A dead or stuck pixel on a TFT, OLED, or LCD screen is incredibly annoying. You can’t help but stare at it for days on end, wondering how long a repair or exchange might take. All that grieve over something as unimportant, yet highly irritating as a “dead” pixel, that might be easy to fix.
Before you run the item back to the store though, try whether you can fix the dead pixel yourself! This, if done carefully, will not hamper your warranty and might save you a lot of time and worries.
So, let’s see how you can possibly fix dead pixels on your screen.
Test New Screens for Stuck or Dead Pixels
Yes, you should test any new LCD, OLED, or TFT screen for dead or stuck pixels. You can simply run your monitor through a palette of basic colors, as well as black and white in full-screen mode. We’ll show you tools to do that below.
Is It a Stuck or Dead Pixel?
So what if you spot an odd pixel? Is what you’re seeing just a stuck pixel or is it, in fact, a dead pixel?
A stuck pixel will appear in any of the colors that its three sub-pixels can form, i.e. red, green, or blue. In a dead pixel, all sub-pixels are permanently off, which will make the pixel appear black.
The cause could be a broken transistor. In rare cases, however, even a black pixel may just be stuck.
So if you’re seeing a colored or white pixel, you might be able to fix it. And if you see a black pixel, chances are low, but there is still hope.
Let’s turn to the methods to fix a stuck pixel.
How to Fix Dead or Stuck Pixels
Unfortunately, you can’t fix a dead pixel. You can, however, fix a stuck pixel. And as I explained above, it’s hard to tell the two apart. Either way, these are the methods you can try:
- First, identify dead or stuck pixels by viewing your monitor in different color palettes.
- To fix a stuck or dead-looking pixel, use a third-party tool to flash the pixel with multiple colors. We recommend UDPixel (Windows) or LCD (online).
- Finally, you can try a manual method that involves rubbing the stuck pixel with a damp cloth or a pointy, but soft item, like the rubber/eraser at the end of a pencil.
Let’s look at these methods and tools in detail.
1. UDPixel
UDPixel, also known as UndeadPixel, is a Windows tool. It can help you identify and fix pixels using a single tool. The program requires the Microsoft .NET Framework. If you’re not on Windows or don’t want to install any software, scroll down for the online tools below.
With the Dead pixel locator on the left, you can easily detect any screen irregularity that may have escaped your vision until now.
Should you spot a suspicious pixel, switch to the Undead pixel side of things, create sufficient amounts of flash windows (one per stuck pixel) and hit Start. You can drag the tiny flashing windows to where you found odd pixels.
Let them run for a while and eventually change the Flash interval.
2. LCD
LCD is an online tool that lets you find and eventually fix stuck pixels. It packs many options into a single tiny window, but once you have an overview it’s easy to use.
Note: This website requires Flash. If you’re on Chrome, click the Get Adobe Flash Player button and when Chrome asks you to Run Flash, click Allow.
To test your screen, go through all of the colors—green, blue, and red — and check our screen. Additionally, you should check white and black. Press the ? and i button for background information.
Should you discover a stuck pixel, click the Fix My Screen button and let the color flashing graphic run for a minute or two.
By triggering each pixel’s different sub-pixels, the graphic may massage a stuck pixel back into life.
3. Dead Pixel Buddy
The online tool Dead Pixel Buddy can help you run a quick dead pixel test, but it can’t fix an affected pixel.
Dead Pixel Buddy offers 12 colorful tiles to test for dead or stuck pixels. Click one of the tiles to fill the entire browser window with the respective color. Press F11 to go full screen, then cycle through the colors using the left and right arrow keys. When you’ve tested all 12 colors, press F11 again to leave full-screen mode.
If you do find a stuck or dead pixel, use UDPixel (above) or JScreenFix (below); those are tools that can fix a stuck pixel.
4. Online Monitor Test
This is a very thorough test not only meant to identify bad pixels but also powerful enough to test the quality of your monitor 5 Online Tools to Help Calibrate Your Monitor 5 Online Tools to Help Calibrate Your Monitor The value of a good monitor will be lost if you don't take the pain to carefully calibrate your monitor. Here are five online calibration tools to ease into the process. Read More .
You can choose between three different modes to test your screen. This tool either requires flash (online version) or you can install it in the executable mode.
What you will need to just test for stuck pixels is the HTML window. Again, you’ll need to allow Chrome to run Flash. Toggle full-screen by hitting F11. Here is what you should see:
Move the mouse to the top of the test window and a menu will appear. There is an info window that you can turn off with a button in the top right corner of the menu. Then click on the Homogenuity test point and move through the three colors as well as black and white.
Fingers crossed you won’t discover anything out of the ordinary. In the unfortunate case that you do, you may find the following online tool helpful.
5. JScreenFix
JScreenFix won’t help you find a stuck pixel, but it can help you fix it. Just click the Launch JScreenFix button at the bottom of the page.
The tool will load a black browser window with a square of flashing pixels. Press the green button in the bottom right to go full-screen. Drag the flashing square to where you found the stuck pixel and leave it there for at least 10 minutes.
Manually Fix Stuck Pixels
Should none of these tools resolve your stuck or dead pixel issue, here is one last chance. You can combine any of the tools and the magic power of your own hands. There is a very good description of all available techniques on wikiHow. Another great step by step guide can be found on Instructables.
But let’s go through one technique real quick:
- Turn off your monitor.
- Get yourself a damp cloth, so that you won’t scratch the screen.
- Apply pressure to the area where the stuck pixel is. Try not to put pressure anywhere else, as this may trigger the creation of more stuck pixels.
- While applying pressure, turn on your computer and screen.
- Remove pressure and the stuck pixel should be gone.
This works because, in a stuck pixel, the liquid in one or more of its sub-pixels has not spread equally. When the backlight of your screen turns on, different amounts of the liquid pass through the pixel, to create the different colors.
All Pixels Report to the Screen
Should all of these approaches fail to fix your dead pixel warrior, at least you’ll now know it’s not simple to fix and the screen may indeed need to be replaced.
Don’t know what to do with your old monitor now or even an old router 7 Useful Ways to Reuse an Old Router: Don't Throw It Away! 7 Useful Ways to Reuse an Old Router: Don't Throw It Away! Old router cluttering up your drawers? Instead of throwing it away, here's how to repurpose your old router and save some money. Read More tucked away on a shelf? We have some ideas for you!
Explore more about: Computer Maintenance, Computer Monitor, Touchscreen, Troubleshooting.
I am like: This can't be true.... Come on.... I have a brand new pixelbook and I was ready to return it but by turning it off and press gently with a cloth while starting it up.... made it actually go away. I can not believe this just happened in front of my eye. And I know it was only one stuck or dead pixel.... You know it looks like a big freaking black blodge on the screen with someone as OCD as me and having paid 1100 dollars for a laptop...
i have a massive stuck pixels on 60% of taskbar portion ... i really don't know what to do .... please help me out .... as i tried your technique but when i put to stuck pixel it spreads there ...
If none of the methods above work and you can't replace the screen, I'd recommend moving the Taskbar to the top of your screen or to the side. Right-click the Taskbar, unlock it, then drag-and-drop it where you want or go into Taskbar settings to choose a preset option.
If it helps anyone, I found that gently pushing my finger against the screen a few cm from the stuck pixel sent it away. Pushing on the pixel made it stuck again, and pushing in between made it varying degrees of stuck brightness.
Thank you for sharing your method, Tobin. Did you eventually fix the pixel permanently?
Stuck pixels on my screen are caused by a crack in the pixel layer of the lcd, resulting in vertical, and now even horizontal lines of stuck pixels, the pressure method helped, but did not fix it.
Thank you for sharing!
My 2 year old asus laptop got a huge amount of dead pixels on the screen and most of them are thick and horizontal there are two long big scratch-like lines that are just horrific to see with dead pixels spread between them and stuck pixels inside of them it is an eyesore to see even as i am typing this please help me it distracts me when i'm working
Hey Daniel,
This sounds like serious damage, rather than a harmless stuck pixel. I'd look into getting the screen replaced. I had to do that myself after dropping my laptop a few years ago: How To Deal With a Broken Screen On Your Laptop
Tank you for that information and i don't really regret having to replace my laptop considering that it was only about 80 dollars, 160 with the ram upgrade.
Yeah, from a financial point-of-view that seems like a small price to pay. From an efficient-use-of-resources or sustainability-point-of-view this is a nightmare.
I hope you returned the broken device / parts to an electronics recycling facility. AFAIK you can also return electronics to a retailer and then they have to ensure the material gets recycled.
Thank you for the article! I was able to fix a stuck pixel by applying pressure with a blunt pencil after all the software fixes failed.
Awesome! Happy to hear that it worked for you and thank you for leaving your feedback.
Hi all
Have a question that puzzles my mind.
I realized a dot on my Sony TV in the upper right corner. It´s nor visible in blue, red or black. I really can't find it on red or blue background and if it´s dead shouldent i be able to see it with red and blue background?
Is there any color that's is better to flash with or is a random pattern better to try?
Any color that shows you the dot is the color that's broken. I'm not sure about the science behind flashing a broken pixel, but I'd guess that any "movement" causes "friction" that could get the pixel unstuck. I don't think the "wrong" cycling of colors can do any damage. Just try it.
Pressure method worked for me- Thanks so much!
Yay! Thanks for the feedback, Jane!
THAT PRESSURE WORKED FOR ME THANKS! NOW I DONT HAVE DISTRACTIONS
Awesome! Now you only have to find the CAPS key and make sure it's off. :)
pressure worked for me too
Glad it did and thank you for your feedback!
how can i upload my screen picture
Where do you want to upload it to and why?
Worked for me.... Had to press around the dead pixel area and it just disappeared
Glad it worked for you and thank you for the feedback, Zibusiso!
My screen has white clouds, what is the problem?
Hard to say without seeing exactly what it looks like. Here are some more tips for troubleshooting your screen: http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-repair-a-laptop-screen.html
me too have of dame types..
Hi! I have a green/ grey bar on the bottom of my iPhone screen. I tried using your method and it wouldn't work :( should l try taking the plastic screen protector off and trying it again? Or apply more pressure
Thanks!
If it's just a matter of equally spreading liquid in the pixel, it should work even with a screen protector. However, the source of the problem may be a broken piece of hardware and in that case applying pressure won't help.
Is your phone within warranty? If not, maybe you can replace the screen yourself.
We have covered repair options for iPhones and how to repair your iPhone yourself. Good luck!
Mine is just one single pixel and it's pink. Not red, blue, green, white or black, but pink. Anyone know why this is?
Maybe a combination of color channels.
It didn't work for me. :(
but i try pressing method with jscreen
but a long black line is spread out on the screen
i used eraser method too
can any one tell me proper method
This weekend a horizontal one-pixel white line appeared across my new ASUS laptop-screen. And today a bright red pixel was also visible. I called in for support. They advised I reinstalled my video-drivers. And if that didn't work, reinstall Windows. And as a last resort return it for a new one. As I googled my problem I came across this article. Even if it is many years old, I gave the rubbing-tip plus JScreenFix.com a go. And it worked!
I used my thumb to apply pressure while I ran JScreen in the background for about 30sec. Nothing happened. Darn. So I applied more pressure until I started too see these rainbow-colors pulsating out, still with JScreen in the background. After another 30sec the white horizontal line had disappeared, but the red dot was still visible. After another 30sec the red dot started blinking. And after yet another 30sec of trying out the combined methods it was all gone :-D Restarted Windows. Still gone! Thank you so much for this article :-D
Kind regards,
"From The Future" ;-)
I tried all of the things in this article to no avail but when I saw your comment I tried it. It worked perfectly and now to dot is gone. Thank you so much :D.
This is why comments sections are important :)
Thanks Bro It works,i'm so happy LOL
I have a horizontal white stuck line as well. Where have you applied pressure? To both ends of the stuck line or within the Jscreenfix window?
Regards,
ruz
My white line seemed to appear from the same spot as from where that red pixel originated. So I only needed to apply pressure with JScreen running over that specific spot. I don't know anything about these sort of problems really, so don't take my word for anything. But if you rub your thumb across the white line you might find a point of origin. Somewhere across the line, when pressuring at the right spot, the hole line should start blinking or change color at that point of origin. Then you know you have found it. At least that was the case for me.
Anyway, it seems my ASUS-screen can take quite a lot of pressure, so I soon realized I didn't need to worry at all about pressing my thumb quite hard at that spot. But I guess this might not be the case with all screens, so be cautious in the beginning. After 5-10 seconds after applying hard pressure all the rainbow colors are gone on my screen.
Update: my problem with the red pixel has appeared from time to time the past year. But rubbing it while using JScreen in the background always helps.
Thank you for your great kindness and consideration Steve! Cheers.
If you can't extend JScreenFix across the entire line, try to work your way up and down the line with the tool and pressure. Good luck!
Just another technique that helped to me is spraying stucked pixels with cleaning kit for LCDs and then drying it off using massage with a cloth.
If your dead/stuck pixel is brand new(or even a few days old), use a new eraser(since they have sharper corners), and gently press the screen where the stuck pixel is, it has helped me nearly every time!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I tried the JScreenFix for about 20 minutes and saw no result, then decided to try the message method. I wrapped the eraser cap on a pencil with a lens cloth and gently rub the pixel (which is bright green) with the JScreenFix flashing in the background. After about a minute I moved the screen to check and saw the pixel blinking, then disappeared! I cannot believe it! Now I have a perfect monitor!
Hi,
I noticed a splotch of dead pixels in my HP G60 last night. It was a little bigger than the head of a pin with a thin line dropping. Then I started to think it was getting bigger, so I marked where it was with one of the desktop icons. Then I started to watch Dexter, when the episode ended, the line that was dropping was like an inch bigger! So I got mad and turned off the laptop thinking it would prevent more damage. It wasn't that bad, I have a 16" screen, and it was about 1" into de left side, it would probably be on top of the photoshop tools, thus not interfering with the images. But this afteroon I turned it on again to get some stuff I wanted to watch on my other pc and it was even bigger! it's thicker now, and almost 3" long!!! what's wrong? How did this happen? I was reading about it and I haven't heard anyone say they spread like this! it's leaking! And I do not have warranty! it was purchased in another country! I can't return it! I'll yell at HP, but I think i'm screwed anyway. Is there a way to stop it from spreading? turning it off didn't seem to help at all.
Help me, please!
thanks!
btw, I didn't try to fix it, I did not rub any pixel.
it's just leaking, like ink on a napkin.
and it's definitely dead. I can see the black stain even with the computer off.
i tryed everything i have this little red dot on the bottom right of my lcd and i just took the screen out the box but i do not wanna waist gas going to return it its a emachines monitor do you think i should take it back?
If none of the advice given in my article cures your pixel, call the shop and tell them about the problem and that you would like to return the screen and receive an exchange.
You should call in advance to be sure what the terms are, whether they will attempt to send it in for repair and to make sure they have a copy to exchange.
When you pick up the new/fixed monitor, insist that you can test it in store before you leave.
Maybe you're lucky and they will offer something to make up for the inconvenience
i have a question. i believe i have a stuck pixel. i am trying these repairs as we speak (or type). my new laptop shows a tiny red dot on the screen except white yellow or ofcourse red backgrounds...i think it is confused! any suggestions. im usisn ud right now and i tried jscreen fix and no luck
Brittany,
if it's a new laptop and if you could not fix it with the help of my article, I suggest you simply ask for a replacement or repair of the laptop. Since the laptop is new, this should be free. But ask first!
Good luck!
Hey Tina,
I tried everything and it worked from Monday until today. I haven't seen the stuck pixel for 3 days but it came back again. I mean I can see sometimes but if I press the screen where the pixel is it disappears. So my question is: is the stuck pixel always going to be there just won't be visiable?
Thank you very much
Steve
Steve,
have you tried pushing it and letting the software run over it simultaneously and for an extended period of time?
I could imagine that some crystals were still stuck, although not causing a visible stuck pixel. Over time or while the TFT was turned off, they may have caused another block, which resulted in the stuck pixel to reappear.
Mind you, this is just my wild guessing! I'm not that kind of doctor. ;)
You may just want to keep trying. However, if the TFT is covered by warranty, get it exchanged or fixed by a professional!
Try running the screen saver 3-d pipes for a few seconds then click the cancel tab. Goes back to None, or the screen saver you used before...Works for me....
I've found that using a pencil eraser to rub the monitor works pretty well.
wat if its in a game consol screen such as a Nintendo DS ,in the case that i have tho oits always a single pixel that is white.... is it likely its a dead pixel that turned white from the backligh?.....
Shabaki, did you try the steps on the following page?
http://www.ehow.com/how_5009097_fix-stuck-pixel-nintendo-ds.html
Good luck!
so unfair...seems to work 4 evry1 else but i cant get rid ov myn....it was ther since i first bought the LCD O_o
I want to try some of these as my nice new 20" iMac has a stuck pixel (stays light blue) whic is very annoying but I can't can't do the "hands on" method as these computers have a glass cover in front of the LCD. What can I do?
How do I fix the dead pixels on a Sony LCD HDTV? They're blue, you can only see them when the screen is black or dark, I tried UDPixels but didn't worked, help.
I have many dead lines running down my screen. White, blue, green, cyan, red. Tons of them.
i have a unibody macbook and there is something over the lcd screen. you can't touch it as you do with normal lcd's. i need to push very hard to to make liquid move, and after a point, i can't push forward. i've tried the java apps and they didn't work, what shall i do?
I seem to have a confused pixel, it doesn't seem dead (Never lighting up), it doesn't seem stuck (Constantly one colour) but it changes colour depending on what colour background its on.
On a Red background its black, on a white its turquoise, blue is blue, yellow is green... I am really confused and so is the pixel,
Can Anyone help?!
Hello Mercury,
I'm afraid I have no diagnosis for your pixel. Did you try to fix it as described above?
You may also try to clean your screen thoroughly with a damp cloth, maybe with alcohol. It could be a small droplet of liquid that dried on your screen and is causing this phenomena. Just an idea.
If that didn't work you should get in touch with the manufacturer of the TFT. Maybe they can tell you what this strange behavior is caused by.
Good luck! And if you find out what it is, let us know!
Thank You for quick reply, I never expected anyone to respond to me! So thank you.
I've tried clean the screen and I don't think I could see alcohol touch my screen (My laptop is very important to me lol) I've checked, its not a droplet of water, but good thinking! Oh whats TFT?
TFT = Thin Film Transistor, as http://www.google.com/search?q=define:TFT will tell you.
Good News! It was a Stuck Sub Pixel, when one of the colours within the pixel dies but the others are fine, I got it fixed :D So alls well that ends well
How did you get it fixed? I have several streaks on my LCD that behave the same way yours did. Guessing that it's several thousand stuck sub pixels. I've tried all the methods described and nothing works.
I had to take mine to Apple and get it fixed, if its still under warranty, they'll do it for free, as you have so many they might do that for free, unless you have a windows computer, in which case I would send it off to get fixed
Hope this helps ^^
On my 27" iMac, there is a pixel that is red on white background and black on blue background and pink on grey background, which fits into your description of problem you had.
Did you get it fixed as in "replacing the whole screen" or "fixing that one sub-pixel"?
This is my 3rd iMac exchanged (first one: dead pixel + screen flickering), (second one: dust underneath the glass and a dead pixel).. now one stupid pixel that does not show correct color =/
Thanks,
Sounds like a stuck (or dead) red subpixel, a pixel is made of red, green, and blue subpixels. Our eyes contain cones that detect these wavelengths. Yellow is made of red + green.
is there anyway I can fix it other than the above suggestions? I have tried changing the pixels colour at a fast rate and rubbed it gently but nothing
I tried the software (Jscreenfix and UDPixel) several times and it didn't help. I have a brand new toshiba a300. However, when I pressed gently against the affected pixel and turned the screen off and on, the pixel was unstuck. It came back to life! Sometimes it gets stuck again, but with a simple tapping on the screen, it can be repaired!
If someone would have told me that before, i would'nt believe it!!
I have just repaired one (the only) dead pixel on my brandnew monitor.
Only by pressing gently with my fingernail during executing the undeadpixel software.
Thanks for the tip!
Bertl
Bertl if u revived a dead pixel i can find a cure for HIV.
If u did revive a "dead pixel" it was probably a stuck pixel. it also maybe have been dirt, since it was during the software. Just some suggestions, not a dead pixel revived
I have been massaging pixels for years. It has always worked. Stuck pixels always right themselves if pressed firmly enough. You don't need to turn the screen on while doing it. Just get to where you can see it and push -gently at first and move your finger around it to be sure that at some point you hit it properly. You might need to use a finger nail through a cloth for more accuracy. Apply more pressure if you need to, but it usually won't take a lot. Don't be too alarmed at the waves of discoloration at the pressure point. They will disappear when the pressure is released.
Thanks Mystigo, I tried ran UDPixel for over 2 hours trying to get rid of the bright lime green stuck pixel on my lcd tv then I tried what you said and after about 30 seconds of gentle rubbing it disappeared! I'm just so relieved, thanks.
how about some help for the many non-pc devices this happens on, e.g. my ipod
I'm afraid I don't currently have advice for you. I don't even know whether the "hands on" technique will work. Regarding the iPod I can only refer you to a forum: http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=148919
What do you mean
for those really pesky ones, try tapping the screen with your finger
don't rub the LCDs
These techniques are all very practical. I've found that if it can't be fixed with an application or by gently massaging the affected pixel(s), then sometimes you may need to try repeating both processes a few times and be patient. Don't apply too much pressure when touching an LCD and I encourage using a microfiber cloth so you don't scratch it.
Yes, using a cloth to prevent scratches is highly recommended.
Thanks you very much. It's good !