Dead Pixel Test
Fill your screen with solid colors to find dead, stuck, and hot pixels on a monitor, laptop, phone, or TV. Each color shows a different kind of bad pixel.
Your screen fills with one solid color at a time. Click, tap, or press Space for the next color, use the left arrow to go back, and press Esc to exit.
Or start from a color
Found a pixel stuck on one color? Try the stuck pixel fixer.
What is a dead pixel?
Every pixel on a screen is made of three tiny parts called subpixels: one red, one green, and one blue. A dead pixel is one that no longer lights up, so it shows as a small black dot no matter what is on screen.
A single dead pixel is easy to miss in normal use. Filling the screen with one flat color makes it stand out, which is what this test does.
Why use our dead pixel test
- ·Full screen. The color covers your whole screen, with no menus or taskbar in the way.
- ·Nine colors. Black, white, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, and gray catch every kind of bad pixel.
- ·Controls stay out of the way. They fade after a moment and come back when you move the mouse or tap.
- ·Any screen. Works in the browser on a monitor, laptop, tablet, phone, or TV.
- ·Free and private. No signup, no download, and nothing leaves your browser.
How to check your screen for dead pixels
- 1
Clean the screen
Wipe the screen with a soft, dry cloth first. A speck of dust can look a lot like a dead pixel.
- 2
Start the test
Click Start dead pixel test. The page goes full screen and fills with one solid color.
- 3
Check each color
Look across the whole screen, up close. Click, tap, or press Space for the next color, and use the left arrow to go back. Black and white find most problems.
- 4
Note what you find
A black dot is a dead pixel. A dot that stays red, green, blue, or white is a stuck or hot pixel. Press Esc when you are done.
Dead, stuck, and hot pixels: how to tell them apart
Not every bad pixel is dead. What you see, and which test color shows it best, tells you what kind it is and whether it might be fixed:
| Type | What you see | Easiest to spot on | Can it be fixed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead pixel | A black dot on every color | White | No. It needs a repair or a new screen. |
| Stuck pixel | A dot that stays red, green, blue, or a mix such as cyan | Black | Sometimes, by flashing colors over it. |
| Hot pixel | A dot that stays white or very bright | Black | Sometimes, the same way as a stuck pixel. |
| Dead subpixel | A dot that looks the wrong color on white, such as cyan when red is missing | White, then red, green, and blue | No, like a dead pixel. |
What to do if the test finds a bad pixel
- ·Stuck or hot pixel. Try the stuck pixel fixer, which flashes colors over the pixel to try to free it. It works sometimes, not always.
- ·Dead pixel. Software cannot fix it. If the screen is new or under warranty, contact the seller or manufacturer.
- ·Not sure it is a pixel? Wipe the screen and run the test again. Dust moves or disappears, while a bad pixel stays in the same spot on every color.
You may read advice to press on the pixel or tap the screen. Pressing on an LCD can damage it and make more pixels fail, so we do not suggest it.
Checking a new monitor for dead pixels
Dead pixels are often there from the factory, so the best time to test is the day a new monitor, laptop, TV, or phone arrives. Returning it to the store is usually much easier than a warranty claim.
- ·Check your brand's dead pixel policy. Many manufacturers only replace a screen once it has more than a set number of bad pixels, and some promise zero bright pixels.
- ·Take a close-up photo of any bad pixel on the test color that shows it best. Support teams often ask for one.
- ·Buying used? Ask to run this test on the screen before you pay.
Who uses a dead pixel test
- ·People with a new screen. Check a new monitor, laptop, TV, or phone while it can still be returned.
- ·Buyers and sellers of used devices. Show that a screen is free of bad pixels, or find problems before paying.
- ·Anyone who spotted a strange dot. Find out whether it is a dead pixel, a stuck pixel, or just dust.
- ·Photographers and designers. Make sure a dot is on the screen and not in the photo or design.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I check my screen for dead pixels?
- Clean the screen, then start the test above. It fills your screen with solid colors one at a time. Look closely across the whole screen on each color. A dot that stays black is a dead pixel, and a dot that stays lit or colored is a stuck pixel. Black and white screens find most problems.
- What is the difference between a dead pixel and a stuck pixel?
- A dead pixel gets no power, so it stays black on every color and is easiest to see on white. A stuck pixel has one or more of its red, green, or blue parts stuck on, so it shows a constant color and is easiest to see on black. Stuck pixels can sometimes be fixed. Dead pixels cannot.
- Why does the test use so many colors?
- Each color turns on a different mix of a pixel's red, green, and blue parts. A pixel stuck on red is hard to see on red, white, magenta, or yellow, but stands out on black, green, or blue. Checking every color makes sure nothing is hiding.
- Can a dead pixel be fixed?
- Not with software. A dead pixel usually means the part that powers it has failed. If the screen is new or still under warranty, contact the seller or manufacturer about a repair or replacement.
- How do I fix a stuck pixel?
- A stuck pixel can sometimes be freed by flashing colors over it quickly for 10 minutes or more. Use our stuck pixel fixer for this. It does not work on dead pixels, and it does not always work on stuck ones.
- Is it a dead pixel or just dust?
- Wipe the screen and look again. Dust or a smudge often moves or disappears, and up close it looks soft or casts a faint shadow. A dead or stuck pixel is a sharp, tiny square that stays in exactly the same spot on every color.
- How many dead pixels are covered by warranty?
- It depends on the brand. Many manufacturers only replace a screen once it has more than a set number of bad pixels, often counting bright pixels more strictly than dark ones. Some promise zero bright pixels. Look up your brand's dead pixel policy and test new screens while you can still return them.
- Can I test a phone, tablet, or TV?
- Yes. Open this page in the phone or tablet's browser. For a TV, use its built-in browser, or connect a computer to the TV, move the browser window onto the TV, and start the test there.
- Why does the test not go full screen on my iPhone?
- Browsers on iPhone do not let web pages switch to full screen. The test still fills the browser window, but the strips behind the browser's address bar and toolbar are not covered. On iPad and on computers the test goes fully full screen.
- Is this dead pixel test free?
- Yes. There is no signup and nothing to download. The test runs entirely in your browser and does not upload anything.