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Stuck Pixel Fixer

Flashes colors over a stuck pixel to try to free it. Works on monitors, laptops, phones and TVs.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Runs in your browser
  • 10 to 20 minutes

Step 1 · Read this first

Set up the fixer

Photosensitivity warning. This tool flashes bright colors many times a second. Don’t use it if you, or anyone who can see the screen, has photosensitive epilepsy or feels unwell around flashing light. Flashes between 3 and 30 per second are the most common seizure trigger, according to the Epilepsy Society. Look away while it runs, and stop at once if you feel odd.

Drag or ←→↑↓ move+ − sizeSpace pauseEsc stop

No full-screen mode in this browser. Safari on iPhone and some TV browsers can’t hide their bars, so the test fills the visible screen. Rotate the phone and scroll slightly to check the edges.

Result

Is the pixel gone?

Check it on the matching color in the dead pixel test, then pick what you see.

Find it first

Not sure where the dot is? Run the dead pixel test full screen, note the spot, then come back here.

Browser support: Tested in Chrome, Firefox and Safari (WebKit) on desktop and in iPhone and Android emulation. Real-phone checks are pending.

How to use the stuck pixel fixer

  1. Find the dot. Run the dead pixel test and note where it is. A red, green, blue or white dot is probably stuck. A black dot on every color is dead, and this tool won’t help.
  2. Read the warning and tick the box. Pick Small square for one dot, or Full screen if there are a few spread around.
  3. Press Start and park the square over the dot. Drag it with a finger or mouse, or use the arrow keys. Make it a little bigger than the dot so you don’t miss.
  4. Look away. Leave it for 10 to 20 minutes. The timer stops it for you, and the screen stays awake where the browser allows it.
  5. Check the result on the matching color in the dead pixel test, then answer “Is the pixel gone?” above.

Does a stuck pixel fixer actually work?

Sometimes. A stuck pixel has a sub-pixel (one of its tiny red, green or blue cells) that stays lit. Flashing tools switch it on and off very fast, and Wikipedia’s defective pixel article notes that this can free a stuck one.

Dead pixels are a different story. They get no power, so no software brings them back. A stuck pixel is a light switch jammed on. A dead one has no bulb.

Nobody can promise which kind yours is until you try. That’s why the tool has a timer and a stop point.

Fix guide: if the dot is still there

  1. Run one longer session. Full size over the area, 20 to 30 minutes. If two sessions don’t change it, we’d stop there.
  2. Make sure it’s on the panel. Take a screenshot and zoom in. If the dot shows up in the screenshot, it’s part of the image (a stray app icon, a sticker in a game overlay), and the screen is fine.
  3. Wipe the screen. Use a dry microfiber cloth and no pressure. Dust looks a lot like a stuck pixel and moves when you look from an angle.
  4. Check the return window. On a new screen, the return window beats any fix. Retailer returns and the maker’s pixel policy are separate, so check both, and photograph the dot on a white screen first.
  5. Skip pressure tricks. Pressing or rubbing the panel can damage it, especially OLED and phone screens. We don’t recommend it.

What this tool can’t do

It can’t find a stuck pixel for you, and it can’t revive a dead one. It won’t help with a full line of dead pixels either. A row or column that’s out usually means a connection fault inside the panel, which needs a repair or replacement (Wikipedia covers the cause).

Frequently asked questions

How long should I run a stuck pixel fixer?

Start with 10 to 20 minutes, then check. If the dot hasn’t changed after two sessions, more time is unlikely to be worth it, and the warranty or return window is the better next step.

Can a stuck pixel fixer damage my screen?

It shows ordinary colors, the same kind of content as any video, so it isn’t a physical risk to the panel. It can’t revive a dead pixel. The real risk is to people: don’t use it if anyone watching has photosensitive epilepsy.

Does it work on a phone or OLED screen?

It runs on phones and tablets. Use Small square and drag it over the dot. Safari on iPhone may not allow true full screen, so Full screen mode fills the visible area instead.

Stuck or dead pixel: how do I tell?

A stuck pixel shows as red, green, blue or white and often changes on some backgrounds. A dead pixel stays black on every color and is easiest to see on white. Run the dead pixel test to check.

Is it safe for people with epilepsy?

No. It flashes rapidly, in the 3 to 30 flashes per second range that the Epilepsy Society lists as the most common trigger. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, don’t use it.

Sources