Run the dead pixel test Open it in the TV’s web browser, or on a laptop connected by HDMI, and step through full-screen black, white and solid colors.
On this page
How we checked this: we haven’t tested TVs for this guide. The steps and policies come from Sony, LG and Samsung support pages, linked in the sources and checked on 2026-10-25. TV menus change between model years, so if yours differs, tell us. More on our method on the How We Test page.
You mount the new TV, put on something dark, and there it is: a tiny dot that doesn’t move with the picture. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll see it in every night scene. The good news is that it takes about five minutes to work out what it is and whether it’s worth sending the TV back.
Is it a dead pixel? The two-minute check
LG’s support page on dots has the simplest first step: open the TV’s settings menu. If the dot is visible over the menu or the Home screen, it’s the panel, not an app or a connected box. Then try a few sources (live TV, a streaming app, an HDMI device). A dot on every source and the menu is an inactive pixel. A dot on only one source comes from that device, its cable or the content.
| What you see | What it usually is | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| A dark dot, clearest on a white screen | Dead (dark) pixel | Note where it is, check the policy below |
| A bright red, green, blue or white dot, clearest on black | Stuck or bright pixel | Try the fixer, briefly |
| Only on one input, app or channel | The source, cable or video | Reseat the HDMI cable, restart the device |
| Moves or wipes away | Dust or a smudge | Dry microfiber cloth, no pressure |
| Dots that spread, cluster, change color, or come with lines | More than a pixel defect | Contact the maker, LG says |
Clean the screen before you decide. Sony’s pixel article warns that debris on the screen can look like dead pixels.
How to run a pixel test on a TV
Solid full-screen colors are the fastest way to find every dot, including any you haven’t spotted yet.
- Open the dead pixel test in the TV’s built-in browser, or connect a laptop by HDMI and run it full screen at the TV’s native resolution.
- Turn off motion smoothing and extra sharpening first. Processing can blur a dot or add its own artifacts. Our guide to turning off AI picture processing has the menu names by brand.
- Step through black, white, red, green and blue. Black shows bright dots. White shows dark ones.
- Look from your usual seat first, then up close. Write down where the dot is (for example, “about a hand’s width left of center”).
Samsung TVs also have their own Picture Test. On 2022 and later models, Samsung’s picture troubleshooting page gives the path as All Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Picture Test. Samsung UK lists the older menu paths. If the dot shows during that test, it’s the panel.
Is one dead pixel normal on a TV?
The makers say a few are. Sony’s support article says that on all LCD and OLED screens, from every manufacturer, a small number of dots may not change color, and that most are only noticeable on an all-white or all-black picture. LG says about one pixel per million may show up as a fine dot, and that these generally don’t affect performance or reliability.
Normal to a manufacturer and fine to you aren’t the same thing, though. A dot near the center of a brand-new TV is a fair reason to go back to the store, even if it sits inside the maker’s tolerance.
Sony also says something buyers rarely hear: because defective pixels can appear on any panel, a replacement screen may have them too, possibly more of them or in a more visible place. That’s worth weighing before you swap a TV over one dot at the edge.
Bright dot? Try the stuck pixel fixer, briefly
A colored or white dot can be a stuck pixel rather than a dead one, and those sometimes clear. Sony notes that defective pixels sometimes correct themselves over time.
- Open the stuck pixel fixer on the TV’s browser or a connected laptop. Read the photosensitivity warning first, because it flashes.
- Park the flashing square over the dot and leave it 10 to 20 minutes. On an OLED TV, keep sessions short rather than running it for hours.
- Check again on the matching color in the dead pixel test.
Don’t press, rub or tap the screen to shift it. LG’s page says exactly that, and we agree: pressure can damage a panel, and a TV panel isn’t cheap.
On an LG OLED, spots can also be a job for the TV’s own maintenance cycle. LG’s Pixel Cleaning guide says to check external devices and HDMI first, then run Pixel Cleaning. On 2022 and newer models it’s Settings > All Settings > General > OLED Care > OLED Panel Care > Pixel Cleaning, with the TV left plugged in. A faint shape rather than a dot is more likely image retention, which the burn-in test checks.
Return it or keep it?
Our view: on a new TV, the return window beats any fix. Store return periods are usually shorter than the warranty and often easier to use, so decide while you still have that option.
- Visible from your seat on normal content, especially near the center: return or exchange it inside the window.
- Only visible up close on a solid test color, at the edge: keeping it is a reasonable call, and Sony’s point about replacements applies.
- More dots appearing, clusters, or lines: contact the maker. LG lists these as reasons to call support.
Before you call, take a photo of the dot on a solid color, and note the model number, serial number and software version. Samsung’s picture troubleshooting page asks for the model code, software version and serial number when you call for service, and LG asks for a photo and whether the dots show on the TV menu.
If it can’t be fixed
A dead pixel can’t be repaired with software, and no app or video brings one back. If it bothers you and the TV is new, use the store’s return or exchange window first. After that, it’s down to the maker’s warranty and pixel policy for your model and region, and each brand sets its own rules. Contact their support with a photo, the dot’s position and your model and serial number, and ask directly whether your case is covered. Don’t open the TV or press on the panel to try a fix.
Frequently asked questions
How many dead pixels are acceptable on a TV?
It depends on the brand, model and region. Sony says a small number of dots that don’t change color is normal on all LCD and OLED screens, and LG says about one pixel per million may show as a fine dot. Ask the maker for the policy for your model.
Can a dead pixel on a TV fix itself?
Sometimes. Sony says defective pixels sometimes correct themselves over time. A truly dead pixel gets no power, though, and no app can revive it. A bright, colored dot is more likely stuck, and those sometimes clear with a pixel fixer.
How do I test my TV for dead pixels without a computer?
Open a full-screen pixel test in the TV’s built-in web browser and step through black, white and solid colors. Samsung TVs also have a Picture Test under Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis.
Is a bright dot on my TV a dead pixel?
Usually not. A dead pixel shows as a dark dot, clearest on white. A bright red, green, blue or white dot, clearest on black, is a stuck or bright pixel.
Should I return a new TV for one dead pixel?
If you can see it from your seat on normal content, especially near the center, return or exchange it while the store window is open. If it’s only visible up close on a test pattern, keeping it is reasonable, since Sony warns a replacement panel can have its own defects.
Related fixes
- Dead pixel test (free tool)
- Stuck pixel fixer (free tool)
- Stuck pixel on your monitor? How to tell and fix it
- OLED burn-in or image retention? How to tell, fix and prevent it
- How to turn off AI picture processing on any TV
- TV screen fix guides
Sources
- Sony USA: One or more pixels on the TV screen appear as dark, bright red, green, blue, or white dots, checked 2026-10-25.
- LG UK: LG TV screen shows dots, checked 2026-10-25.
- LG USA: How to fix lines or spots on your LG OLED TV with Pixel Cleaning, checked 2026-10-25.
- Samsung US: Problems with the picture on Samsung TV or projector, checked 2026-10-25.
- Samsung UK: How to run a picture or pixel test for your TV screen, checked 2026-10-25.
