LCD monitors are a marvel of technology, replacing bulky CRTs, but every rose has its thorns, and for LCDs, those thorns take the form of dead pixels. If you have one of these dead spots, can you send it back?
What Is A Dead, Stuck, or Hot Pixel?
Let’s kick off by getting a grip on what exactly a “pixel” is.
Each pixel or “picture element” on your screen is made up of three miniature “sub-pixels.” These are in red, green, and blue. The changing intensity of these colors gives your monitor its rich, vibrant palette. A tiny transistor oversees each sub-pixel and, well, sometimes transistors fail. A pixel goes wrong in one of a few ways:
- Dead Pixels: This is a pixel where the entire pixel is forever turned off. The result is a tiny black spot marring your otherwise pristine monitor. This is also known as a “dark dot defect.” Depending on how the polarizing filter in your screen works, a dead pixel might actually show up as a white rather than black dot, which is then known as a “bright dot defect.” In either case, the pixel is dead.
- Stuck Pixels: Here, one or more sub-pixels are permanently lit up, giving you a fixed point of color that never changes for that pixel, although this type of stuck pixel might not always be visible in every image.
- Hot Pixels: These are a relatively rare breed, but they’re effectively always-on pixels with all three subpixels trapped in the “on” mode, presenting as a constant white spot.
We’re using “on” and “off” for transistors a bit loosely here, because the actual state of the transistors in an LCD and whether it lets light through or not differs based on the panel technology. Specifically, TN or twisted nematic LCD panels are stuck in the opposite state for a given pixel defect compared to MVA, PVA, and IPS screens. It’s not really important, but we thought you should know.
Can You Get a Warranty Replacement for Dead Pixels?
Just about all monitor producers offer a limited warranty that includes manufacturing flaws, dead pixels included. That being said, the specifics can vary quite a bit between brands and even across different models from the same company. Some manufacturers are more lenient, replacing a monitor for even a single dead pixel, while others demand a certain quota or cluster of dead pixels before they’ll deem it defective.
Higher-end monitors, especially those meant for professional use, are likelier to have a zero-defect warranty, but you should always check before purchasing. You can typically dig up this information on their website or within the user manual.
Dead Pixels Out of The Box? Return It to the Retailer
If you unwrap your brand new monitor only to find dead pixels taunting you, your best bet is to return it straight to the retailer. Many vendors have return policies that cover out-of-the-box defects, meaning you could be in line for a swap or refund. Some retailers let you return an item for any reason, as long as it has the original packaging and doesn’t show any signs of use.
This is why you should check any new monitor for pixel defects immediately after hooking it up. If you notice it later outside of the retailer’s short-term return window, you’ll end up dealing with the manufacturer’s warranty instead! If you’re worried you’ll miss the dead pixel because it’s hard to spot one when using the computer under normal conditions where the screen is many different colors, we recommend using a series of bright single-color images.
While you could make your own set in Photoshop or such, it’s a lot easier to use online tools like Dead Pixel Test. You visit the website, run the test, and by clicking through a series of very bright full screen images, you will be more easily able to spot pixels that fail to light up or demonstrate abnormal color reproduction.
What to Do If You Can’t Return a Dead Pixel Monitor
If your warranty’s up or the manufacturer’s policy doesn’t cover your predicament, there are a few DIY last resort remedies you could try to resurrect your deceased pixel:
- Pixel fixing software: There are several tools out there that aim to unjam a pixel by rapidly cycling its color. It’s sort of like shaking the pixel awake. It’s not a foolproof method, but certainly worth a try.
- Manual pressure: For this technique, you’ll need a soft object like the soft tip of your finger. Gently apply pressure to the rogue pixel for two or three seconds and let go. Do this a few times and see if it makes a difference.
- Heat application: Some people swear that putting heat onto dead pixels can fix them. For example, a hot towel inside a plastic bag, applied to the dead pixel for a few minutes.
Keep in mind that these methods aren’t guaranteed to work and, if executed poorly, can potentially lead to further damage, so proceed with caution. You do any of these entirely at your own risk.
In the bad old days of early LCDs I had some luck both with stuck pixel software to unstick some pixels from my first-generation Sony PSP, and massaging did the trick on my first ever LCD monitor, but none of the other stuck pixels I’ve encountered have budged, and every dead pixel has remained dead. Was it just the placebo effect, or did these “remedies” really work? There’s no way of knowing. The reality is that you’re probably just as stuck as those pixels once your warranty coverage is over.
You Can Still Use a Monitor With Dead Pixels
While those “hail mary” solutions probably won’t work, that doesn’t mean you have to throw a monitor with defective pixels in the bin. They can still be useful in a number of ways, depending on how apparent the pixel defects are. Here are some ideas:
- Use it as a second monitor: Keep an eye on your social media, put Spotify on there, or have a YouTube video play while you work. If it’s not something you’ll be starting at closely all the time, the dead pixels make little difference.
- Donate it: There are plenty of schools, libraries, or other worthy places that would be happy to have an otherwise functional monitor with a few bad pixels.
- Casual use: Unless the pixel problems are severe, these monitors are still good for video games, watching video content, or any other full-screen content that’s visually busy.
While dead pixels can be annoying, they aren’t always deal breakers, so once the disappointment has worn off, you might still have a place in your heart for your slightly less than perfect screen.
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