A practical guide, before you decide
Broken laptop screen?
Know your options.
Understand the damage, explore repair costs and find out whether to tackle it yourself or get help. Start with what you can see, not technical jargon.
Advice for readers everywhere. Repair enquiries for customers in the UK.
01 / Start with the symptom
What does your screen look like?
Choose the closest description. These are starting points, not a remote diagnosis. The small pictures are illustrations, not diagnostic examples.
Cracks or black patches
A crack pattern or ink-like patch can indicate damage within the display, even if the outer surface feels smooth. A replacement panel or display assembly may be needed.
Next step: Avoid pressing the screen or trying to rub the marks away. If the casing or battery is also damaged, stop using the laptop.
Compare repair options →Ask about a UK repair
Lines or strange colours
The display, its connection or another part of the graphics system may be involved. A photograph helps show the pattern but cannot establish the cause on its own.
Next step: If there is no physical or liquid damage, check the manufacturer’s display troubleshooting steps. Do not buy a panel solely because you can see lines.
Understand the possible faults →Ask about a UK repair
Flickering picture
An intermittent picture needs diagnosis before parts are ordered. Note whether it happens from startup, only in one app, or when the lid is moved during normal use.
Next step: Do not repeatedly bend or move a damaged lid to make the picture return. Tell the repairer what you have already observed.
Read the first checks →Ask about a UK repair
Black screen, laptop running
A light or fan does not prove that the laptop has started normally. A blank screen can be a display fault, but it can also be a startup or power problem.
Next step: For an undamaged laptop, follow its manufacturer’s no-display checks. A compatible external monitor may help narrow the problem, but the result is not a complete diagnosis.
See checks and temporary options →Ask about a UK repair
Very dim picture
Start with the brightness control. If the picture remains unusually dark, the display or its power circuitry may need investigation. Not every dim display has the same cause.
Next step: Record when it happens and whether it changes on battery power. Do not dismantle the screen to investigate unless you have the correct instructions and experience.
Understand the display components →Ask about a UK repair
Broken hinge or loose lid
The picture may still work while the hinge, lid or mounting points are damaged. Replacing the display panel alone may not address the mechanical problem.
Next step: Avoid forcing the lid open or closed. Ask for the hinges, mounting points and display cable to be assessed together.
See what affects the repair →Ask about a UK repair
Not sure? You do not need to name the faulty part. Describe what happens, when it started and whether the laptop was dropped or had a spill. Ask for help with a UK repair.
02 / Before you try anything
Protect the laptop.
Protect your work.
A few sensible precautions matter more than trying every fix you find online.
- Stop if there is more than screen damage. If there is swelling, unusual heat, smoke, a smell or liquid damage, stop using and charging it. Disconnect power if safe and seek appropriate help. Do not press, puncture or open a swollen device.
- Do not press on cracks or force the lid. Avoid handling exposed glass or putting pressure on the damaged area.
- Keep your files in mind. If the laptop is otherwise safe and working, make a backup using a working display. Do not erase or reinstall the system just because the screen is faulty.
- Try relevant checks, not random fixes. For an undamaged device, use the manufacturer’s brightness, connection and display diagnostics. Dell’s display troubleshooting guide is one example; instructions differ by model.
03 / Know what you are repairing
A screen is more than the picture.
Ask which component needs replacing. A panel-only price and a complete display-assembly price are not like-for-like quotes.
- 1 Lid and surrounding frame
- 2 Display panel
- 3 Hinges and mounting points
- 4 Display cable
Simplified illustration. Touch layers, cables and mounting arrangements vary by laptop.
Display panel
This produces the picture. A cracked internal panel usually needs replacement rather than a software fix.
Touch layer and glass
On a touchscreen, the touch surface and picture-producing panel may be separate or bonded together. The repair method depends on the exact assembly.
Display cable
This connects the display to the laptop. A cable fault can resemble a panel problem, so diagnosis matters.
Hinges, lid and frame
These support and protect the screen. Broken mountings need attention even if the picture still looks normal.
04 / Your choices
Four ways to move forward.
The right choice depends on the fault, your laptop and how you use it.
Diagnose and repair
Have it repaired professionally
Useful when the fault is unclear, the lid is damaged or you do not want to source and fit parts. Ask what will be checked and agree the scope and price before work starts.
For suitable models and experience
Replace it yourself
Possible on some laptops, but not a beginner-friendly job on every model. Check the exact service manual, required tools and parts before buying anything. Use the DIY preparation checklist.
A possible temporary workaround
Connect another display
If the laptop is safe, otherwise working and supports an external display, a compatible monitor or TV may let you continue working. This does not fix the damaged screen or prove which component has failed.
Look at the whole device
Consider a different laptop
If there are several faults or it no longer does what you need, compare a full repair quote with a suitable replacement. Include the effort of moving your files and setting everything up again.
05 / Understanding the cost
How much does screen repair cost?
There is no useful single price for every laptop. A cheap panel listing is not the same as a fitted, tested repair. Start with your exact model and ask for a complete quote.
- 01The exact screen
Standard, touch, high-resolution and specialist displays can have very different parts costs. The full model and screen specification matter.
- 02What is included
A panel, a complete lid assembly and a repair involving hinges or cables are different jobs. Check that quotes cover the same work.
- 03Parts and fitting
Ask about part condition, availability, labour, testing, delivery and any applicable tax or assessment charge.
Ask these before you agree.
- Which part is being replaced?
- Is the part new, used or refurbished?
- Are fitting, testing and tax included?
- Are there any other charges?
- What warranty applies to parts and labour?
For a useful estimate, include the full laptop model and explain any damage to the lid or hinges. Prices, availability and terms vary by device and repairer.
06 / Make a sensible comparison
Is your laptop worth repairing?
Age alone does not answer this. A laptop that still suits you may be worth keeping, while replacing a screen will not cure a weak battery or unrelated faults.
Check any existing warranty, accidental-damage cover or insurance before arranging work. Coverage depends on your agreement and the cause of damage.
The checklist does not calculate a value or decide for you. It helps you prepare the right questions.
07 / Be honest about the difficulty
Can you replace the screen yourself?
Some models use accessible screws and a replaceable panel. Others involve strong adhesive, fragile cables or a complete lid assembly. A video for a similar-looking laptop may not apply.
- Read the exact manual before ordering parts or opening the device.
- Follow the specified power and battery-isolation procedure. Switching off alone is not a substitute for the manual.
- Do not improvise with metal tools, heat or force where the instructions do not call for them.
- Stop if you find swelling, liquid damage, unexpected resistance or a different internal layout.
For supported Mac models, Apple’s Self Service Repair guidance explains the manuals, tools and any post-repair software steps. It is intended for people experienced in electronics repair.
08 / Get the part right
The same size does not mean
the same screen.
Do not order a panel only because the listing says 14-inch or 15.6-inch. Similar laptops can ship with different displays.
Find the full laptop model
Check the label, original order or manufacturer’s support tools. Record the complete model or product number, not only a family name such as Inspiron or Pavilion. Get help finding the model number.
Look up the approved part
Use the manufacturer’s parts catalogue or ask the supplier to confirm compatibility. If a panel label is needed, get experienced help rather than dismantling a damaged screen just to read it.
Get compatibility confirmed
Confirm the exact part or supported substitute, connector and mounting arrangement, resolution, touch support and other required specifications. A similar product photograph is not enough.
Before you order
A useful message to a parts supplier
“My laptop is [full model/product number]. Its current screen is [specification, if known]. Can you confirm this replacement is compatible, what is included and whether it can be returned if it is unsuitable?”
Keep serial numbers private. Share them only with a trusted manufacturer, repairer or supplier when required, not in public comments or photographs.
09 / Buying a replacement
Where should you look for a screen?
Choose a source that can identify the right part and clearly explain its condition and return terms. Availability varies by model and country.
Before paying: confirm compatibility, condition, what is included, return eligibility, warranty and the seller’s dead-pixel policy. A low headline price is not enough.
The form below is for repair enquiries, not a parts shop or a guarantee that a separately purchased screen can be fitted.
10 / What the work involves
How is a screen replaced?
This is an overview, not a set of dismantling instructions. The exact sequence, tools and safety steps must come from the service manual for your model.
Confirm the fault and part
Establish what has failed and check whether the panel, cable, lid or other components need attention.
Prepare and isolate the device
Back up accessible data where safe. Follow the manufacturer’s shutdown, battery and handling instructions before work begins.
Replace the specified component
Use the prescribed tools and method. Screws, adhesive and connectors vary, so there is no universal removal procedure.
Reassemble and test
Check picture, brightness, lid movement and any affected touch or camera functions. Complete model-specific software procedures where required.
11 / A few more answers
Still wondering about something?
Will a screen replacement erase my files?
A screen replacement does not normally require erasing storage. However, no repair should replace a backup. Tell the repairer if your files are important and ask before agreeing to any reset, reinstall or other work.
Can a cracked panel be fixed with software or a repair liquid?
Software cannot repair physically cracked display material. Do not press the damage or apply household products. An assessment can establish whether a panel or a larger assembly needs replacing.
Can I keep using the laptop with an external screen?
Sometimes, if it is otherwise safe, functioning and supports that connection. Do not keep using it if there is battery damage, liquid damage, exposed components or other safety concerns. A monitor is a workaround, not a repair.
Can I upgrade to a better screen?
Only if the laptop, connection, mounting and software support the alternative. Do not assume a higher-resolution or touchscreen panel will work. Ask for compatibility to be checked before buying.
Does accidental damage come under warranty?
Check your own terms. A standard warranty and accidental-damage cover are different, and a cracked screen does not establish what caused it. Contact the provider before arranging work if you intend to claim.
How long will a repair take?
The time depends on diagnosis, parts availability, any additional damage and the repairer’s workload. Ask for a realistic estimate for your exact laptop before arranging a visit or sending it anywhere.
What should happen to the old screen?
Use an appropriate electronics recycling route or ask the repairer to handle it. Check whether a parts supplier or manufacturer offers a return scheme. Do not put broken electronic components in ordinary household recycling.
Is this guide suitable for a phone screen or desktop monitor?
No. It focuses on built-in laptop displays. Phones, standalone monitors and specialist displays need different parts and procedures. MacBook repairs also need the instructions for the exact model.
12 / Professional help in the UK
Rather leave it
to someone else?
Tell us what happened and include your postcode. We can discuss the available repair options, likely work and price for your laptop.
You do not need to diagnose the fault. The exact model helps identify the right parts; a photograph of the damage can also help.
Cannot identify the model? Use the general enquiry form and explain what you know. A screen estimate may need the model to be confirmed first.
Outside the UK? You can still use all the advice above. For a repair, contact a suitable service in your own country.
Sources and further reading
- HP: damaged screens and displays
- Dell: display troubleshooting
- Dell: built-in display self-test
- Apple: Self Service Repair and manuals
- HP: identifying and ordering parts
This is general guidance, not a diagnosis or a substitute for the safety and repair instructions for your exact device. Repair methods and parts support vary by model.
Laptop screen repair service · Find your laptop model · UK repair coverage