What is the difference between a dead pixel and a stuck pixel?
Screen users often mistake a mark on their display for dirt, only to discover it's actually a pixel fault — either a "stuck" pixel or a "dead" pixel. Engadget explains how to tell the two apart, since one can often be fixed while the other cannot, which matters for anyone deciding whether to troubleshoot, live with the flaw or seek a replacement monitor or device.
The key distinction is light: a stuck pixel remains permanently lit, showing a constant blue, red, green or bright point, whereas a dead pixel shows no light at all and appears as a black dot. Stuck pixels can often be resolved through troubleshooting tools such as JScreenFix or Dead Pixels Test and Fix, while dead pixels cannot be repaired, leaving replacement or tolerance as the only options. Before assuming either fault, users are advised to rule out other causes, such as cable or input issues, by cleaning the screen and testing different applications, cables and devices; stuck pixels can also be intermittent if caused by heat or power issues, making them trickier to diagnose.
- Stuck pixels stay lit; dead pixels show no light at all.
- Stuck pixels are often fixable; dead pixels are permanent.
- Rule out cable/input issues first, then use pixel-testing tools.
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Screen faults are one of the most common reasons people worry their device is broken, but the marks aren't always what they seem. What looks like a spot of dirt or damage on a phone, monitor or TV screen can actually be a fault with an individual pixel, the tiny coloured dot that makes up part of the image. There are two different faults that get lumped together under this heading, and knowing which one you have determines what, if anything, can be done about it.
Screens are made up of millions of pixels, each capable of lighting up in different colours to build the picture you see. Occasionally an individual pixel malfunctions, either getting stuck showing one colour constantly or failing to light up at all, leaving a permanent mark on the display regardless of what is actually being shown on screen.
This matters because the fix, or lack of one, depends entirely on which type of fault is present, and because sellers, manufacturers and repair shops often treat the two issues very differently when it comes to warranties, refunds or troubleshooting advice.