How to fix a stuck pixel
- Find the pixel. Run the Dead Pixel Test first and note where the faulty dot is. A dot that glows red, green, blue or white on black is stuck or hot; one that stays black on white is dead.
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Read the warning. The fixer flashes bright colours, so it starts only after you tick the box and press I understand, start. The box then starts flashing in the black area on the page.
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Cover the pixel. Press Full-screen box, then click or tap the stuck pixel to move the flashing box onto it. Drag the corner handle to make the box a little bigger than the spot.
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Let it run. Leave it for 10–20 minutes. You don’t need to watch — look away or leave the room. Elapsed, Time left and the Session bar show the progress, and the session stops by itself when the time is up.
- Check again. Open the Dead Pixel Test and look at the spot on black and white. Still stuck? Run a few more sessions, or try another pattern or a faster speed.
Don’t know exactly where the pixel is, or have several? Use Flash whole screen instead. Press Esc, or tap or click anywhere, to stop it instantly.
Settings
- Pattern: Noise flickers every pixel in the box with its own random colour, Colour cycle steps through red, green, blue, white and black, and Random shows a new solid colour on each flash.
- Speed: 5 to 60 flashes per second. Faster usually works better; Flash rate shows what your screen actually manages.
- Stop automatically after: ends the session after 10, 20, 30 or 60 minutes. Where the browser supports it, the screen is kept awake while the box flashes.
- Moving the box with the keyboard: select the box, then use the arrow keys to move it (hold Shift for bigger steps) and + or − to resize it. Space pauses and resumes.
Stuck pixel fixer not working? Fix it step by step
- The start button is greyed out. Tick I have read the warning and flashing light is safe for me first. Nothing flashes until you do.
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The flashing stopped by itself. For safety it pauses when you switch tabs or minimise the window, and the status says Paused because the tab was hidden. Come back to the tab and press Resume. It also stops when you press Esc, leave full screen, or the session time is up.
- The screen dims or goes to sleep. Where the browser supports it, the fixer keeps the screen on while it flashes (see Keep screen on under Details). If it still sleeps, lengthen the timeout. Windows 11: Settings › System › Power & battery › Screen and sleep; Windows 10: Settings › System › Power & sleep; Mac: System Settings › Lock Screen; Android: Settings › Display › Screen timeout; iPhone and iPad: Settings › Display & Brightness › Auto-Lock.
- Flash rate is lower than the speed you set. A screen can’t show more flashes than its refresh rate — 60 per second on most displays — and battery saver or a busy computer can lower it further. Plug in your laptop, close heavy apps and keep the fixer’s tab in front.
- The box won’t sit exactly on the pixel. Click the box, then nudge it with the arrow keys as described under Settings, and make it a little bigger than the spot with +.
- Full screen doesn’t open. On iPhone, where web pages can’t use full screen, the full-screen modes fill the browser window instead and Details shows Browser window only. On a computer, make the browser itself full screen first with F11, or Ctrl+Cmd+F on a Mac.
- The pixel is still stuck after several sessions. Try the Colour cycle pattern and a speed of 60 per second. If nothing changes, the pixel may be dead — check your warranty instead.
How does a stuck pixel fixer work?
Each pixel is made of red, green and blue sub-pixels, and on an LCD each one is switched by its own tiny transistor. A stuck pixel usually has a sub-pixel that stays on, or off, when it should change. Flashing colours switch it on and off many times a second for minutes on end, and sometimes this frees a sluggish sub-pixel so it responds normally again. The idea is the same on OLED screens, where each sub-pixel makes its own light.
What to expect
- It has the best chance with pixels stuck on a colour, and with faults that appeared recently.
- It may work in one session, take several, or not help at all. There’s no way to know in advance.
- It can’t fix a dead pixel that stays black on every colour, or lines, cracks, pressure marks and backlight problems.
- A revived pixel can occasionally get stuck again. If that happens, run another session.
The gentle-pressure method
If flashing alone doesn’t work, some people add very light pressure on the spot. It can make things worse — pressing too hard can create new dead pixels or damage the panel — so only try it on an LCD monitor or laptop screen you’re prepared to risk, never on a new screen you could still return or claim under warranty. It isn’t worth trying on phones and tablets.
- Start the flashing box over the stuck pixel.
- Wrap a soft, blunt tip, such as a pencil eraser or a stylus, in a microfibre cloth.
- Press very lightly on the exact spot for a few seconds, then release. Never use a fingernail, a pen or anything sharp.
- Repeat a few times, then let the box flash for a few more minutes and check the result.
Stop if you see ripples, new marks or more faulty pixels. Pressure damage isn’t covered by warranties.
When to claim warranty instead
If the pixel is dead, or still stuck after several sessions, check the warranty and the retailer’s return policy before trying anything risky. Most manufacturers publish a pixel policy, often based on the ISO 9241-307 standard, and some brands replace a monitor for even one bright pixel.
Take a close-up photo of the pixel on the black and white screens of the Dead Pixel Test, note exactly where it is, and contact the seller or manufacturer.
About this stuck pixel fixer
The fixer runs entirely in your browser. The flashing colours are drawn on your own device, so nothing is downloaded, installed or uploaded. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and Samsung Internet. For your safety, it never starts flashing by itself, pauses as soon as you switch tabs, and stops instantly when you press Esc.
Frequently asked questions
Do stuck pixel fixers work?
Sometimes. They can revive a pixel that’s stuck on a colour, especially if the fault is recent, but there’s no guarantee, and they can’t fix dead pixels. Trying costs nothing and won’t harm your screen.
How long does it take to fix a stuck pixel?
Run the fixer for 10–20 minutes, then check the pixel with the Dead Pixel Test. If it’s still stuck, try a few more sessions with a faster speed or another pattern. If nothing changes after several sessions, it probably won’t respond.
Will a stuck pixel fix itself?
Sometimes. Stuck pixels occasionally recover on their own after hours or weeks of normal use, but many don’t. Running the fixer a few times is a quick way to give it a better chance.
Can dead pixels be fixed?
A dead pixel, which stays black on every colour, usually can’t be fixed with software because its transistor or connection has failed. Check your warranty or the retailer’s return policy instead.
Is the flashing safe to look at?
Rapid flashing can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy, so don’t use the fixer if that applies to you or anyone who can see the screen. Everyone else should still look away while it runs. Press Esc to stop it instantly.
Can a pixel fixer damage my screen?
No. Showing changing colours is normal use for an LCD or OLED panel, and the flashing area keeps changing, so it doesn’t burn in. Only the pressure method carries a risk, so press very gently or not at all.