What are dead and stuck pixels?

A dead pixel is a tiny dot on your screen that stays permanently black because the underlying transistor has failed and no longer supplies power to the pixel. A stuck pixel, on the other hand, remains lit in a single color — red, green, or blue — because one or more of its sub-pixels are locked in an on state. Both defects are most noticeable on solid-color backgrounds and can be distracting during everyday use.

Stuck pixels are far more common than truly dead pixels, and the good news is that they can often be fixed. Rapidly cycling colors over the affected area stimulates the pixel's transistors, encouraging them to unstick and return to normal operation. This technique is widely used and has been popularized by tools like JScreenFix.

Tool description

This tool displays a draggable, color-flashing box that you position directly over the problematic pixel on your screen. Once started, the box rapidly cycles through random colors using a high-performance canvas element. You control both the size of the flashing area and the speed of the color changes, up to your monitor's native refresh rate.

How it works

  1. Press Start to activate the flashing box.
  2. Drag the box to the location of the dead or stuck pixel on your screen.
  3. Adjust the size slider so the box covers the affected area.
  4. Set the speed to a high FPS value for maximum effectiveness.
  5. Let it run for 20 to 30 minutes. In stubborn cases, run it for several hours or repeat the process over multiple days.

The tool uses the HTML Canvas API with requestAnimationFrame to generate random RGB colors at the selected frame rate. The rapid color transitions exercise all three sub-pixel channels (red, green, blue), which can help release a stuck transistor.

Features

  • Draggable flashing box — position it anywhere on your screen with mouse or touch
  • Adjustable size — from 50px to 500px to cover single pixels or larger clusters
  • Variable speed — from 1 FPS up to your monitor's maximum refresh rate (auto-detected)
  • Canvas-based rendering — smooth, efficient color cycling without layout thrashing
  • Touch support — works on tablets and touch-enabled monitors

Use cases

  • Fixing a stuck pixel that appeared on your laptop screen after extended use
  • Attempting to revive a cluster of stuck sub-pixels on an external monitor
  • Running a periodic maintenance cycle on an LCD or OLED display to prevent pixel persistence

Tips

  • Use full screen: Press F11 in your browser for full-screen mode so the flashing box can reach any part of your display, including edges and corners.
  • Higher FPS is better: Set the speed as high as your monitor supports. Faster color changes increase the chance of unsticking a pixel.
  • Be patient: Most stuck pixels need at least 20 minutes of continuous flashing. Severely stuck pixels may require multiple sessions over several days.
  • Run on a dark background: Close other applications or switch to a dark theme so you can clearly see where the problematic pixel is located.

Limitations

  • Dead pixels cannot be fixed with software. If a pixel's transistor is physically damaged, no amount of color cycling will restore it. This tool is effective only for stuck pixels.
  • Effectiveness varies depending on the display type, age, and severity of the issue.
  • Some pixels may unstick temporarily but return to their stuck state later.

FAQ

How long should I run the healer? Start with 20–30 minutes. If the pixel is still stuck, try running it for 1–2 hours. For persistent cases, repeat daily for several days.

Will this damage my screen? No. Rapidly cycling colors is safe for LCD and OLED displays. The tool simply displays normal colors at a high refresh rate.

How do I know if my pixel is dead or stuck? Display a solid white image on your screen. A dead pixel will appear as a black dot. A stuck pixel will appear as a bright dot in red, green, or blue. You can also check against solid red, green, blue, and black backgrounds to identify which sub-pixel is affected.

Does this work on phone screens? The tool supports touch input, so you can use it on phones and tablets. However, fixing stuck pixels on mobile devices is less common and results may vary.