Dead Pixel Test
Fill your screen with solid colours to spot dead and stuck pixels.
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Or start from a colour or pattern. In the test: click or → for the next one, ← back, M to mark a faulty pixel, Esc to exit.
Pixels you marked
Stuck pixel fixer
Warning: this flashes colours rapidly. Don't use it if you, or anyone who might see the screen, has photosensitive epilepsy or is sensitive to flashing light. Don't watch it; look away while it runs.
A small square flashes red, green, blue, white and black many times a second. Drag it over a stuck pixel and leave it for 10–20 minutes. It sometimes revives stuck (coloured) pixels; it can't fix dead (black) ones. Press Esc or Stop to end it.
How to check for dead pixels
- Clean the screen with a soft, dry microfibre cloth. Dust specks look a lot like dead pixels.
- Start the full-screen test and set the brightness to normal or high.
- Scan the whole screen on every colour. Work in sections, corners included, from about arm's length, then look closer at anything suspicious.
- Note what you see on each colour. The colours that reveal a pixel tell you what kind of fault it is.
Dead, stuck or hot: what you found
| Type | What it looks like | Best colour to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| Dead pixel | Always black: it doesn't light up at all. | White |
| Stuck pixel | Stays one colour (often red, green or blue) whatever the screen shows. | Black and the other colours |
| Hot pixel | Always bright white. | Black |
| Stuck sub-pixel | A tiny dot of pure red, green or blue that shows on some backgrounds only. | Black, then each primary colour |
If a mark moves when you scroll or move the window, or changes when you wipe the screen, it's dirt or a scratch, not a pixel.
What to do if you find a dead or stuck pixel
- Check your return window. If the screen is new, a return or exchange is usually the fastest fix. Test new monitors, laptops and TVs as soon as they arrive.
- Read the manufacturer's pixel policy. Most brands publish one. Some replace a screen for a single bright pixel, while others only replace it above a set number of faulty pixels. Search for your brand's name plus "pixel policy".
- Give a stuck pixel time. Stuck pixels sometimes recover on their own after the screen has been used for a while.
- Gentle massage method (at your own risk). With the screen off, some people press very gently on the stuck spot through a soft cloth, then turn it on. Too much pressure can create more dead pixels, and it rarely fixes truly dead (black) ones.
If you find one, press M (or tap Mark) during the test and click the pixel. You'll get its exact position, ready to copy into a warranty or return request.
For stuck pixels you can also try the stuck pixel fixer above the article: a small square that flashes colours rapidly over the pixel for 10–20 minutes. It works on some stuck pixels, never on dead ones. Rapidly flashing light can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy, so the fixer stays off until you confirm the warning, and you shouldn't watch it while it runs.
Frequently asked questions
Do dead pixels spread?
A single dead pixel normally stays a single dead pixel. If new ones keep appearing over time, the panel may be failing; contact the manufacturer while it's under warranty.
Does this work on phones, tablets and TVs?
Yes. Open the page in the device's browser. On iPhones, which don't allow full-screen web pages, the colour fills the browser window; hide the toolbars by scrolling or rotating to landscape. On a TV, use its built-in browser or cast a browser tab.
Can a dead pixel be fixed?
A truly dead pixel, one that stays black, usually can't be fixed without replacing the panel. Stuck pixels have a better chance of recovering.
How many dead pixels are acceptable?
It depends on the manufacturer's policy and the size of the screen. Many people find a single pixel near the centre more annoying than several near the edges. Check the policy before you buy expensive displays.