Temporary image retention or a stuck pixel?

You changed screens, but part of the old image still seems to be there. It might look like a faint toolbar, window, or logo, or like one colored dot that never moves. These can have different causes, so it helps to check before trying a pixel-fixing tool.

Temporary image retention is a lingering impression of earlier screen content. A stuck pixel is one tiny point that keeps showing the same color. The Stuck Pixel Fixer flashes colors quickly to try to free a stuck pixel, but it is not a treatment for image retention.

Check whether it is image retention or a stuck pixel

1. Open the Stuck Pixel Fixer, but do not start the flashing yet. First, check the display with ordinary screen content so you do not mistake a lingering image for a pixel fault.
2. Show a plain light gray or white screen, then a dark screen. Look for the mark from a normal viewing distance, and note whether it is a broad, faint shape or one sharply defined point.
3. Change to a different screen, such as a web page or desktop. If the mark resembles an old icon, menu, or window and is easiest to see on a plain background, it may be image retention.
4. Turn the display off for 30 minutes, then check it again on a plain background. If a single dot stays in exactly the same place and color, use the Stuck Pixel Fixer briefly and follow its timer. Stop if the flashing feels uncomfortable.

Check more than one background, because a mark can be easy to see on one color and nearly invisible on another. If you want a closer look at pixel defects, see how to tell a stuck pixel from a dead pixel.

What the result means

A faint shape fades or disappears

A ghost of a previous image that gets weaker after changing content or turning the display off is consistent with temporary image retention. It can happen after a bright, fixed image has stayed on screen for a while. Give the display more time with varied content, rather than running a rapid flashing pattern.

One tiny point stays the same color

A single red, green, blue, or bright white point that stays in the same place across different screens may be a stuck subpixel. A subpixel is one of the tiny red, green, and blue parts that combine to make a pixel. The Stuck Pixel Fixer may help a stuck pixel, but it cannot guarantee a repair.

One point stays black

A point that remains black can be a dead pixel or a subpixel that no longer lights. A flashing tool is unlikely to restore a dead pixel. For more examples, see the guide to checking a monitor for dead pixels.

The mark stays as a larger shape

If the outline of a menu, taskbar, or other fixed element remains visible after the display has been off and then used normally, it may be persistent image retention or permanent burn-in. Burn-in is lasting uneven wear, most often discussed with OLED displays. A test in a browser cannot tell you exactly which panel component is responsible.

How to reduce image retention

1. Let the display rest. Turn it off for at least 30 minutes, then check again. A temporary afterimage may take longer to fade, so do not treat a few minutes without change as proof of permanent damage.
2. Use varied content. Show normal moving or changing content at a comfortable brightness instead of leaving the same bright window or logo in place. This can help temporary retention fade, but it will not reverse permanent burn-in.
3. Lower the brightness. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display and adjust Brightness if the control is available. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays. On an iPhone, use Settings › Display & Brightness; on Android, look under Settings › Display. Lower brightness can reduce stress on a display, but it will not erase existing burn-in.
4. Use the display's normal sleep settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Power & battery › Screen and sleep. On macOS, open System Settings › Lock Screen and set a reasonable time for the display to turn off when inactive. On a phone, look under Settings › Display for the screen timeout or auto-lock option. These settings help avoid leaving a static image on for hours.
5. Use a panel refresh feature only as directed. Some OLED displays offer a built-in panel refresh or pixel refresh option. Check the display maker's instructions and do not run a refresh repeatedly just to test it. It is separate from the browser-based Stuck Pixel Fixer.
6. Try the flashing tool only for a likely stuck pixel. If one point remains fixed across backgrounds, the Stuck Pixel Fixer can rapidly change colors in that area. Use it for a short attempt, stop if you feel eye strain or discomfort, and do not leave flashing content running unattended.

When the display may need service

If a single point remains unchanged after a restart and checks on several backgrounds, it may be a pixel defect. If a larger ghost image stays visible after the display has rested and you have used varied content, it may be permanent burn-in or another panel problem. A browser test cannot repair a damaged screen or confirm the cause inside the panel.

Check the display's warranty and pixel-defect policy before paying for repair. If the mark is on a laptop or phone screen, contact the manufacturer or a repair shop. For a separate monitor, compare the cost of an authorized repair with replacement, especially if the defect is spreading or distracting during normal use.

Why the two problems can look alike

A bright icon or fixed toolbar can leave a faint shape that resembles a damaged group of pixels. Conversely, a stuck pixel may be easiest to notice on a plain background. The useful clue is how the mark behaves: image retention tends to echo part of earlier content and may fade, while a stuck or dead pixel stays at one tiny location.

Do not judge the screen from one screenshot or one background. Check it with a few colors, give it time to rest, and use flashing only when the mark behaves like a single stuck pixel.