]

Great content

[@shivamvaid601]

Some dude on the internet completely removed the display and connected a vision pro. The results were pretty cool. Looks like a keyboard for the vision pro but with Mac os.

[@Dominikcz1264]

5:37 the Hugh´s eyes in the reflection of display when he finds out it works :DDD

[@gmkamah1231]

i always wait for your weekly video upload, been refreshing youtube wondering why i haven't received a notification

[@flashpoint5292]

I 100% believe that Apple leaves in flaws in order to drive up repairs. If they can get something to break right when your warranty expires, that's big business for them

[@mahmedm]

really nice job

[@BlindMansRevenge2002]

Kick ass! I knew that it was flex gate as soon as he said 2016. Kept on watching and boom lo and behold.

[@Selmandmrl]

Isn't there another option with the original display ? Some repairers cut the flex gate and scrape off the coating. They order another flex gate connector and do the same thing for other side. Eventually flex gate cable get extended after soldering two cables.

[@lindaparker3610]

Now you can follow some new dreams..what a great effort .. ❤

[@ekramulreza]

This is the best one !

[@Thomas-po4ex]

I daily drive a 15 inch 2016 MacBook Pro. I have had the laptop since I bought it new in early 2017 and never needed any repairs for it. I have certainly not babied it but I still think I have cared for it pretty well. My main complaint with it now is the keyboard. Some of the keys tend to get stuck or not press sometimes which can be quite annoying and the laptop has a less than stellar battery performance, especially well after 1000+ charge cycles but the computer still functions normally. I have used this computer as a laptop gaming system playing through all of Dishonored 2 and some of Prey 2017 completely on the go. I also used it as a desktop gaming PC with bootcamp windows installed back in 2017 and with a GTX 1080 external GPU enclosure. I used the laptop all throughout college and I still use the laptop on a near daily basis with my current job. Shame the repairability can be such an issue but thankfully I have not had any major issues with the computer thus far and am still able to use it on a daily basis 7+ years later which I can't say for any previous laptops I have owned.

[@ak_7485_]

Hey for anyone that will be doing this… If you want to avoid running into the black screen, boot issue, remove the screen AS WELL AS the LVDS internal screen connector so the system does not detect any internal screen display!!! Ur welcome 🖤

[@alanjrobertson]

Seems a very sensible move to change to fortnightly, Hugh - am sure it won't be much longer until you pass 1m subs! 🎉

[@Matthew93256]

Today I learned that you have a Mac Studio as your main computer 😮 Also, I'll miss your weekly upload schedule. Best of luck to the nee schedule :)

[@Xtrafix2015]

Very great idea to have one for my quest 2

[@AngelicTigerKing]

I love your vids Your vids are enteraining

[@JariGuru]

I bought my current 2017 non Touch Bar MBP and the screen got damaged by the shipping company but I only paid $200 for the laptop, looked on eBay found a Grade A pull only for $150

[@neurodavis]

And it still works???? Amazing.

[@give_me_my_nick_back]

you could take out a battery and sell it off to recover some cost, if it still has low percentage wear it sould be worth a bit. Whenever I repair any laptops I alway look for low usage original batteries over some chinese batteries that more often than not hold a fraction of the original battery charge.

[@robertszujo9528]

Macbooks do not work well without a battery installed. They will force the CPU to throttle even if there are no thermal and power delivery issues.

[@TheSpotify95]

@@robertszujo9528 And let's not forget that the batteries are glued down really strongly, so you're probably going to break/deform the battery whilst trying to remove it.

[@TheStanHill]

I wonder if its possible to bodge a cheap LCD panel to the apple housing and use one of those universal adapters to run it as an external monitor.

[@mr.number9279]

I'm currently using a halftop myself. My Sager laptop's screen busted and it was in a scary way because the backlight is handled by the motherboard, not the screen. So I just yanked it off. Sadly, can't access BIOS anymore. Not sure if any eDP > HDMI/DP connectors exist. BIOS only outputs by the eDP cable, not by USB-C/HDMI/mD (monitor).

[@nah9089]

That headless Mac with the Apple Vision Pro is gonna be crazy

[@linuxapt8173]

You sir struck gold

[@GazGazSterMiles]

I've done a similar thing with a old Razer laptop the screen is dead so I hooked it up to a monitor and it all works fine :)

[@travisbonzpiercy2660]

Do you have any of these modes laptops available? I didn’t see any on the store?

[@ktmidol]

I experienced the exact same issue. My display was broken so I used external monitor to boot OS but it would turn black. I had no other way to see what was going on so I gambled into a new display and replaced it. Luckily it worked perfect. Phew. I am assuming apple did it deliberately to prevent repairs.

[@rayproductionsbackupchanne3862]

i've replaced the keyboard on the A1707 the same way you did on yout first retina... it sucked LOL. the left portion of the keyboard backlight does not work. but it type's wonderfully now. if it wasnt for the reliability issues. the keyboard is honestly *fine*

[@adrianbrown9423]

I've seen some people go and repair just those cables, not sure if this was something you considered with this repair.

[@nathanpillinger1900]

Can you fix my mid 2015 16" retina mac book pro. Issue is display is cracked, lots of crap under the board too (its old and dusty and been through the ringer)

[@s96822]

there are videos on flexgate cable repair using microsoldering techniques.

[@yobgow]

Great video as usual.

[@turbyoulance]

amazing

[@andljoy]

Apple should have a jumper or something you can set to put it into headless mode like framework do.

[@abdulqader-devo7172]

What if there was an external screen with the same dimensions of the macbock and we were able to attach the same hinges but the difference is this external screen has a usb type c cable as an input to it, this would be a great solution especially if it was cheaper than the Apple replacement one!!

[@venividivici1982]

This was fun

[@MagicalAscension]

Could you perhaps have disconnected the switch that lets the computer know the display is open?

[@mrfoxesite]

my dad has s10 with the back easy to remove like the s1-s5 because the adhesive gave up and back is the cracked and he has no tempered glass protector and he has a case without 30% of the case itself lol. the battery i think is not replaced and the screws and everything look super tiny to me compared to his videos lol

[@MrZakuRetro]

Man you are great,take your time in the video making don't push that hard. i might ask you when a cooperation with other creators like louis rossmann?

[@Gannett2011]

Amazing! That business with opening and closing to access the trackpad was just crazy! But if you're wondering what's the point of doing this for a 7 year old laptop, I'm still using a 2015 macbook Pro with absolutely no issues. Yes, it's not really useful for any heavy lifting, but for everything else it is as smooth as butter, no slowdowns. Say what you like about Apple, but their laptops just last much longer than their Windows equivalents.

[@nathanpillinger1900]

Haha this video reminded me to check on my ifixit repair guide

[@nathanpillinger1900]

" Allen and heath Xone PX5 Crossfader replacement "