iMac 27in has "burned in" image after just minutes on the screen

Image persistance on Apple displays:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455

Apple say this about LCD screen burn in:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2807

which includes suggestions for curing that effect.

Alternatively:

How to fix screen burn and/or stuck pixels on an LCD monitor:

JScreenFix

http://www.jscreenfix.com/basic.php

Yesterday? Take it back and insist on a replacement.

Contact the store (hopefully an Apple Store) that you purchased it from and invoke the warranty.

lcd panels which are not plasma can't get a burn in from usage

if there is a burn in it's a factory defect

only crt screens and plasma can get a burn in effect from displaying the same image for long

which is why the term screen saver these days is an empty fraze

This is extremely frustrating issue. I recently bought a similar iMac 27, and for the last couple of months didn't notice anything, until the other day, and realized the extreme burn in I was experiencing on my screen.

I of course, took my machine to a local authorized service center and they told me that Apple deemed it a normal behavior with these iMacs and said I was welcome to replace the LCD panel, but that they were sure that it would not fix the issue because it is normal behavior of the product.

Previous to this, I had used a Thunderbolt Cinema Display with a MacBook Pro and never had this issue before. What is Apple thinking, by saying that this is a "normal" behavior to these products. If it were a cheap $1000 machine, I would understand a little bit but these machines are supposed to be premium quality and are certainly priced as such.

So now I have to do that whole screen saver dance to make sure my screen clears regularly.

Hey!

I've had the same problem (image persistence) on my iMac 27'' (late 2013).

I had to have my panel changed through Apple Care a few days ago. The thing took 30 minutes.

Apparently they solved the problem on later models.

If your iMac is still guaranteed I would strongly suggest that you have it serviced (whether you have Apple Care or not). It is not a software problem that you can solve using the white screensaver!

It is a hardware problem.

Hope this helps!

I've the same problem!

I bought my imac27 (late2012) about one year ago. I changed 4 LCD panels. One month ago the AppleStore change my machine with a new late 2013 (with lower iMac), but i've always the same problems!

So now i've a smaller iMac, but always the same problems; Ghost persistence images!

Someone resolve this problem??

After five new pannels i think that this problems regard all the iMac 27 production, but the users don't noticing it!

Turn the screen saver on! Seriously? 4 LCD panels?! That is not a problem with the hardware, it's the end-users fault when you obviously haven't turned your screensaver on after 5-10 min.

Software? No, but it can be fixed with "software" as described by "Klaus1" further up in the thread.

This is one of the most condescending and stupid responses yet. Often, when developing, I'll have the same program open and focused for 4 hours. This causes burn-in on my LCD. Are you seriously suggesting that every 5-10 minutes I activate the screensaver?

The fault belongs to Apple, not users.

Totally agree! I can't believe that is the Apple response. What do you want? Screen saver for all corners not being used? It's ridiculous. Like mike1971 said, one can be using software like photoshop for hours, just using a specific portion of the screen. Solution can't be "turning on your screensaver"... give me a break.

I'm not saying this isn't ridiculous bc it obviously IS. I'm just saying these can help (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlPCQQG2XcFPN4jAa1QVxw) The longer you have that static image up though, the longer it's going to take to get rig of and it can become permanent if you're not careful. I ruined a few plasma tvs that way. Anyway, I would just occasionally Move the window around a little bit so the menu isn't sitting in the same spot. Good luck with it