Stuck pixel fixer

Rapid red, green and blue flashing over the affected area, which sometimes frees a stuck subpixel.

Escape or one tap comes back.

Every colour, one tap away

Brightness, timer and colour cycle

What this can and cannot fix

This only helps a stuck pixel, which is one that is permanently lit in one or more subpixels and shows as a coloured or white dot on every screen including black. It does nothing whatsoever for a dead pixel, which receives no power and is black on every colour. Run the dead pixel test first so you know which one you have, because there is no sense spending twenty minutes on something software cannot touch.

Be honest about the odds. Rapid colour flashing frees a stuck pixel some of the time, not most of the time, and the chance drops the longer the pixel has been stuck. It is free and it does no harm, which is the entire argument for trying it.

How to run it

  • Press the button to go full screen. The screen will flash red, green and blue in sequence, about six times a second.
  • Leave it running for 10 to 20 minutes. Checking after thirty seconds tells you nothing.
  • Check the pixel afterwards on the black screen and then on white. If it has not moved, a second run rarely helps, but a run on a different day sometimes does.
  • Press Escape to stop at any time.

A warning before you start

This page flashes bright colours rapidly for a long time. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, or you are in a room with someone who does, do not run it. Point the screen away from you while it works, which is also more comfortable and costs nothing.

The pressure method, and why to be careful with it

The other common technique is gentle pressure: switch the display off, put a soft damp cloth over the stuck pixel, press very lightly with a blunt rounded object, and switch the display back on while releasing. It works occasionally on LCD panels by redistributing the liquid crystal. It also permanently damages panels when people press too hard, and it can void a warranty. If the display is still under warranty, claim on the warranty instead. If you try it anyway, use far less force than feels useful.

Do not attempt either method on an OLED panel. The mechanism is different, stuck pixels there are usually a sign of the emitter itself failing, and pressure on an OLED leaves marks that do not come out.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I run the stuck pixel fixer?

Between 10 and 20 minutes. Checking after thirty seconds tells you nothing. Keep the device plugged in and stop the screen sleeping while it runs.

Does this actually work?

Some of the time, on a stuck pixel, and never on a dead one. The chance drops the longer the pixel has been stuck. It costs nothing and risks nothing, which is the whole argument for trying it before paying for anything.

Is the flashing dangerous?

It flashes bright colours about six times a second for a long period. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, or someone in the room does, do not run it. Turning the screen away while it works costs nothing.

Can I use this on an OLED phone?

You can run it, but stuck pixels on an OLED usually mean the emitter itself is failing rather than an element being jammed, so the odds are worse. Do not use the pressure technique on an OLED or on any phone: those panels are bonded to the glass and pressing spreads damage rather than fixing it.