Dead Pixel Test and Fix: Check Your Screen Online
This dead pixel test fills your screen with solid colors, one at a time, so any pixel that doesn't match stands out clearly. It also includes a fix mode for attempting to revive stuck pixels. No download needed, everything runs directly in your browser.
How to read the results
- Dead pixel: stays black/unlit no matter what color fills the screen — most visible against White, Red, Green, or Blue.
- Stuck pixel: shows a single color (often red, green, or blue) regardless of the fill — most visible against Black or a contrasting fill.
- Bright pixel: appears permanently white or overly bright — most visible against Black.
- Backlight bleed / IPS glow: uneven brighter patches near the screen edges or corners — check on the Black fill, ideally in a dim room and in fullscreen.
What this dead pixel test checks
A pixel on your screen is actually made up of three sub-pixels, red, green, and blue, that combine to produce every color you see. When one or more of those sub-pixels fails, you get a defect that stands out against a solid background but can blend in and go unnoticed during normal use. This test cycles through solid colors, including red, green, blue, white, and black individually, since a defect can sometimes only show up against certain colors depending on which sub-pixel is affected.
How to use the dead pixel test
- Clean your screen first with a soft, dry cloth, dust or a fingerprint is easy to mistake for a defect.
- Click to start the test and go fullscreen.
- Cycle through each color slowly and carefully scan the entire screen, corners included.
- Note the position and color of anything that stands out for reference.
Testing on your phone
This works on mobile too, but check your screen a bit more carefully near the edges, notch, or camera cutout if your phone has one. Mobile browsers don't always render truly edge-to-edge fullscreen the same way desktop browsers do, so a defect sitting right at the border of the screen is easier to miss if you're not deliberately checking those specific areas.
Testing a laptop screen
Laptop screens test the same way as any monitor. Since laptop displays sit closer to your face during normal use than an external monitor typically does, it's worth testing at your normal viewing distance rather than leaning in close, a defect that's easy to spot up close might not actually be noticeable during everyday use, which matters if you're deciding whether it's worth pursuing a repair or return.
What your results mean
Dead, stuck, and hot pixels, what's the difference
| Type | What it looks like | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Dead pixel | Always appears black, on every color | The pixel is receiving no power at all, so none of its sub-pixels can light up |
| Stuck pixel | Fixed on one color (typically red, green, or blue) regardless of what's supposed to be displayed | One or more sub-pixels are receiving power but stuck in a fixed position rather than switching properly |
| Hot pixel | Always appears bright white, on every color | All of the pixel's sub-pixels are stuck fully on, the opposite problem from a dead pixel |
This distinction matters for a genuinely important, practical reason, worth stating plainly rather than glossing over: a stuck pixel can sometimes be fixed, since the sub-pixel is still receiving power and can potentially be exercised back into working order. A dead pixel generally cannot be fixed through any software method, since it's not receiving power at all, there's nothing for a fix technique to exercise or re-energize. If your test shows a consistently black dot on every single color, including black itself standing out as somehow darker or different, you're most likely looking at a dead pixel, and the realistic path forward is a warranty claim or repair rather than attempting a DIY fix.
Is it a dead pixel, or just dust?
Worth ruling out before you conclude anything is actually wrong with your screen. Dust or a smudge sitting on top of the glass will move or disappear when you gently wipe the screen with a soft cloth, and it may look slightly different depending on the angle you view it from. A true pixel defect stays in the exact same spot, looks the same from every angle, and persists after cleaning, and it will appear consistently at that same location no matter which color is currently displayed. Less commonly, dust can actually get trapped inside the panel itself during manufacturing, which looks similar to a defect and also won't wipe away, but that's a separate structural issue rather than a malfunctioning pixel, and it's typically handled the same way as a genuine defect for warranty purposes.
Dead pixels vs OLED burn-in
If you're testing an OLED screen, it's worth knowing these are two different issues that sometimes get confused. A dead or stuck pixel on OLED works the same conceptually as on any other display, an individual pixel malfunctioning in isolation. Burn-in is different: it's a gradual, uneven dimming or discoloration that develops over time from displaying the same static content (like a taskbar or a channel logo) for extended periods, and it typically affects a broader area or shape rather than a single isolated dot. If what you're seeing is a shadow or outline of something you commonly have on screen, rather than a single sharp dot, that's more likely burn-in than a dead pixel, and it isn't something this kind of solid-color test is designed to diagnose.
Can a dead or stuck pixel be fixed?
Here's the honest, direct answer: stuck pixels are genuinely worth attempting to fix, dead pixels realistically are not.
For a stuck pixel, two approaches are commonly tried:
- Gentle pressure: with the screen powered off, place a soft cloth over the exact spot and apply light, gentle pressure for several seconds, then turn the screen back on to check. Use caution, too much pressure risks scratching or cracking the screen.
- Rapid color cycling: a fix tool that flashes through colors quickly over an extended period, often 10 to 20 minutes as a starting point, can sometimes help re-energize a stuck sub-pixel back into normal function.
A genuine safety note worth taking seriously: rapid, flashing colors used in fix mode can potentially trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Avoid staring directly at the screen while a fix attempt is running, and stop immediately if you experience any discomfort.
Stuck pixels respond to these attempts often enough that it's worth trying before assuming you're stuck with the defect. Dead pixels, by contrast, aren't receiving power at all, so there's genuinely nothing for either method to exercise or restore. If your test clearly shows a dead pixel rather than a stuck one, save yourself the time and go straight to checking your warranty or return options instead.
Is a dead pixel a big deal?
It depends on the count and where it's positioned, and there's actually a real industry reference point worth knowing about. Display manufacturers commonly reference standards like ISO 13406-2 (and its successor, ISO 9241-307), which classify displays into different quality grades and treat a small number of pixel defects, often in the range of a handful, as within normal manufacturing tolerance rather than an automatic defect, particularly for otherwise high-quality panels. This isn't a legal requirement manufacturers must follow, but it's the general basis many of them build their own individual warranty and return policies around, which is why one dead pixel doesn't always qualify for a free replacement while several might. Check your specific manufacturer's stated pixel policy for the exact threshold that applies to your device, since it genuinely varies.
What this test can't do on its own
Worth being upfront about this: there's no way for any browser-based tool, this one included, to programmatically detect a dead or stuck pixel automatically. It's a physical hardware defect, and what this test actually does is remove all the visual clutter from your screen so a genuine defect is easier for your own eyes to spot against a plain, solid background. The diagnosis still comes down to you carefully looking at your screen, this tool just makes that job considerably easier.
While you're checking your display, it's also worth taking a moment to check your display's refresh rate.
FAQ
How do I tell if I have a dead pixel?
Run this test and cycle through solid colors, especially black and white. A dead pixel will appear as a consistent black dot on every color, in the exact same spot, that doesn't move or disappear when you clean the screen.
What's the difference between a dead pixel and a stuck pixel?
A dead pixel receives no power at all and always appears black, while a stuck pixel is receiving power but stuck displaying one fixed color regardless of what should be shown. This distinction matters because stuck pixels can often be fixed, while dead pixels generally cannot, since there's no power reaching them for any fix method to work with.
Can dead pixels be fixed?
Realistically, no, not through gentle pressure or color-cycling fix tools, since a dead pixel isn't receiving any power for those methods to act on. Fix attempts are genuinely more likely to work on stuck pixels, which are still receiving power but displaying the wrong color.
Is a dead pixel a big deal?
It depends on how many you have and where they're positioned. Many manufacturers base their return and warranty policies on established display industry standards that treat a small number of pixel defects as within normal manufacturing tolerance, so a single pixel doesn't always qualify for a replacement while multiple defects more often will.
Can dead pixels just go away on their own?
True dead pixels generally don't resolve on their own, since the underlying issue is a lack of power reaching that pixel. What sometimes looks like a dead pixel disappearing is more often dust or debris that was never actually a pixel defect in the first place.
How long do dead pixels last?
A genuine dead pixel is typically permanent, since it's a hardware failure rather than a temporary glitch. Stuck pixels, by contrast, can sometimes resolve either spontaneously or through a fix attempt, though there's no guaranteed timeline for that.
Are dead pixels easy to spot?
They can be surprisingly easy to miss during normal use, since regular content on screen constantly changes and can hide a single dot. That's exactly why a solid full-screen color test like this one is useful, it removes everything else so a defect has nowhere to hide.
How can I tell if it's a dead pixel or just dust on my screen?
Gently wipe your screen with a soft, dry cloth first. Dust or a smudge will move or disappear, while a true pixel defect stays in the exact same spot across every color and persists after cleaning.