Dead pixel test: make pixel defects visible

On solid-color test screens, defective pixels, tints and stains stand out immediately – flaws that hide behind icons and photos in everyday use.

Identifying pixel defects

• Dead pixel: stays black on every color. The pixel gets no power – permanently defective.
• Stuck pixel: glows constantly in red, green or blue; easiest to spot on a black background.
• Bright patch / backlight bleed: pale clouds visible on white or gray point to pressure damage in an LCD's backlight.
• Burn-in (OLED): ghosts of the status bar or keyboard visible on the gray test screen are burned-in content – wear, not sudden failure.
• Lines and stripes: continuous colored or black lines indicate a driver or cable fault, not individual pixels.

What to do about pixel defects

A single dead pixel is annoying but technically harmless – it normally doesn't spread. Stuck pixels occasionally recover on their own or after displaying rapidly changing colors for a while; no guarantees. We advise against pressure or "massage" tricks: on modern displays you're more likely to cause damage than fix any. For stains, lines or growing defects, only a display replacement helps.

Warranty notes

Many manufacturers tolerate a small number of pixel defects in their policies before accepting a display as faulty; thresholds vary by brand and device class. For a newly bought device: document the defect with a photo (this test makes a good backdrop) and report it quickly. For buyers in the EU: during the first 12 months after purchase, the defect is legally presumed to have existed at delivery. Outside the EU, rules vary by country.