Burn-in on an LG OLED TV shows up as faint ghost images stuck on screen, usually from news channel logos, gaming HUDs, or taskbars left static for too long. I tested every built-in LG tool across a 2022 C2, 2023 C3, and 2024 G4 to find what actually removes those ghostly shadows. Most cases clear up with LG’s own Pixel Cleaning feature, but you’ll need the right settings and timing.
- Pixel Cleaning (called Pixel Refresher on pre-2022 models) runs for about one hour and fixes mild to moderate image retention
- Screen Shift moves the entire image by a few pixels every few minutes, preventing static logos from etching into OLED subpixels
- Logo Luminance Adjustment detects static bright logos and dims them automatically, reducing burn-in risk by up to 30%
- LG’s tandem WOLED panels on 2025-2026 G5 and G6 models reach 4,500 nits with significantly improved burn-in resistance
- Rtings’ long-term burn-in test found that OLED burn-in risk drops substantially after the first 2,000 hours of varied content viewing
#Root Causes of OLED Burn-In on LG TVs
Burn-in happens when OLED organic compounds degrade unevenly across the panel. LG uses a WRGB subpixel structure (white, red, green, blue) in its OLED panels, and each subpixel has a finite lifespan that shortens with prolonged high-brightness output. Static content accelerates degradation in specific areas.
Three scenarios create the highest risk.
News channel logos and tickers. A bright CNN or Fox News logo parked in the same corner for 6+ hours daily will leave a visible ghost within months. The white and red subpixels in that region degrade faster than the surrounding area, and scrolling tickers create horizontal line retention along the bottom 10% of the panel.
Gaming HUDs. Health bars, minimaps, and score counters sit in fixed positions. After streaming on my C3 for roughly 400 hours of mixed gaming, I noticed faint minimap retention that took two Pixel Cleaning cycles to clear.
Computer desktop use. Taskbars and browser bookmark bars are the worst offenders, especially if your LG TV is also lagging.
How do you tell the difference? Retention fades on its own after a few hours of varied content. True burn-in stays permanently regardless of what you display, and no amount of color cycling or screen wiping will remove it once the organic compounds are physically damaged.
#How Do You Run Pixel Cleaning on an LG TV?
LG renamed Pixel Refresher to Pixel Cleaning starting with 2022 webOS models (C2, G2, and newer). The feature compensates for uneven subpixel wear by adjusting voltage across the panel. Two modes exist.
Automatic Pixel Cleaning runs every 2,000 hours of cumulative use, takes about 10 minutes, and triggers when you turn the TV off. You don’t need to enable it. LG’s OLED care support page confirms that this runs automatically on all LG OLED models since 2018.
Manual Pixel Cleaning is for visible retention. Here’s the exact path:
- Press the Settings button on your LG remote (gear icon).
- Go to OLED Care > OLED Panel Care > Pixel Cleaning.
- Select Start Now and confirm.
- The TV screen turns off. Don’t unplug it.
- Wait approximately one hour for the process to finish.
On pre-2022 models (CX, C1, GX, G1), the path is different: Settings > Picture > OLED Panel Care > Pixel Refresher. If the menu isn’t showing up, your TV may need a Wi-Fi connection restored.
Don't run manual Pixel Cleaning more than once per month. Each cycle slightly reduces overall panel lifespan by applying compensating voltage. LG's own documentation recommends using it only when you see visible retention.
I tested Pixel Cleaning across two LG models. On my C3, faint gaming HUD retention from about 400 hours of use cleared completely after one cycle. On the G4, I ran it against moderate news ticker retention from roughly three weeks of CNN viewing at 6+ hours daily, and the ticker ghost vanished entirely within 58 minutes.
#Screen Shift: Your First Line of Defense
Screen Shift is LG’s simplest burn-in prevention tool, and it’s on by default on every LG OLED since 2018. The feature moves the entire displayed image by 1-2 pixels in random directions every few minutes. You won’t notice the movement.
To verify it’s active:
- Go to Settings > OLED Care > OLED Panel Care.
- Check that Screen Shift is set to On.
Screen Shift won’t fix existing burn-in. It prevents new damage because no single set of subpixels stays fully lit in the same position for long. According to rtings.com’s OLED burn-in test, TVs with Screen Shift enabled showed measurably less logo retention after 10,000 hours compared to those without it.
Screen Shift alone isn’t enough for PC monitor use. You’ll also want to hide the Windows taskbar, use a dark wallpaper, and set a screen saver to activate after 2 minutes of inactivity.
#Logo Luminance Adjustment Settings
Logo Luminance Adjustment (called Adjust Logo Brightness on some models) detects static bright elements on screen and dims them automatically to protect the OLED subpixels underneath.
Enable it at Settings > OLED Care > OLED Panel Care > Logo Luminance Adjustment and set it to High.
- Low: Subtle dimming, barely noticeable.
- High: Aggressive dimming that can reduce logo brightness by up to 30%.
- Off: No protection. Don’t choose this unless you’re doing color-critical work.
I left Logo Luminance on High during a 3-week test on my G4 while watching CNN, ESPN, and YouTube. The CNN logo area showed zero retention. The same viewing pattern on a second LG B3 with the feature off produced faint logo retention after just two weeks.
#Complete OLED Care Settings for Maximum Protection
LG groups all its burn-in tools under the OLED Care menu. Here’s the full protection stack I recommend after testing across three LG models:
| Setting | Path | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Shift | OLED Care > OLED Panel Care | On | Moves pixels to prevent static wear |
| Logo Luminance Adjustment | OLED Care > OLED Panel Care | High | Dims static logos automatically |
| Pixel Cleaning (Auto) | Runs automatically | Leave default | Compensates every 2,000 hours |
| Screen Saver | OLED Care > Screen Saver | After 2 min | Activates when no input detected |
| Energy Saving | Settings > Picture | Auto | Reduces peak brightness slightly |
Screen Saver is often overlooked. On webOS 23 (C3, G3) and newer, LG’s built-in screen saver activates after a user-defined idle period. Set it to 2 minutes if you use the TV as a PC monitor, or 5 minutes for general viewing.
#Permanent Burn-In: Signs and Warranty Options
Not all burn-in reverses with Pixel Cleaning. Some damage is permanent.
This happens when organic compounds physically degrade past the point where voltage compensation can correct the brightness difference. Here’s how to tell:
- Ghost images remain visible after two full Pixel Cleaning cycles run on separate days.
- The retention appears on solid gray or white test screens (search “OLED burn-in test” on YouTube and display a full-screen gray image).
- Affected areas show color tinting, meaning the RGB subpixels degraded at different rates.
If your LG OLED has permanent burn-in, check your warranty. LG’s standard coverage is one year for panel defects, but extended OLED panel warranties in some regions cover burn-in for up to 5 years on select models. Contact LG support with photos of the burn-in displayed on a gray test screen.
Panel replacement costs $800-$2,500 depending on size. Buying a newer model with better burn-in resistance usually makes more sense.
#Do 2025 LG OLED TVs Still Get Burn-In?
LG’s 2025 lineup uses tandem WOLED technology. According to LG’s official announcement, the G5, M5, and C5 all feature META Technology 3.0 panels that reach 4,500 nits peak brightness while reducing burn-in risk compared to every previous LG OLED generation.
How does tandem WOLED help? It stacks two OLED emission layers so each runs at lower individual stress while producing combined higher brightness. Lower stress per layer means slower organic compound degradation over the TV’s lifespan.
LG’s OLED.EX technology on 2023+ models adds another layer of protection. It runs automatic compensation every 500 hours instead of the standard 2,000-hour interval, and rtings.com’s ongoing burn-in test found that their 2023 C3 test units showed substantially less retention at the 10,000-hour mark compared to the 2020 CX at the same point in testing.
Burn-in hasn’t vanished on 2025 models. But if you watch varied content and avoid leaving static images up for hours daily, it’s unlikely to appear within the TV’s expected 7-10 year lifespan.
#Bottom Line
Mild burn-in on your LG OLED TV is fixable. Run Pixel Cleaning from Settings > OLED Care > OLED Panel Care and wait one hour. Keep Screen Shift on, set Logo Luminance Adjustment to High, and activate the screen saver for idle periods.
If the retention persists after two Pixel Cleaning cycles, it’s likely permanent. Check your warranty status with LG support.
Buying a new LG OLED? The 2025 G5 and C5 with tandem WOLED panels offer the strongest burn-in resistance LG has ever shipped.
For existing owners dealing with LG TV flickering or a complete LG TV black screen, those are separate hardware issues with different fixes. Need a full system reset? Check our guide on how to factory reset an LG TV.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#How long does Pixel Cleaning take on an LG TV?
Manual Pixel Cleaning takes about one hour with the screen off. Don’t unplug the TV during the process. Automatic Pixel Cleaning triggers every 2,000 hours and completes in about 10 minutes.
#Can you fix OLED burn-in without Pixel Cleaning?
Displaying a full-white screen at moderate brightness for 30-60 minutes can reduce very mild image retention. YouTube has several “OLED burn-in fix” videos that cycle through colors for this purpose. These methods only address temporary retention, not permanent burn-in, and they’re less effective than LG’s built-in Pixel Cleaning algorithm.
#Does LG warranty cover OLED burn-in?
LG’s standard one-year warranty covers manufacturing defects but doesn’t explicitly list burn-in. Some extended protection plans cover burn-in for 3-5 years.
#Is OLED burn-in still a problem in 2025?
Burn-in risk has decreased significantly. LG’s tandem WOLED panels on the 2025 G5 and G6 models run at lower individual stress per layer, and OLED.EX compensation runs every 500 hours instead of 2,000. Normal mixed-content viewing on current LG OLEDs is very unlikely to cause burn-in within the TV’s expected lifespan of 7-10 years.
#How do you check for burn-in on an LG TV?
Display a solid medium-gray image on your full screen. You can find “OLED burn-in test” images on YouTube or use a USB drive with a gray JPEG. Look for any discolored areas, ghost outlines, or brightness variations. Gray is the best background for spotting retention because it reveals both bright and dark burn-in patterns.
#Should you run Pixel Cleaning every day?
No. Running it too frequently accelerates panel degradation. LG recommends manual Pixel Cleaning only when you see visible image retention. The automatic cycle every 2,000 hours handles routine maintenance.
#Does gaming cause more burn-in than watching TV?
Gaming creates higher burn-in risk because of fixed HUD elements like health bars, minimaps, and scoreboards that stay in the same position for hours. Playing varied games and enabling Game Optimizer mode (which includes built-in dimming for static elements on 2022+ LG OLEDs) reduces this risk. Switching between different games and content types is the best prevention.
#What’s the difference between image retention and burn-in?
Image retention is temporary and fades after watching varied content or running one Pixel Cleaning cycle. Burn-in is permanent physical degradation of the OLED organic compounds. If two Pixel Cleaning cycles don’t remove it, check our LG TV firmware update guide for the latest OLED care improvements.