How to Fix Galaxy Z Flip 5 Screen Burn-in Issues (10 Must-Try Solutions)

Screen burn-in on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a real concern — the foldable’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display is stunning, but OLED pixels degrade over time when the same image sits on screen too long. If you’re seeing faint ghost images, discoloration at the fold crease, or lingering outlines of the status bar even when your phone is on a different screen, that’s burn-in (or image retention, an early form of it). The good news: most Galaxy Z Flip 5 burn-in is recoverable if you catch it early, and Samsung added burn-in prevention tools in One UI 6.1 that weren’t present at launch.

This guide walks through every fix from the quick preventive settings changes down to Samsung’s official repair options — with exact steps for One UI 6.1 and later, as of 2026.

Understanding the Difference: Image Retention vs. True Burn-in

Before you troubleshoot, it helps to know what you’re dealing with. Image retention is temporary — ghost images disappear after a few minutes or hours of normal use, and it’s recoverable. True burn-in is permanent pixel degradation where affected pixels produce less light than surrounding pixels, creating a permanent ghost. Software fixes cannot reverse true burn-in; only hardware replacement can.

If your ghost image disappears after a few minutes on a white or gray screen, you have image retention. If it’s been there for days regardless of what’s on screen, it’s likely true burn-in.

Fix 1: Enable Pixel Shift (One UI 6.1+)

This is the most important setting most Z Flip 5 owners don’t know about. Samsung removed pixel shift burn-in protection in One UI 6.0, then brought it back and improved it with One UI 6.1 in April 2024. Pixel Shift periodically moves status bar icons and UI elements by a few pixels so the same pixels aren’t always illuminated. You won’t notice it happening — the movement is subtle and slow.

To verify Pixel Shift is active:

Go to Settings → Software update → Download and install to update to the latest One UI version
Go to Settings → Display → Screen saver and make sure Screen Saver is enabled — this activates display protection when the phone is charging and idle

On One UI 6.1 or later, Pixel Shift runs automatically in the background. There’s no separate toggle — just keep your software updated.

Fix 2: Adjust Screen Timeout

The most common cause of burn-in is leaving the screen on with a static image for extended periods. If you’ve ever changed your screen timeout to “Never” or a long duration, change it back immediately.

Go to Settings → Display → Screen timeout
Set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute
Tap the back arrow to save

Navigation bar icons, the status bar clock, and high-brightness notification banners are the most common burn-in culprits on OLED devices. Anything over 5 minutes significantly increases burn-in risk.

Fix 3: Change or Disable Always On Display

Always On Display (AOD) keeps the clock and notification icons visible even when the phone is locked — but it keeps specific pixels lit constantly, which accelerates burn-in over time. On the Z Flip 5, the outer cover screen is particularly susceptible since it often shows the same clock layout for hours.

Go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display
Change the display mode from Always to Tap to show — this only activates AOD when you tap the screen
Alternatively, set it to As scheduled and limit AOD to hours you actively use the phone
If you already have visible burn-in from AOD, turn it off entirely while troubleshooting

Also consider rotating through different AOD clock styles so the same pixels aren’t always active.

Fix 4: Reduce Screen Brightness and Enable Adaptive Brightness

High brightness accelerates OLED pixel degradation and makes burn-in more likely. The Z Flip 5’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display can hit 1,750 nits peak brightness — you don’t need it at maximum indoors.

Go to Settings → Display
Drag the Brightness slider down to 50–70% for indoor use
Toggle Adaptive brightness to ON — this automatically lowers brightness in darker environments, reducing pixel wear

Fix 5: Run a Pixel Refresh Using the Diagnostic Menu

If you have image retention (not true burn-in), displaying a full-white or full-gray screen for 10–15 minutes can help reset affected pixels by exercising all pixels equally.

Samsung’s built-in diagnostic menu:

Open the Phone dialer
Dial *#0#* (note the asterisks — the older #0# code no longer works on recent One UI versions)
In the diagnostic menu, tap Red, Green, and Blue in sequence to cycle through full-color screens
Tap Black and White to check for visible retention against solid backgrounds

If ghost images are visible against the white or gray test screens, you have image retention. Run each solid color screen for a few minutes to help exercise the affected pixels back toward baseline.

Fix 6: Update All Apps

Certain apps — especially navigation apps, video players, and games with persistent HUDs — cause burn-in by keeping bright static elements on screen for extended periods. App updates sometimes reduce this behavior.

Open Google Play Store
Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner
Tap Manage apps & device
Tap Update all

Navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze) and games with always-on mini-maps or health bars are among the most common burn-in culprits. If you know which app is responsible, check its Play Store reviews — other users often confirm if it’s a known issue.

Fix 7: Boot Into Safe Mode to Isolate Third-Party Apps

If burn-in or abnormal display behavior started after installing a specific app, Safe Mode lets you boot without third-party apps to confirm the culprit.

Press and hold the Power button until the power menu appears
Press and hold Power off until the “Safe mode” prompt appears
Tap Safe mode to restart
In Safe mode, use the phone normally for 15–30 minutes and observe the display
If screen behavior improves, a third-party app is causing the issue

To exit Safe mode, restart the phone normally. Then go to Settings → Apps, sort by Installation date, and uninstall recently added apps one at a time until the burn-in stops progressing.

Fix 8: Turn Off Developer Options

If you’ve enabled Developer Options previously, some settings like “Disable HW overlays” or “Keep screen awake” can contribute to burn-in by preventing the display from dimming normally.

Go to Settings → About phone → Software information
Go back to Settings and scroll down to Developer options
Tap the toggle at the top to turn Developer options off

Fix 9: Wipe Cache Partition via Recovery Mode

Corrupted system cache can cause display irregularities that look like burn-in but are actually rendering glitches. Wiping the cache partition clears this without affecting your data or apps.

Power off your Galaxy Z Flip 5 completely
Press and hold Volume Up + Power simultaneously until the Samsung logo appears
Release both buttons — you’ll boot into Android Recovery
Use the Volume buttons to navigate to Wipe cache partition
Press the Power button to select it
Confirm and let the process complete (about 30–60 seconds)
Select Reboot system now

Your data is completely safe — this only clears temporary system cache, not your personal files or apps.

Fix 10: Reset All Settings

If nothing else has resolved the issue and it appears software-related, resetting all settings restores display, network, and app configurations to defaults without erasing your personal data, photos, or apps.

Go to Settings → General management
Tap Reset
Select Reset all settings
Tap Reset settings, then confirm

This is not a factory reset — your data stays intact. It will reset Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairings, display settings, and notification preferences, which you’ll need to reconfigure afterward.

When to Consider Hardware Repair

If you’ve worked through all of the above steps and still have a persistent ghost image, you’re likely dealing with true burn-in — permanent pixel degradation that only hardware replacement can fix.

Repair Type	Out-of-Warranty Cost	Samsung Care+ Cost
Inner folding screen replacement	$319	$29 per incident
Outer cover screen replacement	$109	$29 per incident

Samsung replaces the inner screen as a complete module (screen + frame + battery), so you get a fresh battery as part of the $319 repair. Samsung Care+ reduces that to just $29 per incident.

How to contact Samsung for repair:

Samsung Support: samsung.com/us/support
Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864)
Samsung Members app: Open app → tap Support → Request service
Walk-in service: Use Samsung’s online tool to find an Authorized Service Center near you

Third-party repair shops may offer lower prices, but Samsung folding screen repairs require specialized tooling and genuine Samsung parts. Using a non-authorized shop can void any remaining warranty on the device.

Preventing Burn-in Going Forward

Once you’ve addressed the immediate issue, these habits will protect your Z Flip 5’s display long-term: keep screen timeout at 30 seconds to 1 minute; use Tap to show for Always On Display instead of Always; enable Adaptive brightness so the display dims automatically; avoid running navigation apps or games at full brightness for extended periods; update to the latest One UI to keep Pixel Shift active; and rotate your wallpaper and home screen layout occasionally to avoid permanent hot spots.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is built to last, but OLED pixels wear unevenly under sustained static loads. A few settings changes — especially screen timeout and Always On Display — go a long way toward keeping the display looking sharp for years.