Dead Pixel on a Laptop Screen

How do I check my laptop for dead pixels?

Clean the screen, then show one solid color at a time across the whole display. These five steps take about a minute.

1. Shut the laptop down and wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth.
2. Turn the brightness all the way up and close every other window.
3. Start the test below. It fills the whole screen, edge to edge.
4. Look across each color slowly, including the corners next to the bezel.
5. If you see a dot, check whether it is there on every color.

Is it a dead pixel, a stuck pixel or dust?

Watch the dot as the colors change. Dust moves when you wipe it, while a pixel fault stays in exactly the same place.

Can a dead pixel on a laptop be fixed?

Usually not. A dead pixel gets no power, and no software can bring it back. A stuck pixel is different, and the stuck pixel fixer often frees it by flashing colors over it.

Do not press on a laptop screen to fix a pixel. The panel is thin and can crack or bruise.

Will the warranty cover a dead pixel on my laptop?

It depends on the maker’s pixel policy, which sets how many faulty pixels count as a defect. Take a photo of the dot on a solid color, and contact the seller before the return window closes.

Our guide to screen returns lists what to check and what to keep.

Can a dead pixel spread?

A single dead pixel does not normally spread. If new dots or lines keep appearing, the panel or its cable may be failing. Back up your files and contact support.

How do I test a MacBook screen for dead pixels?

The test works the same on a Mac. Follow these steps in Safari or Chrome:

1. Turn off True Tone and Night Shift in System Settings, under Displays.
2. Set the brightness to full.
3. Start the test above, which fills the screen edge to edge.
4. Check the area around the camera notch and the rounded corners.

See every MacBook screen size on our MacBook screen size page.

How do I test a Windows laptop or Chromebook?

Start the test above and it goes full screen on its own. If it does not, press F11 in Chrome or Edge on Windows, or the full screen key on a Chromebook.

Turn off Night light on Windows first, as it tints white toward orange. Brand sizes are on our Dell, HP, Lenovo and Chromebook pages.

What other laptop screen faults should I check?

While the test is running, look for these too:

• Backlight bleed: bright patches near the hinge or edges on a black screen.
• Pressure marks: pale spots where the keyboard or an object pressed on the closed lid.
• Flicker: a shimmer at low brightness, often easier to see through a phone camera.
• Lines: a full row or column of wrong colors, a sign of a panel or cable fault.

Our black screen test shows bleed best in a dark room.

How do I test a used laptop before buying?

A few minutes of checks can save a costly screen repair:

1. Run the dead pixel test above on every color.
2. Open and close the lid slowly while a white screen is showing, and watch for flicker.
3. On a touch screen, run our touch screen test as well.
4. Compare the screen size with the listing using our laptop screen size chart.

Can a laptop screen be replaced?

Yes. Most laptop screens are a separate panel that a repair shop can swap. The new panel must match the old one’s size, resolution, connector and touch layer.

The part number is printed on the back of the panel, or the maker’s support site lists it. For a laptop under warranty, contact the maker first.

How do I protect a laptop screen?

Pressure is the main risk to a laptop screen. Never close the lid on a pen or earbuds, and do not carry the laptop by its screen.

A padded sleeve keeps keys and bag contents off the lid. Clean the screen with a dry microfiber cloth, or one barely damp with screen cleaner.

How big is one pixel on a laptop screen?

Laptop pixels are tiny, which is why you may need to look closely. Here is one pixel on common screens:

• 14 inch at 1920 × 1200: about 0.16 mm across.
• 15.6 inch at 1920 × 1080: about 0.18 mm across.
• 16 inch at 2560 × 1600: about 0.13 mm across.

A magnifying glass or your phone’s camera zoom makes a single dot much easier to check.

Why does the dot only show on some colors?

Each pixel has a red, a green and a blue part. If only one part is dead, the dot shows on colors that need that part and hides on the rest.

A dead green part, for example, shows as a dark dot on green and a pink dot on white. It disappears on red and blue, which is why the test steps through every color.

Can a brand new laptop have a dead pixel?

Yes. Panels can leave the factory with a faulty pixel, and some makers allow a few before they call it a defect. That is why the first days matter most.

Run the test on the day it arrives, while the seller’s return window is open. Check the maker’s rule in our dead pixel policy table.