How to use the burn-in test
Open the test on the screen you want to check. Use fullscreen mode, clean the glass or panel, and look at the same physical area of the display across gray, white, color, and moving test screens.
Clean the screen first.
Remove obvious dust, fingerprints, cleaning streaks, and glare before judging a faint shape.
Use fullscreen mode.
Browser chrome, TV menus, captions, and app overlays can hide edges or mimic a mark.
Start at normal brightness.
Then check again at the brightness where you usually notice the mark.
Look for fixed shapes.
Keyboard outlines, taskbars, navigation bars, logos, HUDs, status bars, and app layouts are more meaningful than random unevenness.
Compare more than one screen.
Use gray, white, color, and moving patterns before deciding what the pattern may be.
Save proof if the pattern repeats.
Take a photo if the same shape stays in the same physical screen area.
What gray, white, and color screens help reveal
Different test screens expose different problems. Check the pattern across multiple backgrounds before treating it as burn-in.
What each test screen helps reveal
| Test screen | Best for | What it may suggest | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray | Faint UI shadows, uneven aging, taskbar outlines, keyboard marks, and image retention. | A fixed shadow on gray can point toward retention, OLED/AMOLED uneven aging, or burn-in-like wear. | Gray also reveals normal uniformity differences, so compare against other screens. |
| White or light gray | Tint shifts, broad patches, darker ghost marks, and pressure-looking areas. | A visible static shape may be retained content or persistent wear. | Surface smudges and reflections can look worse on bright backgrounds. |
| Red, green, and blue | Color-channel unevenness and shapes that appear stronger in one color. | A retained mark may be easier to see in one channel than another. | A tiny colored dot is more likely a pixel issue than burn-in. |
| Black or dark screen | Edge glow, backlight bleed, bright pixels, and some uniformity issues. | Glow near edges usually points away from burn-in. | Black is not the best first screen for faint UI-shaped burn-in. |
| Moving pattern | Separating fixed panel marks from current content or app artifacts. | A real panel mark should stay fixed while the pattern moves underneath it. | Do not keep running tests once the pattern is clear. |
What the burn-in test can show
A browser burn-in test can help reveal persistent shadows, ghost images, uneven panel aging, static UI marks, and burn-in-like patterns on solid colors and contrast backgrounds. The strongest result is a repeatable shape that stays in the same physical screen area across more than one test screen.
What the burn-in test cannot confirm
A browser test cannot prove the exact cause of the pattern. It cannot decide whether the mark is permanent, whether a manufacturer will cover it, or whether the panel needs service. It also cannot repair burn-in, cracked glass, pressure damage, dead pixels, backlight bleed, or panel lines.
Use the result as visual evidence, not a final repair diagnosis.
What your screen pattern may be
| What you see | What it may be | Best test screen | What to do next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faint keyboard outline | Image retention, OLED/AMOLED uneven aging, or burn-in-like wear. | Gray or white | Retest after varied content or rest; document it if it persists. |
| Taskbar, navigation bar, or app bar shadow | Static UI retention or burn-in. | Gray or white | Compare after varied content, then document the fixed shape if it remains. |
| Logo or static icon shadow | Image retention or burn-in. | Gray, white, or color | Retest, then use manufacturer panel care if available and appropriate. |
| Ghost image from previous content | Temporary retention if it fades; burn-in if it persists. | Gray or white | Check whether it disappears after time, rest, or varied content. |
| Uneven patch visible on gray | Uneven aging, panel uniformity issue, or pressure mark. | Gray | Compare against normal content and other colors before deciding. |
| Screen looks normal on color screens but uneven on gray | Mild uniformity issue or early retained image. | Gray | Retest once; do not overcall it from one screen. |
| Tiny black or colored dot | Dead, stuck, hot, or bright pixel. | White, black, red, green, and blue | Run the Pixel Test instead of treating it as burn-in. |
| Bright or dark cloudy pressure mark | Pressure damage or panel damage. | White, gray, or normal content | Document it; do not expect a burn-in fixer to repair it. |
| Glow near edges or corners | Backlight bleed, IPS glow, or clouding. | Black or dark gray | Run the Backlight Bleed Test. |
| Thin vertical or horizontal line | Panel, cable, driver, or display-path issue. | Any solid color | Seek support if it persists outside one app or source. |
| Issue visible only in one app, browser, or video | App, overlay, stream, or source artifact. | Another app, browser, or source | Retest with a different source before calling it a screen defect. |
| Dust or smudge that moves when cleaned | Surface debris. | Bright screen | Clean again; do not treat it as burn-in. |
Burn-in, image retention, or another screen issue?
| Type | What it looks like | Can a fixer usually help? | Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burn-in | Persistent UI-shaped shadow, tint shift, or uneven wear pattern that stays in the same place. | Usually limited for severe or permanent cases. | Document the mark and check device support or warranty options. |
| Image retention | An afterimage that may fade after rest, varied content, or built-in panel care. | Sometimes, but there is no guarantee. | Retest after rest or varied content, then try mitigation only if the pattern fits. |
| OLED/AMOLED uneven aging | Areas used more heavily look slightly different, often around static UI. | Limited. | Document the pattern and reduce repeated static shapes when practical. |
| LCD image persistence | A temporary afterimage on some LCD screens. | Sometimes fades with rest or varied content. | Retest under the same settings before escalating. |
| Dead or stuck pixel | A tiny black, colored, bright, or white dot instead of a broad shape. | A burn-in fixer will not help. | Run the Pixel Test. |
| Backlight bleed or uniformity issue | Glow, haze, clouding, or brightness near edges and corners. | No. | Run the Backlight Bleed Test. |
| Pressure mark or physical damage | Cloudy patch, bruise, line, distorted area, or damage-shaped mark. | No. | Document it and compare support or repair options. |
| App, browser, or video artifact | Appears only in one app, stream, browser, video, or source. | No. | Retest with a different source. |
When to try the burn-in fixer
Try the burn-in fixer if the test shows a faint retained image, static UI shadow, or burn-in-like pattern and you want to attempt mitigation. It is more likely to help temporary image retention than severe permanent burn-in. Use the burn-in test first to identify and document the pattern, then use the fixer page only if the result fits a mitigation attempt.
When a burn-in fixer may not help
Do not expect a fixer to repair cracked glass, pressure damage, dead pixels, stuck pixels, backlight bleed, panel lines, or severe permanent burn-in. If the mark is a tiny dot, run a pixel test. If it is edge glow or clouding on a dark screen, run a backlight bleed test. If it looks like pressure damage, document it before service or resale.
Save proof before a return, warranty claim, resale, or trade-in
If the same mark repeats, document the issue for warranty or support before running repeated mitigation or changing settings permanently. Take photos on gray and normal content, note the brightness level, record whether the shape fades after rest or varied content, and write down the device model, display type, and the static element you suspect. That record can also help when you compare repair and replacement options, sell the device, or trade it in.
Sources checked
We checked official display, device, and manufacturer support pages to keep the testing notes aligned with current public guidance.
- Apple Support: Super Retina and Super Retina XDR displays · Apple SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports OLED image persistence and burn-in behavior context for iPhone displays.
- LG Support: Run Pixel Cleaning to remove screen burn-ins · LG SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports OLED burn-in, pixel-cleaning, picture-test, and service handoff language.
- Samsung Support: OLED monitor burn-in prevention · Samsung SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports OLED monitor Screen Optimization and Pixel Refresh context.
- Samsung Support: OLED TV image retention troubleshooting · Samsung SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports static logo, UI, and image-retention examples for OLED TVs.
- Sony Support: Avoiding image retention on OLED TVs · Sony SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports static-content risk and OLED care notes.
- Sony Support: Panel refresh guidance · Sony SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports using manufacturer panel-care instructions instead of generic repair steps.
- Dell Support: OLED image retention or burn-in on Alienware monitors · Dell SupportChecked June 3, 2026. Supports OLED monitor-specific image retention and burn-in context.
- RTINGS: Temporary image retention testing · RTINGS.comChecked June 3, 2026. Secondary testing reference for temporary image retention, not a manufacturer source.
Burn-In Test FAQ
What is a burn-in test?
A burn-in test shows solid colors and contrast screens so you can look for fixed shadows, ghost images, static UI marks, and uneven display aging. It helps reveal a visible pattern, but it cannot prove the exact cause or warranty status.
What screen color is best for seeing burn-in?
Gray is usually the most useful first check because faint shadows and uneven aging often stand out on neutral backgrounds. White and light gray can reveal tint shifts or broader patches, while black is better for edge glow and bright pixel issues.
Is burn-in the same as image retention?
No. Image retention is usually temporary and may fade after rest, varied content, or built-in panel care. Burn-in is more persistent and may be difficult or impossible to reverse.
Can image retention go away?
Sometimes. It may fade after normal varied use, rest, or manufacturer panel-care features. If the same shape remains after repeated checks, document it before trying more mitigation.
Can OLED burn-in be fixed?
Severe permanent burn-in is not reliably reversible with software. Some faint burn-in-like shadows or temporary image retention may improve, but there is no guarantee.
Should I use the burn-in fixer?
Use it only if the pattern looks like temporary image retention or a mild burn-in-like shadow and you want to attempt mitigation. Do not use it expecting repair of cracks, pressure damage, dead pixels, backlight bleed, display lines, or severe permanent burn-in.
Does a gray screen show burn-in better?
Often, yes. Gray screens make small brightness and color differences easier to see, especially on OLED and AMOLED displays. Check more than one gray level before deciding.
Is a dead pixel the same as burn-in?
No. A dead or stuck pixel is usually a tiny dot. Burn-in is usually a broader fixed shape, such as a keyboard, taskbar, navigation bar, logo, or game HUD.
Is backlight bleed the same as burn-in?
No. Backlight bleed or IPS glow usually appears as brightness near edges or corners on dark screens. Burn-in usually follows the shape of static content.
Can a browser burn-in test prove warranty coverage?
No. Manufacturer policies vary by product, display type, region, warranty, defect pattern, and service inspection. Use the browser result as evidence to document what you see.
How should I document burn-in before support or trade-in?
Take photos on gray and normal content, note the brightness level, record the device model, and write down whether the mark fades after rest or varied content. Keep the evidence before running repeated mitigation.
Should I run built-in pixel refresh or panel refresh?
Use built-in panel-care features only according to the device maker’s instructions. Some manufacturers warn against running certain refresh tools too often.