How to check a new monitor for dead pixels

A new monitor can look perfect until you open a solid white, black, or colored screen. A single faulty pixel is easy to miss, and return periods can be short. Check the panel now, while you still have time to decide whether to keep it or contact the seller.

The Display Test shows colors that make pixel defects easier to spot. If a pixel appears stuck on a color, the Stuck Pixel Fixer can try flashing it back to normal. It cannot repair a pixel that is dead.

Check the monitor for dead pixels

1. Open the Display Test on the new monitor. If you use more than one screen, make sure the test is on the monitor you want to inspect.
2. Show each available solid color and look closely across the whole screen, including the edges and corners. Check from a normal viewing distance, then move closer to confirm anything that looks unusual.
3. Look for a dot that stays black, white, or a fixed color as the background changes. Note its position, such as the distance from the top and left edges, and which colors make it easiest to see.
4. Check the screen at its native resolution. On Windows 11, go to Settings › System › Display. On macOS, go to System Settings › Displays. Use the recommended resolution if it is available, and close any image or video that could cover the test.

Give your eyes a moment to adjust to each color. A speck of dust on the panel can look like a pixel problem, but it usually changes or disappears when you gently clean the screen. Do not press on the panel while checking it.

What the result means

A black dot stays black on every color

This is likely a dead pixel, or a pixel that is not lighting up. A pixel contains red, green, and blue subpixels. If all of them fail, the point often looks black against a bright background. A browser test can help you see it, but it cannot confirm the panel’s internal fault with certainty.

A bright dot stays red, green, blue, or white

This is more likely a stuck pixel or stuck subpixel. It still lights up, but one or more color components are not changing as they should. Check it against several backgrounds. A point that changes appearance with the background may not be a stuck pixel.

The spot changes or disappears as the color changes

It may be dust, a reflection, or content on the screen rather than a faulty pixel. Clean the panel gently and repeat the check. If it appears only in a particular app or image, check that content on another screen too.

You see a line, a cluster, or many dots

A line or group of defects can indicate a panel or connection problem, not just one isolated pixel. Save a record of what you see and contact the seller promptly. A photo may not capture a tiny defect clearly, so include the colors and screen location where it is visible.

What to try before contacting the seller

1. Clean the screen gently. Turn the monitor off and use a clean, soft microfiber cloth. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, and do not spray liquid directly onto the panel or push on the spot.
2. Confirm the display settings. Use the monitor’s recommended resolution in Settings › System › Display on Windows 11 or System Settings › Displays on macOS. If the image is being scaled or cropped, correcting the setting can make the test easier to inspect, but it will not fix a physical pixel defect.
3. Check another source. If possible, connect a different computer or device, or try another cable and input. A defect that stays at the same physical point on the monitor is more likely to be in the panel than in the computer or its video signal.
4. Try the stuck-pixel tool only if the pixel still lights up. Open the Stuck Pixel Fixer and follow its on-screen timer. It flashes quickly to try to free a stuck pixel; it is not a guaranteed repair and will not revive a dead one. Do not use flashing patterns if you are sensitive to flashing light, and stop if you feel discomfort.

Avoid pressing, rubbing, or tapping the screen to force a pixel to change. Pressure can damage the panel or create more defects, and it may affect your return or warranty options.

When the monitor itself may be faulty

If the same dot remains in the same place through different colors and on another source, the monitor is the likely cause. A black pixel that never lights up is not something a browser tool can repair. A stuck pixel may recover, but if it does not, treat it as a possible panel defect rather than repeatedly running a flashing pattern.

Pixel-defect rules vary by manufacturer and model. Some policies allow a certain number or type of defective pixels, while a store’s return policy may be different. There is no single pixel count that guarantees a replacement. Check the seller’s return deadline and the monitor’s written pixel policy before deciding what to do.

Record the defect before your return window closes

Write down the defect’s position and whether it looks black, bright, or colored on each test background. Take a photo or short video if you can, but do not rely on the camera alone: a tiny pixel can be hard to capture. Keep the box and accessories until you have decided, and contact the seller before the deadline if you are unsure whether the defect qualifies.