# No se pudo completar la actualización de píxeles

> Aviso LG OLED «No se pudo completar la actualización de píxeles»: ciclo corto/largo, HDMI-CEC, Quick Start+, fuente — y la checklist que sí ayuda.

## Qué hace realmente Pixel Refresher

On LG OLED TVs the feature is labelled **Pixel Refresher**, **Pixel Cleaning** or similar. Per LG it periodically scans for OLED cell degradation and compensates TFT voltage drift — the goal is less **image retention** and more even brightness over the panel’s life.

In practice there are **two runs**:

- **Short cycle** — after about **four hours** of cumulative use, when you turn the TV off to standby. Often only minutes; usually no prompt.
- **Long cycle** — after about **2,000 hours** total (some newer lines around **500 hours**). LG says ~**one hour**; vertical lines / a scrolling bar can appear by design.

## Qué significa realmente el mensaje

If you see **“Pixel Refresher could not be completed”** (or “Pixel Cleaning incomplete”), the cycle did **not finish cleanly**. The TV aborts and shows the OK dialog.

The message does **not** name a part. It only means compensation was **interrupted** or **failed**. Real cases split into **setup / peripherals** vs **hardware**.

## Causas blandas frecuentes

LG emphasises standby interruptions. Support docs and field reports add the same list:

- **Unplugged** or switched power strip while in standby — refresh will not run / complete if the set is dead.
- **TV turned back on** during the run — aborts immediately.
- **SimpLink / HDMI-CEC**: a soundbar, AVR or console wakes the TV — refresh stops. Fix: SimpLink off or **unplug HDMI** before the run.
- **eARC soundbar** — long refresh often succeeds only after disconnecting the bar.
- **Quick Start+ / Always Ready** — can block a clean refresh from PC/no-signal standby; disable for the test.
- **Not enough idle time** — long cycle needs ~one hour; powering on after minutes → message returns.

## Diagnóstico blando en este orden

Before blaming boards, work through this checklist:

- Unplug all **HDMI/USB** devices (especially soundbar/eARC).
- Turn **SimpLink (HDMI-CEC)** and, for the test, **Quick Start+** off.
- Leave the TV **plugged into mains** (no wall timer).
- Start Pixel Refresher **manually** via Settings → Picture → OLED Panel / OLED Care → Pixel Refresher (path varies by webOS year).
- Leave the set alone for **at least one hour**.
- Check firmware; if the prompt persists, use LG’s **Restart** path and repeat.

## Cuándo parece hardware

If the long refresh still fails with HDMI unplugged, CEC off and undisturbed standby — or you also have **power/start issues** — look at hardware. Around the 2,000-hour mark on CX/C series a pattern repeats:

- **Power board (PSU)** — standby LED dies/clicks, set only wakes after a full unplug; long refresh never finishes because standby rails are unstable.
- **Mainboard** — menus hang, refresh service dies, other system faults.
- **T-Con / panel path** — failed refresh plus image artefacts.
- **Panel** — chronic failure plus clear panel symptoms; soft fixes rarely pay off.

## Qué no debes hacer

Do **not** force the long refresh many times a day — each run stresses the panel; it is meant for hundreds of hours between cycles.

Do not confuse a **service-menu notification reset** with a real repair: the dialog can vanish even if the long cycle never succeeded.

With relay clicking, flickering standby LED and “only works after unplug”, diagnose **power** before swapping the panel.

## Resumen del taller

The dialog alone is not a free pass for a panel swap. Note whether it appears **once after a power cut** or **chronically**, whether the short cycle still runs, and whether the standby LED stays on.

Very often HDMI unplug + CEC/Quick Start off + one undisturbed hour is enough. If it still fails with start problems, we typically check **PSU and mainboard** before the most expensive part — the panel.

Model number plus a photo of the message help us prioritize checks — via [repair](/en/reparatur) or the [parts shop](/en/bauteile) if you already know the board part number.

## FAQ

**Is the TV broken if this appears once?**

No. An abort after unplugging, a CEC wake or turning the set on too early is common. It becomes serious when it repeats despite undisturbed standby or with power/picture faults.

**How long is the long Pixel Refresher?**

About one hour after the usage threshold (classically ~2,000 h; some newer models sooner). Short cycles after ~4 h of use are much shorter.

**Can I unplug the TV when it is “off”?**

Not if you want refresh to finish — without mains power it will not complete and the message often returns. A short unplug to clear a hang is different from cutting power every night.

**Does a factory reset help?**

Sometimes for software corruption. It wipes settings/apps and does nothing for a bad PSU/mainboard. Do the soft checklist first.