# How to fix a stuck pixel, and when a pixel cannot be fixed Source: https://spolvero.design/articles/how-to-fix-a-stuck-pixel/ Updated: 2026-09-23 Tool: https://spolvero.design/tools/device-tests/dead-pixel-test/ > A stuck pixel shows one bright colour all the time; a dead pixel stays black on every colour. Only a stuck pixel can sometimes be fixed. Run rapid colour cycling over the screen for a few minutes, then check again on a black field. If that fails, some people try gentle pressure with a soft cloth while the screen is off. If the pixel is still stuck after that, record it and use the warranty or return window. A single bright green dot on a new screen is maddening. The good news: if it really is stuck, and not dead, there is a fair chance it can be brought back. The bad news: if it is dead, nothing you do at home will change it. So the first job is to find out which you have. ## Stuck or dead? Every pixel on an LCD or OLED screen is made of three sub-pixels: red, green and blue. They mix to make every colour you see. - **A dead pixel** gets no power. It stays black on every colour, and shows up most clearly on white. - **A stuck pixel** has a sub-pixel that is always on. It shows as a bright red, green or blue dot, and it vanishes on a field of its own colour. - **A hot pixel** is stuck with all three on, so it stays white on black. Open the [dead pixel test](/tools/device-tests/dead-pixel-test/), press **Go fullscreen**, and step through black, white, red, green, blue and grey. Wipe the screen with a dry microfibre cloth first, because dust looks exactly like a dead pixel. Press and hold on the spot to put a ring around it, so you can find it again. If the dot is black on every colour, it is dead. Skip to the section on returns. If it is coloured, keep reading. ## Try colour cycling first Rapid colour cycling drives the stuck sub-pixel on and off many times a second. It sometimes frees a sub-pixel that has stopped responding. It does nothing for a dead pixel. 1. In the dead pixel test, outside fullscreen, press **Try to fix a stuck pixel**. 2. Read the warning. The test area changes between bright colours, including red, four to five times a second. 3. Press **Start flashing**, then **Go fullscreen** so the flashing covers the stuck pixel wherever it is. Then look away. You do not need to watch it work. 4. It stops by itself after five minutes, or if you switch to another tab. 5. Step through the colours again and check the spot on black and on the pixel's own colour. **Do not run it if you, or anyone who can see the screen, has photosensitive epilepsy or is sensitive to flashing light.** Close the room door or turn the screen away from others. If the pixel has not changed, run it once more later. Some pixels need a couple of sessions. If three sessions do nothing, more flashing will not help. ## Gentle pressure, with care The other home method is pressure. With the screen switched off, fold a soft microfibre cloth, place it over the stuck pixel, and press lightly with a blunt tip such as a stylus cap. Switch the screen on while you hold the pressure, then release. This carries real risk. Too much force can damage more pixels or crack the layers of the panel. Do not do it on an OLED phone screen, and do not do it on a screen you can still return. A return is the safer fix. ## Why pixels get stuck A stuck sub-pixel is usually a transistor that no longer switches properly, often from a manufacturing flaw. That is why most stuck pixels appear in the first days or weeks. Pixels that stick later are often caused by physical stress, such as pressure on the lid of a laptop in a tight bag. ## Record it before anything else Before you try any fix, record what you found. When you leave fullscreen, the test lists each ring you placed by position, such as top left, 12% across and 8% down. Press **Copy result** and paste the list into your notes, and take a photo of each spot with a phone. That record matters for two reasons. If the fix works, you have lost nothing. If it fails, you have exactly what a warranty desk or a seller asks for. ## When to use the return window Warranty rules for pixels vary. Some makers replace a screen for a single bright pixel, and others accept a few before they act. Panel grades matter too. Read your specific policy, and act inside the return window if you can: a shop return is usually easier than a manufacturer claim. The guide to [checking a screen before the return window closes](/articles/check-screen-before-return-window/) covers the full ten-minute check, including backlight bleed and uniformity. For a large display, the [monitor test](/tools/device-tests/dead-pixel-test/monitor/) has tips for desktop screens. ## Questions ### Can a stuck pixel fix itself? Sometimes. A stuck pixel is lit but not changing, and rapid colour cycling or simply time can get it moving again. A dead pixel gets no power and stays black; it does not recover. ### How long should I run a stuck pixel fixer? A few minutes at a time. The Spolvero exerciser stops by itself after five minutes, because a pixel that has not moved by then is unlikely to. You can run it again later, but hours of flashing do not help more. ### Is it safe to press on a stuck pixel? It carries a real risk. Pressing too hard can damage more pixels or the panel itself, and pressure on an OLED phone screen is a bad idea. Try colour cycling first, and never press on a screen still under warranty if a return is possible. ### Is a stuck pixel covered by warranty? It depends on the maker and the panel grade. Some policies replace a screen for one bright pixel, others require several. Check the policy and record the pixel's position before you try any fix.