Broken laptop hinge or casing
The lid creaks, one corner lifts when you open it, or the hinge has torn clean out of the plastic. Hinge damage always gets worse with use, and the screen is next in line.
Why hinges break
A laptop hinge is a stiff metal joint screwed into small brass inserts set in the plastic of the lid and the base. With age the hinge tightens. The force of opening the lid then goes into the plastic around those inserts, which cracks and lets go.
From that point every opening levers the lid apart. The bezel splits, the back cover bows, and the display cable that runs through the hinge gets stretched or cut. Leave it long enough and the pressure cracks the screen itself, turning a casing repair into a casing and screen repair.
What to do in the meantime
- Open and close the lid as little as possible. Leave it open at one angle if you must keep working.
- Open it from the centre of the top edge with two hands, never from one corner.
- Do not glue it. Household glue does not hold hinge inserts and makes a proper repair harder.
- Connect an external monitor if the lid will no longer stay up.
How we fix it
Hinge replacement
Seized or bent hinges are replaced with the correct pair for the model.
Lid and bezel
Cracked back covers and bezels are replaced so the hinge has sound material to fix into.
Base and palm rest
Where the lower mounting points have broken, the base or palm rest section is replaced.
Cable check
The display and antenna cables through the hinge are inspected and replaced if damaged.
Casing parts are specific to each model and colour. Send us the full model number and a photo of the damage, and we will confirm availability and price before you send the laptop.
Common questions
How should I pack a laptop with a broken hinge?
Close the lid gently if it will close without force. If it will not, tell us and pack it open and flat with padding between the two halves. See the packing guide.
Can the old plastic be repaired instead of replaced?
Sometimes mounting points can be rebuilt, but a replacement part is the more durable repair when one is available.
Related pages
Won't Turn OnNo lights, no fan, no response to the power button.
Not ChargingPlugged in but the battery percentage will not rise.
Cracked or Broken ScreenCracks, lines, black blotches or a touchscreen that ignores you.
Black Screen, No DisplayLights and fan come on, but there is no picture.
Overheating and Fan NoiseHot to the touch, noisy fan, or sudden shutdowns.
Running SlowMinutes to start, constant freezing, the spinning circle.
Liquid SpillWater, tea, coffee or wine in the keyboard. Act quickly.
Keyboard or Trackpad FaultDead keys, repeating letters or a trackpad that will not click.
Won't Boot into WindowsStuck on the logo, repair loops, or "no bootable device".
Blue Screen and CrashesBlue screens, random restarts and freezes.
Battery Drains FastAn hour or less on battery, or a case that has started to bulge.
No Wi-Fi or BluetoothNo networks found, weak signal or constant drop-outs.
Viruses and Pop-upsFake warnings, hijacked browsers and scam callers.
Get a price from a technician
Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.
020 7237 6805 Creative IT workshopUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm