Dead pixel test
Fill the screen with a flat color and look for the dot that refuses to change. Black exposes stuck pixels; white exposes dead ones.
Pick a starting color
Each swatch opens full screen. Click, tap, swipe or use the arrow keys to cycle through the rest.
A fingerprint on a black screen looks exactly like a cluster of dead pixels. Wipe the panel, let it dry and run the test again before you worry.
How to run the test
Clean the screen
Wipe the panel with a dry microfibre cloth. Dust and grease account for most reported dead pixels.
Open a color
Start with black. It fills the whole viewport and hides the interface after a couple of seconds.
Cycle and inspect
Use the arrow keys, a swipe or the on-screen controls. Check every corner, not just the center.
Note the position
If you find a bright dot, remember its position. The fixer needs to sit exactly over it.
What you are looking for
- A black dot that never lights up — a dead pixel.
- A red, green, blue, white or yellow dot on black — a stuck pixel or sub-pixel.
- A bright dot that appears only on one color — one stuck sub-pixel.
- A dark patch that shifts when you tilt the screen — dust or pressure, not a pixel.
Test at native resolution
Scaled resolutions blur individual pixels, which makes a real defect harder to spot and can create false ones. Set the display to its native resolution and keep browser zoom at 100%.
Dead pixel test in the US, UK, Australia and Canada
The same test is also called a dead pixel check, pixel test or colour test. The colors (colours) and the procedure are identical on monitors, laptops, phones and TVs in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. UK and Australian consumer law often calls a warranty claim a 'guarantee' claim.
Found a bright dot?
A colored dot that stays lit is a stuck pixel, and it is the one worth trying to repair.