Vertical Window Blinds Not Rotating? Here's What You Can Do

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

One of the biggest drawbacks of vertical blinds is their tendency to stop rotating. Before you jump right into ditching your plastic vertical blinds and trying a trendier option for your sliding glass doors or windows, don't give up quite yet. If you're frustrated with a set of blinds that won't turn, there is a simple solution you should attempt. Demonstrated on YouTube by Dave Carolson, the best part of this hack is that you don't have to dismount the blinds at all. Although there are several reasons why blinds can get stuck, try first taking a look at the mechanism at the top of your wand. This is the part that is responsible for the rotating function.

You'll need to source a replacement blind tilt mechanism. Amazon has several options, including this Champion 810517 Self Aligning Wand Tilt Control Gear. Always make sure that your selected mechanism is suitable for your specific model of blinds before purchasing. To remove your old mechanism, you will also have to remove the first blind in the row. Take a credit card or key card and slide the clasp open, so you can gently pull the blind out. Then, slide the piece all the way to the edge of the rail. You can now unscrew the tilt mechanism and swap it out with your replacement.

For those who can't find the perfect replacement for your mechanism, you still may be able to quickly fix those broken window blinds and get privacy back fast. Try prying off the plastic cap that hides the rotating gears and check to see if any of the internal gears have popped out of their socket. Several commenters confirmed that one of the plastic gears had essentially popped up and needed to be pressed down to fit properly. One viewer wrote: " ... I just pushed down with a flathead screwdriver. That worked for me."

If you are only having issues with a single blind, try gently grasping the gear at the top of the blind. Then, turn it gently in the direction of the other blinds until you hear a click. This should ensure that all of the blinds are aligned and can close properly. If you have one blind that isn't moving at all with the rest of the set, consider replacing the gear itself with a product like the Leinuosen Vertical Blind Replacement Parts Repair Tabs. Of course, there are some things you should know before you buy any window treatments if you ultimately decide to replace your blinds altogether.