Macbook popping like crazy when handled

Hi guys, does anyone know wtf is going on here? This thing is popping more than popcorn in a microwave…
M1 pro 16 32 gb 1 tb

This happened to my new M2 MacBook Pro Max also. It's more than likely the bottom thin aluminum cover not being secured tightly enough to the unibody chassis at the factory. When you move the MBP they way you did in the video, you exert force at the corners which will cause the bottom cover to move slightly against the body of the MBP causing the sound.

I fixed my clicking noise by using a pentalobe screwdriver I got off eBay to take out all 8 screws and reinstalling them. Note that the bottom 4 and top 4 screws are DIFFERENT lengths. I actually "mixed" the 4 screws at the bottom and the 4 at the top so they ended up in a different hole from where each came out of. Also, I tightened each screw slightly tighter without stripping the head.

It helps to put in each screw like you would a lug nut on a car's wheel by placing it in diagonally across from each other instead of into the hole next to it. In other words, put in the bottom right one first, then the upper left one, then bottom left, upper right, etc.

I found that the factory screws came out rather easily meaning that they were barely torqued into the aluminum chassis to spec. I have opened up all my MBPs over the years and know how much "feels" about right. Good luck!

dsc888 said:

This happened to my new M2 MacBook Pro Max also. It's more than likely the bottom thin aluminum cover not being secured tightly enough to the unibody chassis at the factory. When you move the MBP they way you did in the video, you exert force at the corners which will cause the bottom cover to move slightly against the body of the MBP causing the sound.

I fixed my clicking noise by using a pentalobe screwdriver I got off eBay to take out all 8 screws and reinstalling them. Note that the bottom 4 and top 4 screws are DIFFERENT lengths. I actually "mixed" the 4 screws at the bottom and the 4 at the top so they ended up in a different hole from where each came out of. Also, I tightened each screw slightly tighter without stripping the head.

It helps to put in each screw like you would a lug nut on a car's wheel by placing it in diagonally across from each other instead of into the hole next to it. In other words, put in the bottom right one first, then the upper left one, then bottom left, upper right, etc.

I found that the factory screws came out rather easily meaning that they were barely torqued into the aluminum chassis to spec. I have opened up all my MBPs over the years and know how much "feels" about right. Good luck!

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thank you so much! I'm gonna try exactly that! It's so annoying, and a I even sent it to repair and I came back the same way. Anyways thank you!

gcsr1992 said:

thank you so much! I'm gonna try exactly that! It's so annoying, and a I even sent it to repair and I came back the same way. Anyways thank you!

Don't thank me just yet…😁 I might be way off course. What exactly did the repairman do? Did he reseat and retighten the screws on the bottom plate? There is a remote chance it could be the screen joint but it seems the thin aluminum plate is the cause of this type of noise.

I've had somewhat similar popping with a bottom plate before too, I'd wager it is indeed that too.