iPhone Dead Pixel Test
Step-by-step dead pixel test for all iPhone models — iPhone 11 through iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Tap anywhere to cycle colours · Long press for previous
iPhone Dead Pixel Test — Step by Step
- 1.Go to Settings → Display & Brightness and turn off True Tone and Night Shift.
- 2.Set brightness to 100%.
- 3.Tap Start Full Screen Test above. Cycle through all six colours.
- 4.Optional: enable AssistiveTouch (Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch ON) and drag the floating button over any suspect pixel. If the dot appears above the button, it is on the panel itself.
What OLED Dead Pixels Look Like on iPhone
All iPhones since the X (2017) use OLED panels (Super Retina XDR on Pro models). On OLED, each pixel generates its own light — there is no backlight. A dead pixel on OLED is completely dark: the organic emitter has failed and will not light up. A stuck sub-pixel shows as a bright coloured dot (red, green, or blue) that does not turn off.
The clearest test for a dead pixel is the white screen — any pixel that stays black on a white background is definitively dead. For stuck pixels, use the black screen — any bright dot is a stuck sub-pixel.
iPhone Dead Pixel vs Dust Under Screen
Dust under the screen does not disappear when you change colours — but it looks fuzzy and slightly grey rather than a sharp-edged black point. A dead pixel is a precise, single-point black dot with a hard edge. Dust also appears consistently from multiple viewing angles, while certain pixel defects look different when you tilt the phone.
Is It Covered by Apple Warranty?
Apple's 1-year limited warranty covers dead pixels that appear as manufacturing defects. Unlike Samsung's minimum-threshold policy, Apple assesses each case individually — in practice, a single dead pixel on an iPhone is usually sufficient for a screen replacement or device replacement at the Genius Bar. Physical damage (cracks, drops) is not covered by the standard warranty but may be covered by AppleCare+. See the full Apple warranty guide.
iPhone Model-Specific Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a dead pixel on an iPhone look like?
A tiny black dot that does not change regardless of the screen colour. Most visible on a bright white background. On OLED iPhones, a stuck pixel appears as a persistent coloured dot on a black background.
How do I test an iPhone for dead pixels without an app?
Use this browser tool. Tap Start Full Screen Test and cycle through all six colours. No download or account needed.
Why does True Tone need to be disabled for testing?
True Tone adjusts the white balance based on ambient lighting, which can slightly change how colours appear and make a faint stuck pixel harder to spot. Disabling it gives you the accurate flat colour needed to see defects.
Is a dead pixel on iPhone covered by Apple warranty?
Yes, Apple's 1-year limited warranty covers manufacturing defect dead pixels. Apple typically replaces the screen or the device rather than just the pixel. Report it as soon as you notice it.
What is the AssistiveTouch dead pixel trick?
Enable AssistiveTouch (Settings → Accessibility → Touch) to get a floating button you can drag anywhere on the screen. Position it over the suspect pixel — if the dot appears above the button, it is on the display hardware, not a UI artefact.
Can dead pixels spread on an iPhone?
A single dead pixel does not spread in most cases. However, a crack or impact that caused one dead pixel can worsen over time if the display continues to flex, creating more dead pixels near the damaged area.