How to fix a stuck pixel
A stuck pixel is a sub-pixel locked in the on position, showing as a bright coloured dot. Unlike a dead pixel, it still receives power — which is exactly why it is sometimes recoverable.
First, confirm it is stuck and not dead
Display a full black screen. A bright dot on black is stuck. Now display full white. A black dot on white is dead. If you see both behaviours at the same location, the whole pixel has failed rather than one sub-pixel.
Method one: colour cycling
Rapidly alternating colours forces the sub-pixel through its full voltage range repeatedly, which can unstick a crystal that has settled into a fixed orientation. Run a fast colour cycle in fullscreen for at least ten minutes, and up to an hour for a stubborn pixel. There is no risk in this; the worst outcome is that nothing changes.
Realistically, this fixes a minority of stuck pixels. It is worth trying because it costs nothing but time.
Method two: gentle pressure
This has a slightly better hit rate on LCDs and a real risk attached, so read the whole method before starting.
- Power the monitor off completely.
- Find the exact pixel location and mark its position on the bezel, not on the screen.
- Fold a microfibre cloth over a fingertip or use a blunt, soft-tipped stylus.
- Press lightly and precisely on the spot. Light means light — enough to make contact, not enough to distort the image around it.
- While still pressing, switch the monitor on.
- Release the pressure.
Repeat a few times. If you see a spreading pale halo while pressing, you are pressing far too hard; stop immediately, because that is the start of a permanent pressure mark.
Do not use this method on an OLED panel. OLED layers are far more fragile and pressure damage is immediate and irreversible.
Method three: heat
Some people report success wrapping a warm (not hot) damp cloth in a plastic bag and holding it over the pixel for a minute. Evidence is thin, and the risk of moisture reaching the panel edge is real. We would not recommend it.
When to stop
If a stuck pixel has not moved after a few sessions of colour cycling and a couple of careful pressure attempts, it is not going to. At that point the decision is whether it crosses your manufacturer's replacement threshold, and if it does not, whether you can live with it. Most people stop noticing a single stuck pixel within a week.