Dead Pixel vs Stuck Pixel: What Is the Difference?
Learn how dead pixels, stuck pixels, and bright pixels differ, how to test a monitor at home, and what to document before a return or warranty claim.
Dead pixels and stuck pixels look similar at first, but the underlying symptom is different. Testing with several solid colors makes the defect easier to identify and gives you useful evidence before a monitor return.
What is a dead pixel?
A dead pixel usually stays black because one or more subpixels cannot produce light. It remains dark on red, green, blue, white, and gray backgrounds. A small dead pixel can be easiest to see on a bright white screen.
What is a stuck pixel?
A stuck pixel remains fixed on one color, often red, green, or blue. The pixel may look normal on a background that matches its stuck color, but it becomes obvious on a contrasting color. A bright pixel is a related defect that stays lit when the surrounding screen should be dark.
How to run a dead pixel test
Open the online dead pixel test, clean the screen, and enter fullscreen mode. Cycle through pure red, green, blue, white, and black screens. Inspect the center, edges, and corners from a normal viewing distance. Do not press the panel while checking it.
Can a dead pixel be fixed?
A genuinely dead pixel is a hardware failure and cannot normally be repaired with software. A stuck pixel may sometimes change after the panel warms up or after gentle pixel-refresh patterns, but aggressive pressure can permanently damage the display. Treat any repair attempt as optional and check the seller's policy first.
What should you record before a return?
Record the color background, the defect location, the monitor model, and a clear photo taken from a consistent distance. Check the manufacturer's pixel policy because some brands allow a limited number of defects. A test result helps document the problem, but the seller's policy determines whether it qualifies for replacement.
Backlight bleed is a different issue: it appears as light leaking from the edges of an LCD panel on dark scenes. Use the backlight bleed test when the problem is uneven glow rather than an individual pixel.