If you’re an avid TikTok user, you might have seen videos in your feed of people claiming to have “etched” TikTok buttons on their phone screens. This means that after they exit an app they’ve been using for hours, they say they can still see a faint image of the app’s button on their screen while using other apps.
It was a complaint from iPhone 15 Pro Max users, ZDNET’s Kerry Wan reported, but you can find unverified Reddit reports of spooky TikTok images on Android phones and other iPhone models. Apple calls this issue “screen image persistence,” and if you think you’re seeing faded images on your iPhone screen from a recently closed app, there’s a simple solution for iPhone owners—I’ll explain below. However, judging by the people who have reported experiencing screen burn-in, the problem doesn’t seem to be widespread.
If you notice that recently closed apps screen elements are sticking around, it may be because you need to update your device. Keep reading to learn more about burn-in on phones. For more, here’s why you should update to iOS 17.4.1 right now.
Does your iPhone have a notched screen?
The iPhone 15 devices come with an OLED screen, which we liked in our reviews. But in some situations that aren’t specific to Apple phones, OLED screens — in both TVs and phones — can experience burn-in. Apple said burn-in can occur with its OLED displays “in more extreme cases, such as the same high-contrast image being displayed continuously at high brightness for an extended period of time.”
Note that none of the CNET Mobile team noticed any signs of burn-in during testing of the iPhone 15 Pro line. I also checked a few iPhones and luckily I didn’t see any ghost pictures.
And there’s probably a reason. Burn-in is a rare occurrence on OLED phone screens, and all the phones I checked had the latest iOS.
What can you do if you think you see a cut screen on your iPhone?
If you think you’re seeing signs of screen burn-in on your iPhone 15, make sure you have the latest iOS update. Why? In late 2023, Apple released iOS 17, which it said includes a fix for what it calls “display image persistence.”
To find out which iOS your iPhone is running, go to settings > In general > Eye and look to the right of iOS version. The latest iOS is 17.4.1 and to update go to settings > In general > Software update and tap Update now.
What if you’re running the latest iOS but still have a cracked screen?
If you’ve updated to the latest version of iOS but are still experiencing burn-in issues with your phone, you can report it to Apple or make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store.
To report a problem with your iPhone, follow these steps.
1. Go to www.apple.com/feedback/iphone/ and enter your information.
2. In the Feedback Type section, select Error report.
3. Please be detailed in the comments section about what is going on with your phone (screen burn) and how you tried to fix it with the latest update.
4. Finish filling out the form and click submit.
Apple notes that it is “unable to respond to each submission individually,” so it may take some time before you hear back.
For more information, here’s why you might want to disable Daily Suggestions on your iPhone.