We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

How To Swap Out Unsightly Wall Sockets

By  Carrie Waller
Learn how to upgrade an outdated or broken wall outlet. Carrie Waller

Whether you've been editing out an unsightly wall socket from your Instagram photos or you've simply been wanting to try your hand at basic home repairs, this tutorial is for you. We're showing you how to swap out an old outlet — step-by-tiny-step — and we promise that it's much easier than you might imagine. Once you learn the fundamentals of electrical upgrading, you'll be swapping out lights and sockets all ​over​ your house!

​DISCLAIMER and WARNING: Contact a professional electrician if you have questions or concerns about your own personal electrical situation. Complete the process at your own risk, and always use common sense to maintain your safety and that of your home!​

Upgrade your broken socket with a new GFCI white outlet.Carrie Waller

Things Needed

Here's what you'll need to change out an unsightly wall outlet.Carrie Waller

Step 1

Unscrew any hardware holding the outlet cover in place, and then remove it to expose the inner workings of your wall socket.

Remove the outlet cover.Carrie Waller

Step 2

Use a voltage tester to check if power is running to the outlet. The red light on our tester meant that the power was still on. Turn off the electricity to that particular outlet on your breaker box, and recheck the power using your tester again. The green light on our voltage tester confirmed that power was no longer running to the outlet.

Check to see if there's power running to the outlet.Carrie Waller
Turn off the electricity.Carrie Waller

Step 3

Unscrew any hardware that is holding the outlet to the electrical box in the wall. Pull it out, but don't entirely disconnect it just yet.

Unscrew and pull the old outlet out from the wall without entirely disconnecting it.Carrie Waller

Step 4

Get to know your wall socket by reading the instructions and labels. Our upgraded GFCI outlet had the backside labeled instructing which wire went where. You can also compare the new outlet to the old one to make sure everything goes where it needs to. This example shows a "like for like" outlet swap even though the outlets themselves look different. The wires went in on the same sides.

Get to know your new outlet by reading the instructions and labels.Carrie Waller
Compare the new outlet to the old oneCarrie Waller

Step 5

Double-check that the power is off again using your voltage tester. Unscrew the old wires to fully remove the old outlet from the electrical box in the wall.

Double-check that the power is off.Carrie Waller
Unscrew the old wires to fully remove the old outlet.Carrie Waller
Remove the old outlet from the electrical box in the wall.Carrie Waller

Step 6

Loosen the screws on the sides of your new outlet using a screwdriver. You don't need to pull the screws out entirely — just loosen them enough so that you can fit the wall wires behind them in a later step.

Loosen the screws on your new outlet.Carrie Waller

Step 7

Our new GFCI outlet allows for wall wires to be inserted straight in from the back rather than hooking or curving them around the outlet screws. If this is the case for you, straighten out the curved wire tip using needle-nose pliers or a wire stripper. If that's ​not​ the case for your new outlet, simply leave the wall wires hooked.

Straighten out the curved wire tip.Carrie Waller

Step 8

Insert the wires under the appropriately labeled screws in the sides of the outlet — white wire to the side of the outlet labeled "white," and black wire to the "hot" side of the outlet.

Insert the wire under the screw in the outlet.Carrie Waller

Step 9

Tighten both screws so that the wall wires are snug inside the outlet.

Tighten the outlet on the screw and repeat on the other side.Carrie Waller

Step 10

Push the newly connected outlet back inside the wall, and screw it in place.

Push the outlet back inside the wall and screw it in place.Carrie Waller

Step 11

Screw on the outlet cover. Turn the electricity back on and test to make sure your new outlet works. See? We told you it's easier than you might think! That said, if you've read this tutorial, poured over the photos, and still feel uncertain, definitely call in the pros. A professional electrician can take care of these kinds of updates for you, once and for all, and typically at a reasonable rate since this job is a fairly small one. However you decide to get it done, just do it! You'll be so glad you did.

Screw on the outlet cover.Carrie Waller
Turn the electricity back on and test to make sure your new outlet works.Carrie Waller
A new GFCI outlet is a safer socket to use in moisture-heavy roomsCarrie Waller
It's easier than you might think to change out an old wall socket.Carrie Waller

Recommended