Broken laptop hinge, screen lid coming apart: what should you do?

One of the most common mechanical faults on laptops is a broken hinge. It usually starts with a small sign: a cracking sound near the hinge when you open the screen, the screen bezel or base separating slightly at a corner, or the screen moving more stiffly or more loosely than before.

What breaks is usually not the hinge

The metal body of the hinge is usually intact. What breaks are the plastic mounts that hold the hinge to the case and the threaded metal inserts inside them. When the hinge gets stiff, or the laptop is often opened by one corner, these mounts are strained, crack and eventually tear loose.

Why is it risky to keep using it?

A hinge whose mount has broken pushes the case a little further every time the screen is opened or closed. Along the way:

• the lid and bezel crack and the break grows,
• the display cable running through the hinge is pinched or worn, and flickering, lines or loss of picture begin,
• if the cable or panel is damaged, a hinge job turns into a screen job.

So once you notice the symptom, open and close the screen as little as possible, and open the laptop with both hands, holding it in the middle.

How is it repaired?

• Mount repair: if the damage is limited, the broken screw mounts are rebuilt and the hinge is fixed firmly to the case.
• Case part replacement: if the lid or base is badly broken, the relevant case part is replaced.
• Hinge replacement: if the hinge is stiff or bent, it is renewed too so the same problem does not return.
• Display cable and panel check: if picture problems have started, the cable and panel are tested and, if needed, a screen replacement is carried out.

The right method is decided after inspection, depending on the condition of the case and the model. If you notice cracking or separation near the hinge, submit a fault report; the earlier it is looked at, the smaller the repair stays. For other laptop faults, see our laptop technical service page.