iPhone XS Max Screen Burn-In or Green Lines? Try These Fixes

Noticing faint images or green lines burned into your iPhone XS Max display? Whether it’s ghosting, discoloration, or mysterious streaks, these screen issues can be annoying—and sometimes alarming. The good news? In many cases, it’s just a software glitch or display setting that needs adjusting. Here’s how to troubleshoot screen burn-in and green line issues before heading to the repair shop.

1. Do a Soft Reset or Force Restart

Temporary glitches often cause odd screen behavior. A quick reboot can refresh the system.

To soft reset:

Press and hold the Side button + Volume button until “Slide to Power Off” appears.
Slide to turn it off.
After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button to turn it back on.

To force restart:

Press and quickly release Volume Up.
Press and quickly release Volume Down.
Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

Try both if needed—this won’t erase any data.

2. Adjust Display Brightness and Auto-Lock

Long periods of static images can cause temporary ghosting. Adjusting your screen settings may help.

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
Drag the brightness slider down or up slightly.
Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Auto-Brightness and toggle it ON or OFF.
Enable Auto-Lock in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, then set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute.

This limits how long static images stay on-screen and can reduce screen wear over time.

3. Check for iOS Updates

A green line or ghosting effect may be caused by a buggy software version.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and has enough battery.

Updates often include fixes for display-related bugs and glitches.

4. Reset All Settings

If a custom setting is messing with display behavior, reset all settings—without deleting your data.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

This will restore default system settings but won’t touch your photos or apps.

5. Factory Reset Your iPhone (Last Resort)

If the issue persists, a full wipe may help—but back up your data first.

Back up via iCloud or iTunes.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

After the reset, your iPhone will restart and walk you through the setup process.

Still Seeing Burn-In or Green Lines? Try iTunes Restore

If a factory reset didn’t help, restoring your iPhone through iTunes in Recovery Mode or DFU Mode might.

Connect to a computer and open iTunes or Finder.
Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode or DFU Mode, then follow the prompts to Restore the device.

When to Visit a Repair Center

If nothing helps and the screen issues remain, you might be dealing with:

Physical screen damage
OLED panel degradation
Water or impact damage

Take your iPhone to an Apple Store or authorized repair center. If it’s under warranty or AppleCare+, repairs may be free or discounted.

Screen burn-in and green line issues can be scary, but they’re not always permanent. Try the fixes above to see if it’s just a software hiccup—and if not, Apple support is your next best bet.