A faint outline from a previous image can be temporary image retention. Burn-in describes a lasting change in the panel that leaves a persistent remnant. The useful first step is to record what remains and how it behaves after the content changes.
What the two terms mean
Temporary image retention fades with subsequent use or the care process specified for the display. Burn-in refers to persistent wear, often associated with static elements such as a logo or status bar. Roku’s OLED guidance distinguishes temporary ghost images from uneven wear. Manufacturers sometimes use overlapping terms, so describe the mark as well as naming it.
To assess whether a mark persists, compare dated observations under the same conditions and follow the model’s guidance. A broad patch that does not resemble earlier content may need a different uniformity check; a light area near an LCD’s edge belongs in the glow and backlight-bleed comparison.
Check the shape without leaving a pattern running
- Describe what came before. Note the logo, menu or application you had been viewing, approximately how long it was present and when you first noticed the remnant.
- Compare a few still fields. Open screen inspection and select the retained-shape task, or choose gray and color fields yourself. Use comfortable brightness. View each only as long as needed to locate the shape.
- Record location and visibility. Note whether the outline stays in the same place and which backgrounds reveal it. Hide controls before comparing their former position with the mark.
- Change to ordinary varied content. Follow the display maker’s instructions for normal use, standby and panel care. Avoid deliberately holding a bright test image on screen to provoke or treat a mark.
- Recheck and date the observation. Use the same pattern, brightness and lighting. Record whether the shape faded, changed or remained. Keep separate reports if you want a before-and-after record.
The time and care routine for a follow-up depend on the display model. If the mark remains visible in everyday content, ask the manufacturer which check to perform.
A screenshot and a camera answer different questions
Take a screenshot and open the file on another display. If the outline is visible in that file too, the content or rendering path needs investigation. Use a photograph to document the panel’s physical appearance as a separate record.
Photograph a visible physical mark from the same position with consistent lighting and camera exposure. Keep the uncropped original and note the pattern and settings. If your monitor has a built-in diagnostic, use it only as described in its manual and record whether the mark appears there too.
Use the care routine for your exact model
Built-in pixel shift, short compensation cycles and manual panel refresh are different features. Run built-in maintenance through the display’s own controls as its manual directs. Sony’s OLED help guide, for example, restricts manual panel refresh on the models it covers and warns that excessive use can affect panel life. Follow your own model’s instructions rather than borrowing another display’s schedule.
Keep the maker’s protection features at their recommended settings, let instructed maintenance complete and avoid long periods of unchanged bright content. If the mark persists, use the documentation checklist to contact the seller or manufacturer. Ask what evidence they need and what the applicable policy covers.
Manufacturer sources checked 5 November 2026. Keep dated inspection reports to compare the patterns checked and the changes you observed.