How To Fix The MacBook Pro Pink Screen Error in 2024

By: Editorial Team

The pink screen error can send you into panic mode as soon as it appears on your MacBook Pro. Most Mac users are used to the black screen, grey screen, white screen, or green screen.

So, to have a pink screen error appear from nowhere can have you worried.

Luckily, you should not fret about a Mac pink screen, as this article will give you a few tips on how to solve MacBook Pro pink screen error. Let’s get into it.

What Does The Mac Pink Screen Mean?

The Pink Screen of Death warns you that there is a serious problem with your MacBook Pro/ Air. Your operating system can still operate after the error, but it will keep restarting your MacBook or presenting the error frequently.

The operating system brings the Pink screen error to prevent any further risk to the system. Your MacBook will keep showing the error until you fix it.

What Causes The MacBook Pro Pink Screen?

The MacBook Pink Screen of Death error is mainly caused by any of the following reasons:

  • Software bug
  • Kernel panic
  • Hardware issues
  • Screen display malfunction
  • Power fluctuations
  • Software incompatibility

How To Fix The MacBook Pro Pink Screen of Death

Although the Mac pink screen issue looks complicated, you can fix it without sending your MacBook to the repair center. Here are some of the recommended solutions:

Perform A Basic Troubleshoot

We always advise Mac users to try basic troubleshooting before attempting other complex solutions.

  • Disconnect external peripherals – the external devices you’ve plugged in on your computer could be causing the pink screen error. Therefore, you need to disconnect them and reboot your Mac.
  • Connect to an external monitor – A faulty screen or graphics card can cause the Mac pink screen. As such, you need to rule out hardware issues before you attempt other fixes. You can do so by connecting your Mac to an external monitor. If the error doesn’t appear, you should take your MacBook Pro to the Apple repair center to have the screen & graphics card checked.

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)

If your Mac is getting the pink screen error due to power issues, you should consider resetting the SMC. The SMC controls the hardware settings and resetting it can help resolve the pink screen problem. Here is how to do an SMC reset on the MacBook Pro:

If you are using a MacBook Pro with a removable battery, follow these steps:

  1. Unplug the Mac and shut it down.
  2. Remove the battery.
  3. Press and hold the power button for at least 5 seconds.
  4. Reinstall the battery and replug the power cable.
  5. Turn on your Mac and check if the pink screen persists.

For those whose MacBook Pros come with a non-removable battery, follow these steps:

  1. Unplug the power cable and shut down your Mac from the Apple menu.
  2. Press the Shift + Control + power button simultaneously for 10 seconds. Some models might require you to use the Touch ID button as the power button.
  3. Release all the keys and turn on your MacBook.

Try the next method if resetting your SMC doesn’t fix the issue.

Reset NVRAM Settings

Your Mac’s Non-volatile RAM stores key settings such as kernel panic information, startup disk selection, and display resolution. Any changes in those settings can cause the pink screen of death and other serious issues.

Resetting the Non-volatile RAM can resolve the pink screen problem. Here is how you should reset the NVRAM settings:

  1. Shut down your MacBook
  2. Power your Mac back on 
  3. Press and hold the Option + Command + P + R keys simultaneously as the MacBook reboots.
  4. Wait for the second startup sound and release the keys immediately. For T2-equipped MacBooks, wait for the Apple logo to appear and disappear twice before releasing the keys.

This fix should work for most users. However, if it doesn’t work for you, try the next solution.

Disable Automatic Graphics Switching

The MacBook Pro has two graphics processing units: dedicated and integrated graphics.

Both graphics will switch automatically depending on the program or operation you are running. Unfortunately, the automatic switching can cause the pink screen to appear.

You are advised to disable the automatic graphics switching to solve the problem. Here is how to do it:

  1. Boot your Macbook in Safe Mode
  2. Click the Apple Menu and select System Preferences
  3. Click Energy Saver
  4. Uncheck the Automatic graphics switching option

You can also perform this fix through the macOS recovery mode:

  1. Press and hold the Command + R keys so that your Mac boots into macOS Recovery Mode
  2. Select Utilities and click on the Terminal option from the drop-down menu
  3. Type the command highlighted below:

nvram fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00

Once the command has been executed, your computer will start using the dedicated graphics only. Remember that this fix might shorten your battery life. Therefore, you might consider other fixes before you try disabling automatic graphics switching.

Uninstall Incompatible Software

Incompatible software is a major cause of the Pink Screen of Death in Mac and Windows. So, if you’ve recently installed a third-party app that’s not compatible with macOS, you need to uninstall it.

Software incompatibility can happen after upgrading your macOS to a new version. Some of the third-party software programs you are using might not have been updated to run on the latest macOS version.

To check and fix software incompatibility, you’ll need to boot your MacBook Pro in Safe Mode. If the Mac starts without the pink screen warning, it confirms a third-party software incompatibility issue.

You need to uninstall any software you installed recently while your Mac is still in Safe Mode. Once you’ve deleted all the problematic software, restart your Mac to confirm the problem is solved.

Fix Kernel Panic

The Kernel is a program that controls or rather facilitates the interactions between your software and Mac’s hardware.

So, if a kernel panic happens, it will interfere with your Mac’s system. In most cases, a kernel panic occurs due to malware, hardware failure & software incompatibility.

Here is the best way to fix kernel panic:

  1. Boot your MacBook Pro into macOS Recovery Mode
  2. On the macOS window, Click Disk Utility
  3. Run the First Aid Feature to repair errors on the startup disk

You can choose to repair the startup disk in volumes as well.

Reinstall macOS

If none of the solutions we’ve given works for you, try reinstalling your operating system. Doing so should get rid of any corrupted files, systems, and settings, thus solving the pink screen problem.

Before you proceed, back up your data as reinstalling macOS will cause data loss. Here is how to reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode:

  1. Boot your Mac into macOS recovery mode
  2. Open the macOS utilities window, choose the Reinstall macOS option, and click Continue
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the process

The Mac pink screen should now be solved unless the problem lies on the motherboard or hardware.

Take Your Computer to An Apple Repair Center

If none of the above fixes work, consider taking your computer to the nearest Apple repair center. There are the go-to guys for issues you can’t fix. Make sure you book an appointment before you pay them a visit.

Final Thoughts

We hope you won’t have to take your MacBook Pro to the Repair Center. But if you can’t get rid of the pink screen of death, it’s your only choice.