Prevent screen burn on your Samsung smart watch

If you notice any discoloration on your smart watch's screen, it may be experiencing screen burn. It can take the form of a text or image outline, fading colors, or other noticeable patches or patterns on the display. However, it's easy to prevent screen burn on your smart watch - just make sure your watch screen isn't on for too long.
Galaxy Watch5 showing brightness screen
Galaxy Watch5 showing brightness screen

Prevent screen burn on your Samsung smart watch

Note
Available screens and settings may vary by wireless service provider, software version, phone, or watch.

Adjust brightness

If you prefer having your watch on all the time, you can prevent screen burn by lowering the watch's brightness level.

  1. From the watch's Home screen, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick settings panel.
  2. Tap the Brightness icon, and then lower the brightness of the watch using the controls.
    Brightness setting screen set to half on a Samsung smart watch
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Adjust screen timeout

With your busy schedule, you may sometimes forget to turn off your watch's screen. No worries; with the Screen timeout feature, you can set the watch to automatically turn off after a certain amount of time.

  1. On your watch, navigate to and open Settings.
  2. Swipe to and tap Display, and then tap Screen timeout.
  3. From there, choose the amount of time that will pass before the screen turns off from inactivity.
    Screen timeout setting with 15 seconds chosen
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Adjust display settings in the Galaxy Wearable app

Depending on your watch model, you may only be able to adjust brightness and Screen timeout from the Galaxy Wearable app.

  • On your phone, navigate to and open the Galaxy Wearable app, and then tap Display. Adjust the brightness with the slider under Brightness.
    Brightness with a slider below it in the Galaxy Wearable app
  • On the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 series, open the Galaxy Wearable app, and then tap Watch settings. Tap Display, and then adjust the brightness with the slider under Brightness.

To adjust how long the watch's screen stays on, tap Screen timeout, and then select the desired duration.

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