To fix blue spots on your phone screen, arrange repair for panel damage, restart and update for software faults, or adjust display settings for a whole-screen tint. A spreading blotch, an unchanged pixel, and a mark confined to one app need different checks. Color settings cannot repair a damaged panel.
The short version
- Damage signs: On Galaxy phones, impact damage, ink-like marks, lines, or abnormal colors call for professional inspection.
- Software checks: Restart and install available updates when the symptom may come from software.
- App problems: Troubleshoot the affected app or use Safe mode on supported Galaxy and Pixel phones.
- Color changes: Use display controls to compare an overall tint, not to repair an isolated damaged spot.
| Check or fix | When to use it | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Professional inspection and repair | Panel damage or persistent pixel faults | Assessment and repair of the display |
| iPhone cleaning and accessory checks | Accompanying touch problems | Isolation of touch interference |
| Restart | Possible temporary software trouble | A fresh start before further checks |
| System update | Possible software-related display trouble | Installation of available software fixes |
| App troubleshooting | A mark confined to a malfunctioning app | Checks focused on that app |
| Safe mode | A suspected downloaded app on Galaxy or Pixel | Isolation of downloaded app behavior |
| Color settings | A tint across the whole display | Comparison of overall color rendering |
| Display diagnostics | A persistent fault needing investigation | Diagnostic information, not pixel repair |
Check for damage and arrange repair
Inspect your display for impact damage, spreading ink-like marks, lines, or abnormal colors. Samsung says these symptoms can indicate panel damage even when the outer glass is intact. If your Galaxy phone has these signs, use Samsung Repair Services to arrange professional inspection through walk-in or mail-in service.
Google directs Pixel dead-pixel cases to repair. In a supported region, open Google Store Repair services and sign in, select your device or enter its IMEI or serial number, select the issues, then tap Next. Choose In-store service or Mail-In repair, tap Next, and complete the booking details.
If your iPhone also has touch problems, make sure the screen is clean and free of water or debris, then temporarily remove the case and screen protector. Disconnect Lightning or USB-C accessories; if touch improves, try another outlet, cable, or charger. These checks address touch behavior rather than damaged pixels. If the screen fault persists after basic troubleshooting, open Apple's screen troubleshooting page and select Get service.
Restart your phone
Start with a restart when the symptom may come from software. Once your phone starts again, check whether the mark remains before moving to updates or app troubleshooting.
On a Face ID iPhone, hold either Volume Up or Volume Down together with Side until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, wait 30 seconds, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears. On an iPhone SE of the second or third generation, hold only Side to display the slider, then follow the same shutdown and startup steps.
If normal shutdown is unavailable on an iPhone covered by Apple's iOS 27 instructions, quickly press and release Volume Up, then quickly press and release Volume Down. Hold Side until the Apple logo appears, then release it.
On a current Galaxy phone with a side key, hold Side + Volume Down for more than two seconds, then tap Restart. If the menu does not appear, continue holding both keys for more than seven seconds until the phone restarts. On Pixel 6 and later, including Fold models, hold Power + Volume Up for a few seconds, then tap Restart.
Install available system updates
Samsung includes software updates in its troubleshooting for dots and dead pixels. On a Galaxy phone receiving updates, open Settings > Software update > Download and install, then install the offered update. Carrier variants may instead show Settings > System updates > Check for software updates, followed by Download now.
On a Pixel receiving updates, open Settings > System > System update and install available updates. If your menus include an intermediate software page, open Settings > System > Software updates > System update > Check for update. Google recommends updating for tint, flicker, and lines; for dead pixels, Google directs you to repair.
Before updating an iPhone, back it up and connect it to power and Wi-Fi. Open Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Download and Install when offered. If the update requests temporary app removal to make space, continuing temporarily removes those apps. Tap Continue to proceed with that option.
An iOS update is a general software troubleshooting step. If a physical blue spot remains, move to inspection or repair rather than treating another update as a panel repair.
Troubleshoot marks confined to one app
When the mark belongs to a malfunctioning app, focus your checks on that app. On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the affected app, and tap Force stop, then OK. Reopen the app and check whether the visual problem remains.
Clearing the Pixel app's cache removes its cached data. If the app still misbehaves, open Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the app, then open Storage & cache and tap Clear cache. Reopen the app to check the result.
If clearing the cache fails, clearing storage erases the app's saved data, so back up needed app data first. Return to Storage & cache, select Clear storage or Clear data, then tap OK. Reopen the app and check again.
On a Face ID iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and pause to view open apps; on a Home-button model, double-click Home. Find the frozen or unresponsive app, swipe its preview upward, then reopen it. To install an available app update, open App Store, tap your profile icon, open App Updates, and update the affected app.
For a Galaxy phone using Google Play, open Google Play Store and tap your profile icon. Select Manage apps & device, then tap Update all. If the problem continues and you suspect a downloaded app, check the display in Safe mode.
Use Safe mode to isolate downloaded apps
On Galaxy, open the power menu using Power or the power icon in Quick settings. Touch and hold Power off, then tap Safe mode and check whether the spots disappear. To exit Safe mode, turn the phone off and back on.
If Safe mode removes the Galaxy symptom, a downloaded app may be responsible. Uninstalling removes the selected app from your phone. Swipe up from the Home screen, hold a recently added app's icon, tap Uninstall, then tap OK. Remove apps individually, restarting normally and checking the display after each removal.
On Pixel 6 and later, including Fold, hold Power + Volume Up, then touch and hold Power off or Restart and tap OK. Alternatively, start with the phone off, press Power, then hold Volume Down throughout the startup animation. Check the display in Safe mode, then exit by holding Power + Volume Up and tapping Restart.
Pixel Safe mode helps isolate app behavior; it does not repair dead pixels. If the mark persists, use the diagnostic or repair options appropriate to the symptom instead of continuing to remove apps.
Adjust color controls for an overall tint
Use color settings when the entire display looks tinted or its colors are altered. These controls change overall appearance and cannot repair an individual damaged spot.
On Galaxy models offering these controls, open Settings > Accessibility > Vision enhancements > Color filter and turn it off. Separately open Color correction and turn it off to compare the display. On supported models starting with the S24 series, open Settings > Display, turn off Adaptive color tone, and compare under the same lighting.
If your Galaxy display is unexpectedly dark, open Settings > Accessibility > Vision enhancements and turn off Extra dim. For unexpectedly warm output, open Settings > Display and turn off Eye comfort shield. Use these comparisons only on models that offer the controls.
On Galaxy models with screen-mode adjustments, open Settings > Display > Screen mode and compare Natural with Vivid. In Vivid, move White balance toward Warm to reduce a cool appearance, or open Advanced settings and adjust the B (Blue) slider. Options vary by model, so skip any control your phone does not offer.
On iPhone, open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters and turn off Color Filters for comparison. Also check Smart Invert and Classic Invert in Display & Text Size. These settings affect tint or inverted colors rather than repairing individual pixels.
On supported iPhones, open Settings > Display & Brightness and toggle True Tone for comparison. Alternatively, hold the brightness control in Control Center and tap True Tone; the expanded control also offers Night Shift. To check scheduled color changes, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift > Scheduled.
On Pixel 3 and later with color modes, open Settings > Display & touch > Colors. Select Natural to compare it with Adaptive. If an isolated spot remains, move to diagnostics or repair rather than further color balancing.
Run diagnostics for a persistent fault
On a compatible Galaxy phone, get Samsung Members from the official Samsung Members page if you need the app. Open Samsung Members > Discover > Diagnostics > Phone diagnostics. Some layouts place Diagnostics under Support; select an individual test or Test all.
On Galaxy devices running Android 12 or later, you can also open Settings > Device care > Diagnostics > Phone diagnostics. Select an individual test or Test all, keeping in mind that available tests vary.
Some Galaxy configurations expose solid-color tests through the Samsung Phone keypad. Open Phone and enter this code in the keypad:
*#0*#Select RED, GREEN, and BLUE in turn to inspect for unchanged points, stains, or lines. These tests diagnose display symptoms and do not repair pixels. If the menu does not open, use Samsung Members instead.
For Pixel 3 and later, connect to the internet and open Phone, then its dial pad. Enter this code to open the English-language diagnostic interface:
*#*#7287#*#*Follow the diagnostic instructions and tap Confirm. These checks provide diagnostic information rather than a repair for damaged pixels.
Pixel 6 and later, including Fold, also provide available diagnostics, warranty information, support, and repair options under Settings > Device health & support. Alternatively, search Settings for diagnostics. If the fault persists, use the manufacturer's inspection or repair route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does passing a touch screen test mean every pixel is healthy?
A passing touch test does not establish that every display pixel is healthy. Samsung Members' Touch screen test checks touch response. Pixel touch diagnostics require Pixel 9 or later and are not a pixel-repair function.
Can a factory reset fix blue spots on a Galaxy phone?
A factory reset is a last software-isolation step after other checks fail, and it cannot reverse panel damage. It erases personal data, so back up your phone first. Open Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset, review the information, then tap Reset and Delete all. Enter requested credentials and check the display before reinstalling apps.
Can you update a Galaxy phone through a computer?
Yes, compatible Galaxy phones can receive available updates through Samsung Smart Switch on Windows or Mac, depending on the model and carrier. Get the computer application from Samsung's official Smart Switch page and back up important data. Connect your phone by USB, select Update when offered, then select OK. Leave the cable connected until installation finishes.
Can you replace a Pixel display yourself?
Google provides a self-repair route for technically experienced owners through its repair hub, with model-specific manuals and genuine replacement parts through its linked iFixit partner. Google lists parts for Pixel 2 and later and downloadable repair manuals for Pixel 6a and newer, with availability varying by region. Follow the exact display-replacement procedure for your model and run diagnostics afterward.
How can you send Samsung details of a recurring display fault?
Hold the Samsung Members icon and tap Error reports. Choose a category, describe the fault, and optionally attach an image. Select Send system log data, then tap Send.