Everyone loves the amazing resolution and life-like picture quality of Retina display on MacBook screens. However, fingerprints and smudges can develop over time that ruin not only the appearance of the screen but also create difficulty in visibility.
For optimal visibility and maintaining a shiny display, one needs to clean their laptop’s screen regularly and properly. However, most people keep delaying this step, either because they aren’t concerned about cleaning the screen or because they are worried about accidentally damaging the screen.
MacBook screen replacements are quite expensive so it is understandable why you would be worried about accidentally damaging it. However, once you learn how to properly clean the screen, you will be able to do it in a matter of minutes and without any risks.
In this guide, I will be sharing detailed instructions on how to get fingerprints off a MacBook Screen and also share necessary precautions that you should keep in mind.
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Contents
Cleaning A MacBook’s Screen – A Step-by-Step Guide
In this guide, I will share detailed steps that will help you clean your MacBook’s screen without any worries.
Step 1: Prepare Cleaning Materials
First of all, you need to get everything ready in order to start. You will need a lint-free cloth or preferably a micro-fiber cloth, some lukewarm water, and a 70% Isopropyl alcohol solution.
Apple recommends that you use a 70% Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution only to clean hard-to-remove smudges and fingerprints. Most of the time, only water will do the trick.
You must not use any abrasive cleaning agents, aerosol sprays, solvents, dishwasher soap, or any liquid containing hydrogen peroxide as they can damage the finish of the laptop.
Step 2: Getting Started
Before you begin the cleaning process, you must turn off your MacBook and remove it from charging. Disconnect any gadgets or peripherals that you have connected with the laptop and wait for a few minutes so that any remaining charge in the MacBook is drained.
If you have been using the MacBook for some time, I might be overheated. Wait for it to cool down before you begin the cleaning process.
Step 3: Wipe off Dust with Dry Cloth
First of all, you must wipe off all the dust from the laptop. Whether you are just cleaning the screen or the whole laptop, you should use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe off the dust.
It is recommended that you use a microfiber cloth as it gives you the best results and doesn’t damage the screen. You must wipe the screen gently as hard strokes or aggressive rubbing can damage the display.
Step 4: Damp The Cloth in Warm Water & Clean
Now, it’s time to remove the fingerprints and the smudges. Take another cloth (do not use the one you used to remove dust), and damp it in warm water.
You have to be careful about two things. First, you must not spray or sprinkle water directly on the screen, and second, you must not soak the cloth so that the water is dripping from it. Just dampen it and then begin cleaning.
With gentle strokes, wipe the screen making a circular motion. Try not to get any moisture in the open areas around the screen. If there’s a fingerprint mark or smudge that is resisting, do not put extra force on removing it. You must gently scrub and not use your nail or your finger for aggressive scrubbing.
Step 5: Clean with 70% IPA Solution
Now that most of your screen is clean, it is time to remove the persistent fingerprints and smudges. If your screen is free from any marks then you don’t have to go through this step.
However, if there are still fingerprints and smudges visible on the screen, then you must clean them using a 70% IPA solution.
Just like water, you should only dampen the cloth slightly and use it for cleaning. Do not spray the liquid directly on the screen and do not soak the cloth in it. Once you dampen the cloth, use a soft circular motion to clean the screen.
This solution is recommended by Apple for cleaning as it won’t damage the screen or the finish of the laptop. However, you must be careful while cleaning and avoid doing aggressive scrubbing. Now, all the smudges and fingerprints will be removed.
Precautions – What Not To Do?
Although I have mentioned most of the precautions in the above step, let’s discuss them again separately so that you know what exactly not to do.
- Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth. Do not use any hard or abrasive cloth for cleaning.
- Avoid using any harsh chemical solutions for cleaning the display. Do not use rubbing alcohol, dishwasher soap, detergent solutions, or any abrasive cleaning solutions.
- While cleaning the display with solution or water, do not soak the cloth in water.
- Do not spray the water or the cleaning solution directly on the screen.
- Do not clean the screen while the laptop is still turned on.
- Do not rub or scrub the screen aggressively. If there are persistent stains, you must remove them using gentle motions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to remove fingerprints from a Mac screen?
Cleaning fingerprints off a MacBook screen is not that difficult. You just need to follow the proper process to avoid any potential risks of damaging the laptop. Follow the step-by-step guide we have shared in the above article.
How do I get fingerprints off my laptop screen?
Cleaning a laptop’s screen is just like cleaning a MacBook. You must only use water and IPA solution, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and avoid using any harsh or abrasive cleaning solutions. You must be gentle with the cleaning process.
How do I get smudges off my MacBook?
Cleaning the exterior of the MacBook is easier than cleaning the screen. You can go a bit aggressive with the rubbing as there is no risk of damaging the exterior. However, you should still avoid using harsh chemicals as they can potentially damage the finish.
Wrapping Up!
Summing it all up, removing the fingerprints of the MacBook screen is a necessary process. You must learn how to properly clean a laptop screen in order to avoid damaging the screen or the laptop itself.
The above guide shares a detailed step-by-step method that will help you clean a MacBook screen properly.
You must take all the precautions into account during the cleaning process. You must clean your laptop’s screen every few days to maintain its shining and clear visibility.