Zipper Won't Zip: How to Fix Broken Zippers on Jackets and Bags

Step-by-Step Solution

1. 1Pliers (regular or needle-nose)
2. 2Cloth or paper towel
3. 3Unzip the zipper completely
4. 4Place zipper on flat surface
5. 5Wrap slider in cloth to prevent scratches
6. 6Using pliers, gently squeeze slider from both sides (the wide flat sides, not front to back)
7. 7Apply gentle, even pressure—don't crush it
8. 8Squeeze just enough to narrow the gap inside slider
9. 9Test zipper—try zipping and see if teeth stay together
10. 10If still separating, squeeze slightly more
11. 11Repeat until zipper stays closed when zipped
12. 12Squeeze gradually. Over-squeezing can make slider too tight to move
13. 13Squeeze from the sides (where teeth enter), not the top/bottom
14. 14If slider becomes too tight to move, gently spread it slightly with screwdriver