Stuck Pixel vs Dead Pixel: How to Tell Them Apart
A dead pixel is dark on every colour because it no longer lets light through; a stuck pixel stays lit in one colour — red, green, blue or a mix — whatever the screen shows. To tell them apart, view full-screen black, white, red, green and blue: a dot that's dark on white is dead, a coloured dot visible on black is stuck, and a white dot on black is a bright (hot) pixel. Stuck pixels sometimes recover with use; dead pixels almost never do.
Dead, stuck and bright pixels compared
| Type | Looks like | Easiest to see 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Why they happen
Each pixel on an LCD is three sub-pixels (red, green and blue), each controlled by a tiny transistor that lets more or less backlight through. If a sub-pixel's transistor fails so no light passes, the spot looks dark — a dead pixel. If it's stuck letting light through, that colour stays on — a stuck pixel, or a bright white one if all three sub-pixels are stuck on.
How to check your screen
- Clean the screen so dust isn't mistaken for a defect.
- Run a full-screen dead pixel test and scan each colour edge to edge.
- Note each dot's colour on the black and white screens — that tells you which type it is.
- Count them and note whether any are near the centre; that decides whether a return or warranty claim is worth it.