CrackMacFix it or sell it? What to do with a MacBook that has a cracked screen
Repair it if the Mac is under about three years old or you rely on it daily. Sell it damaged if you were going to upgrade within a year. Keep using it as it is if the damage is along one edge and the Mac is older, since a repair can cost most of what it's worth.
Not ready to pay for a repair? If the damage sits along an edge, you can block off the broken part and keep using the rest.
See what the repair would cost for your model with the screen repair cost calculator.
A quick way to decide
| Your situation | Best move |
|---|---|
| AppleCare+ active | Repair. It's $99. |
| Newer Mac, used all day | Repair. Three more years of a good laptop is worth it. |
| Mostly at a desk | External monitor. Cheapest full fix. |
| Older Mac, damage along one edge | Keep using it with the dead part blocked off. |
| Upgrading soon anyway | Sell it damaged and put the money toward the next one. |
| Damage in the middle, or spreading fast | Repair or sell. Work-arounds won't carry you. |
What a damaged Mac sells for
Expect roughly half the price of the same model in good condition, sometimes less. Refurbishers and repair shops buy them because they can fit a display at trade cost. Apple's trade-in programme also accepts some damaged Macs, at a reduced value. Get two or three quotes and describe the damage honestly, with photos.
The case for keeping it
A MacBook with a dead strip down one side still has a fast processor, a good keyboard and battery, and most of a screen. If the repair would cost $400 on a Mac worth $500, keeping it and working around the damage is a real option, not a compromise.
Selling? Here's how to factory reset a MacBook with a broken screen first.
If the damage runs along one edge, CrackMac can keep windows, menus and the pointer off it. There's a free 30-minute trial.
The full comparison of repair, monitor, software and selling, with prices, is in cracked MacBook screen: your options.
Quick answers
How much is a MacBook with a cracked screen worth?
Typically around half of what the same Mac is worth undamaged, depending on the model, age and whether everything else works. Repair shops and refurbishers buy them because they can replace the display at trade cost.
Should I repair an old MacBook's screen?
If the repair costs most of what the Mac would sell for, usually not. Keep using it with an external monitor or software that avoids the damage, or sell it damaged and put the money toward a replacement.
Damage along an edge?
CrackMac keeps windows, the menu bar and the pointer on the part of the screen that still works, and paints the dead strip black. You draw the line once, on a picture of your screen, and it stays out of your way after that.
- Works on macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Free for 30 minutes of use, then a one-time price. No subscription.
- A refund within 7 days, no questions asked.