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Replaced LCD assembly (with correct 2018 screen) on MacBook Pro Touch Bar 2018. I noticed after reassembly that the Touch Bar is constantly on full brightness, and the keyboard backlight is always off. While trying to troubleshoot the ambient light sensor, I went to check if True Tone was enabled or disabled, and noticed the “Automatically Adjust Brightness” and “True Tone” options have vanished entirely from Display Preferences. What’s happened?
I just did the replacement screen (LCD only) on a 2018 model a1989. Everything works perfectly and the reason for that is probably because I kept everything original and replaced just the LCD. I’ve heard rumors about the T2 chip causing issues for repair and most likely that is your problem. The only way to keep True Tone would be to keep the front camera flex (most likely this is where it’s paired). One way to test this and confirm would be if you still had your original LCD assembly and you can just plug in the front camera flex which is the connector closest to the LCD connector on the LCD board. There should be a somewhere that says SV_CAM (on mine it also says J0802) Plug it in, boot up and see if everything is working perfectly afterwards. Good luck
What I can tell you is the 18/19 use a very different display than the older models. What happens is people use the older one 16/17 which is cheaper and if it came from a parts system will have the shorter backlight cable. Here’s the correct display assembly: MacBook Pro 13" Complete Display - Silver (18/19) Apple P/N 661-10357MacBook Pro 13" Complete Display - Space Grey (18/19) Apple P/N 661-10037 This is what you likely got even though the P/N you gave me is the 18/19 Space Grey display assembly. The only other possibility the part was either mis-binned or the part was mis-marked. MacBook Pro 13" Complete Display - Silver (16/17) Apple P/N 661-07971MacBook Pro 13" Complete Display - Space Grey (16/17) Apple P/N 661-07970
That sounds super weird. I have just replaced my display on my space gray A1989 and everything is still working. I never transfer front cam flex or anything. I just bought a used full diplay(with metal cover). But i also SMC and PRAM/NVRAM Reset. Just in case i did it in very first start of the mac after replacement.
I have the same issue with my A1989. No backlight on the keyboard and no True Tone. Also no camera detected either. My screen isn’t genuine Apple and it was replaced with a Chinese one. did anyone solve this>?
Several answers here, just to clear it up: This is to do with apple’s serialisation as Alfy suggested. There are some models where screen replacements work fine (if a good quality screen is bought) but in my experience the ambient light sensor is almost always serialised so keyboard backlight is either disabled entirely because of the sensor not registering as the original or you turn off auto brightness and manually control screen and KBD backlight. Same for True Tone. as Alfy also said it is paired through the camera so you would have to transfer the camera flex from old to new screen but bear in mind replacing LCD only is not an easy repair by any means
Intel MacBook Air and MacBook Pro LCDs do not have security features and are NOT paired to the Logicboard. True Tone will work (both third-party and original. Only M1 and above models are paired. True Tone will be disabled but auto brightness and FaceTime Camera works. They are serialised, but only for the purpose of verifying your warranty to ensure your Mac comes with the same LCD it is sold with, and even then not all Apple stores check them.
The hinges for the Macbook Pro 13” 2016-2017 (A1708/A1706) are physically different from 2018-2019 (A1989/A2159). This only applies to original Apple parts though. Aftermarket third party OEM LCD assemblies may reuse the same shell but put in a different LCD inside.In any case, if you use a 2016-2017 on a 2018-2019 Macbook Pro, not only will True Tone not work, the entire LCD will be extremely dim after it logins to the desktop to the point it is nearly not visible.So if the display works, but there’s no True Tone, it means your OEM or Third Party part or the original part has a failed True Tone camera. It is rare, but possible for original parts not to have Facetime camera or the True Tone sensor working. T2 does not affect anything. True Tone will be disabled only on M1 and above Macbook Pro and Macbook Air. The LCD has to be paired, which currently only Apple and AASPs can do. Facetime camera will work. If True Tone or the FaceTime camera does not work, it is either the LCD itself, or that you have shorted out a component on the Logicboard. Very slight misalignment when fixing back the LCD connector, or that your battery screw was not removed well before the lcd is replaced can short out the camera or True Tone component circuit on the Logicboard. You have to tell the Chinese sellers you want True Tone, camera and auto brightness to work, and get them to show you the testing videos.
Hi Iv heard from many reputable People that apple pairs the displays to the T2 chip witch removes True Tone (it happens when newer iPhone get their screens replaced) As for the keyboard I would try putting your entire hand over the camera and try and adjust the brightness ,I have this issue on my 2014 15inch (I say it’s a issue but it’s just the MacBook being clever and telling me it’s bright enough already and I don’t need the backlight!) I’m not sure about the touch at though!iv never seen that Hopefully the information I have provided helps in some way shape or form Thanks:-)
Only M1 models pair the LCD to the Logicboard. All Intel models are not affected. If you lose that function, it’s because you have bought a Low quality part. Even good third party OEM LCDs have True Tone. From what I know, there’s only 1-2 large Chinese firm that distributes original LCD assemblies to the smaller Chinese firms. Please do not spread disinformation. Only iPhones are paired. For Macs, only M1 models and above are paired. 2016-2020 Intel models do not have such issues. That said, Apple may have slowly removed that restriction. I’ve just replaced a MacBook Air 2020 M1 original LCD, and to my surprise, True Tone worked. I cannot confirm what are models have that restriction removed, and whether it’s done at the MacOS firmware level, or at the LCD I/C board level.
hi, i have your same problem after replacing the display. You solved?
Apple introduced a feature in MacOS Big Sur v11.4 and has carried it through to the current version 12.4 of Monterey. The OS checks the LCD part/serial number(not sure what Kernel extension does this) against those hashed in the AppleBacklight.kext and AppleBacklightExpert.kext if they do not match then certain features of the display will be disabled (and no these kernel extensions can NOT be modified as Apple locked down the System/Library/Extensions folder. you can read them but can not change/delete them). I have replaced the Screen on a 13" 2017 MBP with Touchbar, with an OEM (plastic aftermarket shell and nameplate) and the Brightness controls do not work at all and are missing from the Display Prefs Pane under Big Sur (v11.4+) and Monterey. However they are present and everything works fine in Mojave and Catalina.So if you have swapped over your display and find some features like Brightness controls are missing Try loading MacOS Catalina or Mojave, that may solve the issue.
