Dark spot on screen
A dark spot on a screen screen that shows on white and vanishes on black is inside the panel: a cluster of dead pixels (a sharp-edged tiny square), a pressure mark (soft-edged, where something pressed the panel), or dirt under the glass (moves if you press gently, on tablets and monitors only).
Test it now
Open the full-screen white test and look at the spot. Then black. Pixel and pressure damage disappears on black; surface marks do not. Then wipe once with a dry microfibre cloth and check white again.
What it is
A dark spot on a screen screen that shows on white and vanishes on black is inside the panel: a cluster of dead pixels (a sharp-edged tiny square), a pressure mark (soft-edged, where something pressed the panel), or dirt under the glass (moves if you press gently, on tablets and monitors only). A mark that shows on black as well is on the surface: residue, a scratch, or damage to the glass.
Can it be fixed?
Dirt or residue: yes, clean it. A stuck pixel (coloured, not black): often, with the pixel fixer on the test page. Dead pixels and pressure marks: no — they are permanent, and the fix is a new panel. Most people live with a small one.
What to do
- Full-screen white, then black, then wipe and repeat.
- Sharp square, only on white: dead pixels — count them against the warranty policy.
- Soft blotch, only on white: pressure mark — photograph it and stop pressing on the screen.
- Shows on black too: surface — clean, or a screen polish for scratches.
What a repair costs
| United States | Phone display $80–380; laptop panel $100–300; monitor panel from $150 (often more than a new monitor) |
|---|---|
| India | Phone display ₹2,000–20,000; laptop panel ₹3,000–15,000; monitor panel ₹4,000–10,000 (a new monitor is often the better buy) |
Typical ranges from repair-shop and manufacturer price lists, 2026-09-06. Get two quotes; prices vary by model and city.
Warranty
Most makers replace a panel under warranty for physical panel faults that are not accidental damage; pressure marks, cracks and liquid damage are treated as accidental and are not covered. For dead pixels, each brand has a threshold (typically 3–5 bright or 5–8 dark pixels on a laptop; Dell's premium-panel guarantee replaces at one bright pixel).