How to Fix Wall Outlet Box That's Become Loose Without Demo'ing drywall near it?

If it's a Bakelite box you take the receptacle out and put two screws into the stud through the box and that should secure it

You might be able to cut power, remove the outlet and get a nail/screw into the stud from the inside of the box. Pin it to the stud from the inside as opposed to trying to reset a nail on the outside in the slots provided. (If that makes sense)

Push the existing box out and replace with an Old Work box.

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Sao

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Problem with that is the tile, if the tile is tight enough I'd just use long 6/32's and suck it back into the opening.

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cut power

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THIS should be repeated before anything else.

Put one screw in the top of the box, one in the bottom and it's secured to the 2x4 stud. Voila. You'll have to drill it diagonal but that doesn't matter.

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Put one screw in the top of the box, one in the bottom and it's secured to the 2x4 stud. Voila. You'll have to drill it diagonal but that doesn't matter.

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I think I will just end up doing this.

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I think I will just end up doing this.

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Good boy, it's what I said early on. Not sure if the receptacle is a GFI or not, but for clearance sake it helps to screw in the high and low part of the box. If need be, hold the box in place with a needle nose.

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I sure don't. Enlighten me please.

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They are used to secure the box to your interior sheathing (typically drywall). When you turn the screw clockwise the tab turns to the upright position and the more you turn the smaller the gap from the box to the tab gets. It doesn't make the box as secure as nailing to a stud but it might work enough.

Just to make it clear, you know there is a 2x4 stud on one side or the other of the box right? Those boxes are on a stud 99% of the time. So just figure out which side the stud is on, and as said put some screws or something to secure it back into place.