# How can I, and should I, fix the monitor on my macbook (apple laptop) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345 "2013-10-27T01:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/1 "2013-10-27T01:27:04Z")
I’ve got a MacBook Pro, the shiny metal laptop from apple. My daughter had it when she went off to Quebec City for french class. She stood up too fast one day getting out of bed, and then fell onto the thing, denting the back of it. Now the screen is gone. Actually half-gone, one half is dark and one half works fine, but not usable overall. Is it practical to remove the monitor half of the computer and install a replacement? Is it worth it? Any suggestions as to how & where to get a new monitor part? Thanks. I’m in Canada if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/2 "2013-10-27T01:31:46Z")
It can certainly be done [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DSolxo06yb0/maxresdefault.jpg "MacBook Pro 13 screen replacement / Installation guide [Apple MacBook Pro 13 Unibody LCD repair]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSolxo06yb0) Whether it’s financially worthwhile I’m not so sure. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/3 "2013-10-27T01:34:50Z")
ebay. Replacing the screen is a difficult process (and requires special tools, like a tri-lobe screwdriver), but might be worthwhile. There are third-parties that do this sort of repair, too. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/4 "2013-10-27T09:53:48Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/5 "2013-10-27T15:19:34Z")
I did it on a white MacBook using tools, parts and step by step instructions on [iFixit.com](http://iFixit.com). Having a compartmented plastic box for screws from each step is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/6 "2013-10-28T00:39:04Z")
I guess I could 1) buy a new screen 2) try to fix it and the 3) send it off to be repaired if I totally screw it up. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-and-should-i-fix-the-monitor-on-my-macbook-apple-laptop/672345/7 "2013-10-28T00:54:38Z")
I second [iFixIt.com](http://www.ifixit.com/) as a good source for parts and video tutorials, especially for Macs. Yes, it can be done. It’s a bit of a pain-in-the-ass, and you may need to purchase special tools for it, but the iFixIt guides are good at listing exactly what’s needed (and you can buy the parts from them.)