How to remove stripped screw from laptop or desktop can be rather doable. But, it depends on the screw type and the user’s situation when taking apart their computer.
The screws where the threads or head has been poorly stripped. They may be because of several factors, like using the wrong size of the screwdriver. Applying pressure when trying to tighten it.
This means once such a situation occurs. Pulled screws may damage other parts of a laptop, such as the motherboard or casing.
This guide shows how to remove laptop screws without a screwdriver or desktop. It includes anything from basic to the most complicated procedure.
There are occasions when a rounded, broken, or damaged screw is necessary. When you encounter this type of screw. You can follow these tips to achieve effective results.
These methods work for how to remove small stripped screw from laptop and desktop. And how to unscrew broken screw in laptop or your PC.
Contents
Common Causes of Stripped Screws
I have learned through experience that screws often get stripped for a few reasons.
Using the Wrong Tool:
I picked up a screwdriver that was a bit too large when I opened my laptop for the first time. The result? A stripped screw head.
Applying Too Much Force:
The same thing has happened to me at times when I tried to crank particularly tight screws loose.
Wear and Tear:
After years of use, a screw may become worn out. Consistent unscrewing and screwing can damage the grip of the screw.
Importance of Removing a Stripped Screw
Knowing how to remove a stripped screw from laptop or a IPhone is vital for several reasons:
Access to Components:
Internal parts of a laptop are usually protected by screws. Motherboards, storage drives, and coolers are some. and cooling systems.
If you cannot remove these screws, you may not be able to perform necessary upgrades or repairs.
Preventing Damage:
Deflected, stripped screws lead to several issues. They can either harm the housing or jeopardize the hardware.
One should spend time on such screws. Ignoring these screws may lead to expensive damage in the future, and that can be dangerous.
Functionality:
You can have a laptop that has no screws or has flawed screws, and the laptop may not function.
It can fall and get damaged, produce noises or become very hot. Components that move can fail or make noises. Stripped screws will stay fixed, allowing the device to work without any problems.
Personal Satisfaction:
It’s fun to conquer great technical difficulties. To get the stripped screw may be satisfying, especially when you are do it yourself kind of person.
Imagine this:
You simply cannot upgrade a laptop except for changing its hard disk drive. But the last screw won’t budge.
Frustration begins to mount. You never know how good it feels to remove that screw until you free it and open the device with ease.
Preparation Tips For How to Remove Stripped Screw from Laptop
Gather Necessary Tools
Many rush to remove stripped screws from a laptop, without researching first. In simple terms, one must mobilize all the appropriate equipment to hand.
The right equipment can greatly help. A complex process exists. Here’s a handy list of remover tools you might need:
- Screwdrivers:
Precision set screwdrivers, Phillips, and are usually effective in some scenarios.
- Rubber Bands:
They can also grip stripped screws. They increase traction when over-tightening.
- Pliers:
A pair of needle-nose pliers makes a good tool for holding a slightly exposed screw.
- Drill:
For those hard-to-budge screws, it may be effective to use a drill, whichever you find easier and safe.
- Laptop Screw Extractor:
Also, this tool makes it easier to use stripped screws. Almost a saving grace.
During a laptop upgrade the other day, a stripped screw utterly got the better of me. I learned that sorting my tools before a task reduces frustration.
Create a Work Area : How to Remove Rounded Screw From Laptop
Then, it is good to organize the work area to boost productivity. A clean and uncluttered environment will increase your productivity.
As well, it will minimize circumstances of rubbing, which in most cases results in loss of parts particularly the small ones. Consider these pointers:
Choose a Flat Surface:
The best one is clean, level, and filled with bright light. Do not work on carpets to avoid charges that come with static electricity.
Organize Your Tools:
One can always find the place of a tray or a magnetic strip on which they can place their tools. It will enable you to avoid losing them.
Wear Protective Gear:
A helmets protects your head; special glasses can save your eyes from small metal fleas.
These tasks may seem like common sense. But, they are important. A proper workplace allows to perform tasks and sets a company image.
With your tools at hand and your workspace all set up, the next problem is how to get that stripped screw out.
Now let us discuss on variety of principled removals that you may use to get back your laptop insides.
Securing the Laptop For How to Unscrew Broken Screw From Laptop
With all the material now in hand, the next move you wish to make is to secure your laptop. In the case of detailed work say in handling small gadgets, this is very important.
An unstable PC brings in avoidable hazards as a laptop caught up in a loop causes damage. Here are some useful tips for securing your laptop in a way that ensures greatest protection:
Choose a Flat Surface:
Use a strong table or desk. This they do in order to avert middle of the road to bend, as pushed by this tool. I’ve found, from experience, that using different surfaces causes more problems.
Use Anti-slip Mats:
A rubber mat or any surface that cannot cause slippage is one of the requirements. They will stop your laptop from moving on furniture.
Remove Accessories:
Some of them include; Turn off external devices such as the flash disks and the hard disks. That will help in the repair.
Power Off the Laptop:
Check that no batteries are installed on the laptop; if so, then remove it. Using a stuck screw to unscrew with the laptop on is very dangerous.
This is because it may be risky for you and when doing so the machine may not respond in the same manner you expect.
Ground Yourself:
Do not allow yourself to add static damage by grounding yourself. If your hands are available, use them.
Step-by-Step Guide How To Remove Stripped Screw From Laptop
Method 1: Using a Rubber Band
Let us look at some tried and true ways to remove those irritating stripped screws.
An easy and extremely effective method is the rubber band technique. This method uses friction to have the capability of unsticking into the screw. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Bending the Rubber Band Over the Screw
The first need for practicing this method is to get a rubber band. That is not a problem; it does not even have to be high fashion; simple will suffice. Is there any problem with a number one? Here’s how you get started:
Choose the Right Rubber Band:
Usually, I prefer to use a thicker rubber band to get a better grip inside the glass.
Position it Correctly:
Slide the rubber band over stripped screw head as you have to be very delicate in the whole process. During the stripping operation some loss of mass is incurred.
I first used this method and felt a linger feeling though I did it out of curiosity whether the method could work.
Step 2: Turning the Screwdriver Gently
Now that you have it secured with the rubber band, let´s do the real test by using your screwdriver:
Using the Appropriate Screwdriver:
Make sure that you choose a screwdriver with exactly the right pattern so it fits perfectly into the rubber band cushioning. A snug fit is vital.
Turn Slowly and Steadily:
Very gently pull the screwdriver counterclockwise, going slow and steady. Don’t rush.
To my surprise, I felt the screw slowly unthread. Once it made contact with a stripped spot, the rubber helped stick there as I turned easier.
Thus, This is the simplest and most effective way to remove stripped screws in a nutshell. The simplest method sometimes works best. This trick prevented me from dying of migrane.
Method 2: Adding Heat to the Screw
You need to realize that if the rubber band trick doesn’t work, do worry. Another excellent way to get rid of stripped screws that I have found really useful is simple: heat it up.
It uses the concept of thermal expansion to get those pesky screws loosened up. In this post, we explain you step-by-step how to do that.
Step #1– Heating the Screw with a hair dryer for remove a stripped screw from laptop
First, you need a hair dryer. Here’s how to get started:
Temperature Control:
Point the hair dryer to the lowest setting and high heat where you are blowing. This should work with any hair dryer. You’ll have to heat the screw enough that it expands a tiny bit.
Focus on the Screw:
Be sure to keep the dryer a couple inches away from the screw so not else gets damaged. I want to be in the middle of all these things.
When I finally tried it myself, I aimed heat at a stripped screw for 30 seconds. That warmth inside was still present so I continued the chase.
Step #2: Twist the Screwdriver with Slow Speed
As that screw gets hot, you start… Here’s what to do:
If you have no the right Screwdriver:
This means that in all the times, make sure that you have the correct screwdriver. For this method, it is necessary to have a rather accurate and precise one.
Alternate Step:
Twist the screwdriver in an anti-clockwise direction with considerable caution. Add a little pressure. You may need to apply a bit of force, but do not crank it up.
A few turns caused the screw to loosen over time before it came out completely. Turning this part counter clockwise should be done gently and gradually.
By now, you would have realized one of the many ways that heating up can save your skin from stripped screw removal.
If all else fails, please protect the nearby parts from your soldering iron. Try it yourself, and you might discover that this is one of your new favorite techniques too.
Method 3: Using a Screw Extractor Kit
If you’ve tried the previous methods it may be time to bring out the big guns: a screw extractor kit. In some cases, these handy tools can save your life by removing damaged screws. So here we share with you how to use easy out stripped screw.
Step 1. Choosing the Correct Size Extractor
The very first thing these screw extractors require is to choose the right size you wish to use. Here’s how I approach it:
Check the Kit:
A screw extractor kit is the same thing, but in combination with several sizes of the tool to fit most setups. Quite often all I do is that I organize them all in a row and select the most appropriate one.
Fit is Key:
So that sugar Bush the extractor could sustain a good bite into the stripped screw head. It should be somewhat tight as we are making the threading.
In my initial attempt, I went to the maximum size immediately, expecting it to work faster. In fact.
It was trial and error, but I found with a smaller extractor the screw would engage better.
Step #2: Turning Around at the Same Pressure
The next step is the method used in applying equal pressure while twisting. Here’s the process I follow:
Start With a Pilot Hole:
Often time you may have to start by drilling a small hole in the center of stripped out screw and extractor bites into. Do this very gently so as not to harm the adjacent surface or vicinity.
Insert the Extractor:
Place screw extractor on a pilot hole. Turn it counter clockwise while applying equal pressure.
Be Patient:
The hard way I discovered is that if I rush this step, then the extractors break. If you relax the relationship for a while, you’ll feel its tight grip on you.
Exerting the right grip and applying more pressure as you hold the handle of the screw, should free it.
That particular screw that does not want to budge sometimes fills me with joy when I finally get it out.
For stripped screws the best tool which one can recommend is the screw extractor kit. I find this method one of the easier ways to fix things once.
Method 4: Slotting the Dremel Way
For the same reason, after trying everything above and if you have a really stubborn stripped screw then there is one more thing that I can do:
Sand it and then with the help of a Dremel tool cut grooves on it. This one is a little more tedious, but it gets results. Let’s walk through the steps.
Step 1: Cut a Cross Slot
Step One: Make a Slot Using Your Dremel Here’s how I typically do it:
Safety First:
Wear your safety goggles before getting started. Remember sparks and shard of metal may fly while cutting. That unfortuntely I had to learn this in the hard way.
Carefully Cut the Slot:
Add a cutting wheel to your Dremel and put an even pressure downward right in the middle of that stripped screw head.
Make a cross-shaped incision. Do it carefully and with little pressure. As a result, the surrounding surfaces will not be damaged.
I realised that taking my time with it, was working more effectively for me. I have rushed through times before and just led to slipping & making things worse.
Step 2: How to Unscrew Using a Flathead Screwdriver
Let’s now utilize the slots that you have created later on that you have created it already.
Select the Right Flathead Screwdriver:
Next, make sure you select a flat head screwdriver that will fit nicely into the slot that you have created here. The better the fit, the easier this part will be.
Unscrew with Care:
Push the flathead screwdriver into the slot and twist it in a direction within the clock cycle. Apply firm, even pressure.
So, for a last resort a slot can be made using the Dremel tool when there are issues with stripped screws. But, if you want that screw out, it alters the situation significantly.
If nothing else has worked, you should try out this method; it will shock you with how gratifying it is.
Possible Locations in Which You Can Strip a Screw on a Laptop: How to Remove a Stripped Screw From a Laptop Case
Laptop screws can get stripped for many reasons. They could be over tightened or perhaps the wrong tool is being used. Common areas you might encounter this include:
Bottom Panel:
After years of use, the screws which secure that bottom panel are frequently stripped. Because someone torqued too hard as they were taking them off or putting it back. This area has been found to contain the highest number of screws on the average.
Battery Compartment:
This is true if your laptop has a detachable battery. When tightened too much, the battery compartment screws can get stripped.
Hinges:
Although it is relatively simple to insert the screws that lock the hinges, they can often be stripped. Hinges and screws are affected by the state of the hinges.
Access Slots:
Most laptops feature replaceable RAM or hard disk interfaces that screws may lock. They can easily be stripped, especially if small and require a special screwdriver.
Motherboard Mounts:
The same applies to the screws that hold down the motherboard. You can also strip those. These usually must more careful handling because they sit in a very delicate spot.
Cooling Fans:
Fans are usually locked with screws. Unless they are replaced or altered safely, screws can shift off and cause damages to them.
Keyboard:
In some laptops, the only way of taking off the keyboard is through the screws. These screws can be pulled from fixing or cleaning the keyboard. Maybe that is why the screws are stripped, their location.
Unscrew it gently and constantly with the right tools. Do not apply too much force. When you faced with a stripped screw.
As for the way you want to remove the screw from the material, you are spoiled for choice.
Frequently Asked Question About How to Remove Stripped Screw From Laptop
1. How do you unscrew a stripped screw from a laptop?
To remove a stripped screw from a laptop, you can use several methods: Rubber Band Method:
Rubber Band Method:
Put a big rubber band around the stripped screw, then place the tip of your screwdriver into it and rotate. This can provide extra grip.
Pliers:
However, if the head of the screw is visible, attempt to twist the screw counterclockwise if you’re holding the metal needle nose.
Super Glue Method:
Put a drop of super glue, then take a screwdriver and stick it in the screw. Do not try to turn the screw again until the material has had time to dry.
2. How do you remove a stuck stripped screw?
For a stuck stripped screw, try the following approaches:
Penetrating Oil:
Loosely the smellier the oil the better it is for getting into good hiding, like WD-40. This may also assist to remove some rust build up or crud as is often seen with the current models.
Heat:
You can also use soldering iron or heat gun, apply heat on the neighboring area of the screw. The heat can cause the metal to expand and in turn make it easier for that screw to simply pop out.
3. How do you remove a spinning screw from a laptop?
If the screw is turning but not removing:
Press and Turn:
Place upward force on the screw while trying to rotate it. It can sometimes help it engage and come out.
Use a Larger Screwdriver:
If you can also opt for a screw driver that has a larger head so that there is improved hold of the screw.
4. How do you get a screw out of a laptop or `PC without a screwdriver?
If you do not have a screwdriver:
Coin or Flathead:
Turn the screw with a coin or similar flat object which can fit in the slot of that screw head.
Tweezers or Pliers:
If the head of the screw can be held then use tweezors or pliers to take the screw.
5. How to remove a tiny stripped screw from an iPhone?
Just get rid of a tiny stripped screw from an iPhone or phone:
Use a Small Rubber Band:
Put the rubber over it and use a small precision screwdriver to turn.
Super Glue Method:
Super glue a screw driver head to the little angled cut and let it dry before trying to turn your new bolt.
6. How to remove small stripped screws without a drill?
If you don’t have a drill:
Use Household Items:
As explained earlier on you can use a rubber band, flat head screwdriver or tweezers to generate adequate friction to enable the screw to turn.
Heat or Penetrating Oil:
Try using heat or penetrating oil to make the screw easier to be removed before using other ways to do it.
7. How to remove laptop screws without a screwdriver?
If you lack a screwdriver:
Use Alternative Tools:
You can use a coin, flat object or even pair of clean pliers.
Rubber Band or Super Glue:
Attach something else temporarily with rubber bands or super glue so you can remove it later.
So what better approach is to adopt these ways that will help you in getting relieved of stripped screws. Make sure you are extra mindful when removing this so you do not break the rest of your computer.
Conclusion: How to Remove Stripped Screw From Laptop
Removing a stripped screw from laptop can be scary, and if you are new to it or that kind of stuff its terrifying.
I would suggest that you take your time and choose the way which fits better to the situation. If all else fails, seeking out a professional is possibly the best way to avoid causing more damage.
If you have benefited from this guide. Do not hesitate to forward it to other people who are also frustrated with their poor low vision. Have your own method for removing stripped screws?
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Jessica Chastain, holding a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from the Western Michigan University, is the go-to expert at LaptopsGeeks for all things tech. With a robust history of reviewing laptops, computers, tablets, and more, Jessica Chastain has developed an astute sense for identifying the essential ingredients that define the perfect laptop. He brings a personal touch to his work, having personally reviewed and extensively used the laptops featured on laptopsgeeks.com.
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