Symptoms
- Uneven bright or gray patches visible on a dark background
- Patches don't move or change when the image changes
- More visible from certain viewing angles
- Appeared gradually over time rather than all at once
Likely causes
- CommonUneven backlight distribution (common in VA and some LED panels)LED backlights can age or be manufactured with slightly uneven brightness across zones.
- PossiblePanel aging or LED degradationBacklight LEDs can dim unevenly over years of use.
- PossiblePhysical pressure from stand, mount, or storagePressure points from mounting hardware or leaning the monitor against something can cause localized clouding.
- PossibleManufacturing defectEspecially on a new monitor, pronounced clouding may simply be a factory defect.
What to do
- View a full-screen dark gray or black image in a dim room and note the pattern and location of the clouding.
- Change your viewing angle up, down, left, and right, since clouding severity often changes with viewing angle on VA panels.
- Check that nothing is pressing on the back of the panel from a mount, stand, or nearby object.
- If the monitor was recently moved or stored, gently and evenly reset any mounting screws.
- Compare the severity to typical examples for your monitor's panel type, since some clouding is considered normal for VA panels specifically.
- If the monitor is new or under warranty and clouding is pronounced, contact the manufacturer or retailer for an exchange rather than attempting a fix.
Tools and parts
- None
When to call a pro
Clouding generally isn't user-repairable; if it's new or worsening quickly, use the manufacturer's warranty rather than paying for a repair on an LCD panel.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.