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Why LEDs Glow When They're Off

Quick answer: A tiny leakage current can make an LED glow with the switch off. It is usually the switch or the wiring, not a failed lamp.

LEDs light on very little current, so a trickle that an old bulb ignored shows up as a faint glow after the switch is off. That glow is called ghosting.

Usual sources: a smart switch or dimmer with no neutral, powering itself through the lamp; a lighted locator switch; or voltage induced where a long run sits beside live conductors. Practical fixes are a switch that uses a neutral, the bypass the switch maker specifies, a plain unlit switch, or a lamp that maker lists as compatible.

If the switch is landed on the neutral instead of the hot, the fixture stays energized when it looks off. That is a shock hazard. Turn the breaker off and call a licensed electrician.

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Safety note: Content is general education, not professional advice. Always turn off power at the breaker before working on any fixture or device. Line-voltage work should be done by a licensed electrician and must follow local codes.