It is fairly common to have the hinges of your laptop broken after years of use. But in no way does it mean you need to replace your laptop when replacing the hinges will be just as good of a choice, in most cases.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a few methods to fix a broken laptop hinge at home. Some of them are as simple as using glue while others involve drilling and a few complicated steps. 

So without further ado, let’s jump to details.

How Do Laptop Hinges Work?

Hinges are a mechanical component of a laptop that supports the weight of the screen, connects it to the chassis, and provides mobility. The hinges support the opening and closing of the laptop screen and help the display to stay stable. 

The hinge of a laptop is made up of two interlocking pieces, which are attached to the screen and chassis from each end. These pieces are held together by screws and springs. Most hinges are designed for rotational movements up to 135°. A few smaller laptops come with hinges that offer vertical and lateral movements as well as 360° rotations.

Types Of Hinge Problems

Laptop hinges are fragile and very much prone to damage due to mishandling. If you’re a long-time laptop user, you must’ve encountered problems with the hinges of your laptop, at some point. 

The hinges of a laptop can be damaged in different ways. Some of the common types of hinge problems are listed below. 

• The housing of the hinge is broken into pieces.
• The brass screws hold the plastic housing. They can be damaged or broken.
• The display isn’t working properly due to a damaged wire connection between the screen and the chassis. 
• The screen is not opening smoothly, or at all, due to rust build-up.

Read the Complete Article On Why Do Laptop Hinges Break?

6 ways to Fix a Broken Laptop Hinge

Before diving into the ways, we recommend checking this detailed video about how to fix a laptop hinge. This will clarify a lot of problems and help you understand the core reason.

If you are still not able to fix your problem by checking the above video.

Please check the following solutions, you’ll find both temporary and permanent fixes for a broken laptop hinge. Some of them are simple methods that don’t necessarily require expertise whereas others involve bolts, nuts, and drilling.

So continue reading and find out the most suitable method for yourself. 

1- Use Friction Pads

Friction pads provide stability to the screen and reduce wobbling to a great extent. Installing a friction pad at the hinges will allow the screen to open and close smoothly.

However, just remember that this is a temporary fix. A friction pad attached to hinges will not suffice in the long run. Therefore, you’ll have to find an alternative repair method or replace the hinge sooner or later.

2- Place a Hard Object

This one is yet another temporary method to fix a broken laptop hinge.

• Find a hard object that can stay firm in its place.
• Open the laptop screen and rest it against the object. 
• Make sure the object is not easily moveable. 
• To be on the safer side, you can place friction pads on the bottom of this object to help it stay in its place. 
• Use the laptop in the same position and do not move it unnecessarily.

As mentioned earlier, this is not a permanent fix. It can only keep the laptop functional as far as keeping it up and running is concerned but you’ll not be able to move it or carry it around with you. Therefore, this method is only useful if you require an immediate solution for your broken laptop hinge. 

3- Order a Replacement 

If you’re looking for a better and permanent fix, you should consider ordering replacement hinges from the manufacturer. While you can purchase compatible hinges for your laptop in the market, we recommend you order them from the manufacturer, especially if your laptop is still under the warranty period.

Alternatively, you can also call the customer service of your laptop and tell them the details of your problem. They might be able to help you fix the issue with a few simple steps. Otherwise, you can always order replacement parts directly from them and get them replaced.

4- Replace with New Ones

If you’re purchasing replacement hinges for your laptop, make sure to have the model number of your laptop at hand. Find hinges that are compatible with your laptop at a local hardware store, online store, or from the manufacturer. 

Once you have the new hinges available, follow the steps below to replace the broken hinges with the new ones.

• Remove the battery of your laptop and disconnect the power cable. Better yet, remove the hard drive and memory sticks as well.
• Open the laptop base by removing the screws at the bottom of the laptop. Keep the screws safely aside for reassembling later. 
• Take a flathead screwdriver. Using its tip, pry up the bezel of the keyboard and remove it. 
• Remove the covers of the hinges. 
• Remove the cables that connect the display to the motherboard. 
• Next, you have to disconnect the display from the base of the laptop. 
• Open and remove the screws that connect the laptop display to its base. Now gently remove the screen from the laptop and put it safely aside. 
• Unplug the video cable and unscrew the hinges.
• Now, remove the broken hinges and replace them with new ones.
• Finally, reassemble the laptop by following the steps above in reverse order. 

Note: Avoid disassembling your laptop if you’re inexperienced. In case you’re inexperienced, we recommend you take your laptop to a professional to get the hinges replaced.

5- Use Gorilla Glue

Another common method of fixing a broken laptop hinge is by using gorilla glue epoxy. 

• Purchase a tube of gorilla glue epoxy or super glue. 
• Carefully apply it to the broken parts of the hinge to glue them together.
• Hold the glued parts together until the hinges feel firmly held together. 
• Let it dry and then, use your laptop as usual.

A gorilla glue fix may not last you a long while. In case the hinges break again, you can use this method to fix them again. However, it may not always be successful, depending on the extent to which the hinges are broken. 

6- Place the Hinge Outside

For this method, you’ll need a drill and some 14mm long M3 screws. This method should be the last thing on your mind as it involves drilling and can be risky for your laptop, especially if you’re not techy. 

For the ones who can deal with complicated technical fixes, we have listed a few simple steps below, which can be used to fit the hinge outside the case in order to fix it.

Here’s what you need to do:

• On the hinge side, drill 2mm pilot holes through the case. Use the bottom two screw holes in the bezel.
• For the next step, use a drill to make 3mm pilot holes from the case cover back to the hinge.
• Now insert the M3 screw into the hole from the case side and connect it to the nut on the bezel side. Longer screws can be filed down to an appropriate size. 

Note: To hide the drill holes and nuts, take black enamel and dab it onto the area. 

Can Laptop Hinges Be Replaced?

If your laptop hinges are broken, you don’t need to worry. You can repair or do quick fixing at home or with the help of a professional. 

If you want to replace the laptop hinges, it is best to get in touch with the manufacturer of the laptop. If your laptop is under warranty, you can get a hinge replacement for free. Other than that, you can also purchase hinge replacements online or from your local computer hardware store.

Once you’ve purchased the hinges, you can either get them replaced by a professional or simply do it yourself. In the earlier section of this guide, we have discussed an easy method to replace broken laptop hinges at home. It involves disassembling the laptop and then, replacing the hinge and reassembling again. So whether or not you want to replace it yourself is up to you. 

Conclusion

Fixing a broken laptop hinge can be a little complicated for some people. But if you follow any one of the methods we have discussed in our guide, you can successfully fix or replace a broken laptop hinge. However, if you’re not much of a techy, we do recommend you get in touch with a professional in case you decide to replace the broken hinge.