# does holding a magnet to your computer screen damage it

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 11, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896 "2004-01-11T00:56:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896/1 "2004-01-11T00:56:07Z")

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or anything like that? i just noticed that a magnetic screwdriver causes the surrounding area to go black, dont know if i damaged it by doing that. i dont notice any damage.

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**Author:** ![Danton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/47e85d/32.png) [@Danton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danton)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896/2 "2004-01-11T01:01:32Z")

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An old monitor of mine has permanently become discolored on one side because of a magnet.

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**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896/3 "2004-01-11T01:20:51Z")

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Same thing happens with TV’s…

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896/4 "2004-01-11T01:31:59Z")

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Most monitors have a “degauss” selection in their function menu that will correct any anomalies from a magnet.

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**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-holding-a-magnet-to-your-computer-screen-damage-it/223896/5 "2004-01-11T01:51:05Z")

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**Wesley Clark** , monitors work (highly simplified) by using a magnetic field to determine the path of beams of electrons. Basically a “gun” fires for red, green and blue.

The magnetic field of your screwdriver distorts the monitor’s own magnetic field causing blurriness, fuzziness, colour washouts etc. You’ll see the same results from sitting speakers next to the monitor, or AC/DC adapters. It’s usually temporary, unless subjected to a very strong magnetic field.

As **Fear Itself** said, most modern monitors have a degauss function that can correct any distortions that remain. This basically just whacks the entire monitor with a big magnetic field, kinda “resetting” it. Those monitors that don’t have a degauss function can usually be fixed up through judicious use of a degaussing wand. Most TV repair shops will have one of these.

Hope this helps,  
Max.