How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor

Figure out if the pixel is stuck or dead. A stuck pixel usually shows a color. A dead pixel is solid white (for TN panels) or solid black. Try to determine whether the pixel is merely stuck, or if it's completely dead.


Send the screen back to the manufacturer (optional). If the pixel is dead, your best bet is to cash in on your screen's warranty and send it back to the manufacturer.

• If the warranty on the screen has expired, you can attempt the following methods. Be aware, though, that they're meant primarily to remedy stuck pixels.

Turn on the computer and LCD screen.

Display a black image, which will show the stuck pixel very clearly against the background. It is very important that you are showing a black image and not just a blank signal, as you need the backlighting of the LCD to be illuminating the back of the panel.

Find a narrow object with a blunt, narrow end. A Sharpie marker with the cap on, an extremely dull pencil, a plastic stylus, or the end of a makeup brush would all work for this.

Use the rounded end of the object to gently tap the stuck pixel. Don't tap hard to start with, just enough to see a quick white glow under the point of contact. If you didn't see a white glow, then you didn't tap hard enough, so use just slightly more pressure this time.

Tap harder. Increase the pressure on the taps gradually for 5-10 taps until the pixel rights itself.

Apply pressure instead. If your tapping hasn't yielded any results, grab a damp (not wet) washcloth or paper towel. Fold the fabric so that you don't accidentally tear it, and hold it over the stuck pixel, and apply gentle but consistent pressure with the same object you used for tapping.

Check your results. Display a white image (such as an empty text document, or sending your browser to about:blank and going to fullscreen with F11) to verify that you haven't accidentally caused more damage than you fixed. If you fixed the stuck pixel, your whole screen should be white.