White spot on iPad screen
A white spot on an iPad screen that glows on black is the backlight coming through where it should not: the reflector or diffuser sheet behind the LCD has a pressure dent, or a backlight LED sits too close to the panel.
Test it now
Full-screen black: the spot glows. Full-screen white: it disappears (backlight) or stays as a lighter patch (stuck pixels, OLED). Grey shows how big the affected area really is.
What it is
A white spot on an iPad screen that glows on black is the backlight coming through where it should not: the reflector or diffuser sheet behind the LCD has a pressure dent, or a backlight LED sits too close to the panel. It is bright and slightly fuzzy-edged, and it is strongest on dark screens. iPad LCDs get a white spot where the backlight reflector has been pressed — usually the back has been dented or the iPad was in a bag under weight. Apple replaces the whole unit out of warranty.
Can it be fixed?
Backlight pressure point: sometimes — on a phone or tablet a repair shop can open the display and flatten or replace the reflector, which costs much less than a display; on a laptop it is usually cheaper to replace the panel. Stuck OLED pixels: no. A small spot on a dark wallpaper is the thing most people choose to live with.
What to do
- Black, then white, then grey in full screen.
- Glows on black, gone on white: backlight — quote for a reflector repair versus a display.
- Present on white too: pixels — count and photograph.
- Stop the cause: no weight on the screen, a case with a raised lip, nothing in the same pocket.
What a repair costs
| United States | $80–200 for a display on most Android phones; $200–380 at Apple for an iPhone screen out of warranty ($29–99 with AppleCare+) |
|---|---|
| India | ₹2,000–6,000 for a display on budget and mid-range Android phones at an independent shop, ₹6,000–20,000 for flagship OLED screens at the brand service centre; iPhone screens ₹12,000–35,000 at Apple-authorised service |
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).