Flexgate in a MacBook Pro 13 A1706 — display backlight flex cable repair

Flexgate in a MacBook Pro 13 A1706 — a classic fault of the 2016–2017 models 💡

The display backlight flex cables in these computers are about 2 mm too short. Every time the lid is opened and closed they flex over the hinge, until the traces on them start to crack. First the backlight becomes uneven along the bottom of the screen, and over time it goes out completely.

At a small opening angle the cracked traces on the cable still touch and the backlight works. When the lid opens further, the cable stretches, the traces separate and the backlight goes out — the image is still on the display, you just can’t see it.

Under the microscope you can clearly see the broken traces on the cable and their repair. Thanks to that, the whole display assembly didn’t need replacing 🔧

Flexgate is easy to confuse with dustgate. The latter, however, affects the signal flex cables, which get worn through by dirt or sand — as in this MacBook Pro 13 M1 (A2338).

The last three photos show other flexgate cases: uneven backlight along the bottom of the screen and a damaged backlight flex cable.

You can read how I handle cable repairs and MacBook screen replacement on the service page.