A cracked laptop screen looks like the end of the laptop. Usually it is not. The screen is one part, and on most laptops it can be replaced without touching your files or your settings.
When a screen repair makes sense
- The laptop is otherwise working well and is only a few years old.
- It is a model with a common screen, so the part is easy to get.
- You would be happy with the laptop if the screen were perfect.
When to think twice
- The laptop is already slow, the battery is poor and the hinges are loose. A new screen will not fix any of that.
- The screen is a rare or very high-resolution panel that costs a lot to source.
- There is damage underneath the crack, such as a bent frame or a damaged motherboard from the same fall.
Check before you panic
If the picture is black but the laptop clearly starts (you hear the fan or see lights), plug it into an external monitor or a TV. If the picture appears there, the laptop itself is fine and the fault is the screen, its cable or its backlight. That tells us a lot before we have even seen the machine.
What to do in the meantime
- Stop using it if glass is loose. Cracked glass can cut and can spread.
- Do not press on the screen or close the lid hard.
- Back up what you can. A screen replacement does not normally affect your files, but it is a good moment to make a copy anyway.
- Note the make and model on the underside of the laptop.
What we need to quote
A photo of the screen and the make and model. With those we can usually tell you whether it looks like a screen replacement or something else, and what it would involve, before you bring it in. We quote after assessing the fault, and nothing is done until you agree.