Patches on laptop screen
Light or dark patches — cloudy areas, often called mura or clouding — come from uneven pressure on the panel or the backlight diffuser: the lid was pressed or twisted, the laptop was carried under weight, or the panel warped from heat.
Test it now
Full-screen grey shows clouding best. Then white for dark patches, black for bright ones. Note whether a patch has a sharp edge (pressure) or fades gradually (heat, backlight).
What it is
Light or dark patches — cloudy areas, often called mura or clouding — come from uneven pressure on the panel or the backlight diffuser: the lid was pressed or twisted, the laptop was carried under weight, or the panel warped from heat. Dark patches on white are pressure marks in the liquid crystal; bright patches on black are the backlight layers pushed together. Yellow or brown patches near an edge are heat or adhesive degradation.
Can it be fixed?
Pressure marks in the LCD: not fixable, the panel is replaced. Backlight clouding: a repair shop can sometimes re-seat the diffuser layers. Heat discolouration: no. Under warranty, clouding without a visible impact is usually covered; pressure marks are not.
What to do
- Grey test and photograph the patches.
- External monitor check rules out the graphics chip.
- Stop carrying the laptop with anything on top of it — patches get worse.
- Warranty claim if there is no impact damage; otherwise a panel quote.
What a repair costs
| United States | $100–300 for a new panel (parts $50–150 plus labour); budget and 1080p panels at the low end, touch and high-refresh panels at the high end |
|---|---|
| India | ₹3,000–8,000 for a new panel at an independent repair shop; ₹6,000–15,000 at the brand service centre |
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).