Dead or Stuck? How to Diagnose Your Screen Issues

Dead or Stuck? How to Diagnose Your Screen Issues

You just bought a shiny new monitor or laptop. You fire it up, ready to enjoy 4K clarity, but your eye catches a tiny speck that won’t go away. Is it dust? A smudge? Or the dreaded screen defect? Before you panic, you need to know exactly what you are looking at. In this guide, we break down how to identify display issues and explain the crucial difference between a dead pixel and a stuck pixel.

Test your screen now - go fullscreen and cycle white/black/gray to spot dead or stuck pixels quickly.

Quick answer

• Black dot on white: likely dead pixel (hardware failure).
• Bright colored dot on black: likely stuck pixel (often fixable).
• Use our dead pixel tester to flood the screen with solid colors; fullscreen and high brightness make defects obvious.

Step 1: Clean First, Then Inspect

Most “dead pixels” reported by new owners turn out to be dust or dried lint.

• Power off the screen so reflections reveal dust.
• Use a clean microfiber cloth; avoid paper towels (they scratch coatings).
• If the dot moves when the image moves, it’s dust. If it stays pinned to the same physical spot, continue testing.

Step 2: Perform a Proper Screen Test

The naked eye struggles against busy wallpapers. You need flat fields of color to force contrast.

1. Go to dead pixel tester.
2. Press F11 for fullscreen; set brightness to your typical usage.
3. Cycle White, Black, Red, Green, Blue, then Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/Gray.
4. Scan in a grid (e.g., 3×3) so you don’t miss corners.
5. Move your head slightly: stuck pixels pop on black; dead pixels pop on white.

Step 3: Use Motion to Your Advantage

The human eye is tuned to detect movement, not static specks.

• Slowly pan the mouse cursor over the suspect area. If the cursor moves but the dot doesn’t, it’s a panel issue.
• Scroll a web page with a white background. A dead pixel stays fixed relative to the panel frame, not the content.

Dead vs. Stuck: What’s Happening Physically

• Stuck Pixel: One or more sub-pixels are permanently ON. Appears as bright red/green/blue or a secondary color on dark backgrounds. Often temporary.
• Dead Pixel: The transistor controlling the pixel failed; no light passes through. Appears as a tiny black dot on light backgrounds. Rarely recovers.
• Hot Pixel (camera sensors): Not a display issue—relevant for cameras, not monitors.

Quick Diagnostic Matrix

• Bright dot on Black: Stuck. Try a flasher.
• Black dot on White: Dead. Document for warranty/return.
• Shadow/ghost shape: Likely burn-in or image retention (OLED). Test on gray/dark red.
• Speck that moves with content: Dust, not a defect.

Common False Positives

• Anti-glare grain: Matte coatings can look like specks—check if speck “moves” with your eye angle.
• Sub-pixel layout (RGBW/BGR): On some panels, sub-pixel arrangement can create color fringes at certain zoom levels.
• Image retention: On OLED/VA, temporary retention can masquerade as a stuck pixel—power-cycle and retest after 10 minutes.

What to Do After Diagnosis

• Stuck pixel: Run a localized flasher for 10–30 minutes, then recheck. Gentle pressure method is a last resort.
• Dead pixel: Don’t waste hours flashing. Document with photos on white background. If within return window, exchange.
• Multiple defects or a cluster: Stronger case for warranty/return, especially near screen center.

Photo Documentation Tips

• Use a phone camera with 2–5× zoom.
• Shoot on white (for dead) and black (for stuck).
• Note location (“2 cm from top-right corner”).
• Disable HDR to avoid auto-smoothing the defect.

When to Seek a Replacement

• Premium/creator monitors: 1 dead pixel may qualify (Class I).
• Consumer Class II: often tolerate a few defects—use retailer return window instead of waiting on strict pixel policies.
• Gaming/competitive use: center-screen defects are more disruptive; push for an exchange early.

Prevention & Early Checks

• Test day one, before mounting or discarding packaging.
• Avoid pressing on the panel during setup.
• Use screensavers/auto-hide UI on OLED to reduce retention risks.

Final Checklist (60 seconds)

• White screen: no black dots?
• Black screen: no bright colored dots?
• Gray screen: no tinting/ghost shapes?
• If anything looks off: rerun dead pixel tester, document, and decide quickly within the return window.

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Next steps: Run the Screen Test with white/black/gray and save photos. If it's a stuck pixel, try How to Fix a Stuck Pixel. Need warranty guidance? See Is 1 Dead Pixel Acceptable? Understanding Monitor Warranties.