How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor

If your LCD screen has a stuck or dead pixel (a point on the screen that is always lit or always dark), it is usually due to a transistor malfunction or uneven distribution of liquid in the liquid crystal display (TFT LCD). This can often be fixed.

STEPS

• Software Method

Try running pixel fixing software (see Sources and Citations). Stuck pixels can often be re-energized by rapidly turning them on and off. If this fails, complete the following steps.

• Hardware Method

Try a solid state solution like PixelTuneup (see Sources and Citations). These devices produce specially tuned video signals that eliminate stuck pixels while enhancing picture quality, color, and contrast. Also works on televisions, including LCD, LED, plasma, or CRT.

1. Turn off the monitor.
2. Plug in and turn on PixelTuneup, then turn on the monitor.
3. Wait 20 minutes.
4. Turn off and unplug PixelTuneup.

Stuck pixels and other IR will be gone, and color/contrast will be improved.

• Pressure Method

1. Turn off your computer's monitor.
2. Get yourself a damp washcloth, so that you don't scratch your screen.
3. Take a household pen, pencil, screwdriver, or some other sort of instrument with a focused, but relatively dull, point. A very good tool would be a PDA stylus.
4. Fold the washcloth to make sure you don't accidentally puncture it and scratch the screen.
5. Apply pressure through the folded washcloth with the instrument to exactly where the stuck pixel is. Try not to put pressure anywhere else, as this may make more stuck pixels.
6. While applying pressure, turn on your computer and screen.
7. Remove pressure and the stuck pixel should be gone. This works as the liquid in the liquid crystal has not spread into each little pixel. This liquid is used with the backlight on your monitor, allowing different amounts of light through, which creates the different colors.

•  Tapping Method

1. Turn on the computer and LCD screen.
2. Display a black image, which will show the stuck pixel very clearly against the background. (It is very important that you are showing a black image and not just a blank signal, as you need the backlighting of the LCD to be illuminating the back of the panel).
3. Find a pen with a rounded end. A Sharpie marker with the cap on should be fine for this.
4. Use the rounded end of the pen to gently tap where the stuck pixel is - not too hard to start with, just enough to see a quick white glow under the point of contact. If you didn't see a white glow, then you didn't tap hard enough, so use just slightly more pressure this time.
5. Start tapping gently. Increase the pressure on the taps gradually for 5-10 taps until the pixel rights itself.
6. Display a white image (an empty text document, or sending your browser to about:blank and going to fullscreen with F11 is good for this) to verify that you haven't accidentally caused more damage than you fixed.

• Heat Method

This method is useful if large areas are discolored or even black. Works best with laptops, but may work with separate monitors, too. By using this method, you are exposing your computer to the risk of damaging the processor and/or other components by overheating. If you do this, you should be willing to accept the loss of your computer (for laptops), or monitor (for standalone screens). You should backup your data before trying this method. In particularly bad cases of damage, the effect may not work completely, or the fix may not be permanent.

1. Turn on the computer.
2. Make sure it is plugged into wall power.
3. Go to your power settings in the control panel and set the computer not to go to sleep or standby mode.
4. Place the laptop in a partially-closed desk drawer or somewhere that is not well-ventilated.
5. Close the laptop lid almost completely, but don't let it close fully - This will keep the laptop screen turned on indefinitely. You may take a small paper pamphlet or something soft and place it on the keyboard to prevent gravity from closing the lid.
6. Let the computer sit for several hours or even days in this condition. You may check on it as frequently as you like. The heat generated will cause the liquid crystal to flow more easily into the areas that were not formerly filled.