How to Remove a Faucet Handle With No Visible Screw
Faucet and shower handles hide their screw under a cap, behind a tiny set screw, or under a skirt, and some newer ones have no screw at all. Where to look, what tool each one takes, and how to get a stuck handle off without damaging it.
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Short answer. The screw is almost always hidden in one of four places: under the decorative cap on top, as a tiny set screw on the side, back or underside of the handle, under a skirt at the base that unscrews by hand, or nowhere, because the handle simply pulls straight off. Close the drain first. Set screws mostly take a 3/32 or 1/8 inch hex key.
Close the drain first
The screws and caps you are about to remove are small, and they go straight down the drain. Close the stopper or stuff a rag in it, and lay a towel in the sink.
Where the screw hides
| What you see on the handle | Where the screw is | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| A cap or button on top, often marked hot, cold or with a logo | Under the cap | A thin blade to pop the cap, then a Phillips screwdriver |
| A tiny hole on the side, back or underside | Set screw inside the hole | A 3/32 or 1/8 inch hex key, sometimes metric |
| A small button or plug near the base of a lever | Set screw under the button | Pop the button, then a hex key |
| A round skirt or base below the handle | The skirt unscrews counterclockwise | Hand, or a strap wrench to protect the finish |
| A knob or ring handle with a smooth top | The top cap unscrews | Palm it and turn counterclockwise |
| Nothing at all, newer single-handle faucet | No screw: push-fit | Set it to off and pull straight away from the faucet |
Caps and buttons
Look around the edge for a small notch. Pry there with a thin plastic blade or a fingernail, not a screwdriver, which scratches the finish. If there is no notch, the cap may unscrew. Delta’s guidance for knob and ring handles is to palm the top, hold the handle body steady with the other hand, push down and turn counterclockwise.
Set screws
The hole is often on the underside or the back of the handle, facing the wall, where you cannot see it standing at the sink. Use a flashlight. Turn the hex key counterclockwise only until the handle lifts; the set screw does not need to come all the way out, and it is easy to lose. Kohler’s handle guides call for a 1/8 or 3/32 inch hex key on its set screw models.
Skirts and push-fit handles
Some faucets have a decorative skirt or base under the handle that unscrews counterclockwise to expose the cartridge nut. Wrap it with a cloth or use a strap wrench so the finish survives.
Some newer single-handle faucets have no screw at all. Delta describes its push-fit handle this way: set the handle to off, in line with the spout, and pull it straight away from the faucet. It can take some force but no tools.
When the handle is stuck on the stem
A handle that will not lift with the screw out is stuck on the splines of the stem, usually because of corrosion between the handle and a brass stem.
- Work it gently back and forth while lifting.
- A little white vinegar around the base helps with mineral buildup.
- Use a handle puller. It bears on the top of the stem and draws the handle up evenly.
- Do not pry against the faucet body or countertop and do not hammer the handle. Both can break the stem, and then the cartridge has to be extracted.
Next steps
With the handle off you will see the cartridge retainer: a nut, a clip or a bonnet. How to replace a faucet cartridge picks up from here. Shower handles come off the same ways; the shower procedure is in how to replace a shower cartridge.
If the handle is damaged or the splines are stripped, the handle and the cartridge stem have to match each other. A photo of both lets a specialist identify them.
Common questions
Where is the screw on a faucet handle?
Usually under a decorative cap on top of the handle, often the one marked hot or cold, or as a small set screw on the side, back or underside of the handle. Some handles unscrew at a skirt around the base, and some newer ones have no screw and pull straight off.
What size hex key do faucet set screws take?
Most take a 3/32 or 1/8 inch hex key. Delta and Kohler both name those two sizes in their support guidance. Some imported faucets use metric sizes, so a small metric set is worth having.
How do I get the decorative cap off without scratching it?
Look for a small notch at the edge and pry there with a thin plastic blade or a fingernail. Some caps on knob and ring handles unscrew instead: Delta describes palming the top of the handle and turning counterclockwise while holding the handle body steady.
The screw is out but the handle will not come off. Now what?
The handle is stuck on the splines of the stem, usually from corrosion. Work it back and forth gently, use a handle puller if you have one, and do not pry against the faucet body or countertop. Forcing it can break the stem the cartridge depends on.
Do I need to turn the water off to remove the handle?
Not to take the handle off, but you will to remove the cartridge underneath. Close the supply valves first so you only take it apart once.