Apple Warns MacBook Users That Covering Camera Can Break Display

Apple has confirmed that covering over the camera of your MacBook could leave you at risk of breaking the display.

Regardless of whether you believe you're being spied on by an ancient and secretive overclass, an insidious all-controlling cabal, or simply folks trying to tailor advertising to you, you should think twice before you put that sticky note over the camera of you Apple laptop.

Instead, look at the green light next to the camera if you want to know when it's active or not.

This is because - according to the folks that make them - sticking a piece of paper or a Post-It note over the camera obstructs the carefully designed closing point of the device, meaning that the screen could shatter when closed.

This advice is for anyone who owns a MacBook, a MacBook Air, or a MacBook Pro. If you've ever owned, or looked at owning one of them, you'll know that you really don't want to mess anything up with them.

Apple's official website states: "If you close your Mac notebook with a camera cover installed, you might damage your display because the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances."

Also, Apple claims that the green light is conclusive enough, as it simply tells you when the computer is active - if the light ain't on, the camera is not active.

Therefore, sticking something across it is overkill, and potentially dangerous to the screen.

Oh, and that's not all. There are other features that could be affected by covering up the front camera.

Covering the camera could affect the machine's ambient light sensor, as well as the auto-brightness settings, and the Apple retina display True Tone technology, apparently.

Apple doesn't actually address the idea that we're all being spied on secretly, and we'll not get into it either.

However, the company did address the fact that a lot of people have to cover over their screens if they work in an 'environment [that] requires a camera cover at all times'.

In these circumstances, Apple recommends you use something that isn't sticky, and won't leave an adhesive residue.

It's also important to use something that is really thin, and remember to take it off before you close the screen, as that's where the danger is.

According to website MacRumors, users have reported complaints regarding this issue, including one person who actually broke their internal display.

It's not cheap to get such issues fixed, but it is covered by AppleCare+ Insurance.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Interesting, Technology, Weird, Apple

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim