Have you noticed a strange pixel on your gaming monitor that just doesn't seem to change? Unfortunately, you have a stuck or dead pixel. Before you start looking for a screen repair service or a new monitor, try these simple methods to fix the problem.
What is a Stuck Pixel?
A stuck pixel is a problem that primarily affects, but is not limited to, users with an LCD screen. Pixels have three main colors they can change to: red, green or blue. Occasionally a pixel will get stuck on your screen and constantly display one of these three colors. Luckily, fixing the problem isn't too difficult as long as you use the right tools. While there's no guarantee that you'll always be able to fix the problem, these tools have about a 60% success rate at fixing stuck pixels and could potentially save you a lot of money on repairs or a new monitor.
Stuck pixels versus dead pixels
A stuck pixel, as mentioned above, gets stuck on one of the RGB colors. However, a dead pixel does not display a color, but rather one black or white. This happens due to a power issue where the pixel is not receiving power from the screen. Unfortunately, the tools we use to fix a stuck pixel won't work on a dead pixel because it doesn't have any current flowing through it. There are no proprietary tools that can fix this problem. Instead, you will need to take the monitor to the repair shop, replace the screen, or replace the monitor under your warranty (if you still have one).
There are cases where the tools mentioned below were able to revive a dead pixel, but this is extremely rare. But the tool is free, so you can try it out if you want.
How to fix a stuck pixel on your monitor
Give your monitor a break
When a display encounters a stuck pixel, it is often because an image is “burning” into the screen. For example, if you have a non-moving element in a game, such as a HUD element, the pixels in that area of the screen might get stuck in this way because the colors don't change regularly. So your first line of defense is to give your monitor a time out. Try leaving your computer turned off for 24 hours or longer. When you turn on the monitor again, you may find that the stuck pixel has resolved itself.
How to fix a stuck pixel with JScreenFix
If the above step is not enough to fix the stuck pixel, you will need to use a third-party tool to do the job. When it comes to recovering a stuck pixel, there are a few tools to choose from. However, in this example we are using JScreenFix. Since it is an online tool, you don't need to download and install anything.
Epilepsy Alert: This tool uses flashing lights to revive stuck pixels on your monitor. Therefore, it may not be suitable for users with epilepsy or other photosensitive conditions.
- Go to the official JScreenFix website.
- Scroll down Go to the bottom of the page and click Launch JScreenFix.
- You will be taken to a black screen with a box of flashing RGB pixels.
- Place the box on the stuck pixel and leave it there for 10 minutes.
After the 10 minutes are up, you can move the box and check if the pixel is still stuck on your screen. If the stuck pixel is still there, repeat the process a few times until the problem is resolved.
When all else fails
Unfortunately, if none of the above methods work for you, you either have to live with the stuck pixel on your screen. There is a possibility that the problem will resolve itself, but this probability is not very high. If the problem doesn't go away on its own, you will either need to have the screen repaired by a professional or purchase a completely new monitor to fix the problem.