Question What causes a stuck pixel?

unplanned bacon · Oct 29, 2017

So, bought an iPad Pro 16/17 days ago. It worked for 13 days and the end of 13 days I saw a stuck pixel, just stuck on blue (but it will change to several other colours when it's supposed to, but sets itself back to blue when it's meant to be black). I tried everything to fix it myself (you know, massaging, running flashing colours for hours on end etc), but no good. My bag fell off a coat hook one time, but I caught it before it hit anything and I've seen iPads take several foot drops without a case and be fine. Other than that I've done nothing to this thing to cause this.

It's looking more like I'm going to have to exchange it. Nearby iStore said wait a week and if it's still there return directly to Apple (they didn't recommend going through a middle man like themselves). I guess I should expect this from Apple now though, most of the stuff I've bought from them hasn't been made right first time and previously when I've sent stuff back to them what I've gotten back was actually worse. Took multiple attempts to get one that was actually as it should be.

Any chance a stuck pixel will fix itself?
Anything I can do? But like I said, I've pretty much tried everything and it hasn't worked. It looks like it attempts to shut off as it dims, but it fails to go out.

Really disappointed

Rogue Leader · Oct 29, 2017

MERGED QUESTION
Question from unplanned bacon : "What causes a stuck pixel?"

unplanned bacon :

So, bought an iPad Pro 16/17 days ago. It worked for 13 days and the end of 13 days I saw a stuck pixel, just stuck on blue (but it will change to several other colours when it's supposed to, but sets itself back to blue when it's meant to be black). I tried everything to fix it myself (you know, massaging, running flashing colours for hours on end etc), but no good. My bag fell off a coat hook one time, but I caught it before it hit anything and I've seen iPads take several foot drops without a case and be fine. Other than that I've done nothing to this thing to cause this.

It's looking more like I'm going to have to exchange it. Nearby iStore said wait a week and if it's still there return directly to Apple (they didn't recommend going through a middle man like themselves). I guess I should expect this from Apple now though, most of the stuff I've bought from them hasn't been made right first time and previously when I've sent stuff back to them what I've gotten back was actually worse. Took multiple attempts to get one that was actually as it should be.

Any chance a stuck pixel will fix itself?
Anything I can do? But like I said, I've pretty much tried everything and it hasn't worked. It looks like it attempts to shut off as it dims, but it fails to go out.

Really disappointed

SoggyTissue · Oct 29, 2017

there is a method not many would suggest, but as youre going to return it anyway, might as well try it!

cloth to surround the screen (to absorb water)
cotton bud (used to massage pixel)
boiling water (used on bud end to help re-liquify pixel)

method:
device off
surround dead pixel with cloth, make sure as little gaps appear as possible.
boil water
pour boiling water onto cotton bud end (just 1 end) and flick twice to get rid of excess, press down on table top quickly to get rid of a little more water.
use very hot bud end to gently massage pixel area, ensuring any excess water is soaked by cloth.

repeat with device on and a movie playing or screen flashy.

if this does not re-liquify the pixel, nothing will.

note: this may damage other 'good' pixels at it liquefies all pixels the bud touches (hopefully - as in we hope it liquefies the dead pixel, not damage existing good ones), which is why many do not suggest you try this method.

InvalidError · Oct 29, 2017

Stuck pixels occur due to defects or weaknesses in the panel's TFT matrix. For the most part, it is impossible to fix. "Massaging" the area may temporarily break a short or relieve an intermittent contact but the defect will most likely reappear with time. On one of my LCDs, I have a purple column on black that I hadn't noticed until I played video on that monitor - I normally only use it for web browsing, text editing, etc. where most of the screen is white. No idea how long that column has been there. In my case, it could be a dead or broken connection to the column driver.

unplanned bacon · Oct 29, 2017

SoggyTissue :

there is a method not many would suggest, but as youre going to return it anyway, might as well try it!

cloth to surround the screen (to absorb water)
cotton bud (used to massage pixel)
boiling water (used on bud end to help re-liquify pixel)

method:
device off
surround dead pixel with cloth, make sure as little gaps appear as possible.
boil water
pour boiling water onto cotton bud end (just 1 end) and flick twice to get rid of excess, press down on table top quickly to get rid of a little more water.
use very hot bud end to gently massage pixel area, ensuring any excess water is soaked by cloth.

repeat with device on and a movie playing or screen flashy.

if this does not re-liquify the pixel, nothing will.

note: this may damage other 'good' pixels at it liquefies all pixels the bud touches (hopefully - as in we hope it liquefies the dead pixel, not damage existing good ones), which is why many do not suggest you try this method.

I'd prefer not to send it back, was hoping it could sort itself out, but like I said, looks more and more likely I'll be putting in an RMA

InvalidError · Oct 29, 2017

And instead of one dead pixel, you'll get three!

unplanned bacon · Oct 29, 2017

InvalidError :

Don’t joke man, it could happen! I returned a MacBook Pro before and got one back with a hinge that was misaligned so it wasn’t correctly seated in its bracket on one side

InvalidError · Oct 29, 2017

unplanned bacon :

I know it can happen. Another thing that can happen is that instead of getting a brand-new replacement, you'll get someone's spill-damaged "repair."

McHenryB · Oct 30, 2017

I think you would be lucky to get a replacement for a single stuck pixel (although the policy may vary at different Apple stores). Last I heard there needed to be at least 3 dead/stuck pixels on an iPad for the warranty to cover it.

unplanned bacon · Oct 31, 2017

McHenryB :

I have managed to get the stuck bit down to a tiny spec just by continuously running the stuck pixel video. I did put some pressure on it to massage (which, yeah, you really want to do to screens. I did it twice for a few seconds (and rainbow effected) and released. I will not do it again though, don't want to damage the internals. Hopefully, the internals aren't damaged, I'm freaking out more about that now, since the stuck pixel(s) seem to be being jumpstarted back to fully working. What are the chances I messed the screen up by doing that. I started with very little pressure, but didn't think that was doing anything. Now I'm thinking about that, maybe I've messed it up in ways I don't know, but I seem to remember when I was much younger (and more recently to my iPod touch I think) doing that to other screens and they were perfectly fine. Anyway, Apple says I can call in my warranty at any time (before 12 months is up) over this if it doesn't correct.

Now I'm freaking out about that instead, even though I did the same thing to my MacBook just days ago and didn't give it a second thought :/

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Question What causes a stuck pixel?

unplanned bacon

Distinguished

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!

SoggyTissue

Estimable

InvalidError

Titan

unplanned bacon

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InvalidError

Titan

unplanned bacon

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InvalidError

Titan

McHenryB

Admirable

unplanned bacon

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