Monitor Test

How the guided test works

The Monitor Test shows six full-screen fields in a set order: white, black, red, green, blue, and a mid gray (#808080). Each field makes a different kind of fault easy to see. You move on only when you are ready, with the Next step button or the → key, so there is no timer and nothing changes by itself.

1. 1

   Prepare the display. Clean it, turn off night mode and blue-light filters, and dim the room a little. Use your normal brightness: at maximum, leaks and unevenness look stronger than in everyday use.

2. 2

   Open each field full screen. Press → to move to the next field without leaving fullscreen, then exit to answer.

3. 3

   Answer one question per field. Pick the answer that matches what you saw. "Not sure" is a fine answer.

4. 4

   Read the summary. It lists your answers and points to the single test that looks more closely at anything you reported.

What each field shows

White lights every subpixel, so a dead pixel shows as a dark dot. Black turns them off, so a stuck pixel shows as a bright dot, and light leaking at the edges stands out. Red, green, and blue each light one subpixel color, which reveals a single faulty subpixel. Gray is the most revealing field for darker corners, clouding, and tint changes across the panel.

After the test

The summary only repeats what you reported. A dot that you can wipe away was dust, and a small amount of unevenness is normal on many displays. Before deciding that a panel is faulty, compare what you found with the manufacturer's warranty or return terms.

The guide How to Test a Monitor explains why the fields come in this order and what to do when one turns something up. For a single finding, read Dead Pixel vs Stuck Pixel, Is Backlight Bleed Normal? or the OLED burn-in guide. Dead Pixel Warranty Policies quotes what makers allow, and the Monitor Buying Guide covers what to check while a return is still possible.