MacBook dent or bent housing: can it be straightened?

Your MacBook fell and now there is a dent in the corner, the lid no longer closes properly, or the bottom no longer lies flat on the table. A MacBook dent often looks like a cosmetic flaw only, but a bent housing can also affect the screen, the ports and the battery. This article explains what a dent can mean, what can be straightened and when a part needs replacing.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam, including after a drop.

Where is the dent?

• In a corner of the bottom: the most common drop. Often cosmetic, but check that the ports on that side still work.
• In the lid: a dent in the lid sometimes presses on the screen behind it. Pressure marks or cracks can then appear.
• By the ports: a dent near a USB-C or MagSafe port can block the plug or damage the port.
• At the front: then the lid sometimes no longer closes evenly.

Check first

1. Does the screen work normally, without marks or lines? See white spot and screen cracked.
2. Does the lid close properly and is the screen straight? See broken hinge.
3. Do all ports work, including those near the dent?
4. Does the bottom lie flat, and has the trackpad not become stiff?
5. Make a backup, especially after a hard drop.

Can a dent come out?

Small dents in a corner can sometimes be carefully pressed back or reworked, so the shape is right again and the ports fit again. It rarely becomes completely invisible: aluminium stretches in a dent, and the anodised layer can crack. We advise against working on it yourself with pliers or a hammer; you easily damage the parts behind it.

When to replace?

• The bottom case is bent or badly dented: on most models it can be replaced on its own. See rubber feet and bottom case.
• The top case (upper part with keyboard) is bent: then the top case is often replaced, sometimes with battery and keyboard.
• The lid is bent or presses on the screen: then usually the whole display assembly is replaced.

Watch the battery

A hard knock on the bottom can damage the battery. If the MacBook gets unusually warm, the bottom bulges or the trackpad gets stiff, stop using it and have it checked. See swollen battery.

A dent by a port

If the dent is right next to a USB-C or MagSafe port, do not force the plug into the port. The port itself may have shifted, and force damages the pins. Use another port for now. Often the housing around the port can be reworked so the plug fits again, without replacing the port. If the port itself is damaged, it is replaced. See USB-C port not working.

Dents and resale value

A dent lowers your MacBook's resale value, even if everything works. If you plan to sell or trade it in later, a new bottom case or lid may be worth it. See erasing before selling.

Prevention

Use a case with sturdy corners, and carry your MacBook closed in a bag with a padded compartment. See carrying your MacBook safely.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

We look at the dent, test screen, ports and battery and tell you whether straightening is possible or which part needs replacing, and what it costs. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dent in the corner bad?

Usually not, if everything else works. Do check the ports and screen.

Does AppleCare cover a dent?

Drop damage falls under the accidental damage part, with an excess. See AppleCare: what it covers.

Can just the aluminium of the lid be replaced?

On most modern MacBooks not; the lid is part of the display assembly.