How to fix MacBook Pink Screen of Death problem

Mac Pink Screen of Death: Troubleshooting and Prevention

Not all pink screens on a Mac are created equal. I've personally experienced two distinct instances: one, a costly Flexgate repair, and the other, a time-consuming kernel panic. While the causes are varied, many Pink Screen of Death issues are solvable within 30 minutes. Let's explore solutions and preventative measures.

Quick Fixes:

The following table summarizes key solutions. Click the underlined text for detailed instructions.

Solution	Steps
External Display Test	Connect your Mac to an external monitor. A working external display points to a hardware problem.
Restart in Safe Mode	Power off, press and hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears. Boot in Safe Mode.
Update macOS	System Settings > General > Software Update.
Identify Problematic Apps	Update or completely uninstall apps (use How to fix MacBook Pink Screen of Death problem for thorough removal).
Disable Login Items	System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Disable and re-enable items to find the culprit.
Reset SMC (Intel Macs)	Shut down, hold Shift Option Control power button for 10 seconds, then restart.
Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs)	Restart and hold Option Command P R until the second startup chime.
Switch GPUs (if applicable)	System Settings > Battery; uncheck "Automatic Graphics Switching."
Monitor Temperature	Use iStat Menus to monitor GPU and CPU temperatures. Clean fans/vents if necessary.
Reinstall macOS	Boot into recovery mode, select "Reinstall macOS," and follow instructions.

Causes of the Pink Screen:

The Pink Screen of Death can stem from software, hardware, or external factors. Physical damage necessitates professional repair.

• Software: macOS bugs (post-update), glitches, corrupted GPU drivers, app conflicts, or incompatibility can lead to kernel panics, often manifested as a brief pink flash before rebooting or a frozen pink screen.
• Hardware: GPU, display, cables, connectors, RAM, or motherboard damage may result in a partially pink screen, sometimes with visible stripes. Flexgate (affecting some 2016-2019 MacBook Pros) and Dustgate (some 2018-2020 models) are specific hardware issues causing pink stripes and uneven backlighting due to cable damage.
• External: Overheating, clogged fans, or connected device conflicts are usually easier to resolve.

Troubleshooting (Software & External Issues):

1. Research: Connect to an external display; a clear image indicates a hardware problem. Restart in Safe Mode (instructions above); a pink screen in Safe Mode suggests hardware, while a normal screen points to software or cache issues.

2. Update macOS: Check for and install updates (System Settings > General > Software Updates).

3. Problematic Apps: Update or completely uninstall suspected apps. Manually removing app remnants from ~/Library/Application Support/, ~/Library/Caches/, ~/Library/Preferences/, and ~/Library/Logs/ is less reliable than using How to fix MacBook Pink Screen of Death problem.

4. Disable Login Items: Disable all login items (System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions) and re-enable them one by one to identify the culprit. Prioritize system monitoring, optimizer, antivirus, and display management apps.

5. Reset SMC (Intel Macs): (Instructions above)

6. Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs): (Instructions above)

7. Check/Reset GPU: (Instructions above)

8. Mac Temperature: Use iStat Menus to monitor temperatures. Clean fans and vents if needed.

9. Reinstall macOS: (Instructions above; back up your data first).

Prevention:

While complete prevention is impossible, proactive maintenance helps:

• Regular Monitoring: Use iStat Menus for continuous system monitoring.
• Weekly Maintenance: Use How to fix MacBook Pink Screen of Death problem for system cleaning and maintenance.
• Dust Removal: Regularly clean your Mac and its vents.

These strategies, combined with responsible use, significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering the dreaded Pink Screen of Death.

The above is the detailed content of How to fix MacBook Pink Screen of Death problem. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!