# How to clean a MacBook screen without damaging it > The safe way to clean a MacBook or Mac display, what Apple says you can use, what to avoid, and how nano-texture glass differs. - URL: https://maccleaner.tech/clean-macbook-screen/ - Published by: Mac Cleaner Guide, written by the Bytesweep team (Bytesweep is the publisher's own app) - Last updated: November 12, 2026 - Checked against Apple's cleaning guidance as republished on November 5, 2026. To clean a MacBook screen, shut the Mac down, unplug it, and wipe the display with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water only. For disinfecting, Apple says a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe is fine on the display. Never spray liquid onto the screen, and never use window cleaner, bleach or paper towels. ## What you need - A clean microfiber cloth, the kind sold for glasses or camera lenses - A little water - Optionally, 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes for disinfecting ## Steps 1. **Shut down and unplug.** Turn the Mac off and disconnect the power adapter and anything else attached. A dark screen also shows smudges better. 2. **Wipe dry first.** Use the dry cloth to lift dust. Dragging grit across the glass with a wet cloth is how fine scratches happen. 3. **Dampen the cloth, not the screen.** Put a small amount of water on the cloth. It should feel barely damp, with nothing to squeeze out. 4. **Wipe gently in one direction.** Light pressure, side to side or top to bottom. Pressing hard can mark the panel. 5. **Dry with a clean part of the cloth** and let the screen air dry fully before closing the lid. ## Stubborn fingerprints and disinfecting Apple's guidance for its products allows a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, a 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes on hard, non-porous surfaces, and names the display among them. For fingerprints that will not lift from a Mac laptop, Apple also allows a cloth moistened with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution. Wipe gently, keep moisture away from the edges and openings, and do not soak anything. Do not use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. ## Nano-texture glass is different The MacBook Pro and iMac can be ordered with nano-texture glass, a matte finish that cuts glare. Apple's guidance for it was revised in November 2026 and is less strict than it used to be. You can use a clean Apple Polishing Cloth, another microfiber cloth made for electronic displays, or a fabric that blends cotton with elastane or spandex. For the occasional smudge that will not lift, moisten the cloth with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution. Apple sells its Polishing Cloth separately, and says to hand-wash it with dish soap and let it air dry for at least 24 hours. The MacBook Pro models announced in October 2026 are the first Macs with a touch display, and they offer the nano-texture option too. Apple has published no separate cleaning steps for them, so the ones here apply. Expect to clean a touchscreen more often. ## What not to use - **Window or household cleaners.** Ammonia and similar chemicals can damage the anti-reflective coating. - **Aerosol sprays, solvents and abrasives.** - **Paper towels, tissues or your shirt.** They are rougher than they feel and leave lint. - **Liquid sprayed directly onto the display.** It runs to the bottom edge and into the machine. - **Compressed air on the screen.** It is useful for the keyboard, not for glass. ## Marks that will not come off If you see marks shaped like the keyboard, they come from the keys touching the screen when the lid is closed, often under pressure in a bag. Clean the keyboard and the screen, and avoid packing the MacBook tightly. A keyboard cover or a palm-rest cover left in place when the lid closes can also press on the display, and Apple says to remove them before closing it. A camera cover is fine only if it is no thicker than a sheet of printer paper, about 0.1 mm. Patches where the coating itself looks worn are damage to the coating, not dirt, and no cleaning removes them. That is a question for Apple or an authorised service provider. ## The keyboard and case The same cloth and the same rule apply: damp, never wet, and keep liquid out of the gaps. For crumbs under the keys, hold the MacBook at an angle and use short bursts of compressed air across the keyboard. ## Cleaning the inside, too A clean screen does not make a full disk any emptier. If the Mac itself needs a clear-out, start with [how to free up space on a Mac](https://maccleaner.tech/free-up-space-mac/) or see [why a Mac runs slow](https://maccleaner.tech/mac-running-slow/). ## Quick answers ### What can I use to clean my MacBook screen? A soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water. For disinfecting, Apple allows a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe on the display. ### Can I use alcohol wipes on a MacBook screen? Yes. Apple says 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes are fine on hard, non-porous surfaces, including the display. Do not use bleach or hydrogen peroxide. ### Can I use Windex or glass cleaner on a MacBook screen? No. Window and household cleaners can damage the display's anti-reflective coating. ## Sources - [Apple Support: How to clean your Apple products](https://support.apple.com/en-us/103258) - [Apple Support: How to clean your nano-texture Apple display](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104948) - [Apple Support: Using a camera cover, palm rest or keyboard cover on a Mac notebook](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102051) - [Apple Support: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102177) - [Apple Support: How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102365) - [Apple Newsroom: MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, October 28, 2026](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/10/apple-unveils-groundbreaking-macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display/)