Screen burn-in is a common issue faced by smartphone users, wherein remnants of images or icons linger on the screen long after they’ve been displayed. This can be particularly troublesome on devices with OLED or AMOLED displays, such as many iPhones and Android devices. But can you fix screen burn on iPhone and Android?

For iPhone users, Apple has not officially acknowledged screen burn as a widespread issue on its devices. However, users of iPhone X and later models with OLED displays have occasionally reported this problem. To mitigate screen burn-in, iPhone users can adjust their display settings by reducing the auto-lock time, lowering brightness levels, using dark mode, and enabling auto-brightness.

Screen burn-in is usually more prominent on Android devices, especially since many Android smartphones use OLED screens. Manufacturers often recommend various steps to minimize or potentially fix the problem. Users can start by decreasing screen brightness and timeout duration. Some Android phones include built-in features for burn-in protection that periodically shift static images to prevent pixel wear.

Another method applicable to both iPhone and Android users is displaying static images with the primary colors – red, green, and blue – for several minutes at a time; this can sometimes equalize the OLED pixels’ wear. There are also dedicated apps available in App Store and Google Play Store designed to reduce or repair screen burn-in through similar methods.

However, if the above software solutions do not resolve the burn-in effect, this might indicate permanent damage to the display, which cannot be fixed with simple tweaks. In such cases, seeking professional repair services or considering a display replacement might be necessary.

It’s worth noting that what’s often perceived as screen burn-in could actually be image retention or ghosting—temporary issues which generally fix themselves after a short period of normal use or by displaying a completely white image for some time to “cleanse” the persistent image.

In conclusion, while there are measures you can take to attempt fixing screen burn on iPhones and Android smartphones, prevention is crucial. Keeping brightness low, varying content displayed, updating to the latest software for potential manufacturer fixes, and making use of built-in settings to protect the screen are all important practices. For undeniable cases of burn-in where such tips don’t provide a solution, professional assessment might be the next best step.