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Does Your Screen Have Burn-In or Image Retention?

Display specially designed test patterns to detect permanent burn-in on OLED screens or temporary image retention on LCD panels. Identify ghost images from taskbars, logos, and other static UI elements.

Reveals screen burn-in (permanent pixel degradation) and image retention (temporary ghost images) by displaying uniform color fields and specific test patterns designed to make faint artifacts visible against a consistent background.

OLED burn-in is caused by uneven organic compound degradation — blue sub-pixels degrade 2-3x faster than red or green, which is why burn-in often has a yellowish or pinkish tint where static content was displayed.

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Burn-in Test

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What Do Your Results Mean?

Result Range Meaning
Good Solid color fills appear perfectly uniform with no faint outlines or shadows Your display shows no signs of burn-in or image retention. The panel is in good condition with even pixel wear across the entire screen.
Warning Faint outlines visible on gray fills that disappear after a few minutes Temporary image retention is present. This is common on LCD and newer OLED displays and typically resolves on its own. Run varied content for a few hours or use a pixel refresher tool if your display has one.
Poor Persistent ghost images, discolored areas, or visible UI element shadows on solid fills Permanent burn-in has occurred. On OLED displays, this means the organic compounds have degraded unevenly. This cannot be fully reversed but can be minimized by reducing brightness on affected areas and using burn-in mitigation features.

Common Issues & Solutions

Faint taskbar or navigation bar outline visible on solid gray

This is the most common burn-in pattern caused by static UI elements. On OLED TVs, run the built-in pixel refresher (usually in Settings > Display > Panel Care). On monitors, display varied full-screen content for several hours. If it persists, it is likely permanent burn-in.

News channel logo or scoreboard permanently visible on the display

Persistent static content is the primary cause of OLED burn-in. Reduce brightness to slow further degradation. Enable auto-brightness and pixel shift features if available. For future prevention, avoid displaying static content at high brightness for extended periods.

Entire screen has a slight color tint compared to when it was new

Uniform color shift across the entire panel is usually backlight aging (LCD) or overall OLED degradation, not burn-in. This is normal wear. On OLED, the blue sub-pixels degrade faster, causing a slight warm shift over time. Recalibrating the display can partially compensate.

Image retention appears but goes away after switching to different content

Temporary image retention is not burn-in — it is a normal characteristic of LCD panels (especially VA type) and newer OLED displays. It resolves within minutes to hours. If concerned, run a full-screen color cycling pattern for 10-15 minutes to clear the retention faster.

Related Tools

Dead Pixel Test

Scan your monitor for dead or stuck pixels

Stuck Pixel Fixer

Attempt to fix stuck pixels with rapid color cycling

Screen Uniformity Test

Detect brightness uniformity issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between burn-in and image retention?

Burn-in is permanent pixel degradation where static content has caused uneven wear on the display panel — the affected pixels physically produce different brightness or color than surrounding ones. Image retention is a temporary effect where a ghost image lingers for seconds to hours but eventually fades. LCD panels experience retention; OLED panels can experience both retention and permanent burn-in.

How do I check for burn-in on my OLED TV or monitor?

Display solid color fills in fullscreen — gray at 50% brightness is most effective for revealing burn-in, as it makes both lighter and darker artifacts visible. Slowly cycle through gray, white, red, green, and blue. Look for faint outlines of frequently displayed content like taskbars, channel logos, or game HUD elements. Test in a dimly lit room for best visibility.

Can screen burn-in be fixed or reversed?

Temporary image retention can be cleared by displaying varied content or using the built-in pixel refresher on OLED TVs. True burn-in on OLED displays is permanent physical degradation and cannot be fully reversed. Some mitigation strategies include reducing overall brightness, using pixel shift features, and displaying uniform white content to even out remaining pixel wear — but these only reduce visibility, not repair the damage.

How can I prevent screen burn-in on OLED displays?

Enable auto-brightness to reduce intensity during static content. Turn on pixel shift, which moves the image by a few pixels periodically. Avoid displaying static UI elements (taskbars, logos, HUD) at full brightness for extended periods. Use screen savers or auto-off timers. Most modern OLED TVs include built-in burn-in prevention features — keep them enabled. Vary your content regularly to ensure even pixel wear.