Do Dead Pixels Go Away? Dead vs. Stuck Pixels

A common question from distressed screen owners: "Do dead pixels go away on their own?" The short answer is: usually not, but it depends on the type of defect.

Dead vs. Stuck Pixels

Understanding the difference is crucial to knowing your chances of recovery.

• Dead Pixel: Appears black. The transistor is dead and passes no power. The liquid crystal blocks light permanently.
  Prognosis: Permanent. They rarely, if ever, fix themselves.
• Stuck Pixel: Appears Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, or Yellow. The transistor is stuck "on" or the crystal is jammed in a position allowing light through.
  Prognosis: Hopeful. These can sometimes unstick themselves over time, or be massaged out.

Do They Spontaneously Heal?

Stuck pixels have been known to disappear after a few days or weeks of normal use. The constant changing of electrical signals can eventually shake the crystal loose. Heat can also play a factor; sometimes a warm monitor behaves differently than a cold one.

Dead pixels are almost always permanent hardware failures. If a pixel is dead from the factory, it will likely stay dead. If a pixel dies due to physical trauma, it is definitely staying dead.

Do Dead Pixels Spread?

Generally, no. A dead pixel is an isolated failure of a single transistor. It isn't a virus or a "pixel cancer" that spreads to neighbors. However, if the dead pixel was caused by physical pressure or impact, the surrounding area might be weakened and fail later, giving the illusion of spreading.

Summary

If it's black, don't hold your breath. If it's colored, there's hope! Try running our pixel fixer tool (screen test) for a while to see if the activity helps.