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First determine whether you are seeing temporary image retention or persistent burn-in. Change to several different full-screen images and allow the panel to run its own maintenance cycle. A ghost that fades quickly is usually retention; a mark that remains over other content for a long time is more consistent with burn-in. Do not repeatedly display test patterns or leave the panel running while you troubleshoot.
Image retention and burn-in are not the same problem
OLED pixels emit their own light. Repeatedly driving some pixels harder than neighboring pixels can eventually make their brightness age unevenly. That uneven wear is commonly called burn-in. A temporary afterimage, often called image retention, can look similar immediately after a bright or static scene but normally fades after the content changes.
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Use persistence as a clue, not a diagnosis
- Temporary retention: A logo, menu, or other ghost remains briefly after you switch scenes and fades after a moment or two.
- Possible burn-in: The outline remains while you play varied content and is visible regardless of what is shown.
These descriptions come from manufacturer guidance and cannot conclusively diagnose a panel remotely. A faint mark observed once may disappear with normal use; a mark that is consistently visible across inputs deserves the panel-care and support steps below.
Check whether the source, not the panel, is at fault
Lines, blocks, or spots are not automatically burn-in. Before starting a cleaning cycle, isolate the symptom:
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- Switch to a built-in TV app or another known-good source.
- Try a different HDMI cable and input if the problem appears through an external device.
- Check whether the same artifact appears on another channel or streaming service.
- Confirm the internet connection when the problem is confined to one streaming service.
- Display a plain, moving video or the television’s own settings screen. If the defect appears only on one input, channel, or device, troubleshoot that source first.
LG’s troubleshooting guidance specifically recommends checking HDMI connections, external equipment, the internet connection, and the channel or service before treating lines or spots as panel damage.
What to do immediately
1. Stop the static exposure
Close paused games, fixed menus, channel guides, desktop windows, and other unchanging graphics. Do not leave a television or monitor displaying a logo, news ticker, taskbar, or bright application interface for hours. Vivid picture modes and very high brightness increase the practical risk of uneven wear, according to manufacturer guidance.
2. Show varied content
Play normal mixed content at a comfortable brightness and look for the mark on several scenes. Avoid trying to “scrub” the display with a bright solid-color video for an extended period. A short observation helps distinguish a fading afterimage from a persistent mark; prolonged test patterns add more static exposure.
3. Let automatic maintenance run
Turn the display off with its normal power control and leave it connected to mains power. Many OLED televisions and monitors perform a short maintenance routine only when the panel is off. Disconnecting the plug can interrupt that process; Samsung specifically warns that its monitor optimization stops if power is removed, and LG instructs TV owners to leave the television plugged in.
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Run the panel-care feature for your exact model
Manufacturers use different names for similar maintenance functions: Pixel Cleaning, Pixel Refresher, Pixel Refresh, Image Cleaning, Screen Optimization, Screen Care, or Image Retention Refresh. Menu labels and availability vary by model and software version, so use the path shown for your display rather than a procedure copied from a different generation.
| Display and feature | How it runs | Timing or requirement stated by the maker | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported LG OLED TVs: Pixel Cleaning/Pixel Refresher | The TV performs light maintenance automatically after cumulative viewing. A manual option is available in the picture or OLED-care settings on supported models. | LG describes a longer calibration after 2,000 cumulative hours. A manual cycle takes more than an hour. | Keep the TV plugged in. The manual cycle stops if the TV is turned on. Do not apply the 2,000-hour figure to another model without checking its manual. |
| Samsung OLED TVs: Pixel Refresh | Home/Menu > Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Panel Care > Pixel Refresh. Choose to start immediately or after the TV is turned off. | Exact duration depends on the model and mode. | Use Samsung’s instructions for your model and contact service if the mark remains. |
| Samsung OLED monitors: Screen Optimization | An automatic routine starts while the monitor is off. | It becomes available after at least four cumulative hours of use. | Leave the monitor connected to power; disconnecting it interrupts the process. |
| Samsung OLED monitors: Pixel Refresh | A separate manual function on supported monitors. | Not available on every model; the display may turn off for more than an hour. | Do not assume the option exists or has the same duration on another monitor. |
| LG OLED monitors: OLED Care > Image Cleaning | Use the monitor joystick or included remote to open OLED Care and select Image Cleaning. | Automatic cleaning also runs when the monitor enters power-saving mode or shuts down after more than four hours since the previous cleaning. | A service fee may apply when the monitor is out of warranty. |
LG OLED TV procedure
On supported models, open the OLED-care or panel-care controls and choose Pixel Cleaning or Pixel Refresher. The television may schedule the process for the next power-off or offer a Start Now command. LG says a light maintenance cycle runs automatically after cumulative viewing, while a longer calibration is associated with 2,000 cumulative hours. The manual process takes more than an hour, so start it when you will not need the TV and leave it connected to power.
LG USA Support, in “LG TV – Troubleshooting Image Burn-In” dated June 26, 2026, states: “If you notice any image retention or burn-in on your screen, you can also manually run the Pixel Refresher from your TV settings.”
Samsung OLED TV procedure
Use Home/Menu > Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Panel Care > Pixel Refresh. Depending on the model, you can start the routine immediately or have it begin when the TV is turned off. Keep the set connected to power and do not interrupt the process. If the mark is still visible afterward, Samsung directs owners to contact service.
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Samsung OLED monitor procedure
Screen Optimization is an automatic routine that runs while the monitor is off after at least four cumulative hours of use. A separate Pixel Refresh command exists on some, but not all, models and can turn the display off for more than an hour. Check the monitor’s on-screen display for the exact option; never substitute a Pixel Refresh procedure from another model.
LG OLED monitor procedure
Operate the joystick or supplied remote, open OLED Care, and select Image Cleaning. LG says the monitor also cleans automatically when it shuts down or enters power-saving mode after more than four hours since the prior cleaning. Keep the monitor connected during maintenance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Prevent further uneven wear
Maintenance can sometimes clear temporary retention, but it cannot guarantee reversal of established pixel wear. Prevention is therefore as important as the first cleaning cycle.
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- Enable pixel shifting: This subtly moves the image so the same pixels are not driven identically all day.
- Turn on logo dimming: Supported TVs can reduce the brightness of persistent channel logos and other detected graphics.
- Use a screen saver and automatic display-off: Set the shortest delay that fits your work or viewing habits.
- Hide a desktop taskbar: Auto-hide it when practical, especially on a monitor used for long static work sessions.
- Vary content: Alternate games, applications, video, and full-screen material instead of leaving one interface fixed.
- Reduce brightness when comfortable: Avoid running vivid mode or maximum brightness continuously. Acer also recommends dark mode where practical and varying what is displayed.
- Pause safely: Turn the panel off rather than leaving a paused game, guide, photo, or menu on screen.
These measures reduce future risk; they are not a guaranteed cure for a mark that remains after the model’s recommended maintenance.
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When a persistent mark needs service
Contact the manufacturer or an authorized repair provider if the mark remains across varied content after the exact model’s panel-care procedure, or if you see lines, spots, or other defects on every input. Provide:
- Full model number and panel size.
- Purchase date and country or region.
- A description of when the mark appears and whether it changes with different content.
- The inputs, cables, and sources you tested.
- The panel-care feature you ran and when you ran it.
- Clear photographs showing the defect on more than one type of content.
Do not assume burn-in is covered by a general warranty. Coverage depends on the model, region, warranty version, and the manufacturer’s policy. Acer currently states that burn-in damage on its OLED monitors is covered for three years, but that is a brand- and product-specific policy and cannot be applied to another maker’s television or monitor. Ask support to confirm coverage before authorizing paid work; an out-of-warranty LG monitor repair, for example, may incur a service fee.
What not to use
There is no generally established accessory, screen cleaner, generic “burn-in fix” application, or test-image routine that replaces the panel-care function built into the display. Do not press on the panel, apply household chemicals, open the chassis, or repeatedly run unapproved flashing patterns. Those actions can create physical or electrical damage and may complicate a warranty claim.
A practical decision path
- Fades quickly after changing content: Treat it as likely temporary retention, stop the static exposure, and allow normal automatic maintenance.
- Appears only on one source: Check the HDMI connection, external device, network, channel, or streaming service before blaming the OLED panel.
- Persists across sources: Run only the Pixel Cleaning, Pixel Refresh, Image Cleaning, or Screen Optimization procedure listed for your exact model.
- Still visible after the cycle: Document the symptom and contact the manufacturer or an authorized technician.
- Considering replacement: Ask for a panel-level diagnosis and warranty decision first; a replacement panel can be a major repair and is not automatically justified by a brief afterimage.
Bottom line
A fading ghost is usually temporary image retention, while a mark that remains across varied content is more consistent with burn-in. Rule out the source, stop static exposure, let the display complete its own maintenance while off and connected to power, and use only the procedure documented for your model. If the mark survives that process, seek manufacturer or authorized service and verify the exact warranty policy rather than assuming coverage.
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