How to Stop Roller Blinds Rolling Up on Their Own

A roller blind that springs up on its own nearly always has a spring tension problem.

The internal spring inside the roller tube builds up too much tension over time, usually from the blind being raised and lowered repeatedly without being rolled all the way down.

It’s an annoying but fixable issue, and you don’t need to call anyone out to sort it.

What You’ll Need

Tools

• Step ladder or stable chair to reach the brackets
• Flat-head screwdriver (for prise-fit brackets)
• Small pliers (optional, for stubborn components)

Materials / Replacement Parts

• Replacement spring mechanism (if the spring is broken rather than overtensioned)
• Replacement roller tube (if the tube itself is damaged or warped)
• Spare end caps or pin ends (if worn)

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How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Test the tension first

Before you take anything apart, check how bad the problem actually is. Pull the blind down fully, then let it go. If it snaps up fast and hard, the spring is overtensioned. If it drifts up slowly on its own with no pull, the spring mechanism may be worn or faulty in a different way.

1. Pull the blind to the full lowered position
2. Release gently and watch what happens
3. Note whether the snap-up is immediate or gradual
4. If the blind won’t stay down at all even when you hold it, the spring has likely gone past the point of adjustment

Step 2: Remove the blind from its brackets

Take the roller tube down so you can work with it properly. Most roller blinds sit in either clip-style or pin-style brackets, and both are easy to release.

1. For clip brackets: push the tube sideways into the open side of the bracket to release it
2. For pin brackets: lift the tube up and out of the bracket slot
3. Rest the tube on a flat surface or hold it steady
4. Don’t force it if it feels stuck. Check whether a screw is holding the bracket closed

Step 3: Adjust the spring tension by hand

This is the actual fix. The roller tube has a pin end on one side (the spring end) and a flat end on the other. The spring tension is adjusted by rolling the fabric onto the tube tighter or looser before re-hanging.

1. Unroll the blind completely from the tube by hand
2. Roll the fabric back onto the tube 3 to 4 full rotations tighter than it was (to reduce tension in an overtensioned spring)
3. If the blind was rolling up too slowly rather than too fast, roll it looser instead
4. Rehang the blind in the brackets and test it
5. Repeat in small increments until the blind holds its position when released at the midpoint

Step 4: Test and fine-tune

A properly tensioned roller blind should sit still wherever you leave it, whether that’s half down, three-quarters down or fully lowered. Getting the exact tension right sometimes takes two or three small adjustments, so don’t expect perfection on the first try.

1. Pull the blind to midpoint and release it
2. If it rises, it’s still overtensioned, so remove and roll slightly looser
3. If it drops, add a little more tension back in
4. Once it holds at midpoint, test it at the fully lowered position too
5. If the spring snaps, feels completely loose, or the tension won’t hold after adjustment, the spring mechanism needs replacing rather than adjusting