You see a small dot on your MacBook screen that is always there, whatever you open. It may be black, white, or a bright colour such as red, green or blue. That is a pixel that no longer works properly. This article explains how to test for dead pixels on your MacBook, the difference between a dead and a stuck pixel, and what you can do about it.
Blue Apple repairs MacBook screens in Amsterdam.
What is a pixel?
A MacBook screen consists of millions of pixels. Each pixel has three subpixels: red, green and blue. By lighting those three at different strengths, the screen makes every colour. If something goes wrong with a pixel or subpixel, you see a dot that does not join in.
Kinds of pixel faults
- Dead pixel: always black. The pixel gets no power or lets no light through.
- Stuck pixel: always one colour, such as red, green or blue. One or more subpixels are stuck on.
- Hot pixel: always white; all subpixels are on.
How to test your screen
- Clean the screen first, so you do not mistake a speck of dust for a pixel. See cleaning the screen.
- Turn brightness to full.
- Show a full screen in one colour: black, white, red, green and blue. You can do that with a simple test website in full screen, or with a single-colour image in Preview in full screen.
- For each colour, calmly look over the whole screen, including the edges.
A dead pixel stands out on white; a stuck or hot pixel on black.
Can a stuck pixel recover?
Sometimes. There are programs and videos that show rapidly changing colours where the pixel is. With a stuck pixel that can help free it. Let such a program run for a while. With a truly dead pixel it does not help. Do not press on the screen to "massage" a pixel: that can damage the panel and kill more pixels.
Is one dead pixel a problem?
One pixel at the edge is barely noticeable in daily use. A pixel in the middle, or a cluster, is annoying. If more and more pixels fail, or lines appear, the panel is damaged. Then also read lines on your MacBook screen and white spot on your screen.
Pixels appearing after a drop or pressure
If dots, colour patches or a black "ink blot" area suddenly appear after a drop, or after something pressed on the screen, the panel is cracked on the inside. That usually grows. See screen cracked without a drop.
Buying a used MacBook?
Always test the screen for pixel faults before buying a used MacBook. Take your time for each colour. See buying a refurbished MacBook.
How is it solved?
A pixel cannot be repaired on its own. The solution for an annoying dead pixel is replacing the screen. On a MacBook that is usually the whole display assembly.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We test the screen, check whether it is a pixel fault or panel damage and tell you what replacement costs. More on our page about MacBook screen repair.
Frequently asked questions
How many dead pixels are normal?
A new screen should have none that are visible. Manufacturers do apply standards for what they consider a defect.
Can a dead pixel spread?
One dead pixel usually does not. More pixels failing points to panel damage.
Is a speck of dust behind the glass the same?
No, a speck is often bigger and blurry. On a MacBook it can only be removed by opening or replacing the screen. A speck on the outside simply wipes away.
