How can I tell if a dot on my screen is a dead pixel?

Clean the screen, remove or inspect the screen protector, then view black, white, red, green and blue fullscreen backgrounds. A panel defect remains fixed at the same physical screen position across colors, apps and screenshots.

Dead Pixel Test — How to Identify Bad Pixels

The short answer

A defective pixel is usually one pixel or a small cluster that cannot display normally. A pixel that is always lit is often called a bright pixel; one that stays dark is commonly called a dead pixel. A fixed red, green or blue point may be a stuck subpixel. These defects do not move when you scroll. A browser can provide solid backgrounds for visual inspection, but it cannot read the panel's physical pixel state or decide a warranty claim.

The most useful checkAfter cleaning the surface, inspect black, white, red, green and blue backgrounds from both your normal viewing distance and close up. Record the issue only if it remains fixed at the same physical screen coordinates.

Rule out look-alikes

Wipe the display with a clean, soft cloth. Temporarily inspect or remove a protector with bubbles, trapped dust or printed dots. Take a screenshot and move the image: if the dot moves with the screenshot, it is probably content or software. If the screenshot looks normal on another device while the original display still shows the dot in the same place, the panel is more likely responsible. Do not press or rub the suspected pixel because this can damage the panel.

Browser zoom, device pixel ratio and page rendering affect test graphics, but they do not change the physical position of a real panel defect. If the dot appears only in one image, app or animation, update the app, disable overlays and test different content. Curved edges, camera cutouts and under-display sensor areas can also produce normal structural differences.

Step-by-step test

Open the solid-color dead pixel test. Set brightness to your usual level and disable eye-care filters or automatic dimming that could distract from the result.
View black, white, red, green and blue in fullscreen. Scan from your normal distance first, then move closer to confirm suspicious points.
Exit fullscreen, rotate the device or move the window and check again. Note the position, color and brightness setting. Photograph the issue, but do not treat camera moiré as evidence of a bad pixel.
Cross-check with system settings, the startup screen or another browser so page content, extensions and protector flaws are not mistaken for panel defects.

When to contact the seller or manufacturer

For a new device, act promptly if a fixed bright pixel appears during unboxing, sits near the center of view, forms a cluster or increases in number. Preserve the order details, serial number and uncropped photos, then contact the seller within the return window. Policies vary by brand, model, region and sales channel; there is no universal number of defective pixels that guarantees replacement. Follow the product listing, warranty terms and official inspection result. For a used device, document the defect before payment and use it to decide whether to walk away or renegotiate.

If there is no fixed point but you see slight unevenness on dark or gray backgrounds, read about backlight bleed and uniformity. Before buying a used display, follow the used-screen inspection checklist.