CrackMac / Guides

Guides for a MacBook with a damaged screen

Straight answers to the questions people ask after cracking a MacBook display: what the damage means, what fixing it costs, and how to keep working in the meantime.

• Cracked MacBook screen? Every option, with real pricesStart here. Repair, external monitor, software or selling, and which one fits your situation.
• Free MacBook screen testFull-screen colours, a grid and an edge ruler to find dead pixels, lines and damaged areas.

What the damage means

• Lines on a MacBook screen: why they appear, and how to fix themVertical or horizontal lines, or flickering, after a MacBook drop usually mean the panel or its cable is damaged. How to tell which, what repair costs, and how to keep working.
• Half of my MacBook screen is black: causes and fixesWhen part of a MacBook display goes black but the rest works, it's usually panel damage along an edge. How to confirm it, what repair costs, and how to keep using the Mac.
• Left or right side of your MacBook screen black or flickering? Here's whyA black or flickering strip down the left or right side of a MacBook screen is usually panel damage. How to confirm it, what repair costs, how to keep working.
• Bottom of MacBook screen black, flickering or cracked: what to doA black, flickering or cracked band along the bottom of a MacBook screen: the usual causes, the 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro cable fault, and how to keep working.
• MacBook screen flickering? Software fixes first, then the hardware signsWhy a MacBook screen flickers and how to fix it: brightness and True Tone settings, refresh rate, apps, safe mode, and the signs that the display is failing.
• Pink screen, pink tint, or pink and green lines on a MacBook: what each meansPink screen then restart, a pink tint, or pink and green lines on a MacBook: which are a software crash, which are the display, and what to do about each.
• Black spot or dark spots on a MacBook screen: what they are and what to doA black spot or dark blotch on a MacBook display is usually pressure damage inside the panel. How to tell it from dead pixels or coating wear, whether it spreads, and your options.
• Dead pixels, stuck pixels or a dead strip on a MacBook: how to tell and what fixes eachHow to tell a stuck pixel from a dead one or a whole dead strip on a MacBook display, which ones can be fixed, and what to do about the rest.
• MacBook screen black but the keyboard lights up? Six fixes, in orderYour MacBook is on and the keyboard lights up, but the screen stays black. Six fixes to try in order, and how to tell a glitch from a dead display.
• MacBook screen cracked and black, or won't turn on? Is the Mac still alive?A cracked MacBook screen that stays black doesn't mean the Mac is dead. Four quick checks tell you whether it's the display, the backlight or the Mac itself.
• MacBook screen cracked by itself? Why it happens and what Apple will doMacBook Air and Pro screens can crack with no drop at all, usually from pressure when the lid closes. Why it happens, how Apple handles it, and your options if you're charged.
• Will a cracked MacBook screen get worse? How cracks spread and how to slow themCracks in a MacBook display often grow with pressure, flexing and heat. What makes them spread, how to slow it, and when to act.
• Spilled water on your MacBook? What to do now, and what screen damage looks likeSpilled liquid on a MacBook? What to do in the first minutes, why rice doesn't help, what liquid damage looks like on the screen, and what repair costs.
• Why does my MacBook screen keep dimming by itself? How to stop itWhy a MacBook screen keeps dimming on its own and how to stop it: auto-brightness, battery dimming, Low Power Mode, display sleep and HDR video.
• Ghost images or burn-in on a MacBook screen? What it is and how to clear itFaint leftover images on a MacBook screen are usually temporary image retention, not permanent burn-in. Why it happens, how to clear it, and when to worry.
• Scratches on a MacBook screen: can you remove them, and how to prevent moreWhy MacBook screens scratch, often from the keyboard, why polishing makes it worse, and what you can actually do about scratches on the display.
• MacBook black screen with only the cursor showing? How to fix itA black screen with only the pointer showing, often right after login or an update, means macOS started but the desktop didn't. Fixes in order.
• MacBook screen keeps going black for a second, or at random? Here's whyA MacBook screen that goes black for a second, or turns off and on at random, is usually a setting, a hot corner or a loose display cable. How to tell which.
• MacBook screen too dark, even at full brightness? Check these firstA MacBook screen that stays dark at full brightness is usually an accessibility setting like Reduce White Point. How to check, and when it's the backlight.
• MacBook screen looks yellow or washed out? How to fix the coloursA yellow tint or washed-out colours on a MacBook are usually Night Shift, True Tone or the colour profile. How to fix each, and when the panel is ageing.
• MacBook screen only works at certain angles? It's the display cableA MacBook screen that only works with the lid at certain angles has a failing display cable. Which models are affected, what the repair costs, and what to avoid.
• MacBook screen coating peeling or stained? What it is and what you can doPatches that look like stains or peeling on a MacBook screen are worn anti-reflective coating. Why it happens, whether you can fix it, and what Apple does.
• MacBook screen broken inside but the glass isn't cracked? Here's what happenedBlack areas, lines or ink-like blotches with no visible crack mean the LCD inside is damaged, often from pressure. What happened, and your options.
• MacBook screen white, white with lines or washed out: what it means and what to doA MacBook screen that turns white, shows white with lines, or looks washed out. How to tell a setting or software fault from a damaged panel or cable, and what each costs to fix.
• Pressure marks, white spots and backlight bleed on a MacBook screen: what they are and whether to fix themBright or cloudy spots, keyboard-shaped marks and light leaking at the edges of a MacBook screen. How to tell pressure damage from normal backlight bleed, and when it's worth repairing.
• Black bar at the top of your Mac screen: notch, full screen, a setting, or damageWhy a black bar appears across the top of a Mac screen, from the notch and full-screen apps to a resolution setting or a damaged panel, and how to fix each.
• Cracked corner on a MacBook screen: will it spread, and what should you do?A crack in the corner of a MacBook screen often spreads. How to slow it down, whether it's worth repairing, what it costs, and how to keep working if the corner goes dark.
• MacBook Pro screen flickering? Causes by model, and how to fix itWhy a MacBook Pro screen flickers, from ProMotion and brightness settings to the worn display cable on 2016 and 2017 models, and how to tell software from hardware.
• MacBook Air screen flickering? Why it happens and how to fix itWhy a MacBook Air screen flickers, from brightness and True Tone settings to a damaged panel or cable, with fixes for M1 to M5 and Intel models.
• Horizontal lines on a MacBook screen: what they mean and what to doBlack, white, coloured or flickering horizontal lines across a MacBook screen: three tests that tell software from a damaged panel or cable, and your options.
• MacBook screen glitching? How to find the cause and fix itFlashing blocks, tearing, a picture that jumps or a screen that glitches when you open the lid: how to tell a software glitch from a failing display, and what to do.

Repair, cost and selling

• How much does a MacBook screen replacement cost in 2026? Prices by modelWhat a MacBook Air or Pro screen replacement costs in 2026 at Apple, with AppleCare+, at independent shops and as a DIY part, and when each makes sense.
• Does AppleCare+ cover a cracked MacBook screen?AppleCare+ covers accidental screen damage on a MacBook for a $99 fee. What the standard warranty covers, how to check your coverage, and what to do if you're not covered.
• Fix it or sell it? What to do with a MacBook that has a cracked screenA simple way to decide between repairing, selling as is, trading in, or keeping a MacBook with a cracked screen, based on its age and how you use it.
• Can you trade in or sell a MacBook with a cracked screen?Where to sell or trade in a MacBook with a cracked screen, what Apple Trade In does with damaged Macs, what to expect, and what to do before handing it over.
• How to back up or get your files off a Mac with a broken screenFive ways to back up or move data off a MacBook with a broken screen: a monitor, Time Machine, Migration Assistant, Share Disk and Target Disk Mode.
• Is AppleCare+ worth it for a MacBook? A plain answer with the numbersAppleCare+ for a MacBook costs about $199 or more, and a screen repair without it costs $330 to $600. When it pays off, when it doesn't, and what it covers.
• MacBook hinge loose, wobbly or broken? What to do before it cracks the screenA loose, wobbly or broken MacBook hinge: why it happens, why Apple replaces the whole display to fix it, cheaper options, and how to stop it cracking the screen.
• Can you fix a cracked laptop screen without replacing it? The honest answerCan you fix a cracked laptop screen without a replacement? The honest answer, the myths that don't work, and the ways to keep using a cracked MacBook.
• MacBook Pro screen replacement: cost for every model in 2026What a MacBook Pro screen replacement costs for each 13, 14 and 16-inch model in 2026, with AppleCare+, as a DIY part with Apple's credit, and on Intel models.
• MacBook Air screen replacement: cost for every model in 2026What a MacBook Air screen replacement costs for the M1, the 13 and 15-inch M2 to M5, and Intel models in 2026, with AppleCare+, DIY with Apple's credit, and used parts.
• How to factory reset a MacBook with a broken screenHow to erase a MacBook with a cracked or black screen before selling, trading in or repairing it: with a monitor, from Recovery, or with VoiceOver, and how to remove Activation Lock.

Keep working on a damaged screen

• How to use a MacBook with a cracked or broken screen: five ways that workFive practical ways to keep working on a MacBook with a damaged display, from an external monitor to keyboard-only tricks and software that avoids the dead area.
• How to disable part of a MacBook screen and keep using the restmacOS has no setting to stop using part of a display. Which kinds of damage can be blocked off, why resolution tricks don't work, and how to set it up step by step.
• Where is the Apple menu on a Mac, and how to open it when you can't see itMenu bar hidden, missing or under a broken part of the screen? Check the auto-hide setting, then use the keyboard routes to every menu command, plus a fix for a damaged top edge.
• Mac cursor keeps disappearing? How to find it, and stop losing itOn a Mac with a damaged screen the pointer vanishes into the dead area. Built-in settings that help you find it, and how to stop it going there at all.
• Mac keyboard shortcuts for when you can't see part of the screenThe Mac keyboard shortcuts that matter when part of the display is dead: reaching menus, moving and resizing windows, switching apps and finding the pointer.
• How to connect a MacBook with a broken screen to a TV or monitor with HDMIConnect a MacBook with a broken or black screen to a TV or monitor with HDMI, even when you can't see anything. Cables, the mirror shortcut and fixes.
• Using a MacBook with the lid closed and an external monitor (clamshell mode)How to run a MacBook as a desktop with the lid closed on an external monitor, what you need, and what to do if the display won't wake.
• How to turn off your MacBook screen and use only an external monitorHow to turn off a MacBook's built-in screen and use only an external monitor, with the lid closed or open, and what to do if the screen is only partly broken.
• How to log in to and use a Mac with a broken screen you can't seeCan't see the login screen because your MacBook's display is broken? How to log in blind, use VoiceOver to hear the screen, and get a picture on a monitor.
• External monitor or TV shows only the wallpaper and cursor? Here's whyYour monitor or TV shows the desktop wallpaper and the pointer but no windows? The Mac is using it as a second screen. How to mirror or move everything over.
• How to move the menu bar on a Mac: other screens, hiding, icons, and the bottom-edge questionmacOS keeps the menu bar at the top of one display. How to move it to another screen, hide it, rearrange its icons, and what to do when the top of your screen is damaged.
• How to move the Dock on a Mac: to the side, to another screen, or out of the wayThe Mac Dock can sit on the left, right or bottom, move between displays and hide itself. How to do each, and how to keep it on the working part of a damaged screen.
• How to make your Mac screen smaller: resolution, zoom, underscan and using only part of the screenThree different problems hide behind 'make my Mac screen smaller'. How to fit more on the screen, shrink a picture that spills off a TV, and use only the working part of a damaged display.
• CrackMac vs BetterDisplay for a damaged MacBook screen: which to useAn honest comparison of the two Mac apps that can keep you working on a screen with a damaged edge: how each works, setup, price and trade-offs.
• Can you still use a MacBook with a cracked screen? Is it safe?A cracked MacBook screen is safe to keep using with some care. The real risks, how usable the Mac stays with each kind of damage, and how to keep the crack from spreading.
• Underscan on a Mac: where it is, why it's missing, and what to do insteadWhere the Underscan slider is, why it's missing or keeps resetting, and why a MacBook's own screen never gets it. What to do in each case.
• Custom resolution on a MacBook: how to set one, and what it can't doHow to see every resolution macOS offers, add one it doesn't, and why no resolution can leave a damaged part of the built-in screen unused.
• How to lock the mouse to one screen on a MacmacOS has no setting to keep the pointer on one display. A free arrangement trick, apps that add a barrier, and how to keep the cursor off a broken MacBook screen.

Repair it yourself

• Can you replace a MacBook screen yourself? A complete DIY guideHow to replace a MacBook screen yourself: full display assembly or LCD panel only, the tools, the steps, how hard it really is, videos, and what it costs by model.
• Where to buy a MacBook replacement screen, and how not to get a bad oneApple, iFixit, eBay, Amazon and AliExpress compared for MacBook replacement screens: prices by model, genuine versus aftermarket, and how to match the right part.
• MacBook Air M1 A2337 screen replacement: every option and what it costsEvery way to replace the screen of an M1 MacBook Air, model A2337: Apple, AppleCare+, Self Service Repair, eBay and iFixit parts, LCD only, the steps and videos.
• MacBook LCD-only replacement: how it works, and when it's worth itWhat an LCD-only MacBook screen repair involves, how hard it is compared with a full display assembly, the real cost difference, the risks and video guides.
• Apple Self Service Repair for a MacBook screen: what it costs and how it worksHow Apple's Self Service Repair works for a MacBook screen: ordering the genuine part, renting tools, the credit for your old display, net cost by model, and the steps.
• MacBook display cable replacement: symptoms, causes and costHow to tell a failing MacBook display cable from a broken panel, why the cable usually means a new display assembly, and the cheaper specialist repairs.

Everyday Mac display fixes

• Mac window stuck off screen? Five ways to get it backA Mac window that's off screen or too big to grab can be pulled back with the Window menu, tiling shortcuts, the Displays settings or Mission Control.
• Mac Dock disappeared? How to get it back and keep it thereIf your Mac's Dock vanished, it's usually hidden, on another display, or stuck. How to bring it back, keep it in place, and move it off a damaged edge.
• Mac not detecting an external monitor? Fixes that workYour Mac doesn't see the monitor? Check input, cable and port, use Detect Displays, know your Mac's display limit, and try safe mode. Step by step.
• How to clean a MacBook screen and get rid of keyboard marksApple's way to clean a MacBook screen, what to use on stubborn keyboard marks, what never to use, and how to keep the marks from coming back.
• Menu bar icons hidden behind the MacBook notch? How to get them backWhen a MacBook's menu bar runs out of room, macOS hides icons behind the notch without telling you. Built-in fixes, a spacing tweak, and menu bar managers.
• Mac screen zoomed in, or shifted to one side? How to fix it in secondsIs your Mac screen stuck zoomed in, or shifted to one side as you move the pointer? It's the Zoom accessibility feature. Turn it off with Option-Command-8.
• Are MacBook screen protectors and keyboard covers bad for the screen?Apple warns that covers can damage a MacBook display when the lid closes. What's risky, what's fine, and safer ways to protect the screen and keyboard.
• MacBook screen frozen? How to unfreeze it and stop it happeningMac frozen and nothing responds? Force quit the app, restart the Mac with the power button, and find out what keeps freezing it. Step by step.
• "Your screen is being observed" on a Mac: what it means and how to stop itThe Mac message 'Your screen is being observed' means an app or device can see or record your screen. How to find which one, and turn it off.
• How to mirror a MacBook to a TV, and what to do when it won't workHow to mirror a MacBook to a TV with AirPlay or an HDMI cable, and what to check when screen mirroring doesn't show up or won't connect.
• MacBook HDMI not working on the TV, or no signal? Fixes in orderTV says no signal when you connect a MacBook over HDMI? Check the input, adapter and cable, then the resolution and TV settings. Fixes in order.
• MacBook connected to the TV with HDMI but no sound? How to fix itPicture on the TV but no sound from a MacBook over HDMI? Choose the TV as the output, set the volume on the TV, and fix the sample rate if it still won't play.
• USB-C to HDMI adapter for a MacBook: what to look for before you buyWhich USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable works with a MacBook Air or Pro, what 4K at 60Hz needs, why charging pass-through matters, and what to avoid.