What were screensavers originally for? (Bonus: We tell you how to check for screen burn-in)

If you grew up using a family computer, you’re likely to remember leaving it alone for a few minutes only to come back to bouncing logos, floating pipes or colourful shapes drifting across the screen.

Screensavers became an iconic part of computing in the 1990s and early 2000s, but interestingly enough, they weren’t created just to hypnotise you. Seriously.

Although technology has moved on, the problem they were designed to prevent hasn’t disappeared entirely. While modern LCD screens rarely suffer permanent damage from static images, OLED displays can still experience screen burn-in under certain conditions. Knowing how it happens, which displays are affected and how to check for it is particularly useful if you're buying or selling a smartphone.

Why were screensavers invented?

The original purpose of a screensaver was exactly what its name suggests: to save the screen. Older computers used CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors, which produced images by firing electron beams at a phosphor-coated screen. Every time the same area was illuminated, the phosphor degraded ever so slightly. If a static image remained on screen for long enough, whether it was a taskbar, company logo or document, those areas wore unevenly and left behind a permanent ghost image.

Screensavers solved the problem by constantly moving graphics around the display. Instead of one group of pixels doing all the work, the entire screen was used more evenly, dramatically reducing the risk of burn-in.

As LCD monitors became the standard, permanent burn-in became much less of a concern. Screensavers gradually shifted to something people used for decoration or nostalgia.

Can modern phones still get screen burn-in?

The answer depends entirely on the type of display. Most smartphones today use either LCD or OLED technology. While both display images, they do so in very different ways. LCD screens rely on a backlight shining through liquid crystals. Because the pixels themselves don’t generate light, they’re far less susceptible to permanent burn-in.

In some cases, an LCD panel may show temporary image retention after displaying the same content for an extended period. But this usually disappears after a while. OLED displays work differently. Every individual pixel creates its own light, allowing parts of the screen to switch off completely. That’s what gives OLED its deep blacks, exceptional contrast and vibrant colours. The downside is that every pixel gradually ages. If certain areas of the display spend hundreds or thousands of hours showing the samecontent, those pixels can wear faster than the surrounding ones. Over time, this difference in wear can become visible as a faint outline known as screen burn-in.

Which screen types can get burn-in?

Well, we made you a simple list:

Display technology	Risk of permanent burn-in
OLED	Yes
AMOLED	Yes
Super AMOLED	Yes
Dynamic AMOLED	Yes
LTPO OLED	Yes
P-OLED	Yes
IPS LCD	Extremely unlikely
TFT LCD	Extremely unlikely
Mini-LED	Extremely unlikely

If your phone uses any form of OLED technology, permanent burn-in is possible. Fortunately, modern smartphones include numerous features that minimise the risk, making it far less common than it was on older OLED devices.

LCD-based displays can occasionally develop temporary image retention, but unlike true burn-in, this generally disappears after the screen has displayed different content for a while.

How to check for OLED screen burn-in?

Checking for burn-in only takes a few moments and doesn’t require any specialist equipment. The easiest method is to display a completely white image across the entire screen at a reasonably high brightness. With the display filled by a single colour, any uneven pixel wear becomes much easier to spot. Look carefully for faint outlines that don’t belong there.

Another way is to display a solid grey image in full screen and take a photo of the screen. It can sometimes make faint outlines even more obvious, particularly those left by navigation bars, keyboards or frequently used apps. Just bear in mind that camera processing can exaggerate or reduce the effect, so it’s best used alongside a visual inspection rather than as proof on its own.

If nothing appears, repeat the test using solid blue, red and green images. Different colours highlight different levels of pixel wear and burn-in that isn't obvious on white may become easier to see on another colour. Many free OLED burn-in test images are available online, although you can also create your own by opening full-screen colour images.

Does screen burn-in mean the phone is faulty?

Hm… A small amount of burn-in is often only visible during testing. Many older OLED phones continue working perfectly despite showing faint signs of uneven pixel wear when viewed against a plain background.

If the ghost image is clearly visible during normal use, the display has likely reached the point where replacement is necessary.

Can OLED burn-in be fixed?

True OLED burn-in cannot be completely reversed because it’s caused by uneven ageing of the display’s pixels rather than software. However, people often mistake temporary image retention for burn-in.

Temporary retention usually fades after displaying different content for a while and is more commonly associated with LCD panels.

Many smartphone manufacturers also include built-in maintenance features such as Pixel Refresh, Pixel Cleaning or Pixel Optimisation. These tools help balance pixel wear over time and can reduce minor unevenness but cannot restore pixels that have permanently degraded.

How to reduce the risk of burn-in?

The good news is that modern smartphones already do much of the work for you. Most OLED devices subtly shift interface elements by a few pixels, automatically adjust brightness and run background maintenance routines to prolong the life of the display.

You can help further by avoiding maximum brightness for prolonged periods, enabling Dark Mode where possible, reducing screen timeout and not leaving static apps or navigation screens open for hours at a time.

Keeping your phone updated is worthwhile, too, because manufacturers frequently improve their display management through software updates.

So?

Screensavers may feel like a relic of another era but existed for a good reason. They protected older CRT monitors from permanent damage caused by static images remaining on screen for too long.

While today’s LCD displays have largely solved that problem, OLED technology has reintroduced the possibility of burn-in in a different form. The risk is much lower than it once was thanks to modern hardware and software protections, but it’s still good to know how to spot it, especially if you’re buying a refurbished or pre-owned smartphone.

A simple burn-in check using can reveal signs of uneven pixel wear in just a few minutes, giving you a better idea of the display’s condition before making a purchase and/or assessing your own device.