How to Fix a Stuck Pixel (and When It Is a Dead Pixel)

A single dot that will not change color is one of the most annoying screen defects. The good news: some of these dots can be fixed. The first step is working out which kind of pixel problem you have.

Stuck, dead or hot?

Every pixel on an LCD is made of three subpixels: red, green and blue. Open our screen tester and run Dead pixels, which shows nine solid colors.

• Stuck pixel: a dot that stays red, green, blue or another color on every screen. One or more subpixels are stuck on. This is the type that can sometimes be fixed.
• Dead pixel: a dot that stays black on every screen, most visible on white. The pixel gets no power or its transistor has failed. Usually permanent.
• Hot pixel: a dot that stays white or bright on every screen, most visible on black. Sometimes fixable, often permanent.

Double-click the dot in the tester to save its exact position. You will want it for a warranty claim.

Method 1: a pixel fixer

A pixel fixer flashes rapidly changing colors over the stuck pixel. The fast switching can free a subpixel whose liquid crystal is stuck.

1. Read the photosensitivity warning. Do not use a flashing fixer if you or anyone nearby has photosensitive epilepsy.
2. Open the screen tester, choose Stuck pixel fixer and accept the warning.
3. Drag the flashing square over the stuck pixel.
4. Leave it for 10 to 20 minutes, and look away. The fixer stops by itself.
5. Check the pixel again with the solid colors. If it is still stuck, try another round or two, up to an hour in total.

Method 2: gentle pressure (with care)

Some people free stuck pixels with gentle pressure.

1. Turn the screen off.
2. Fold a soft, damp cloth so you do not scratch the screen.
3. Press very gently on the spot with a rounded tip, like a stylus cap, through the cloth.
4. Turn the screen on while keeping the pressure, then release.

Pressing too hard can create more dead pixels or damage the panel. Do not try this on laptop or phone screens you cannot afford to damage, or on OLED panels.

What does not work

Software cannot fix a dead pixel that has no power. Heat guns, tapping hard or “massaging” the screen are more likely to cause damage than fix anything.

When to give up and claim warranty

Manufacturers have dead pixel policies. Many accept a return only above a certain number of faulty pixels, or for pixels in the center of the screen. Some premium monitors offer a zero bright-dot guarantee. Check your model’s policy, record the pixel positions with the tester, and contact the retailer while you are still in the return window.

OLED screens

On OLED, a pixel that will not light is usually permanently dead. Some OLED screens have a built-in “pixel refresh” or “panel care” routine in their settings, which can help with image retention but not dead pixels.