Lines on laptop screen
Horizontal lines, vertical lines, coloured stripes, or a flickering band each point somewhere different.
Test it now
Run every colour. Panel lines are fixed and identical on all colours. Cable lines change with lid angle. Then the external monitor check: it is the single most useful test, because it separates screen faults from graphics faults.
What it is
Horizontal lines, vertical lines, coloured stripes, or a flickering band each point somewhere different. Vertical one-pixel lines: panel driver or panel connector. Horizontal lines or bands that flicker: display cable through the hinge, or the panel's row driver. Lines that appear on an external monitor too: the graphics chip or driver, not the screen. Lines only in certain apps or windows: software.
Can it be fixed?
Cable: yes, small repair. Driver or software: yes, free — update the graphics driver, change refresh rate, or roll back a recent update. Panel: no, replace it.
What to do
- External monitor first.
- Lid-tilt check.
- If the lines are also on the external monitor, update or roll back the graphics driver, then test again.
- Cable repair or panel quote as the checks indicate.
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).