How to Fix Mac Purple Screen of Death?

I've experienced at least 5 times where my MacBook screen suddenly turned purple, followed by a reboot, during various occasions. While it usually goes fully purple and restarts automatically, this time it only has partial purple lines, and I had to force restart it to use my MacBook. What causes my Mac screen to turn purple? -from discussion.apple.com

The situation of a Mac screen turning completely or partially purple or showing purple lines is called the purple screen of death. It can appear suddenly or after a macOS update. When it occurs, you may find your MacBook screen flashing purple before a crash, see a whole or partial purple screen before a reboot, or notice your external monitor turning purple.

Here, we explain how to troubleshoot the purple screen of death on Mac.

How to fix purple screen on Mac?

Since the reasons why the MacBook screen flashes purple can be hardware-related, which can't be fixed by yourself., you'll want to identify whether the issue is caused by software or hardware problems first, then take the proper solutions.

Check if an external display looks fine

Connect your Mac to an external monitor, a TV, or any display. If the image is normal in the external display but your Mac screen is still stuck on the purple screen, it's likely a hardware problem. To troubleshoot the issue further, run Apple Diagnostics.

Check the display cables

If you're interested in opening up your MacBook, check the display cables for loose connections. You can search for guides online that explain how to do it for your specific MacBook model.

Move the angle of the display

Try to open the Mac up at different angles, for example, 25 degrees, 50 degrees, etc. If your screen shows more or less in purple, depending on the angle, it suggests a hardware issue. In this case, it's advisable to take your MacBook to an Apple Store or authorized repair center to get it checked out by a professional.

Reboot in macOS Safe Mode

You can also boot into macOS Safe Mode to see if the purple screen is caused by software issues. It only starts up with the essential kernel extensions and processes, skipping login items and other unnecessary third-party software. Besides, it also runs a quick scan on your hard drive, clears caches, and fixes file system errors.

If your Mac screen is normal in Safe Mode, the problem is possibly caused by third-party applications or corrupted caches.

If your Mac screen is still purple or has purple lines, the problem is likely hardware-relevant.

Update macOS and all your apps

Some users who face the purple screen of death resolved the issue by updating macOS and all apps. If there's an update on your Mac, install it to get security patches and fix software bugs.

To update macOS, open System Settings > General > Software Updates on macOS Ventura and later or System Preferences > Software Updates on macOS Monterey and earlier. The system will start looking for eligible updates immediately.

Uncheck and recheck "True tone" on Displays

The MacBook purple screen may be caused by the "Turn Tone" setting. It's a feature that "automatically adapts the display to make colors appear consistent in different ambient lighting conditions." Go to System Settings/Preferences > Displays, disable "True Tone" and restart your Mac. Once your Mac boots up, return to Displays and reenable "True Tone."

Reset the NVRAM and SMC

NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) on Mac is a small memory that retains settings even when the computer is turned off. It holds low-level settings like display resolution, startup disk selection, time zone, speaker volume, and more. Resetting it can resolve various issues related to those settings.

SMC (System Management Controller) is a processor that controls hardware-related functions on Intel Macs. It's responsible for power management, LED indicators, system performance, and thermal management. Resetting the SMC is a common way to resolve problems relevant to hardware on Mac.

Share the ways to fix MacBook Pro/MacBook Air/Mac mini purple screen on Mac!

Why did my Mac screen turn purple?

There are four types of causes of "purple screen of death" on Mac, including software issues, external factors, design flaws, and hardware problems.

Software issues: If your Mac or MacBook screen flashes purple for a short time before restarting or freezing, it's likely caused by software-related issues. This could be system bugs and glitches, app conflicts, application incompatibility, display settings, or corrupted GPU drivers.

Hardware problems: If your Mac screen is partially purple, sometimes with purple lines that have different visibility at different angles, it may be due to damage to the display, GPU, cables, or some components of the logic board.

Design flaws: Sometimes, the purple screen is caused by design flaws. The two well-known hardware issues that have affected certain old models of MacBooks are Flexgate and Dustgate.

Flexgate: The flex cable is too short and undergoes excessive stress when the lid is opened and closed. Over time, this causes the cable to wear out or break.

Symptoms:

Dustgate: There's a gap between the screen and keyboard that can collect dust and dirt, which damages the screen flex cable.

Symptoms:

If your Mac is relatively old, it may be one of the victims. Unfortunately, Apple has ended the programs that change the faulty hardware for free. If you need to get it fixed, you'll have to pay several hundred dollars.

External factors: Temperature, blocked fans, or conflicts between peripherals.

Share the reasons for the purple screen on MacBook Pro/Air or desktop Mac!