Dead pixel test
Solid color fields, one after another, so a faulty pixel has nowhere to hide. Built for a television rather than squeezed onto one: run it on the TV itself, drive it with your remote, and check the whole panel from where you actually sit.
The test
This test needs JavaScript to run. Everything below still explains what to look for and what a bad result means, so the page is useful either way.
Nine full screen fields
White, black, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow and grey. Step through with the arrow keys and scan the whole panel on each one. Clean the screen first, because dust looks exactly like a dead pixel.
How to read it
No pixel faults. Check from a normal distance rather than pressing your nose to the glass.
A dead pixel. The transistor has failed and it cannot be revived.
A stuck pixel. These are sometimes recoverable, and the fixer below is worth a try.
A hot or bright pixel. Most obvious on the black field. Not recoverable.
Dust or a smudge, not a pixel fault. This is the most common false alarm by far.
Stuck pixel fixer
A stuck pixel is stuck on a color rather than switched off, and rapidly cycling the sub-pixels can sometimes unstick it. It is not magic and it does nothing for a genuinely dead pixel, but it costs nothing to try.
Run it over the affected area for ten to thirty minutes, then check again. Repeat a few times before giving up. If you are sensitive to flashing images, skip this.
What this test can and cannot tell you
Most of this test is genuinely reliable. Two parts are not, and here they are.
Completely reliable. Solid color fields are exactly how manufacturers check panels. If a pixel is faulty, one of these nine fields will expose it.
Wipe it. Dust and smudges are by far the most common false alarm. Clean the screen with a dry microfibre cloth before concluding anything.
Sometimes works, often does not. Rapid cycling can free a stuck sub-pixel. It cannot do anything for a dead one, and there is no guarantee. Anyone promising a fix is overselling it.
Depends on the manufacturer. Most set a minimum number of faulty pixels before they will accept a return, and the threshold varies by brand and by panel size. A single dead pixel is usually not enough.
Beyond what this can show. A partially failed sub-pixel may only be visible on specific colors at close range. These fields will catch anything you would notice in normal viewing.
Knowing what you are looking at
Dead pixel
Permanently off, so it stays black on every field including white. The transistor driving it has failed. There is no fix, and no amount of cycling will bring it back.
Stuck pixel
Permanently on in one color, so it shows as a colored dot that stays the same while the fields change around it. The sub-pixels are jammed rather than broken, which is why the fixer sometimes works.
Hot or bright pixel
Permanently fully on, so it appears white and is most obvious against the black field. Treated as a defect but generally not recoverable.
Dust, and why it fools everyone
A speck on the glass looks exactly like a dark pixel. It is also the most common thing people find. Clean the screen first, and if it moves or vanishes when you wipe, it was never a pixel.
Questions people ask
How do I test for dead pixels on my TV?
Display solid color fields one after another and scan the whole panel on each. This test cycles through white, black, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow and grey. A faulty pixel will stand out against at least one of them. Clean the screen first, because dust is the most common false alarm.
What is the difference between a dead pixel and a stuck pixel?
A dead pixel is switched off permanently and stays black on every field, including a white one. A stuck pixel is jammed on in one color and shows as a colored dot that does not change as the fields change. Stuck pixels are sometimes recoverable; dead ones are not.
Can a dead pixel be fixed?
A genuinely dead pixel, no. The transistor driving it has failed and nothing in software can restore it. A stuck pixel is a different matter and can sometimes be freed by rapidly cycling the sub-pixels, which is what the fixer on this page does. It works often enough to be worth trying and not often enough to promise.
How many dead pixels before I can return my TV?
That depends on the manufacturer, and the thresholds are less generous than people expect. Most brands publish a policy based on the number and type of faulty pixels and the size of the panel, and a single dead pixel usually does not qualify. Check your manufacturer's pixel policy before starting a return.
Why should I run this on the TV rather than my laptop?
Because you are testing the television. Running it on a laptop tests the laptop. Open your TV's own web browser, go to tv-test.com/dead-pixel-test, and drive it with the remote. The page switches to a large, high contrast layout when it detects a TV.
I found a dark spot but it moved when I cleaned the screen.
Then it was dust or a smudge, not a pixel fault. This is genuinely the most common outcome. Use a dry microfibre cloth, never a household cleaner, and check again.
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