Check your screen for dead pixels.
Fill your screen with solid colors and spot dead pixels, stuck pixels and burn-in on any monitor, laptop, tablet or phone. It takes about a minute.
Dead, stuck and burned-in pixels: what's the difference?
A dead pixel is a factory fault: the pixel gets no power and stays black, whatever's on screen. A stuck pixel is different. It's frozen on one color because one of its tiny red, green or blue parts is stuck on, and unlike a dead pixel, it can sometimes be fixed. Screen burn-in is a faint, permanent ghost of an image that stayed on screen too long, and it's most common on OLED screens.
The test fills your screen with solid colors and a few patterns, so any of these stand out clearly against a flat background.
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| A small black dot, the same on every color | Dead pixel |
| A bright red, green, or blue dot that doesn't match the background | Stuck pixel |
| A faint shadow of old content visible on new content | Screen burn-in |
These terms match the ones used by display makers such as Dell and EIZO, and by independent reviewers like RTINGS.
Questions people ask
How do I test for a dead pixel?
Open the Dead & Stuck Pixel Check and let it fill your screen with red, green, blue, black, white, cyan, magenta and yellow in turn. On each color, look for a dot that doesn't belong. A dead pixel stays black on every color, while a stuck pixel shows the same color the whole way through. Wipe the screen first so a speck of dust doesn't fool you, and look at it straight on in a dim room, because glare hides small flaws.
What's the difference between a dead pixel and a stuck pixel?
A dead pixel gets no power at all, so it stays black whatever's on screen, and it can't be repaired. A stuck pixel still has power but is frozen: one of its red, green or blue parts is jammed on, so it shows the same bright color on every background. Because it still responds to a signal, flashing colors over it can sometimes free it. There's also a third kind, a hot pixel, which stays bright white. They're far more common on camera sensors than on screens. See dead vs. stuck vs. hot pixels for a side-by-side comparison.
How do I check for screen burn-in?
Run the Burn-in Check, which fills your screen with a still, high-contrast pattern, then look for a faint ghost of something that used to be there, like a channel logo, a game's on-screen display or the Windows taskbar. Ghosts show up best over flat mid-gray areas rather than pure black or white. If you find one, the big question is whether it's permanent. True burn-in is uneven wear on an OLED screen and won't fade, while temporary image retention clears up on its own after a few hours of varied content.
Does this work on phone and laptop screens?
Yes. Everything runs in your browser, so it works the same on monitors, laptops, tablets and phones, and there's nothing to install. On a phone or tablet, turn off auto-brightness and any night mode or blue-light filter first, because both change the colors you actually see. The Stuck Pixel Fix also needs your screen to stay awake, so lengthen your screen timeout before you leave it running.
Can a dead pixel be fixed?
Usually not. A dead pixel gets no power, so there's nothing for software or pressure tricks to work on, and rubbing the screen can do real damage. A stuck pixel is a better bet: the Stuck Pixel Fix flashes colors over the spot and sometimes frees it. It isn't guaranteed, but it's worth giving 10 to 20 minutes. If nothing works, check whether you qualify for a replacement. Most brands only replace a screen once it has more than a set number of faulty pixels, and our manufacturer policy guide compares them.
Want to check your speakers or headphones too? Sound Test tests left and right channels, bass and your microphone, right in the browser.