Dead Pixels vs Stuck Pixels: How to Tell and What to Do

The three kinds of bad pixel

• Dead pixel: always black. It shows up best on a white or bright background. The pixel isn't getting power, so it never lights.
• Stuck pixel: stays one colour, usually red, green or blue. It shows up on backgrounds of the other colours, and on black.
• Hot pixel: always lit white or bright. It stands out most on a black background.

How to check your screen

1. Clean the screen and turn the brightness up.
2. Open the dead pixel test and go full screen.
3. Step through each colour slowly and scan the whole screen, including the corners and edges.
4. Note where any dot appears and which colours it shows up on. That tells you which kind it is.

Can they be fixed?

Stuck pixels sometimes come back on their own, especially on a new screen after a few days of use. Gently pressing on the spot through a soft cloth while the screen is on occasionally helps, but press lightly, because pressing too hard can damage the panel.

Dead pixels usually stay dead, because the problem is in the screen's wiring, not its settings.

You'll also find videos and pages that flash rapidly changing colours to "unstick" pixels. FreeToolTest doesn't include one, because fast flashing can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. If you try one elsewhere, never watch it yourself; cover the rest of the screen and look away.

Is it covered by warranty?

Often, but not always for a single pixel. Many manufacturers publish a pixel policy that allows a small number of bad pixels before they'll replace the screen, and the limit can depend on the type and where the pixels are. Some brands and retailers offer a zero-dead-pixel guarantee, especially for a short period after purchase. Check your maker's policy, and report the problem early, ideally within the store's return window.

Not a pixel problem?

If you see uneven light leaking around the edges on a dark screen, that's backlight bleed, not bad pixels. The backlight bleed test shows it clearly.

Frequently asked questions