How to Install & Replace Windshield Wiper Blades

Download Article

Plus expert tips for windshield wiper maintenance

Co-authored by Ed Beery and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 31, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Preparation
|
• Front Wiper Blade Replacement
|
• Rear Wiper Blade Replacement
|
• Rubber Insert Replacement
|
• Maintaining Your Wipers
|
• Video
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

ARTICLE

VIDEO

Changing the wiper blades is an important (and fortunately pretty simple) part of regular car maintenance. When you don’t replace them, you may notice that the blades start to smear water, leave a film on the windshield, or wipe water unevenly. If that sounds like your car, you’re in the right place. You can change your wipers yourself in just a few steps. Read on to find out how to replace your wipers, maintain them, and more—straight from automotive specialist Ed Beery.

How to Replace Wiper Blades

1. Pull the wiper away from the windshield and lift the arm into a standing position.
2. Find the tab holding the arm and blade together at the hook, then pull or push it.
3. Release the blade from the arm.
4. Line the replacement blade up with the arm and push the hook in.
5. Pull up on the blade until you hear it click into place.
6. Test the wipers to ensure they’re installed properly.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Preparing to Replace Your Wipers

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Determine which part of the wiper you need to replace. The wiper assembly consists of two parts: the arm and a wiper blade that attaches to the arm. The rubber insert that rests against the glass of the windshield typically isn’t available separately.

   • If the wiper blade isn’t resting against the glass with enough tension or has become bent, you’ll need to replace the entire blade.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Ed Beery is an Automotive Specialist with over 11 years of experience. He specializes in providing maintenance and repair services to individuals and companies.
2. 
   2
   Buy the proper blades for your car model at an auto-supply store. According to Beery, designs and replacement procedures for windshield wipers vary widely. Always check your owner’s manual for the specific instructions for your vehicle. Ask a salesperson to help you select the right wipers or consult your owner’s manual for specific measurements.

   • Alternatively, measure each of the old wipers first and bring the measurements with you into the store.
   • Remember that the left and right wiper blades may be different lengths.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Pull the wiper assembly arm up and away from the windshield. Move the wiper into a position perpendicular to the metal arm. Repeat with the other wiper arm.

   • Some wipers will only come two to three inches away from the windshield; if that’s the case, don’t try to force the wipers up any further.
   • On some cars, it may be easier to turn on the wipers. If they start to accidentally move, turn off the ignition. This will allow you to move the arm up and make it easier to remove the wiper blade.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 5:

How to Replace Your Front Wiper Blade

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Release the wiper blade by pressing the release tab under the blade. Locate the small tab on the underside of the wiper blade (near where the rubber insert meets the metal arm), then push it in (or in some cases, pull on it) to release. Pull down on the blade, then slide it off the hook of the metal arm.

   • You may need to tap or tug on the blade a bit to remove it if there’s built-up debris or corrosion.
   • Sometimes it helps to push the wiper up into the holder, press the tab, and then remove.
   • The bare metal arms are now exposed, and, if left in the standing position, they can snap back and damage your windshield.
   • To be safe, gently place the metal arms back against the windshield until you’re ready to put on the new ones. To be extra safe, place a rag or cloth underneath the bare arm while it rests on the windshield.
2. 
   2
   Take out the new wiper after pressing the tab. If the left and right wipers are different sizes, be sure to match the new wiper to the correct side. Push the movable hinge on the new blade until the hinge is perpendicular to the rest of the blade.
3. 
   3
   Line the new blade up with the metal arm and push the hook in. Make sure the blade is lined up so that the metal hook will go through the hole in it. Then, push the metal hook through the hole in the blade. It should be pushing against the rubber insert.

   • The metal hook should push up against the rubber insert.
4. 
   4
   Pull up on the blade until you hear and feel it click into place. After lining the blade up and getting the hook into the hole, pull up on it to ensure that it’s secure. Then, gently push the blade back down to a resting position against the windshield.

   • Repeat with the other wiper blade.
5. 
   5
   Check that the wiper arm angle is at 90 degrees. If the wiper arm angle is off, it can cause chattering. The rule of thumb is that the blade is at 90 degrees to the glass mid-swipe. This is because its angle will change from the top of the windshield to the bottom of the windshield due to the curvature of the glass.
6. 
   6
   Test the wipers to ensure they’re working properly. Turn on the ignition and wet the windshield with wiper fluid to test the new wipers for proper installation. If the new wipers are streaky, first try cleaning the rubber insert with alcohol wipes or a cloth soaked in mineral spirits. If the wipers are still streaky, check that the blades are properly installed.

   • Verify that you’ve installed each blade on the correct side and check that the wiper is properly oriented. If all else fails, stop by your local auto-parts store for help.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 5:

How to Replace Your Rear Wiper Blade

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Lift the blade to 90 degrees. Before replacing, start by grabbing the arm, raising it, and turning the attached blade upward to a 90-degree angle. If the blades on your vehicle don’t turn a full 90 degrees, that’s okay. As long as the blade is able to lift and stay in place, you’re all good.

   • Avoid trying to force the blade into a 90-degree angle if it isn’t going that high. Just lift it as high as it goes, or else you may risk breaking it.
2. 
   2
   Slide the blade out and gently set the arm down. Once the blade is lifted and perpendicular to your arm, slide it away from the notch and grooves holding it in place. It should easily slide out, but depending on the condition of your blade, you may need to tug a bit to break through dirt or debris. After removing the blade, gently set the arm down on the windshield.

   • Be careful when setting the arm down on the windshield, as the bare metal can scratch and damage the glass. If possible, put a cloth or rag between the windshield and arm.
   • Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, you may need to click a tab in or pull it out to remove the blade. Consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions.
3. 
   3
   Grab the replacement blade and slide it back into the arm. The blade typically has a bar in the center that connects to the notch and grooves on the arm. Locate that bar and slide it into the notch at the same 90-degree angle you took the previous blade out from, waiting to hear (and feel) the click.
4. 
   4
   Lower the blade back to a resting position and test it. Once you’ve ensured that the blade is securely connected to the arm, lower it from the 90-degree angle and back into a resting position. Then, drop it back down to the rear windshield. After replacing the blade, test it out to ensure that it wipes and works properly.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 5:

How to Replace Your Wiper’s Rubber Insert

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Locate the pads at the end of the blade and pushing them in. The pads should have small tabs sticking out. Push them in and pull up on the blade to slip it off the assembly. If you find pushing the tabs in to be difficult, you can use a pair of needle-nose pliers to help you (just be careful not to make contact with the windshield).

   • On some models, the wiper arm must be removed so that the rubber insert can be replaced correctly.
2. 
   2
   Slide the rubber insert off the wiper arm. Once the tabs are past the blade clamp (near the center of the blade), release the tabs and pull the rubber insert completely free of the arm.

   • Now that the blade is exposed, if it snaps back, it can damage your windshield. To be safe, gently place the bare blades back against the windshield until you’re ready to put on the new rubber inserts.
   • To be extra safe, place a rag or cloth underneath the blade while it rests against the windshield.
3. 
   3
   Take out the new rubber insert. If the left and right wipers are different sizes, be sure to match the new insert to the correct blade. Slide the new rubber insert onto the blade, starting at the same end you just pulled the old one away from.

   • When the insert is in place, be sure the clamps on the blade are securely holding it in place. Verify that the far pad is secured in place by the last clamp.
4. 
   4
   Gently push the blade back down against the windshield. After you’ve pushed the blade back down, repeat the above steps with the other rubber insert. After repeating the steps, test out your wipers to ensure they’re working correctly.

   • If the new wipers are streaky, try cleaning the rubber insert with alcohol wipes or a cloth soaked in mineral spirits.
   • If the wipers are still streaky, check that the blades are properly installed: verify that you’ve installed each blade on the correct side and check that the wiper is properly oriented.
   • If all else fails, stop by your local auto-parts store for help.
Advertisement

Section 5 of 5:

Maintaining Your Wipers

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Replace your wipers every 6-12 months, depending on the weather. If you stay in an area with relatively mild weather year-round, replace your wipers every 12 months. If you live in a colder area and your wipers are often working to get rid of rain and snow, replace them every 6 months.

   • Make sure to check the condition of your wipers before replacing them. If they’re still getting rid of rain and snow without issue after the standard 6-12 months, there’s no need to replace them.
2. 
   2
   Keep your wipers out of the sun. According to Beery, less sun is best for your windshield wipers, “so park indoors or in the shade if possible.” When exposed to the heat and UV rays of the sun, your wipers can break down, becoming stiff, cracked, and/or brittle, so keep them out of the sun as best as you can.
3. 
   3
   Always turn your wipers off when you’re turning the car off. Beery says that “If the wipers are left on, they will try to run the next time you start your car, which may have them grinding over ice [or whatever else is on your windshield], which deteriorates the blade prematurely.” So, turn your wipers off whenever you get ready to turn the car off.

   • Beery says that the motor and linkage powering your wipers can also be damaged if you try to run them when they’re frozen.
4. 4
   Keep your windshield clean. Beery says “That [a] layer of dirt is like sandpaper to your windshield and wipers. Wash your windshield every time you fill up, and your wipers and windshield will last much longer.” Scrape away any snow or ice on snow days, too, as it will “extend the life of both your windshield and your wipers.”
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Did this article help you? Say thanks with a small tip.

$1

$3

$5

Leave a Tip

Support our mission to help everyone in the world learn how to do anything.

Video

Tips

• Before starting, you can turn on your car’s ignition, activate the wipers, and then turn off the ignition when they’re in the middle of their arc. Stopping them in this position can make changing the blades a bit easier.
  Thanks

  Helpful 3 Not Helpful 5
• For additional details on buying and installing the proper blades for your car, check the owner’s manual.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Most auto-supply stores will replace your wipers for free when you buy new blades from them.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement