MacBook screen replacement for cracked, dark and lined displays.
A crack from closing the lid on earbuds, lines across the picture, or a screen that’s gone dark while the Mac keeps running. We confirm it’s the display, not the board, then replace it.
- 2–5 days typical
- No fix, no fee
- 90-day warranty
- Free insured mail-in shipping
Signs you need this repair
Sound familiar? The diagnosis is always free.
- Cracks or ink-like spreading after the lid closed on something
- Vertical or horizontal lines, or colored bands
- Dark screen, but you hear the startup sound or see the keyboard light
- Flicker, or a glow along the bottom edge that looks like stage lights
- The picture only works with the lid at certain angles
- Worn, patchy coating that looks like stains on the screen
- Bright spots or dead pixels
Screen, cable or logic board? Test it first
Connect your MacBook to an external monitor or TV. If the external screen works and the built-in one doesn’t, the fault is in the display, its cable or the backlight. If both stay blank, the problem is on the logic board, and a new screen won’t fix it. See MacBook logic board repair.
If the screen works when the lid is nearly closed but fails as you open it, the flexible display cable is the likely cause. That was a known weakness on the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 and 2017, where the backlight cable wears as the hinge moves, often starting as a stage-light glow at the bottom of the screen.
We run these checks at the free diagnosis too, with a known-good display where possible, so you only pay for the part that failed.
How MacBook screen replacement works
On every MacBook with a Retina display, the screen is a sealed assembly: the panel, the cover glass, the aluminum lid, the hinges, the FaceTime camera, and the wireless antennas, all built as one unit. The most common repair is replacing that full display assembly. It’s the most reliable fix and gives you a like-new lid and hinges.
On some models, a panel-only repair that keeps your original lid is possible and costs less. It’s more delicate work and not available for every model or every kind of damage. If it’s an option for your Mac, we explain the trade-offs and let you choose.
During the repair we disconnect the battery first, swap the assembly, then test brightness, color, the camera, the microphones, wireless signal, and lid sleep and wake.
MacBook display types
- Retina LCD: MacBook Air models and the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
- Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR): the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 onward. These are the most expensive panels to replace.
Newer MacBook Air and 14- and 16-inch Pro models also have a camera notch in the display and very thin bezels, which leaves less margin for anything trapped between the keyboard and the screen.
Why MacBook screens crack when the lid closes
The gap between keyboard and screen on a closed MacBook is very small. A pen, a USB stick, earbuds or a crumb left on the keyboard is enough to crack the panel when the lid is closed or the bag is squeezed. Lifting the Mac by one corner of the open lid also stresses the display.
Apple advises against fitting camera covers on MacBooks for the same reason: on thin-bezel models, a cover can press on the screen and crack it when the lid closes. Thick keyboard covers can cause similar pressure marks.
What affects the price of a MacBook screen replacement
MacBook screen replacements start from $249. The main factors are your model and screen size, whether it’s an LCD or mini-LED display, whether a full assembly or a panel-only repair suits your damage, and any extra damage to the hinges, lid or display cable. We confirm the price before starting. If your Mac was also dropped or got wet, we check the board at the same diagnosis. In the meantime, an external monitor, keyboard and mouse let you keep using the Mac with the lid closed while it’s on power.
What to do before you send it
- If the Mac still works with an external monitor, use it to run a Time Machine backup or check that iCloud Drive is up to date.
- Remove anything between the keyboard and screen, plus any camera cover, before closing the lid for shipping.
- If you’d rather not share your login, create a separate standard user account for testing before you send it. Otherwise we may ask for your login password only to test the screen.
- You don’t need to turn off Find My or sign out of your Apple Account.
Mail it in from anywhere in the US
No repair store near you? Book online and we'll email a free, prepaid, insured shipping label. We diagnose it within 24h of arrival, repair it once you approve the price, and ship it back insured. How mail-in works.
Questions
Will my FaceTime camera and microphones still work?
Yes. On most models the camera is part of the display assembly, so a full assembly replacement includes a new camera. We test the camera, microphones and wireless signal before the Mac ships back.
Is the peeling coating on my older MacBook Pro screen a fault?
On many 2012 to 2017 Retina MacBook Pros, the antireflective coating can wear away in patches, often from keyboard contact and cleaning. It can’t be repaired in place; the fix is a new display. Clean your screen only with a soft, lint-free cloth.
My hinge is loose. Is that a screen repair?
On Retina MacBooks the hinges are part of the display assembly, so a loose or stiff hinge is usually fixed by replacing that assembly. We check first whether anything simpler will do.
How long does a MacBook screen replacement take?
Most fit the usual 2 to 5 day turnaround at the bench. Displays for less common models, or mini-LED Pro panels, can take longer to source, and we’ll tell you before you approve the repair.
Will a new screen fix my flickering display?
If the flicker comes from the panel or its cable, yes. If it comes from the graphics or backlight circuit on the logic board, no. The diagnosis tells us which before you pay for anything.
More MacBook repairs
Something else not quite right?
Battery
Service battery warning, short battery life
Keyboard & top case
Sticky, repeating or dead keys
Liquid damage
Diagnosed free. You see the price before any work.
Won't turn on / logic board
Diagnosed free. You see the price before any work.
Won't charge (USB-C / MagSafe)
Port or charging circuit faults
Trackpad
Won't click, unresponsive or swollen battery pushing it up
Repair guides
Try this first.
Does your MacBook need a new battery?
How to check your MacBook's battery, when to replace it, and what affects the cost.
Spilled something on your MacBook? Do this now.
The first few minutes matter most. Here's exactly what to do, and what to avoid.
MacBook won't turn on? Try these fixes first.
No lights, no fans, nothing? Rule out power and the display, then learn when it's the logic board.
Broken today? Start your repair in two minutes.
Three quick questions: your model, what's wrong, and how you'll get it to us. See your price, then book a nearby store or mail it in.