LPT: Use a damp cloth to remove dead pixels from your tv or monitor screen!

Submitted by Alucard624 t3_zznxp2 in LifeProTips

Get yourself a damp cloth (I used warm water for my cloth). Mark where the stuck pixel is with a post it or something similar (if you have multiple stuck pixels you will only be able to do one at a time). Turn off your tv (or PC/monitor) and let it cool down (letting it cool down is not a requirement but I like to err on the side of caution). Apply slight pressure to the area where the stuck pixel is while it's off (try not to put pressure anywhere else) and turn on your tv (or computer/monitor). Make sure you continue to apply pressure until the tv/monitor is fully on. You should no longer have a stuck pixel once the cycle is complete :).

I use this method every time I encounter a stuck pixel either at a friends house or at work and it always fixes the issue! Just be careful you are applying pressure to the right spot!

If there are any doubters I can upload a video proving this method works and does not harm the screen!

Edit: This process works for both LED & LCD screens (since all LED are essentially LCDs). OLED is a different story and it's recommended to use the pixel refresher approach.

The reason you use a damp washcloth is so you don't scratch your screen.

Also, please note in the title I stated dead pixel, but it should say stuck pixel (some folks use it interchangeably [as I did by accident] but a dead pixel is when it's a black dot and a stuck pixel is when it's a color like blue or green).

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Skyducky t1_j2cp2r0 wrote

im gonna find a dead pixel somewhere and test and ill come back to this post if its not locked

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cp6f4 wrote

Why would they lock it?

Good luck with your controlled experiment :).

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Skyducky t1_j2cp8uy wrote

sometimes old things get locked, it could be a year before it happens to me again, unfortunately.. or foetunately lol!

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cpi1x wrote

Hah :). Unfortunately for me because of this solution I do not have any stuck pixels to create a quick walkthrough video.

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Devittraisedto2 t1_j2cowq3 wrote

Tried this myself back then and it didn't do anything, tried all the solutions and nothing worked so I just returned my laptop and exchanged it

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cp2qg wrote

That's odd as it always has worked for me. Did you apply enough pressure on the screen?

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Devittraisedto2 t1_j2cp7z7 wrote

Tried it all, light pressure, heavy pressure, slapping it lightly, slapping it heavily, playing a video that is supposed to fix it, restarting it on and off. everything

So just returned it since nothing would've worked

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cpu9j wrote

yeah the "pixel fixing videos" on youtube never worked for me as well.

I never heard of the slapping it lightly method, that must of come from frustration.

Anyway, sorry it didn't work for you.

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[deleted] t1_j2ct51e wrote

[deleted]

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cwlod wrote

A stuck pixel is a bright dot of color that fails to update when neighboring pixels change. What the videos do is rapidly change the color on and around the pixel to try and force the pixel to become unstuck. Unfortunately it can take an hour or two to see results.

Here are examples: (Warning be very careful viewing these videos if you suffer from seizures.

Youtube site #1

Youtube site #2

Youtube site #3

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Aussie2Kiwi81 t1_j2ctqw6 wrote

Exactly.

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cwm3w wrote

see above.

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Aussie2Kiwi81 t1_j2d2quu wrote

I believe they were asking about how a video itself could fix the dead pixel, not a video describing how to fix the issue.

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2d8g1g wrote

I believe I explained the process in my response and provided links to videos that are used to fix stuck pixels. The first one may not start immediately as he issues a disclaimer regarding seizures.

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the_colonelclink t1_j2d0qd8 wrote

There’s a difference between a ‘stuck’ and ‘dead’ pixel. Not even your best thoughts and prayers will bring back a ‘dead’ pixel.

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2d83iq wrote

Yes, I already clarified that in my original post.

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jiminy_cricks t1_j2cq71g wrote

It's not the water that does anything, it's the pressure. Rubbing will not always work either.

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cygpe wrote

The reason you use a damp cloth is so you don't scratch your screen.

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jiminy_cricks t1_j2eaxbr wrote

I can accept that reasoning. Silly me assumed it was implied not to use a rough dry cloth or hard object lol.

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MutedHornet87 t1_j2cs15b wrote

This is only for stuck pixels isn’t it? The pressure does it.

I tried it on my cheap new TV (pressure, not water because that scares me) and it didn’t work

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Alucard624 OP t1_j2cyz9p wrote

Try this approach: (#3 is different from the original instructions, also see the suggestions at the end)

  1. Turn off your TV/Monitor
  2. Get yourself a damp washcloth, so that you don't scratch your screen.
  3. Take a household pen, pencil, 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 5. While applying pressure, turn on your screen.
  6. 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. The liquid is used with the backlight on your screen allowing different amounts of light through, which creates the different colors.

Here's a suggestion I pulled of a tech support forum:

If the pressure doesn't work directly on the stuck pixel, start moving outward around the stuck pixel. If you see the pixel flicker while doing this then you know where you can focus the pressure rather than directly on the pixel.

Many people report success with this technique, but these instructions won't work in every case. It may take a few attempts to make sure you are pressing exactly on the stuck pixel. An alternative, but similar technique involves gently massaging the stuck pixel with a warm damp (not wet) soft cloth.

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keepthetips t1_j2comus wrote

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Furthur t1_j2cvmev wrote

you need to specify the type of panel youre talking about fyi all are not equal

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