Several nearby pixels look abnormal? What to do

A small patch of bright, dark, or oddly colored dots can make you wonder if your screen is damaged. When several nearby pixels look wrong, first check whether the marks stay in the same place across different colors and images.

The Display Test can show solid colors to help you inspect the screen. If the affected pixels appear stuck on a single color, the Stuck Pixel Fixer can try a rapid flashing pattern, though it cannot repair every kind of screen fault.

Check the abnormal pixels

1. Open the Display Test on the screen with the problem. Use its color test to look at the same area against several solid colors.
2. Look closely without pressing the panel. Note whether the marks stay in exactly the same positions, and whether they appear black, white, or one or more colors.
3. Open a screenshot on a different screen, or take a photo of the affected display. If the marks appear in the screenshot on another screen, the image may be affected before it reaches the panel.
4. If the marks stay fixed on the screen and look like colored pixels, try the Stuck Pixel Fixer only if flashing patterns are safe for you. Stop if the pattern causes discomfort.

For an external monitor, move the browser window onto that monitor before inspecting it. If you are unsure whether a dot is stuck or dead, see how to tell a stuck pixel from a dead pixel.

What the result means

The same colored dots stay in place on every color

One or more subpixels may be stuck on. A screen pixel contains red, green, and blue subpixels, and a stuck subpixel can make a dot look red, green, blue, or a mix of colors. Several nearby dots can indicate a panel problem, especially if they appeared together.

The dots stay black on every color

Those pixels may not be lighting up. A permanently black pixel is often described as dead, but a browser test cannot confirm the exact electrical fault. A cluster of black dots is more likely to need inspection or repair than a software fix.

The marks change or disappear with the image

This points away from a fixed pixel defect. The source image, graphics software, a display cable, or the graphics system may be creating the artifact. If it appears in a screenshot viewed on another device, investigate the app or graphics output first.

The marks look like a blotch, line, or spreading patch

A larger irregular area can mean panel damage, pressure damage, or a display connection fault rather than separate stuck pixels. If it changes when the lid moves, or grows over time, stop flexing or pressing the screen and arrange a hardware check.

What to try before arranging repair

1. Restart the device. A temporary graphics glitch may clear after a restart. Check the screen again before opening the app or file where you first noticed the problem.
2. Check a different image and app. If the marks only appear in one photo, video, or program, inspect that content on another device. If they remain in the same physical spot over different content, the display is more likely to be involved.
3. Reconnect an external monitor. Unplug and reconnect the video cable at both ends, then try another cable or port if available. A poor connection can cause image artifacts, though it usually does not create the same fixed cluster on every test color.
4. Use the screen's normal resolution. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display and check Display resolution, then open Advanced display to review the refresh rate. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays and choose a supported resolution. These settings will not heal damaged pixels, but they can rule out an unusual display mode.
5. Check the screen at ordinary brightness. On an iPhone, open Settings › Display & Brightness. On Android, open Settings › Display, though the exact name can vary by phone. A brightness or color setting can change how a screen looks, but it will not normally create a fixed cluster of defective pixels.
6. Try one short pixel-fixing attempt, if appropriate. The Stuck Pixel Fixer uses rapid flashing and may help a stuck subpixel, but results are uncertain. Do not use it if flashing light could trigger a seizure or cause discomfort, and do not run it repeatedly for long periods.

When it is probably a hardware problem

If a cluster stays in the same place through restarts and different test colors, and it does not appear in screenshots viewed elsewhere, the screen or its connection is the likely cause. A fixed group of black pixels, a colored patch that will not change, or a spreading blotch is not something a browser can repair.

Check the device warranty and the screen maker's pixel policy before paying for service. Some policies allow a limited number of defective pixels, and the rules vary by product. For a laptop or phone under warranty, contact the manufacturer or seller. If the screen is cracked, has a spreading blotch, or changes when the device is moved, ask a repair shop to inspect it.

Do not press or rub the screen

Pressing on a screen can damage the panel or make a small fault worse. Pixel-fixing patterns are only a software attempt, not a repair for dead pixels, cracked panels, or damaged display connections. If the cluster is growing, take a photo for your warranty or repair record and stop experimenting.