Monitor · dead pixel test
Monitor Test: Find Dead, Stuck and Bright Pixels
This free monitor test fills your screen with solid black, white, red, green, blue and grey so you can spot dead pixels (dark dots on bright screens), bright pixels (white dots on black) and stuck pixels (dots stuck on one colour). Tell it what you saw and it says whether that's within normal tolerance or worth a return, and links to each brand's pixel policy. It takes about a minute, runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
How the monitor & dead pixel test works
- Step 1
Prepare the screen
Wipe the panel so dust doesn't look like a defect, set brightness high, and sit close enough to see individual pixels.
- Step 2
Go full screen
The test cycles through six solid colours. Scan edge to edge on each one; click or press → for the next colour, Esc to finish.
- Step 3
Report and get a verdict
Count the dark, bright and coloured dots you saw. You get the defect type and whether to keep, return, or check the brand's pixel policy.
How we classify pixel defects
| Defect | What it looks like | Best seen on | Will it go away? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead pixel | A black or dark dot that never lights up | White and bright colour screens | Permanent — a dead pixel's transistor no longer passes light. It won't fix itself. |
| Bright (hot) pixel | A white dot that stays lit | The black screen | Usually permanent, and the most noticeable kind — most warranty policies are strictest about it. |
| Stuck pixel | A dot stuck on red, green or blue (or a mix) | Black, and the screens of the other two colours | Sometimes recovers on its own over days of use; it may also stay. |
| Our verdict | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Looks fine | No defects on any colour | Nothing. |
| Worth a look | One dead or stuck pixel away from the centre | Usually within brand policy; return it inside the retailer window if it bothers you. |
| Problem found | Any bright pixel, any defect near the centre, or more than one defect | Check the retailer's return window now, then the brand's pixel policy. |
Test colours, in order: Black (finds bright and stuck pixels); White (finds dead pixels); Red (finds dead or stuck sub-pixels); Green (finds dead or stuck sub-pixels); Blue (finds dead or stuck sub-pixels); Grey (finds uniformity issues and faint defects).
What this test can and can't tell you
Reliable: Finds visible pixel defects. Solid full-screen colours are the standard way to reveal dead, stuck and bright pixels — the same method monitor reviewers and manufacturers use.
Estimate: Relies on your eyes. A browser can't read the panel's pixels, so the result is only as good as your inspection. Look closely, especially at the corners.
Limit: It doesn't repair pixels. We don't run flashing "pixel fixer" animations: they rarely help dead pixels and rapid flashing can trigger photosensitive seizures.
Monitor & Dead Pixel Test — frequently asked questions
- How do I check my monitor for dead pixels?
- Clean the screen, set brightness high, and view full-screen solid colours one at a time — white and the primary colours reveal dead (dark) pixels, black reveals bright and stuck pixels. Scan the whole panel on each colour, including the corners. This test does exactly that in about a minute.
- What's the difference between a dead, stuck and bright pixel?
- A dead pixel is dark on every colour because it no longer passes light. A stuck pixel shows one colour (red, green or blue) all the time. A bright or hot pixel stays white and is most visible on black. Dead and bright pixels are usually permanent; stuck pixels sometimes recover.
- Is one dead pixel normal on a new monitor?
- It's within most manufacturers' pixel policies, which often require several dark defects before replacing a monitor — though some brands replace for a single bright pixel on certain lines. If you're inside the retailer's return window and it bothers you, returning is usually the simplest fix. See the brand-by-brand pixel policy table.
- Can a dead pixel fix itself?
- A truly dead pixel almost never comes back, because its transistor no longer works. A stuck pixel can recover on its own after days of normal use. If a dot changes colour depending on the screen colour, it's more likely stuck than dead.
- Does this monitor test work on laptops, phones and TVs?
- Yes, on any screen that can open a browser — laptops, external monitors, tablets and phones. On iPhone the browser can't hide its interface completely, so scan around the edges by scrolling or rotating the phone.
Sources
- Dell Display Pixel Guidelines — Dell
- HP Pixel Policy — HP
- ISO 9241-307: Analysis and compliance test methods for electronic visual displays — ISO
- Fullscreen API — MDN Web Docs
Last reviewed .
Related tests and guides
- Dead Pixel Warranty PoliciesHow many dead or bright pixels each monitor brand will replace.
- Stuck vs Dead PixelHow to tell them apart, and which one can come back.
- Backlight Bleed TestTell backlight bleed from IPS glow, and whether to return it.
- Refresh Rate TestMeasure the Hz your screen is really running at.