A Free & Easy Way To Make Your Glossy iMac Screen Glare-Free
April 21st, 2009 | Published in Technology | 24 Comments
There’s a simple and free method to make your iMac screen glare-free that I haven’t heard anyone recommend or discuss yet. It’s so easy that I can’t believe no one has mentioned it.
Maybe because it’s crazy?
Anyway, glossy screens are great for looks. But if you’re sensitive to reflections or struggle with headaches and eyestrain, you do not want a glossy screen. Good God, anything but staring into a glossy screen all day! In spite of that, for some unfathomable reason — and even though their customers want it — Apple has stopped making iMacs with matte displays.
Anti-Glare Add-On Filters Suck
When I got an iMac, I purchased the best anti-glare filter available (by Photodon) which I thought would fix the glare issue. It was laughably bad. It made the image grainy and the screen sparkle as I moved my head. There was no way I’d be able to use it without losing my mind.
I called support. They acknowledged the issue and said that “photographers and graphic designers wouldn’t like it.” I can’t see how anyone would like it, unless they enjoy a screen that sideshows as a kaleidoscope.
I returned it.
The Secret
Then I figured out an even easier and far more effective way to make my iMac screen anti-glare. No, I didn’t replace it: I removed the protective layer in front of the screen.
It ends up the front layer is the main source of gloss — the screen itself has very little reflection! According to my tests, it has about 50% less reflection without the front layer.
Removing the Protective Layer
Removing the layer is surprisingly easy:
- Get a large suction cup.
- Attach the section cup at the top left of the screen, then gently pull.
- With your other hand, pull the right part of the screen and it’ll come right out (it is held on by magnets).
- Finally, gently pull the bottom toward you until it pops out.
That’s all there is to it. You now have an anti-glare screen!
Here’s a howto video on how to remove the protective layer:
But It’s Not Purdy!
Yeah, that’s true. It doesn’t look as good without that sleek black bevel and the screws exposed. But for me, a little less beauty is a fair price to pay for less headaches and eyestrain. It’s the best way I’ve come up with, but if anyone has a better idea please leave it in the comments.
I’m sure it’s possible to mimic the black bevel border with heavy black paper or plastic, but I haven’t had time to try that yet.
Here’s a business idea for an entrepreneur: Get someone to make a black border that snaps right in and then sell them for $50-100. I’d buy one. And if I had time, I’d have someone make and manufacture it. But I don’t, so it’s up to you.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:24 pm (#)
I have watched your video 3x and I still do not understand what you are doing. It seems that you are taking off the the glass protective cover,cleaning it and the actual display also and then just replacing the glass cover.i don’t understand how this will reduce the glare? Thank you,John
June 9th, 2009 at 1:41 am (#)
That’s great, thanks for sharing. I’m now willing to upgrade from my old 20″ Core Duo iMac.
An even better business idea would be for somebody to either manufacture a replacement glass panel that is without glare, or to provide a service that somehow removes the glare from the existing glass panel. I think the latter may be impossible to do well, so the former is probably in the money.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:23 pm (#)
John — He is showing how to clean the screen. Skip the last step of putting the glass back and you will have an anti-glare screen. I haven’t tried it yet myself (chicken) but am thinking about it.
August 19th, 2009 at 2:13 pm (#)
I just got off with Apple, my eyes are burning and I have headaches – every single day, possibly because of the glare (not sure about it, yet).
I’m definitely going to try this, you did a really good job on this video!
Thank you!
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm (#)
Superb! British Ingenuity!!
Thank you for taking the time…
October 10th, 2009 at 6:41 am (#)
thank you for telling your story and the video this is really helpful!
I have suffered for months with burning eyes and headaches on a daily basis at work is really making me ill! i tried the film from photodon like you and this made it 10 times worse it was blurred and like crystals across the screen awful! So now im back to square one!
Please could you tell me where i could get hold of one of those large suction cups from????
if this works it will be an absolute life saver!!!!
Thank you and hope to hear your response!!
October 25th, 2009 at 12:23 am (#)
Use a piece of packing tape attached to just the glass on the lower-left edge of glass–use your finger to rub it and make sure it adheres. Pull tape (Be somewhat careful). Voila! I used this to clean behind my glass, which had somehow gotten fogged?!
December 11th, 2009 at 10:12 am (#)
excellent!
will this work on the new 21.5″ imac?
January 24th, 2010 at 6:38 pm (#)
Thanks for this excellent idea!
Who decided that all laptop displays must be glossy?
Laptop is not a TV. We sit and stare very close to the laptop. You can’t stare into bright light all day!
Ask an ophthalmologist, and see what they say.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:32 pm (#)
If you are careful, you need only your fingernail to separate a top corner (sharp knife even better) and gently “peel” the top, magnetized edge from the monitor, then tilt it further to extricate the clips which hold in the bottom edge. Just did it now after reading the posts, not even seeing the video. The bolts around the edge look like crap, but the native screen has less glare for sure. Killer tip!
February 26th, 2010 at 11:01 pm (#)
Thanks for the tip! I’ve found the glare from the 21.5 inch Mac intolerable, so this will be a great help. I also tried the Photodon anti-glare filter, and also found the image unacceptably degraded a sparkly. The only other solution I can think of is to hook the iMac up to another screen, one with a matte surface. It defeats the some of the purpose for buying an iMac in the first place, but it should work.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:43 pm (#)
I INSERTED A SHARP KNIFE AT THE UPPER LEFT EDGE OF MY 27″ I-MAC, (LATE 2009). THE GLASS CAME OFF EASILY. I AM IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, MY OFFICE, SO NO ONE IS GOING TO TOUCH THE NAKED SCREEN.
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:49 am (#)
Yep, I did it on my wife’s 27″ new iMac and it works great. It’s incredibly easy and if somebody manufactures such a replacement glass panel without glare I would surely buy it. Removing the front glass is not the final solution, though. You can still notice glare in the screen but it’s surely more comfortable than with the front panel. Thanks for sharing!.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:32 pm (#)
Oh thank you!!!!!!!!! I’ve had a headache and eye strain for a week – my eyes were so sore…. Fixed totally with this. Why on earth isn’t there a matt screen option?! Madness. Complete madness…
You’re right though, it’s isn’t pretty, but a small price to pay to avoid the headaches!!!
March 28th, 2010 at 4:28 pm (#)
I have a 24″ iMac at home, and I use Brightness Control and keep my house pretty dark, so the glare isn’t too bad. But at work I just got a 27″ iMac and there is a window right behind me! The glare is really bad, even with Brightness Control and my eyes and head kill me by the end of the day. And I feel like I have motion sickness. I am looking forward to suction-cupping my iMac at work tomorrow. I just did it on my home iMac and it worked perfectly! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
April 19th, 2010 at 11:30 am (#)
I’m debating whether to buy the current iMac (April 2010) or wait and hope the next version has a matte screen option. Apple is very aware of the dissatisfaction. ANY THOUGHTS?
Also, if the protective cover comes off, can it be put back (loosely) when not using the computer? Like you’d replace a lens cap on a lens.
Thanks.
April 21st, 2010 at 5:13 pm (#)
That’s a very clever solution you got there. I’ve had my 24″ iMac for just over a year now and it drives me crazy. Headaches, constantly repositioning myself away from any reflective light (you know the drill).
It’s got to the point where I’m just not comfortable sitting in front of it for long periods of time and it seems like a better idea to just get a Mac Mini + Matte Monitor combo instead.
Time to find a suction cup.. Cheers for this!
April 24th, 2010 at 2:17 am (#)
Okay, did not catch your name…. but you rock!!
Thank you so much. I have a new 21.5″ iMac. My eyes were killing me, not irritated but really bad. I school online and am so far behind. Several trips to the eye doctor and calls/visits to Apple regarding this issue.
I was told they knew of no such problem with the computers and eye “strain”.
I was only able to use the computer about 10 minutes at a time. Thought I was having to buy another computer or go back to PC.
Screen popped off with a fingernail inserted on upper right corner. Not difficult at all.
Thank you very much, who cares if it is ugly….. I am so glad problem is resolved.
Maybe one of us can make a little extra change and make a screen frame that comes in lots of colors to make it “pretty” again. :-)
Bravo
April 24th, 2010 at 11:28 am (#)
P.S. Is there any concern for the screen or exposed hardware being susceptible to damage with the protective/glossy screen off?
Thanks
May 19th, 2010 at 5:58 pm (#)
Ian,
this is wonderful.
My problem is my late 2009 model iMAC, 21.5 INCH.
I have a live BUG inside, walking all around..he’s driving me MAD!
Can I use this same technique on the 2009 iMAC, 21.5 INCH?
thank you!
June 29th, 2010 at 9:31 pm (#)
Thanks, the tip is great. One question. I have a 2006 iMac. Would this glass fit across the new iMac?
July 28th, 2010 at 5:33 pm (#)
Can the plastic screen under neath be cleaned with microfiber cloth and appropriate plastic cleaner or is this a different surface than the original Cinema Displays ??
August 27th, 2010 at 9:31 pm (#)
Mate, you are a LEGEND!
Aside from just seeing that this can even be done, it’s also great to see others are having the same eyestrain and glare problems that I’m having. It really took the “shine” off my 27″ iMac purchase. (Sorry about the pun! :)
A
September 1st, 2010 at 7:51 pm (#)
How do you do this? The video isn’t playing for me?