Samsung S21 screen image stuck? How to fix it

You’re scrolling through your favorite app when an image suddenly freezes on your screen. If you're having trouble clearing a stuck photo on your Samsung S21®, we can help. Whether it’s a stubborn image or a flickering screen, our experts at Asurion are at hand to provide tech help.

This guide will walk you through the steps for fixing a stuck Samsung S21 screen image or any other software issue on a Galaxy device.

Follow these instructions

Clear a stuck screen image on a Samsung S21 with these steps:

Force restart your Samsung S21

1. Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time. 
2. Keep both buttons pressed for at least 7 seconds.
3. When the screen goes completely black, release the buttons.
4. Wait a few seconds—your phone should reboot on its own.

Close background apps

There are two main ways you can do this:

In the Recents Menu

1. If you use gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open your recent apps. If you use 3-button navigation, tap the Recent button.
2. To close an app, swipe up on the preview of the app.
3. Tap the Close all button to shut down all running apps.

From Settings

1. Open Settings.
2. Locate and tap the Apps menu.
3. Find the app you want to shut down and tap on it.
4. Click Force stop, then tap OK to confirm your choice.

Force stopping an app is similar to giving it a hard reset.

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Check for software updates

Keeping the software updated on your Samsung Galaxy S21 can fix stuck screen issues and keep it running smoothly:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Locate and tap Software Update.
3. Tap Download and install to auto-search updates.
4. If there’s an update available, tap Download now. Choose when to install the update.

A stable internet connection and a sufficiently charged phone will allow you to update without errors.

Use Safe Mode to check for app conflicts

Safe Mode can help you check for app conflicts. Here’s how to enter Safe Mode:

1. Swipe down the notifications location with two fingers.
2. Locate and click the Power icon.
3. Press and hold the Power off button.
4. Tap the Safe mode button.

If the watermark appears in the screen’s bottom left corner, you've successfully entered Safe Mode. You can now uninstall problematic apps.

Restart your Samsung S21 normally to exit Safe Mode.

Wipe the cache partition

This process can help clear out system clutter. Charge the battery to at least 25% before starting.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Connect the phone to a charger, computer, or headphones with a cable.
3. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons.
4. Release the buttons when the Android logo appears.

Now that you’re in the recovery menu:

1. Scroll to Wipe cache partition using the Volume Down button.
2. Press the Power button to select.
3. Use Volume Down to navigate to Yes and press Power to confirm.
4. Your phone will return to the main menu once it’s done. 
5. Tap Reboot system now to restart.

Perform a factory reset (if other steps fail)

This should be the last resort. It will wipe all data from your phone, including photos, messages, and apps. Use factory reset only if nothing else works.

Before you begin:

• Backup your data.
• Connect to Wi-Fi.

To perform a factory reset:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. There are several ways to factory reset, including:
   • Click Backup and reset, then Factory data reset.
   • Tap Privacy, then Factory data reset.
   • Go to General management, then Reset; tap Factory data reset, then tap Reset.
   • Click About phone > Advanced > Reset. Then tap Factory data reset and finally, Reset.

FAQs

How do I force restart a frozen Samsung S21?

Simultaneously press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons to force restart an unresponsive Samsung Galaxy S21. Don’t stop pressing the buttons until the screen goes black and the Samsung logo appears.

Can screen burn-in cause a stuck image on my S21?

Yes, screen burn-in can occur on the S21. It usually shows up as an image that won’t disappear. Common causes include high screen brightness and heat, and leaving the same image on for too long.

What’s the difference between a frozen screen and screen retention?

Screen burn-in is permanent. The ghost image will stay put even if you turn off your phone. The only way to fix burn-in is to replace the screen. On the other hand, image retention is temporary. It usually fades away when you turn off or change images.