Laptop half screen white
Half the screen turning white (or grey, or a block of colour), usually with a sharp vertical or horizontal boundary, means half the panel is no longer getting image data: the panel's driver board has failed, or the display cable through the hinge has broken some of its lines.
Test it now
The test cannot draw on the white half — that is the point. Watch the boundary while gently tilting the lid: if it moves or flickers, the cable is the fault. Plug in an external monitor: a full picture there proves the graphics chip is fine.
What it is
Half the screen turning white (or grey, or a block of colour), usually with a sharp vertical or horizontal boundary, means half the panel is no longer getting image data: the panel's driver board has failed, or the display cable through the hinge has broken some of its lines. If it started after a drop or a knock, the panel is cracked internally even if the glass looks fine.
Can it be fixed?
Cable: yes, a small repair. Panel driver failure or internal crack: no, the panel is replaced. Software and driver updates will not change it.
What to do
- External monitor check.
- Lid-tilt check for the cable.
- If it followed a drop, it is the panel; get a quote.
- Back up your data using the external monitor if the laptop is otherwise working.
What a repair costs
| United States | $100–300 for a new panel (parts $50–150 plus labour); budget and 1080p panels at the low end, touch and high-refresh panels at the high end |
|---|---|
| India | ₹3,000–8,000 for a new panel at an independent repair shop; ₹6,000–15,000 at the brand service centre |
Typical ranges from repair-shop and manufacturer price lists, 2026-09-06. Get two quotes; prices vary by model and city.
Warranty
Most makers replace a panel under warranty for physical panel faults that are not accidental damage; pressure marks, cracks and liquid damage are treated as accidental and are not covered. For dead pixels, each brand has a threshold (typically 3–5 bright or 5–8 dark pixels on a laptop; Dell's premium-panel guarantee replaces at one bright pixel).