How to check a screen for burn-in or image retention

To check a screen for burn-in, show a plain grey or white full-screen colour at a comfortable high brightness, in a dim room, and look for a faint shape that matches a static item such as a taskbar, a status bar or a logo. On an OLED screen that ghost is burn-in, which is generally permanent. On an LCD it is usually image retention, which fades once the content changes.

Dead pixel testSpot on my new screen?Do it free

Burn-in and image retention are different problems

Both leave a ghost of something that stayed on screen for a long time, and the test is the same for both. The cause and the outcome differ.

• OLED burn-in. Each pixel in an OLED panel is its own light source, and it dims as it ages. A pixel that shows the same bright element for hours wears faster than its neighbours. The result is a patch of uneven brightness that matches the static element, and it is generally permanent.
• LCD image retention. An LCD lights the screen from behind with a backlight, and a static image held for a long time can leave a faint ghost in the liquid crystal layer. It usually fades once the screen shows changing content, so it is a temporary effect.

If you do not know which kind of screen you have, the model's specification page or the seller's listing says whether it is OLED or LCD. The answer changes what a ghost means.

Before you start: check the resolution

The screen resolution tool reports the size and pixel ratio the browser sees. Open it first, so you know the test will cover the whole panel. It does not detect burn-in or the panel type, so its figures are only a sanity check.

How to run the test

1. Clean the screen with a dry microfibre cloth. Dust and smears can look like a ghost.
2. Turn the brightness up to a comfortable high level. A faint ghost is easier to see on a bright, plain field.
3. Open the dead pixel test and press Start full-screen test. Allow full screen if the browser asks.
4. Move through the colours with a click, Space, Enter or the right arrow. The second screen is white, the sixth is a mid grey and the seventh a dark grey; the step and colour name show in the corner for a moment. Look at each for a minute or so, from normal distance and from a slight angle.
5. Press Esc or Close when you finish.

Black is the weakest colour for this check. On an OLED a dimmed pixel is hard to see against black, so the white and grey screens matter more than the black one. Keep the test short, because static content adds to wear on an OLED and the test should not add to it.

To see whether a ghost is image retention, show a still bright page for a few minutes on a screen you are allowed to test, then change to content that moves across the whole screen, such as a full-screen video. A retention ghost usually fades once the content changes. Burn-in does not fade this way, so if the ghost stays, treat it as burn-in.

What you are looking for

What you see	Likely cause
A faint, steady shape that matches a taskbar, dock, menu bar, status bar or logo	Burn-in on OLED, or image retention on LCD
A ghost that fades once the screen shows changing content	Image retention
A ghost that stays after a long run of changing content	Burn-in on OLED, most likely
A single point that keeps one colour, or stays dark on every colour	A stuck or dead pixel
A smudge that moves or disappears when you wipe the screen	Dirt or fingerprints
A brighter band near one edge, with no shape	Backlight bleed on an LCD

Ghost, dirt or stuck pixel?

• Dirt moves when you wipe the screen. Wipe with a dry cloth and look again before you note anything.
• A stuck or dead pixel is one point that keeps its position on every colour. The dead pixel check covers those in more detail.
• Burn-in is an area or shape that matches something that stayed on screen. It is faint, shows best on grey and white, and does not move when you wipe the screen.

A single point points to a pixel fault. A shape that matches your interface points to wear or retention.

What helps, and what does not

These steps lower the risk of a ghost forming, but none of them is a repair:

• Vary the content. Change the wallpaper, and avoid a static bright image on the screen for hours.
• Hide static items. An auto-hide taskbar or dock, and a hidden status bar where your device allows it, stop elements sitting in the same place.
• Lower the brightness of static items. A dimmer static interface wears the panel less than a bright one.
• Use the screen's own protection. Many OLED TVs and monitors offer pixel shift, a screen saver, logo dimming and automatic screen-off. Turn on the ones your screen has.
• Use dark interfaces where you can. An OLED shows less light with a dark interface, so the panel does less work. That reduces wear and does not stop it.

Some panels also run a built-in refresh or compensation cycle. Follow the maker's documentation for it, and do not expect it to undo burn-in that you can already see.

Be wary of paid tools and fast-flashing videos that promise to erase burn-in. No method is established to reverse it, and flashing can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. The colour checks above use still colours for that reason.

Checking a used screen before you buy

Burn-in is one of the faults to check in person, before you pay. Testing a used phone or tablet before you buy includes the same grey and white check for phones. Warranty and return cover for burn-in varies by seller and by maker, so ask for the terms in writing before you pay. On a laptop, the used laptop checklist covers the screen with the rest of the machine.

Frequently asked questions

Does burn-in go away?

Burn-in on an OLED is generally permanent. Image retention on an LCD usually fades once the content changes. A ghost that fades after changing content was retention. One that stays after a long run of changing content was probably burn-in.

Can I see burn-in on a black screen?

Less well. A dimmed pixel is hard to see against black, so use the grey and white screens for the check.

Is burn-in the same as a stuck pixel?

No. A stuck pixel is one point that keeps one colour. Burn-in is a shape that matches something that stayed on screen for a long time.

Why can I see a ghost on some days and not others?

Ghosts are easier to see on a plain field at high brightness and in a dim room, and they can disappear in bright light or on busy content. Run the check at the brightness and in the light you use every day, then again at full brightness.