Rule out the surface before judging the panel
Power the screen down and clean it only as the manufacturer recommends. Dust, dried droplets and a marked screen protector can all resemble a pixel defect. Use soft room light and look from more than one angle; a surface speck can change with focus or viewing position while a panel pixel stays aligned with the image grid.
Do not scrape, press or rub a suspicious point. Concentrated pressure can create permanent marks or damage neighboring pixels. If the display is new, preserve the option to return it rather than attempting an improvised repair.
Compare black, white, red, green and blue
Run the full-screen test and inspect the same location on every color. A point that remains black on white and all primary fields may be a dead pixel. A point fixed on red, green, blue or a mixed bright color may be a stuck subpixel. A bright point most visible on black is sometimes called a hot pixel.
Take your time but inspect at normal viewing distance first. Camera photos can introduce moiré, sharpening and sensor noise, so your direct observation is better for detection. A close photo can still help document a repeatable defect for support.
- Clean the powered-off surface safely and remove reflections.
- Enter the solid-color test and cycle through every field.
- Verify that the point stays in one physical location, then document it without pressing.
Do not confuse a pixel with a larger uniformity issue
Backlight bleed and IPS glow cover a patch or edge rather than one pixel. Their visibility often changes with viewing angle, room darkness and brightness. Pressure marks and panel mura can also form clouds or streaks. These are display-uniformity observations and cannot be diagnosed electronically by a web page.
Temporary image retention follows previous content and fades or changes, while a pixel defect stays at one coordinate. OLED burn-in and LCD retention have different causes, so follow the display manufacturer's guidance rather than playing aggressive flashing patterns for long periods.
Can a stuck pixel be repaired?
Sometimes a temporary state clears after a restart or a period powered off, but no browser can promise a repair. Rapid color patterns are commonly suggested online; they can be uncomfortable to view, are not suitable for photosensitive users and should never replace warranty support.
Physical pressure methods are risky and are not recommended. Check the manufacturer's pixel policy because warranty thresholds differ by panel type, defect color, position and number. Document each point on several backgrounds with the product serial information kept private.
What this test can and cannot confirm
Solid fields remove visual clutter and make a fixed anomaly easier to see. The test cannot address physical subpixels individually, count a dense cluster reliably, distinguish every panel technology or decide whether a defect meets a warranty policy.
If the point appears in a screenshot viewed on another display, the source image or software may be responsible. If it remains only on the physical panel across inputs and built-in menus, a display-side cause becomes more likely.