How to Fix a Broken Laptop Screen Without Replacing It

How to Fix a Laptop Screen

Co-authored by:

Computer Repair Specialist

This article was co-authored by

Matt Ham

and by wikiHow staff writer,

Nicole Levine, MFA

. Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Computer Repair Doctor. With over a decade of experience, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to seven different locations. He is also a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a full-scale marketing agency specializing in driving both online and offline leads to cell phone and computer repair shops and device retailers. This article has been viewed 151,911 times.

Co-authors: 5

Updated: February 7, 2024

Views:151,911

Article SummaryX

1.Unplug the laptop and remove the battery.2.Remove the bezel screws.3.Detach the bezel from the screen.4.Disconnect cables from the screen.5.Remove the screen.6.Place the new screen in the metal frame.7.Connect the cables.8.Reattach the bezel and screw in.9.Insert the battery and turn the laptop on.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 151,911 times.

How to replace a broken laptop screen

A dying or cracked display doesnt mean your laptop is a paperweight. For most laptops, a screen replacement takes $80 and an hour of your time at most. If youre a DIYer, replacing a broken laptop screen yourself is a great way to save cash, as most computer repair shops will quote you $150 to $300 for the job.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to replace your broken laptops LCD.

Before you replace your laptop screen

Before doing anything, give your laptop a full look-over and inspection to ensure the screen really needs replacement. If the graphics card on the motherboard is dead, for instance, you may be wasting your time and effort on replacing a perfectly good screen. Additionally, if the laptop has been recently dropped or otherwise possibly physically harmed, youll want to double-check for other damage as well.

To ensure the graphics card is functioning, you can plug a desktop monitor or TV into the laptop, as most have a standard blue VGA monitor and/or a HDMI output. If the picture looks good on an external display, your graphics card is likely good and the screen is at fault. If you dont get any picture, keep in mind some laptops require you to press certain function keys on the laptop to activate external display output. If you do that and video still doesnt display, your graphics card and/or motherboard is likely broken, rather than your screen.

If the laptop outputs to another display successfully, use the computer for a while to ensure the keyboard and other laptop components appear to be functioning normally.

Before you replace your laptops LCD, here are the caveats to the general steps that follow. This is not meant to be a guide for ultrabooks, two-in-ones, tablets, Macbooks, or other, more specialized notebooks, however. Its more for average, run-of-the-mill laptops. But even then the general steps I discuss do not work for all such laptops. Some will require a different process and/or more work to replace the screen, such as accessing the motherboard by opening the main case of the laptop.

Finding a replacement laptop screen

Because of that crucial caveat, before buying a new LCD, it may be a good idea to try to remove the damaged screen first, to ensure you can perform the replacement. If, after following the first few steps the process looks different for your laptop, I recommend scouring Google and YouTube or finding a repair professional for further help on your exact laptop brand and model.

Finding a replacement LCD is typically easyand you dont have to pay the crazy prices the manufacturer usually wants. Just search eBay, Amazon, or Google with your laptop model number and the words LCD screen. Youll find most regular screens can be had for as low as $50 to $80. If you arent finding anything, try other identification numbers from the laptop label or documentation. Some vendors have one or two different sets of identification numbers that could serve as your model number.

When shopping for the LCD, most sellers will alert you to compare the specs and placement of the video cable on the back of their screen to your current screen. This is another reason to crack open the laptop bezel before ordering a replacement. However from my own experience, if the seller says the screen is compatible with your exact laptop model, it usually works.

How to fix your broken laptop screen

Before starting, ensure you have the proper tools. Heres what works for most laptops:

• Table or other flat working area: Youll need a spot to sit (or stand, if thats your thing) with a flat area to work on your laptop. This gives you a reason to clean off that messy dining-room table or desk.
• Small-head magnetic philips screwdriver: Not small like a mini screwdriver from an eyeglass repair kit, but Id say between that size and a mid-sized screwdriver would work. If you dont have a magnetic-head screwdriver, try to find a magnet big enough to magnetize the driver head. This helps the screws stick to the head, making it much easier to remove and replace the screws without cursing as they fall all over the place.
• Safety pin or needle: This is for removing the cover stickers that are hiding the screws on your laptops surrounding cover, called the bezel.
• Plastic putty knife or other thin object: This is optional, to aid in prying apart the screen bezel from the case. Personally, my finger nails usually do the trick. If you do use another object, ensure its thin enough but not so sharp that it will leave scrapes or other evidence of prying.
• Small bowl or other container: This is for stashing the small screwsand keeping them safe from curious cats and children.

These general steps work for most laptops:

1. Ensure the laptop is unplugged from the AC adapter. Remove the laptop battery as well.
2. Find the round cover stickers that are hiding the screws on the screen bezel, the case surrounding the screen. These stickers are usually on the bottom of the bezel, near the screen hinges, when you have the screen opened. You should find one on each side of the screen.

Eric Geier

1. Use a sharp, pointy objectlike an opened safety pin or needleto help remove the cover stickers without damaging them. Stick it between the edge of the cover and bezel, and then pry the sticker away. Once removed, place the covers in a safe spot, with the sticky side up to help ensure theres enough stickiness when you place them back on.
2. Use your screwdriver to remove the now-exposed screws. Remember: righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. Some screws are easy to remove; others, not so much. But moving the screen into just the right position usually exposes the screws enough for removal.

Eric Geier

1. Carefully start prying the screen bezel away from the back side of the screen case. Work a fingernail or other thin, prying object into the crack around the outside of the screen. The bezel is usually secured to the back case with plastic snaps, so give it some force while pryingbut not too brutish. Youll hear the unsnapping of the fasteners when prying.

Eric Geier

1. Once youve unsnapped the screen bezel, it may or may not be easy to remove. If not, its likely stuck around the screen hinges. Moving the screen position up or down, with some gentle force if necessary, should free it fully.

Eric Geier

1. Once the bezel is fully removed, youll find the LCD secured to a metal trim frame on the left and right sides. Remove the two screws (one on each side, on the top) holding the trim frame pieces to the back screen case. Now, you should be able to lift the LCD (with the trim frame pieces attached) slightly away from the back screen case.
2. On each of the trim frames sides, remove any screws that are securing it to the LCD. Most laptops have three screws on each side; however, the smaller laptop I photographed here doesnt have these screwsthe LCD is actually secured to the trim frame pieces by tape on each side.

Eric Geier

1. Now you should be able to set the LCD face-down onto the keyboard. Be careful not to put excessive force on the video cable attached to the back of the LCD.

Eric Geier

1. Disconnect the video cable from the back of the LCD. Though the laptop I photographed here has the connector on the very bottom, most laptops have the connector near the center. If so, keep in mind that the portion of the cable running down the screen is usually stuck on the back of the screen with some mild adhesive. Just gently pull the cables away from the screen. You usually must remove tape thats securing the video connector to the back of the screen as well. When you get to the point of actually pulling the video cable out of the screen connector, it should unplug with little force.

Eric Geier

1. Once youve fully removed the broken LCD, simply place the new one face-down like you did the old one. Reattach the video cable to the connector and place the cables and any tape just like they were for the old one.
2. Set the new screen up in the side trim frame pieces, then re-secure it like the old one was: usually three screws in each side of the trim frame pieces, and then a screw on top of each to secure it to the back screen case.
3. When you get to the point of putting the bezel back on, just line it up and push/squeeze the bezel back into the snaps of the rear screen case. Before replacing the bezel screws, ensure the bezel is fully snapped in place and no crack exists around the edges of the screen case. Lastly, use that safely pin or needle to reattach the sticky screw covers.

If all went well, you now should have a shiny new working laptop screen. Put the battery back in and test it out!

How to Fix a Cracked Phone Screen

If your smartphone doesn't have a protective case, scratches and cracks on the screen are inevitable. There's no shortage of screen repair shops, but knowing how to fix (or at least deal with) a cracked phone screen could save you a few hundred dollars.

Instructions in this article apply broadly to smartphones made by various manufacturers.

Causes of Cracked Phone Screens

No matter how careful you are, you can accidentally damage your phone's screen in many ways:

• Dropping it on a hard surface.
• Sitting on your phone when it's in your back pocket.
• Bumping into things while your phone is in your pocket or purse.
• Using anything other than a stylus as a stylus.

The best way to prevent a cracked phone screen is to use a protective case.

If your phone is leaking liquid, it could be from the battery. Stop using your phone immediately and put it in a plastic bag until you can get it professionally fixed.

How to Fix a Cracked Screen on a Smartphone

You may have several options for repairing your cracked screen depending on the severity of the damage:

1. Use packing tape. Cut out a small piece of packing tape and place it over the cracks. If the damage is along the phone's side, use an X-Acto knife to trim the tape.

2. Use super glue. Cyanoacrylate glue, better known as super glue, can seal small cracks. Use as little as possible, and carefully wipe the excess adhesive with a cotton swab or cloth.

3. Replace the screen yourself. If the touchscreen still works, you can replace the glass yourself for about $10-$20. The tools required will depend on your type of phone.

4. Ask the manufacturer to fix it. If your phone is still under warranty, the manufacturer may replace your device for free. Even if it has expired, the manufacturer may fix it for a price. Most manufacturer warranties don't cover accidental damages, but you can purchase secondary warranties that do.

5. Ask your mobile carrier to fix it. Your mobile provider may offer phone repair services at a discount to customers. Call customer support or visit a local store for help.

6. Take it to a repair shop. Depending on your device's model, screen replacement can run about $50-$200. If the touchscreen functionality is damaged, there will be an extra charge.

7. Trade in your phone. If you're due for an upgrade, you might as well trade in your broken device and use the money you get to buy a new one. Websites like uSell will buy your broken phone for about half the price you paid for it. There are also sites specifically for selling used iPhones.

FAQ

• How do I hide cracks on my phone screen?

  If you don't want to fix or replace your phone's screen after it cracks, gently apply a small amount of vegetable oil or other petroleum jelly products on the screen. This won't fix anything or protect your phone from further damage, but it may make the cracks less noticeable.

• How do I stop cracks on my phone's screen from spreading?

  As long as the glass isn't chipped or breaking off, apply a screen protector to safeguard against further damage and slow down or prevent the cracks from getting worse. Or try using a very tiny amount of clear nail polish (containing cyanoacrylate), being sure to carefully wipe off any excess and let it dry to shore up small screen cracks.

• How do I color in cracks on my phone?

  If the glass on the back of your phone cracks, use something like food coloring or markers to go over the damage, then wipe the excess away with a paper towel or napkin. Be advised that while the results may look interesting, they will not repair any of the damage and will not make the broken glass less sharp. There's still a very real chance that colored-in cracks will continue to spread and cut your fingers.

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