How to use the stuck pixel fixer
- Find the pixel. Run the dead pixel test or open a black screen, and note where the stuck dot is. Markers you drop in the dead pixel test carry over to this page.
- Press Start and read the warning. The fixer runs full screen and flashes, so it asks first.
- Place the square. Drag it onto the pixel, or press 1–9 to jump to a marker. For the last pixel, use the arrow keys: each press moves the square by 1 screen pixel.
- Press Space to start flashing. Let it run for 20 minutes and keep the screen on.
- Answer the check-in. When the timer ends, say whether the pixel is gone. Most stuck pixels get up to 3 rounds before it’s time to stop.
Does a stuck pixel fixer work?
Sometimes. A stuck pixel has one or two sub-pixels that stay switched on. Switching them rapidly on and off can jolt some of them back into normal operation. That’s all a stuck pixel fixer does: it flashes changing colors over one small area of the screen.
No published controlled study measures how often it works. Owner reports range from a fix within minutes to no change at all, and a pixel that got stuck recently seems the most likely to respond. At normal brightness the flashing is harmless to the screen. You don’t need any dead pixel fixer software or download either: the fixer runs in your browser.
The fixer starts at 3 color changes per second. You can choose 10, 30 or the screen’s maximum after a confirmation, but nothing shows that faster flashing works better. The speed resets to 3 every time you come back.
Can a dead pixel fixer fix a dead pixel?
Rarely. A dead pixel gets no power at all, usually because a tiny transistor or its connection has failed. Flashing colors can’t repair that, so a dead pixel fixer really works on stuck pixels, not dead ones.
If you’re not sure which kind you have, look at the dot on a black screen: a stuck pixel glows red, green, blue or white there, while a dead pixel stays dark. One 20-minute round costs nothing to try. If nothing changes, use the return window or the warranty instead.
How to fix a stuck or dead pixel: what works
| Method | When it helps | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Wait a few days of normal use | Some stuck pixels clear on their own | Low |
| Stuck pixel fixer (flashing colors) | Stuck and hot pixels | Low |
| Power off and unplug for a while | Only anecdotal reports | Low |
| Pressing or rubbing the spot | We don’t recommend it | Can create more dead pixels or crack the panel |
| Heat (hair dryer, warm cloth) | Don’t | Can damage the panel |
| Return or warranty claim | The real fix for dead pixels | None |
Most manufacturers publish a pixel policy that says how many faulty pixels qualify for a replacement, and many base it on the ISO 9241-307 pixel classes. Bright pixels, which include stuck ones, often have a stricter limit than dark ones. Check yours before the return window closes: Dell, LG, Samsung (in German), ASUS, Acer, Apple or Lenovo. A repair usually means replacing the whole panel, so a return or a warranty claim is the better dead pixel fix.
Stuck pixel fixer on a phone, TV or OLED screen
On a phone or tablet
Open this page in the phone’s browser and turn it to landscape. Keep the brightness at your normal level and plug in the charger, because a 20-minute round uses battery. The fixer keeps the screen awake while it flashes. On an iPhone, Safari can’t show web pages in true full screen, so the browser bar may hide the top rows of the screen. A truly dead pixel on a phone needs a screen replacement.
On a TV
Open the page in the TV’s web browser, or connect a laptop over HDMI and show the fixer on the TV. If the pixel is hard to find, use Flash the whole screen. It asks for confirmation every time and starts at 3 changes per second.
On an OLED screen
The flashing method was designed for LCD panels. OLED sub-pixels make their own light and respond less predictably, so keep each round to 20–30 minutes and watch for changes. If you see faint shapes rather than a single dot, check for burn-in with the OLED burn-in test.
Flashing and photosensitivity
Flashing light can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set a limit of 3 flashes per second, and the fixer starts there. Higher speeds need a confirmation and are never saved.
The square is small on purpose: the guidelines only count flashing that covers a large part of your field of view. Whole-screen mode is the exception, which is why it asks every time. Stop at once if you feel unwell, and don’t run the fixer where someone with photosensitive epilepsy might see the screen.