Cycle full-screen solid colors above and scan for the one dot that won’t change. That’s your dead or stuck pixel. Best done on a new screen while you can still return it.
Dead Pixel Test — Find Stuck & Dead Pixels
Find dead and stuck pixels on any screen. Cycle full-screen solid colors in your browser (no install) and check every pixel on a monitor or phone.
How to use
- Go full screen. Click Full screen so a single solid color fills the whole display with nothing else on screen.
- Cycle the colors. Click or use the arrow keys to switch colors, or turn on Auto-cycle to let it rotate for you.
- Look closely. Scan the screen on each color, a magnifier helps. A pixel that won't match the fill is the one you're hunting.
Why test this
A single dead or stuck pixel is almost invisible against normal content, yet it is exactly the kind of fault that nags once you know it is there. The only way to find one reliably is to flood the screen with a clean, full-field solid color and look. A black field reveals stuck pixels glowing their own color, while bright fields like white, red, green, and blue reveal dead pixels that stay stubbornly black. This is the check to run the moment a new monitor, laptop, or phone comes out of the box, while you can still return it: most manufacturers permit a handful of bad pixels before a panel qualifies as defective, so knowing the count early matters. It is also worth a pass on a used display you are about to buy, where a hidden dead pixel can be a quiet bargaining point or a reason to walk away.
What the results mean
What you are looking for is one tiny dot that refuses to match its surroundings. On the bright fills (white, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow) a dead pixel reads as a persistent black speck no matter which color is showing. On the black fill, a stuck pixel does the opposite: it glows red, green, or blue while everything around it stays dark. A subpixel fault may only appear on one or two colors, which is why cycling through all of them matters; use Auto-cycle and watch the same spot across the set. Get close, or use your phone camera or a magnifier, since a single pixel is smaller than it sounds. If you find a stuck pixel, it is sometimes recoverable. A gentle wipe with a soft cloth or running fast color changes over it can occasionally free it. A dead pixel almost never comes back.
FAQ
- What is the difference between a dead and a stuck pixel?
- A dead pixel stays black on every color because it gets no power. A stuck pixel is locked on one color (red, green, or blue) and shows up against the others.
- Can a stuck pixel be fixed?
- Sometimes. Gently massaging the spot with a soft cloth, or running rapidly changing colors over it for a while, can free a stuck pixel. A truly dead one rarely recovers.
- How many dead pixels are normal?
- Manufacturers allow a few under ISO 9241-307 before a panel counts as defective, and the threshold varies by brand. Check your warranty for the exact policy.
- Why didn't I see the pixel until I went full screen?
- A single bad pixel is tiny and easy to miss among normal content. A clean, full-screen solid color is the only background where it stands out.
- Is this dead pixel test free?
- Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no installation, and stores nothing.
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