How to Check for Dead Pixels on Your Monitor

Knowing how to check dead pixels on a monitor is important when you buy a new display, inspect a second-hand screen, or notice a strange spot while working, gaming, or watching content. A quick but careful inspection can help you confirm whether the panel really has a defect.

In this guide, we explain the process step by step, which colors to use, which signs may reveal a faulty pixel, and how to tell a real panel issue from something as simple as dust or a surface mark.

Prepare the Monitor Before You Start

Before you check dead pixels, clean the screen carefully and place the monitor in a setting with good visibility. Avoid strong reflections and set brightness to a medium or high level so defects stand out more clearly.

It also helps to open the test in fullscreen mode and close other windows so icons, bars, and desktop backgrounds do not distract you.

Step by Step: How to Check Dead Pixels

1. Clean the panel well to rule out dust or superficial marks.
2. Open a fullscreen solid-color test.
3. Review white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, cyan, and magenta backgrounds.
4. Look at the monitor from up close and then from your usual viewing distance.
5. Check whether the same point stays in the exact same position.
6. Repeat the inspection two or three times to confirm the result.

This is the most reliable way to check dead pixels because it lets you see how each point on the panel behaves across multiple colors. If the same point keeps showing up in the same way, you are much more likely dealing with a real defect.

Which Colors Work Best for Finding Defects

• Black helps reveal bright or stuck points.
• White makes dark or unlit points easier to spot.
• Red, green, and blue help show whether a subpixel is fixed.
• Yellow, cyan, and magenta help confirm unusual behavior.

Not every defect looks the same on every background. That is why it is better to cycle through several colors instead of checking only white or black.

How to Confirm It Is Really a Dead Pixel

A dead pixel usually stays black and does not change across different colors. If the point appears red, green, blue, or white all the time, it may be a stuck pixel instead. If it disappears after cleaning or changes with the viewing angle, it may not be a panel defect at all.

For a stronger confirmation, repeat the test more than once and take a photo if the defect remains visible.

When You Should Inspect a Monitor

• Right after buying a new monitor.
• Before the return window ends.
• When receiving a refurbished or second-hand display.
• When a suspicious point appears during normal use.
• Before selling a monitor so you can describe its condition accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions