Guide
How to fix cordless blinds
Won't go up, won't come down, won't stay put. Three faults, three fixes, usually no tools.
By Janet H. · Last updated September 23, 2026 · How we choose
A cordless blind that misbehaves is nearly always a spring-tension or alignment problem, not a broken shade — and most are fixable in ten minutes without tools. The three common faults have three distinct causes: too much spring tension, too little, or the bottom rail pulling unevenly.
Work out which one you have before you touch anything, because the fixes for "won't go up" and "won't stay up" are opposites and doing the wrong one makes it worse.
Which fault is it?
Diagnose first
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Direction of fix |
|---|---|---|
| Won't go up, or creeps down | Too little spring tension | Increase tension |
| Won't come down, springs back up | Too much spring tension | Decrease tension |
| Won't stay up, drops slowly | Tension slightly low, or a dirty mechanism | Increase tension, then clean |
| Goes up crooked, one side sticks | Uneven pull on the bottom rail | Level the rail, re-seat the cords |
| Stiff and noisy throughout | Dust or grit in the headrail | Clean the headrail |
| Nothing moves at all | Lock engaged, or a jammed cord | Check the lock, inspect the cord path |
In order of how often they work
The fixes
- 1
Pull down hard and release — the reset
Grip the bottom rail in the center, pull it all the way down firmly, and let it go. On many mechanisms this resets the spring engagement, and it fixes a surprising proportion of faults on the first attempt. Try it before anything else.
- 2
Level the bottom rail
Hold the bottom rail with both hands at either end and raise and lower it perfectly level a few times. A rail pulled repeatedly from one end gets out of square, which binds the mechanism. This is the commonest cause of a blind that goes up crooked.
- 3
Adjust the spring tension
Many cordless blinds have a tension adjuster in the headrail — a small wheel, screw or tab at one end. Turn it a little at a time in the direction the diagnosis table indicates, testing between adjustments. Small increments: a quarter turn changes more than you expect.
- 4
Add or remove weight
If there is no adjuster, the low-tech fix works: a blind that will not stay up needs less weight at the bottom, and one that will not come down needs more. Some bottom rails take removable weight inserts; otherwise a strip of adhesive weight along the inside of the rail does it.
- 5
Clean the headrail
Dust and grit in the mechanism make it stiff and unpredictable. Blow it out with compressed air or vacuum it with a brush attachment. Do not lubricate it — most cordless mechanisms rely on friction, and oil makes a blind that will not stay up.
- 6
Check the cord path inside
If the blind moves unevenly or jams, look into the headrail for a cord that has jumped its pulley or wrapped on itself. Re-seating it is usually straightforward and is the one fix that needs the blind taken down.
Common mistakes
What goes wrong
- Adjusting the tension too far. A quarter turn at a time, testing between. Winding it hard in one direction usually turns one fault into the opposite one.
- Lubricating the mechanism. Do not. Most cordless lifts hold position by friction, and oil removes exactly the friction that holds the blind up.
- Pulling from one end. The habit that causes the crooked-rise fault in the first place. Always raise and lower from the center or with both hands.
- Forcing it. If something is jammed, forcing it usually breaks a plastic component that is not sold separately, which turns a free repair into a replacement.
If the blind is simply dirty and stiff rather than faulty, start with how to clean blinds — a headrail full of dust produces most of the same symptoms as a tension fault.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask
Why won't my cordless blinds stay up?
Usually too little spring tension, sometimes a dusty mechanism. Try the reset first — pull the bottom rail fully down and release — then increase the tension at the headrail adjuster a quarter turn at a time.
Why won't my cordless blinds go down?
Too much spring tension, so the spring overcomes the weight of the blind. Reduce the tension at the adjuster, or add weight to the bottom rail if there is no adjuster.
Why won't my cordless blinds go up?
Too little tension to lift the weight, or a cord that has jumped its pulley inside the headrail. Start with the pull-down reset and leveling the bottom rail, then look inside the headrail if that does not work.
Should I lubricate a cordless blind mechanism?
No. Most cordless lifts hold position by friction, and lubricant removes exactly the friction that holds the blind up. Clean the dust out with compressed air instead.
Why does my blind go up crooked?
It has been raised repeatedly from one end, which puts the bottom rail out of square and binds the mechanism. Hold the rail at both ends and raise and lower it level several times to correct it.
Keep going
Read next
Rods & Mounting
How to clean blinds
Method by material — including the two that must never get wet.
Compare
Best window blinds
The only covering you can aim — which material suits which room.
Blackout
Best blackout cellular shades
Honeycomb shades that darken and insulate together, and how to fit them so they do both.
Privacy
Best blinds for privacy
Aim your privacy with slats — plus the routeless detail that decides if they close properly.
Compare
Best cellular shades
The best-insulating covering there is — and why the fit decides the result.
About the author
Janet H.
Janet H. is the owner of Janet Media Group and the person behind Drape & Dawn. She researches every pick against the site's published methodology.
Published by Janet Media Group · Last updated September 23, 2026