Remove a stripped screw step by step — better bit, rubber band, pliers, glue, then a cut slot — and find the exact replacement size for laptops and M.2… This guide is part of the Dixon App Studio blog — practical, no-fluff articles for builders, freelancers, home cooks, and sports fans. Read more guides on the blog index, browse our full app lineup, or use one of our free online converters whenever you need a quick answer.
Try a different driver size first, then press the driver through a wide rubber band laid over the head. Both are quick and can't make the damage worse.
Check the bit type first (Phillips vs JIS, Torx vs security Torx, pentalobe on MacBooks), then try a rubber band, screw-extracting pliers or a dab of superglue. Cut a slot with a rotary tool only as a last resort, shielding the board from metal dust.
Almost always an M2 thread, 2–4 mm long depending on the standoff; M2 × 3 mm is the most common on desktop motherboards. 2.5-inch SATA SSDs use M3 screws instead.
Then the hole is stripped, not the screw. Fit a heat-set insert in plastic, a thread-repair coil in metal, or move up one screw size.
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