How to check broken pixels on a Xiaomi TV: Full Instruction

Buying a new TV, especially a modern model from Xiaomi, always comes with the expectation of a perfect image. However, even in premium devices, there can be manufacturing defects that are not always noticeable at first glance in the store, most often these are so-called broken pixels - microscopic elements of the matrix that have stopped correctly displaying color or glowing.

The problem is that in a brightly lit trading room or when watching dynamic high-contrast video, such defects are easy to miss. A broken pixel can only show up after a few days of use at home, when you start watching static scenes or working with a computer, which is why initial screen diagnosis immediately after unpacking is a critical procedure for any owner.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to independently conduct a professional check of the matrix of your Xiaomi Mi TV or Redmi TV. You will learn what are the defective points, which tools are best to use and what to do if the problem is still detected. Competent approach will allow you to return the product on time or use the warranty.

Types of Matrix Defects and Their Visual Signs

Before you run tests, you need to be clear about what we're looking for. Not every dot on the screen is a marriage that requires immediate return of technology. The display industry has a classification that divides anomalies into several types based on their behavior and color.

The most common and noticeable type is hot pixels, which are constantly lit in bright white, red, green or blue, regardless of what is displayed on the screen, even against a black background, such a dot will be clearly visible as a glowing defect, and their presence is often the absolute reason for replacing the device, because they greatly interfere with the perception of the picture.

There are also cold (dead) pixels, which don't glow at all, and look like black dots, and are harder to detect, especially in dark movie scenes, but on white or light backgrounds, they become noticeable, and stuck pixels are considered less critical, which display only one color and don't change it depending on the signal, but sometimes they can be "overclocked" by software methods.

• 🔴 Hot pixel – constantly burning bright color (white, red, green, blue) on any background.
• ⚫ Dead pixel – a black dot that does not respond to the signal, visible on a light background.
• 🟣 Stuck pixel – displays only one color channel, often amenable to software recovery.

⚠️ Note: According to the International Standard ISO 13406-2, The presence of several dead pixels (usually up to the 3-5 The number of items, depending on the class of the matrix and diagonal, can be considered acceptable for the manufacturer. However, many electronics stores accept goods with any number of defects in the first place. 14 days.

Preparing Xiaomi TV for Diagnostics

To get reliable results, it is important to create the right conditions. You should not try to look for defects in bright daylight falling directly on the screen or in the upper lights that create glare. The ideal diagnostic environment is a darkened room where the light source is not reflected from the surface of the matrix.

Before starting the procedure, reset all aggressive image settings that may have been activated by default in Store or Bright mode. These modes often artificially overstate contrast and saturation, which can hide real problems or, conversely, create the illusion of defects where there are none.

It's also important to let the TV warm up. Liquid crystal arrays can behave differently in cold state. It takes 10-15 minutes of operation before testing. If you have the opportunity, plug in an external device, such as a laptop or a console, to eliminate software artifacts from the Android TV operating system itself.

Verification methods with built-in features and YouTube

The easiest and most affordable way to check is to use video content. On YouTube, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi TVs, there are many channels specializing in test signals. You don't have to search for special files on a flash drive, you just have an Internet connection.

In the YouTube search box, type in "pixel test" or "screen check." You'll find dozens of videos that are consistently flooded with screen colors: red, green, blue, white and black. Switch between these colors, carefully examine the surface of the screen. On a black background, look for glowing dots, and on a white background, black.

Pay special attention to the corners of the screen. In budget TVs, including some of the Redmi series, you can have uneven backlights or lights around the edges, which are not broken pixels, but affect the quality of the picture. It's easy to distinguish them: the light is a spot, and the broken pixel is a clear point the size of one matrix element.

Use of specialized applications for Android TV

If you want to conduct a deeper diagnosis without depending on the Internet connection, you should use specialized software. Android TV operating system, which runs Xiaomi TVs, allows you to install applications directly from the Google Play Store.

The most popular and functional tool is the Dead Pixel Test and Fix app or its counterparts, such as Screen Test. These programs not only show colors, but also allow you to start flashing, inversion and rapid color change modes, which is useful for trying to recover stuck pixels.

The advantage of using apps over online video is that there is no compression of the video stream. YouTube can artifactically compress an image, especially if the Internet speed is unstable, which creates "noise" in the picture. The local application gives a clean signal directly to the matrix, providing 100% validation.

💡

Before installing screen checking apps, clear the Google Play store cache in your TV settings (Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Clear the cache).

Verification by means of USB-The storage device: maximum accuracy

For those who prefer complete control over the process or do not have a stable Internet connection on the TV, the ideal option is to use the Internet. USB-This method allows you to use test images in the original, uncompressed resolution corresponding to the matrix of your Xiaomi. TV.

You will need a computer with Internet access. Search the Internet for screen and TV test packs (often called "Monitor Test Images" or "Dead Pixel Test Images"). Download a set of 6-10 images filled with solid color (black, white, red, green, blue, gray), at 3840×2160 (for 4K models) or 1920×1080.

Copy files to a flash drive formatted into a file system FAT32 or NTFS. Put the drive in USB-Open the built-in Mi Video media player or any other file manager. By opening images consistently, you can study every inch of the screen in detail, and this is particularly good for detecting gradient transitions and micro-lights.

It is important to wipe the screen before such a test. Dust on the matrix with a white background on, can look like dead pixels. Use only special wipes for the screens and do not press hard on the matrix during cleaning, so as not to create new defects.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use household chemicals, alcohol or wet hand wipes to clean your screen. Aggressive substances can damage the anti-reflective coating of the Xiaomi matrix, which will lead to unavoidable stains.

💡

Use of uncompressed images with USB-drive - a reference diagnostic method that excludes the effect of video stream compression and network interference on the result of the verification.

What to do if broken pixels are found

If you've found defects in your diagnosis, don't panic. The first thing you need to do is document the finding. Take some high-quality screen photos on your phone (trying to focus on the defect) or record a video that clearly shows the burning or black dots against a monochromatic background, which will be your main proof when you go to the service.

If less than 14 days have passed since the purchase (in Russia and some CIS countries), you have every right to demand a refund or replacement of the product with a new one, even if only one broken pixel is found.

If the warranty period of return has passed, but the warranty is valid (usually 1 year), the situation depends on the number of defects. The service center will conduct its examination. If the number of broken pixels exceeds the ISO norm for this diagonal, you will be replaced by the matrix or the entire TV. If the defect is within the norm, but it interferes with you, you can try software recovery.

• 📸 Make clear photos and videos of defects in different background colors.
• 📞 Keep your check, warranty card and box (preferably) until the refund deadline expires.
• ⏳ Do not delay with the appeal – the sooner you declare the problem, the easier the exchange procedure will pass.