Dead Pixel vs Stuck Pixel: Check a Screen in 2 Minutes
A dead pixel stays dark whatever the screen shows; a stuck pixel stays lit in one colour. Fill the screen with solid black, white, red, green and blue in turn and look closely: that is all a dead-pixel test is, and it is worth doing before a return window closes.
What to look for on each colour
| Screen colour | Reveals |
|---|---|
| White | Dead pixels (black dots), dirt, uneven brightness |
| Black | Stuck pixels (bright or coloured dots), backlight bleed at the edges (check in a dark room) |
| Red, green, blue | A single faulty sub-pixel that hides on mixed colours |
| Grey | Banding, tint shifts and “dirty screen” uniformity problems |
Step by step
- Clean the screen with a dry microfibre cloth so dust is not mistaken for pixels.
- Open the Dead Pixel & Screen Test and press Start: each colour fills the screen; press → or click for the next.
- Look from about 30 cm, section by section. Note the position of any dot and check it on the other colours.
- For backlight bleed, turn the room lights off and look at the black screen at normal brightness.
Can it be fixed?
Stuck pixels sometimes recover after rapidly changing colours over that spot for a while, or with gentle pressure through a soft cloth while the screen is off; there is no guarantee, and pressing too hard can cause more damage. Dead pixels usually cannot be fixed. Check the manufacturer’s pixel policy: many accept returns only above a certain number of faulty pixels.
Check the refresh rate too
The screen test measures the rate your screen runs at now. A 144 Hz monitor often arrives set to 60 Hz. On Windows 11 change it in Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate, and use a DisplayPort or recent HDMI cable.