Black spots on an LCD television can interfere with picture quality and viewing experience, especially if located in the center. In the best case scenario, black spots are caused by dirt, dust, or debris that has collected on the screen surface. However, dead or stuck pixels caused by internal malfunctions can also lead to black spots. The best approach is to identify exactly what is causing the spots on your screen before taking the designated approach to fix it.
Black spots on an LCD television can interfere with picture quality and viewing experience, especially if located in the center. In the best case scenario, black spots are caused by dirt, dust, or debris that has collected on the screen surface. However, dead or stuck pixels caused by internal malfunctions can also lead to black spots. The best approach is to identify exactly what is causing the spots on your screen before taking the designated approach to fix it.
Dead or Stuck?
An LCD pixel contains three sub-pixels of red, green and blue, that are capable of changing colors and displaying each color at 256 shades, or gray levels. If a pixel becomes stuck in the closed position at gray level 0, it will appear completely black. A pixel will also appear black if it is dead, but it is important to identify the cause, since dead pixels are a much more serious issue and often require replacement. If you see a pixel is still able to change colors, even slightly from its normally black appearance, then it is stuck and not dead. Specialized display software or DVDs can help you identify this, as well as changing the background color of your TV to solid colors, preferably white to identify black spots!
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| Black spots on LCD screens are a result of dirt, or dead or stuck pixels. |
Is It Dirt ?
Before assuming the spots on your LCD screen are caused by internal malfunctions, clean the entire screen following the manufacturer's recommendations in your user manual. If these are not provided, use a soft cloth and a 50/50 solution of water and alcohol to gently rub problem areas, as well as the entire screen. Never use paper towels as these are abrasive and will cause more screen damage.
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| Black spots on LCD screens are a result of dirt, or dead or stuck pixels |
Causes
Dead pixels can occur as a result of blunt force trauma to the screen, non-functioning transistors or manufacturer defects. Stuck pixels can also occur from trauma, or from uneven phosphorus wear, caused by leaving static images on the screen for long periods of time.
Solution
Stuck pixels can sometimes be repaired by running special DVD programming designed to exercise pixels from their stuck position. Also, gently rubbing the affected area with a soft cloth while this programming is running can also help un-stick the pixel. Dead pixels usually require a replacement screen or a professional repair solution. Luckily, most manufacturers expect a certain number of dead pixels to occur over the life of their product, and many offer replacement screens if the number of dead pixels exceeds their expectation. This is something to keep in mind when shopping for an LCD TV, and some manufacturers like Panasonic offer a warranty on all pixels
How to Troubleshoot an LCD TV With Dead Pixels
Your LCD TV serves as the centerpiece of your media experience. Stuck pixels can mar this experience, shining like luminous blemishes on the face of your entertainment. Unlike dead pixels, where the entire pixel fails and turns black, stuck pixels are brightly lit and can be repaired either by software or a good poke
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| Black spots on LCD screens are a result of dirt, or dead or stuck pixels |
Preparation for Repair
Before you set out to fix your stuck pixel, make sure the problem is with the screen itself. Gently clean your screen with a soft cloth and screen cleaner, taking care to spray the cleaner on the cloth and not on the screen itself. Then test the screen with various input media like your computer, video games and television service. If the stuck pixels are consistent, the problem is indeed the screen. If the problem changes with the media, your issue may be the input media or a faulty connection.
UDPixel and JScreenFix
If you do indeed have a stuck pixel, there are two options for fixing it that don't require actually touching the screen. UDPixel is a free software utility that locates stuck pixels and causes all the pixels around them to rapidly cycle through different colors. After a few hours, the stuck pixel may be resolved. You can also use JScreenFix, a Web-based program that turns all screen pixels on and off at roughly 60 times per second. This too may solve the problem after some time.
Factory Reset
You can also attempt to reset your television to factory defaults. The exact steps for this process vary from one manufacturer and one model to the next, so you'll need to consult your owner's manual for further details. If the manual doesn't include this information, your television manufacturer's technical support staff should be able to walk you through the process.
Manual Repair Methods
If the screen still has stuck pixels, you can attempt manual repair. Before attempting manual repair, be advised you risk damaging the screen, breaking more pixels and voiding your warranty. There are three methods of repairing the pixels: pressure, rubbing and tapping. To use pressure, find a ballpoint pen or a dull pencil and a washcloth, and fold the washcloth over. Then turn off your television, put the cloth over the affected pixel and apply light pressure only to that area using the pen. For the rubbing method, gently rub at the pixel with a finger until it resets. For the tapping method, turn the television on and turn it to a black display to make locating the pixel easier. Then tap at it gently with a ballpoint pen or other small, dull object. If any of these methods have worked, you should see the stuck pixels functioning properly again
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