Burn-in is something that everyone who watches TV or spends a lot of time gaming on an OLED display has to worry about, even as manufacturers have brought in features to reduce the chances of it happening. Burn-in usually occurs when a static image is left on your display for a prolonged period of time; something like the logo on a music or news channel.

It’s enough of an issue that it’s considered common. Now that projectors are carving out a corner of the entertainment market, it’s reasonable to assume that a projected image or images wouldn’t suffer from burn-in.

So does this mean you don’t have to worry about projectors getting burn-in?

Do Projectors Get Burn-In?

Burn-in, also known as screen burn or image burn, can occur in LED projectors that are left running for long periods of time. Unlike OLED TVs, projectors are more resistant to burn-in. However, the issue is far more prevalent (though uncommon) in LCD projectors. 

Keep in mind that burn-in and image retention are not the same things. It’s worth mentioning because if you are experiencing image retention on your projector, you might assume that it’s burn-in and go looking for a burn-in solution. 

Image retention, however, is a reversible thing and not permanent, while burn-in is permanent. Fortunately, once you understand how burn-in occurs, especially in LCD projectors, you’ll have the tools necessary to avoid it.

What Causes Burn-in?

There are five things that are responsible for burn-in. Fortunately, DLP projectors are immune to all of this, so you can exclude them from everything except the possibility of short-term image retention. 

  • The design of the fan
  • Lens is dirty
  • Lamp degradation
  • An exploding bulb
  • Leaving the projector on for extended periods

Design of the Fan

The design of the fan matters but it’s not the end all be all. Even if it’s not the best functioning fan in the world, most manufacturers design them to do just enough. If you allow your projector to gather dust and you fail to clean it, the problem may overwhelm the fan.

The excess heat from a fan that can no longer keep the projector cool is known for being a root cause of burn-in. Keep your projector clean and keep it in an open and cool space.

Related Article: Do Projectors Get Hot? (And How To Cool Them)

Dirty Lens and Degradation

A dirty lens is easy to spot because you will usually see the result on the screen. The lens gets really hot over time and your projector’s lens degrades, causing a literal “burn-in” on the lens itself.

Exploding Bulb

The causes of a bulb exploding merit a whole different article. However, even once the bulb is replaced, the heat and flash may permanently cause a burn-in image, even when you install a new bulb.

Leaving the Projector On

If you have ever dealt with burn-in on a TV before, you should know that leaving your projector on is a no-no and is one of the leading causes of burn-in, especially with LCD projectors.

Bottom Line

Although burn-in is nowhere near the problem with projectors as it is with TVs, it’s still an issue. Most of the problem revolves around preventative maintenance and just generally taking care of your projector. 
Keep it clean. Keep it well-ventilated. Most importantly, turn it off when you’re not using it, especially if you own an LCD projector.