If your laptop is a few years old at this point, then you might have started noticing some dead or stuck pixels on your laptop screen. Though worry not, because we have some solutions that might just work to get rid of them.
First let’s clear the difference between dead pixels and stuck pixels. A dead pixel is one that won’t turn on anymore, while a stuck pixel is one that remains on permanently. Usually displaying one static color.
Disclaimer
Now before you try any of these methods. If your laptop is still under warranty, it might be a good to claim it on this dead or stuck pixel.
As even if you do end up fixing it, there’s no guarantee that it won’t show up again. And if it shows up again after your warranty expires, then you’ll be in a pickle.
How To Fix A Stuck Pixel On Your Screen [Step By Step]
Diagnosing a Stuck/Dead Pixel
First of all, how do you know when you have a dead or stuck pixel on your laptop screen in the first place. Well there are a number of websites out there that can help you with that. One website is Dead-pixel Check.
Just click on the link above, and it’ll take you to there website. Click on “start test”, and your monitor will begin displaying static colors on the entirety of your laptop screen.
Click the left mouse button to cycle between the different colors.
On each color, carefully examine your laptop screen. Say your monitor is displaying the color green, but one pixel is consistently displaying red.
As you cycle through the colors, that pixel doesn’t change colors. This is what we call a stuck pixel. If the pixel was displaying black consistently, then it’s probably a dead pixel.
Leave The Pixel To Fix Itself
..We recommend leaving your laptop off for a period of 24-48 hours to see if that corrects the solution…
This may not seem like a solution in the first place but trust us on this. Sometimes if you give it enough time, the dead pixel might just disappear on its own. We recommend leaving your laptop off for a period of 24-48 hours to see if that corrects the solution.
This method can work in some cases, and it doesn’t hurt to try if all of the other methods fail. It beats having to spend hundreds of dollars to replace the screen, or worse having to live with it.
And even if this does fix the issue, there’s no knowing when that dead or stuck pixel might pop up again.
Using Dead/Stuck Pixel Fixing Software
There are a number of software and websites out there that can actually help you fix your dead or stuck pixels. Most of these constantly change the color that the screen is displaying, in an attempt to revive your pixel. Some of the popular pixel fixing software and online tools include.
- UDPixel (Windows Software)
- LCD (Website)
- JScreenFix (Website)
Using UDPixel
UDPIxel, also called UndeadPixel is available to download for windows for free, just click on the link here to download it. But make sure you have the Microsoft.NET Framework installed beforehand, otherwise the program won’t run without it.
..UDPixel not only allows you to detect dead or stuck pixels on the screen, but it also has a way to fix them…
UDPixel not only allows you to detect dead or stuck pixels on the screen, but it also has a way to fix them. Use the Dead Pixel Locator tab, to display different colors on your laptop screen to find those stuck pixels.
After you’ve found them, you can create that many number of “Flash windows”. Flash windows are tiny windows, whose size you can configure right from the application using “Flash Size”.
Place these windows in the area of the faulty pixel, and they will cycle through colors on those windows at a fixed interval. You can even change this interval using the “Flash Interval” slider.
Let the application run for at least 30 minutes or longer, to even have a chance at fixing those faulty pixels. Be sure to modify the flash interval from time to time as well.
Using LCD
If you don’t feel like installing any applications on your laptop, then that’s fine. Because the rest of options in this list are all web tools that you can access from any browser.
LCD will require you to install Adobe Flash though before you can actually use the site. If the website isn’t working make sure you gave Adobe Flash permission to run on this site.
Again much like UDPixel, it has features for both detecting and fixing stuck pixels on your laptop screen. By clicking on the Fix My Screen button, the website will display a fuzzy graphic on the screen that looks like moving static.
Leave this to run for anywhere between 10-30 minutes for the best results. The way this works is it displays each pixels sub pixels, which are obviously red, green and blue multiple times a second. This can in a way “massage” your faulty pixels back into life.
Using JScreenFix
JScreenFix, is probably the easiest to use out of all these options. The website isn’t to heavy unlike LCD.com, and features a clean and minimal UI. You don’t need to install anything either. It should work flawlessly on most modern browsers.
While JScreenFix doesn’t provide a stuck/dead pixel detector per say. You should be able to locate those when you click on “Launch JScreenFix”.
When you click this majority of the screen goes black, besides the small window where the faulty pixel fixing animation is running. Just move it around to find the stuck pixel on your laptop screen.
After you’ve found it, drag the window over the faulty pixel, and let it run for at least 10 minutes up to 30. Be patient, and just let the tool do its magic. Avoid doing anything on your laptop until this has run its course.
Applying heat and pressure
This is a last resort method. Only use this method at your risk, because it could end up damaging your screen if you’re not careful. This method involves applying heat and pressure to the area where your stuck or dead pixels are located on your laptop screen.
Start with making sure that your are displaying a black image over the screen where the faulty pixel is located. You can use any of the tools and websites we mentioned previously to do this. If you have a stylus laying around then that would be the best tool for this job.
If not just take a lead pencil with a blunt end, and wrap a cloth around its tip as shown in the images below.
Use the soft tip of your new contraption, and begin applying gentle pressure around the faulty pixel. You should see a sort of ripple effect form on the screen of your laptop. Be sure not to apply too much pressure, and don’t keep pressure on for to long.
If this doesn’t work, try this method again using heat. Take a cloth, and dampen it with hot water. Make sure the cloth isn’t wet, but just slightly damp, and is pretty warm to the touch.
Begin applying gentle pressure to the area with this cloth. Again don’t apply too much pressure, or keep applying pressure for too long.
Take it to the shop or buy a new one
As even if you do end up fixing it, there’s no guarantee that it won’t show up again. And if it shows up again after your warranty expires, then you’ll be in a pickle.
The average lifespan of a laptop is 3 to 5 years. If your time is up, it may be the time to get a new laptop.
We have spent hours of research to find the best laptop for all needs. Have a read to see which one fits you.
Conclusion
With all the methods listed above you should be able to fix a dead or stuck pixel on any laptop screen screen. However if nothing worked for you, then you might have to consider the fact that you either have to live with this faulty pixel, or get the entire screen assembly replaced.
If any method did work which one was it ? Be sure to tell us by leaving a comment down below.
Hassaan has been passionate about technology for as long as he remembers, and aims to provide you with all the information you need to find the right laptop for you.