MacBook Pro 2019 16" Internal Screen dosnt work only on Exterlan and dont start

Subject: MacBook Pro 2019 16" Internal Screen Issue – Help Needed


Hi,


My MacBook Pro 2019 16" internal screen has stopped working (the display matrix is damaged). However, it was working fine with an external 16" flat screen via HDMI or USB-C.


I’ve been using an external screen because it’s a more affordable and quicker solution than sending the Mac to a service center to replace the entire internal screen. Honestly, it’s even cheaper to buy another used Mac.


The issue was that I initially had to boot the Mac using an external TV via HDMI, since the 16" external screen was only acting as a secondary display extension and not mirror. I used a USB-C to HDMI adapter for this. After installing macOS, I managed to set the 16" external screen as the main display in the system settings, and dimmed the broken internal screen so I could use only the external monitor—no need for the TV anymore.


However, I’ve deleted and reinstalled macOS several times via Internet Recovery. At one point, I formatted the hard drive in Recovery Mode, but then the system couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi (it didn’t recognize the password or couldn’t access the network). Since then, whenever I try to start the Mac using either the external TV or the 16" external screen, nothing shows up.


I’ve tried the recommended steps, like resetting NVRAM/PRAM and SMC, but nothing has worked so far.


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you!


Sincerely


[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jun 24, 2025 12:21 PM

Reply
4 replies

Jun 25, 2025 8:22 PM in response to krarkzur19

Try putting the laptop in Clamshell Mode to try & force video to the external display. You do this by having the power adapter connected as well as a USB keyboard & mouse. Power on the laptop and immediately close the lid. If you are trying to access Internet Recovery Mode, then hold the Option key on the external keyboard immediately after hearing the startup chime. While sitting at the Option Boot screen try pressing Command + Option + R (sometimes this will work in place of using those three keys immediately after the startup chime and is easier to immediately close the clamshell lid). It can be extremely difficult to get video to the external screen if the built-in Display is not usable, plus it is hard to know if perhaps the laptop is just dead.


It is possible you finally encountered one of the many possible Logic Board failures for which the 16" (2019) model is infamous.

Jun 24, 2025 2:15 PM in response to krarkzur19

then your computer is definitely not feeling well.


One of the simplest things your Mac can do is Startup Manager. the code is all in ROM, and no drives need to be working to do this.


Hold Alt/Option key at Startup. Your Mac draws a blank gray screen, then adds an icon for each potentially bootable drive it discovers over the next several minutes.


Change your Mac startup disk - Apple Support


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MacBook Pro 2019 16" Internal Screen dosnt work only on Exterlan and dont start

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