It’s happened to me. One afternoon while editing a photo I suddenly notice this thin red-pink line running down vertically on the display.
My iMac is a 2017 model with Retina display and fusion drive purchased in late 2018. When this problem appeared I had exactly 6 days before my 12 months warranty expires! Lucky me!?
I tried searching for solutions online but no help.
I contacted Apple support online live chat to see if there’s anyway the issue can be fixed. The live chat support was pretty efficient.
Someone named Austin tried to help. The following are the steps we tried.
Possible Solution 1
Shut down the Mac. Power on and immediately press the following keys together, Command, Option, R and P.
I should hear two restart beeps after about 20 seconds. Thereafter I can release the keys and the Mac will restart as normal and hopefully no more redline.
I did not hear the beeps and the redline is still present.
Possible Solution 2
Shut down the Mac. Unplug power point and wait for 15 seconds. Plug back the power source and wait 5 seconds before power on.
That didn’t help either.
Possible Solution 3
Unplug all peripherals and restart. Issue persists. Bummer.
I’m advised to send in the Mac to a service center as it looks to be a hardware issue.
Give the above a try, hopefully they solve your Mac problems.
What’s Up With My iMac?
I sent my Mac to QCD Technology in Subway Pyramid, an authorised apple service center that only does repair and support.
UPDATE: I received an email from QCD saying my iMac has been repaired and is ready to be collected exactly 8 days after I sent it in, online status check before that says “Waiting for parts”.
I feel that’s a fair timeframe and I’m happy to get my machine back in a week. But mine is really a straightforward case as when dropping it off, they checked and clarified it’s just a screen replacement that’s required.
The service personal did point out their Standard Operating Procedure is 3-5 days for checking and 7-10 days for repair. That’s a total of 15 days, 19 days if you include weekends. Longer still if there are public holidays.
2 to 3 weeks is a long time I’m this day and age. A VERY long time if you depend on that hardware to make a living. What would you do if you need to wait that long?
My advise would be you can send your hardware to places like this if under warranty. Otherwise, if paying for the repair, check how long the service will take and decide from there.
Leave me a comment if this post is any help at all.
Gaurav says
I feel your frustration. Looking for a solution to the irritating red line as well.
I picked up a math not 6 months ago, but 6 days ago.
The reseller refuses to even look.
Apple care is extremely polite on the phone but useless when it comes to fixing the problem..
It has taken 2 hours on day 1 and day 2 to explain my problem again and again.
juanwei says
That’s practically brand new! Even more frustrating. I hope you get yours replaced quickly. They don’t make Apples like they used to.
seb says
you are really lucky to have your warranty days left.
My iMac is out of warranty period and one thin redline is now multiplied to 7 lines!
god knows how many lines it will expand to TT
went to certified apple service center only to find out monitor hardware repair price is close to buying a new one.
I really think apple should be responsible for such product sales defect.
juanwei says
I feel for you. I could not stand just seeing that one line, cannot imagine 7 lines!
Akmal says
Dear sis, thank for your story sharing. just to know, how about the cost when you send it to QCD for fixes? I’m also got the same issue as you.
juanwei says
Hi Akmal, I was lucky to be able to still claim under warranty. Otherwise I think it would involve the cost of replacing the display. I hope it works out best for you.
D says
same issue with a 2017 iMac. Out of warranty now after 4 years and the thin red line just appeared. Mac store says it will cost $800 bucks to fix!!!
Time to move away from Mac,
juanwei says
Wow, that’s expensive. Is that to replace the display?
FYI, another red line reappeared in my very same iMac couple of months back albeit on the left side of the screen this time. I’m not going to spend money fixing it. I do wonder if only this batch of iMac have these issue.
Jo says
My company bought the imac back in 2020. now 2023 appeared a red line on the right of the screen. Just wonder if fixed, will the red line re-appear again.
juanwei says
A faint redline did re-appear about 2 or 3 years later after having my iMac display replaced. But it dissapeared a few months later!