How to Fix a Dead Pixel on an LCD Monitor

If your LCD monitor has a spot on the screen that is always lit or always dark, it may have a stuck or dead pixel. This problem is usually caused by a transistor malfunction or uneven distribution of liquid in the screen's liquid crystal display. There are two simple methods you can use for fixing this problem: the Pressure method and the Tapping method. This tutorial will show you how to fix a stuck pixel on an LCD monitor using either one of the two techniques.

Fix a Stuck Pixel Using the Pressure Method
1. Shut off your LCD monitor via the power button. Get an object with a dull or rounded point such as a pen, pencil, screwdriver, or PDA stylus. Dampen a washcloth or towel.

2. Fold the washcloth over your dull pointed object. The washcloth will serve to ensure that you don't accidentally scratch or puncture your screen.

3. Apply slight pressure with the pointed object through the folded washcloth. Make sure you apply pressure exactly where the dead pixel is. Try not to apply pressure anywhere else because this may create more dead pixels.

5. Boot up on your computer and monitor while applying pressure.

6. Remove the pressure and you should see that the dead pixel is gone. This method works because the liquid in the LCD has not spread into each pixel.

Fix a Stuck Pixel Using the Tapping Method
1. Turn on your computer and LCD screen.

2. Display a black image, which will let you see the dead pixel very clearly against the background. You will need to make sure that you are actually showing a black image rather than just a blank signal because you will need the backlighting of the LCD to illuminate the back of the panel.

3. Obtain a pen with a blunt, rounded end. A marker with a rounded cap should work perfectly.

4. Use the rounded end of the pen to tap where the stuck pixel is. Do not tap very hard to start with. Tap just enough to seek a quick white glow under the point of contact. If don't see a white glow, then you didn't tap hard enough.

5. Gradually increase the pressure on the taps for 5-10 taps until the pixel is fixed.

6. Now, you should display a white image such as an empty text document, so as to verify that you have completely fixed the dead pixel.

Warning

*Depending on your particular monitor and cause for a stuck pixel, these two techniques may not work on all monitors. It may also take a few tries.