So Why Window Tint Turn Purple?

Window tint usually turns purple—or sometimes brown—when the color or dye in the film begins to deteriorate. From what we've seen at Dope Tintings, two major causes are low-quality window film and repeatedly cleaning the tinted interior surface with improper products, especially cleaners containing ammonia.

If tint starts changing color after only six months, a year, or a couple of years, we'd be suspicious of the quality of the film. But if a film maintained its original color for many years before changing, we wouldn't automatically call it cheap film—we'd also look closely at how the film was maintained and what products were repeatedly used to clean it.

And no, all window tint does not eventually turn purple. We have a personal vehicle with film that's been installed for more than 15 years, and it still isn't showing signs of turning purple or changing color.

When automotive window film turns purple, you're seeing a change in the color of the film itself.

That isn't the normal appearance of properly maintained window tint.

From more than 20 years of installing and removing automotive window film, there are two major things we'd start considering:

• The quality of the original film
• How the customer maintained the film

Cheap or lower-quality dyed films can begin losing their original charcoal or black appearance relatively quickly.

But poor-quality film isn't the only explanation.

We've also seen vehicles that were supposedly tinted with higher-quality products where the film eventually discolored.

That's when we'd start asking:

What have you been using to clean the inside of your windows?

No.

That's an important distinction.

Cheap film is certainly one reason tint can turn purple.

But we wouldn't look at every purple window and automatically tell the customer:

"You bought cheap tint."

We've seen discolored film on vehicles that customers said were tinted at inexpensive shops.

We've also seen discoloration on vehicles that customers said were tinted at premium shops.

We weren't there when those other installations were performed, so we can't independently verify exactly what product another shop installed.

That's why we look at the complete situation.

Film quality matters.

Aftercare matters too.

Yes.

Purple isn't the only color change we've seen.

Depending on the film and the dyes used in its construction, deteriorating window tint can also develop a brownish appearance.

So when we're talking about "purple tint," we're really discussing a broader problem:

Window film that is no longer retaining its intended color.

One film may shift toward purple.

Another may shift toward brown.

Either way, the film isn't supposed to change into a completely different color.

Poor-quality film can reveal itself surprisingly quickly.

From what we've seen, cheaper film may begin changing color within:

• Six months
• One year
• Two years
• Three years

How quickly it becomes obvious can vary.

But if someone brings us a vehicle with tint that's only a year or two old and it's already noticeably purple or brown, poor film quality is one of the first things we'd suspect.

That's very different from film that maintained its original appearance for many years before something changed.

Not necessarily.

If a film looked good for seven or eight years before changing color, we wouldn't automatically call it cheap film.

Instead, we'd want to know how that film was maintained.

What did you use to clean it?

Was an ammonia-containing glass cleaner repeatedly used on the interior tinted surface?

Was another chemical repeatedly applied to the film?

Those questions matter.

We're also intentionally not going to tell you that window tint simply turns purple because it gets old.

We have firsthand evidence that this isn't automatically true.

One of our own personal vehicles has had the same window film installed for more than 15 years, and the film still isn't showing signs of turning purple or changing color.

Quality film that's properly maintained can retain its appearance for a very long time.

Certain traditional glass cleaners can contain ammonia, which is why we don't recommend blindly using ordinary household glass cleaner on automotive window film.

At Dope Tintings, one of our biggest aftercare recommendations is:

Avoid ammonia-containing cleaners on the tinted interior surface.

Window film is durable, but that doesn't mean every chemical is appropriate for it.

Repeated exposure to the wrong cleaning products can contribute to the film deteriorating.

That deterioration can eventually show itself through:

• Color change
• Fading
• Purple discoloration
• Brown discoloration
• Other signs of film wear

That's why we recommend using a cleaner that's appropriate for tinted windows.

That's not what we're talking about.

Our concern is repeatedly cleaning the film with the wrong products over time.

A customer may clean their windows regularly for months or years without realizing that the product they're using isn't appropriate for window film.

Eventually, the film begins showing deterioration.

Then they understandably ask:

"Why did my tint change color?"

The answer may not be the original installation.

It may be what repeatedly happened to the film afterward.

Because automotive window tint is installed on the inside surface of the glass.

When you wash the exterior of your vehicle, you're washing the exterior glass.

You're not directly cleaning the window film.

When you clean the inside, however, you're cleaning the actual tinted surface.

That's why the products and materials you use inside matter.

For a complete explanation of where automotive tint is installed, read Does Window Tint Go on the Inside or Outside of a Car?.

Our recommendation is simple:

Use an ammonia-free, tint-safe glass cleaner and a soft microfiber towel.

One product we recommend is Sprayway.

You don't need an aggressive chemical to clean automotive window film.

And you don't need an abrasive towel.

Remember:

Window tint is scratch-resistant, not scratch-proof.

Taking care of the film doesn't require a complicated maintenance routine.

Use the right cleaner.

Use a soft microfiber.

Avoid abrasive products.

And take care of the interior film.

This is where our experience may surprise some customers.

If one window is dramatically purple or brown while the other tint still looks normal, we wouldn't automatically assume that particular window simply received more sunlight.

One of the first things we'd consider is:

Are these actually the same window films?

We've encountered this many times during tint removal.

A customer may think every window was tinted with the same product.

Then we begin removing the film and notice differences between the pieces.

Sometimes one film feels or appears different in thickness or construction from another.

That's when we start asking questions.

There are plenty of legitimate ways this happens.

We've had customers tell us:

"I bought the vehicle with the rear windows already tinted and later had the front windows done."

Others went to one shop for part of the vehicle and another shop later.

Sometimes a window gets broken.

The glass is replaced.

Then the replacement window gets tinted with whatever product another shop uses.

So a vehicle that appears to have one tint installation may actually have multiple different films installed at different times.

If one film turns purple while the rest remain charcoal, mismatched film is something we'd consider.

We wouldn't make that assumption.

If the rear window turns dramatically purple while the side windows remain their original color, our first thought isn't automatically:

"The rear glass gets more sun."

Based on situations we've actually encountered, we'd want to determine whether the rear glass has a different film.

Maybe the rear window was replaced.

Maybe the sides were tinted at a different shop.

Maybe the vehicle already had some tint when the customer bought it.

The history of the vehicle matters.

No.

Unfortunately, once the film itself has changed color, there isn't a cleaner or treatment we're going to apply that magically turns the film charcoal or black again.

The film has deteriorated.

The proper solution is:

Remove the old film.

Properly clean and prepare the glass.

Install new window film.

That's the fix.

We don't recommend it.

If the first layer of film is already failing, why would we use that failed film as the foundation for another installation?

Even if a second layer temporarily hides some of the discoloration, the failing film underneath is still there.

Now your new film is depending on an old layer that's already deteriorating.

That's not how we'd want to perform the installation.

Remove the failed film first.

Then start over with properly prepared glass.

For a complete explanation, read Can You Put New Window Tint Over Old Tint?.

Not necessarily.

Color deterioration and bubbling are two different types of failure.

A piece of film can turn purple or brown while still lying relatively flat against the glass.

Another piece of old film may develop:

• Bubbles
• Adhesive failure
• Separation
• Peeling

And some old films may experience multiple problems.

Don't assume the film has to bubble before discoloration counts as failure.

If you're dealing with bubbling older film, read Why Is My Back Window Tint Bubbling?.

If the film has permanently changed from its intended color to purple or brown, replacement is the proper solution.

You can continue physically driving the vehicle with discolored film.

But we're not going to tell you there's a way to restore that old film to its original appearance.

If you want the windows looking correct again, the old film needs to come off.

That depends on the film, warranty, and why the discoloration occurred.

We don't want customers reading:

"Purple tint means I automatically get free replacement."

That's not necessarily how a warranty evaluation works.

If qualifying lifetime-warranty film unexpectedly begins changing color despite being properly maintained, that's something we'd want to inspect as a potential film or warranty issue.

But if the film deteriorated because it was repeatedly cleaned with ammonia-containing or otherwise inappropriate products, that's different.

A manufacturer defect and customer-caused deterioration are not the same thing.

The film needs to be inspected before determining what applies.

We'd want to look at the vehicle and understand the situation.

Some of the questions we'd consider include:

• What film was installed?
• When was it installed?
• Are all the windows changing color?
• Is only one window changing color?
• Were different windows tinted at different times?
• Was any glass replaced?
• What products were used to clean the interior glass?
• How was the film maintained?

Those answers can tell us much more than simply looking at one purple window and guessing.

Not automatically.

This is one misconception we don't agree with.

We're not going to tell customers:

"All tint eventually turns purple because it gets old."

Again, we have a personal vehicle with film that's been installed for more than 15 years.

It still retains its appearance without showing signs of turning purple.

That's why film quality and proper maintenance matter.

Based on our own experience, yes.

Our 15+ year personal vehicle is a real-world example.

The film has been properly maintained.

It hasn't turned purple.

It hasn't shifted to brown.

It still looks extremely good for its age.

That doesn't mean we're promising that every piece of film on every vehicle will look identical after 15 years.

We're explaining what we've personally seen when good film is properly maintained.

You don't need to make this complicated.

Start with quality window film.

Then:

• Use an ammonia-free tint-safe cleaner
• Use a soft microfiber towel
• Avoid abrasive cleaners
• Avoid abrasive materials
• Don't use unnecessary chemicals on the film
• Follow the tint shop's aftercare instructions

That's it.

As we tell customers:

Take care of the film, and the film will take care of you.

That's a different decision.

Not every customer has the same goal or budget.

At Dope Tintings, we offer different film packages because not everybody needs the same product.

The important thing is understanding what you're buying.

A customer keeping a vehicle for a short period may make a different decision from someone planning to own the vehicle for another 10 years.

We'd rather explain the differences than pretend every customer automatically needs the most expensive film available.

Purple tint usually means the film's color or dye has deteriorated. Lower-quality film can discolor relatively quickly, while repeatedly using improper cleaners such as ammonia-containing products can also contribute to deterioration.

Yes. Depending on the film and dye construction, failed or deteriorating film can shift toward brown rather than purple.

No. Cheap film is one possible cause, especially when discoloration appears relatively quickly. Improper long-term maintenance can also contribute to color deterioration.

From what we've seen, low-quality film can begin showing discoloration within six months to a few years. If tint is noticeably purple or brown after only a year or two, poor film quality is something we'd strongly suspect.

Repeatedly using ammonia-containing or other inappropriate cleaners on the tinted interior surface can contribute to film deterioration. We recommend an ammonia-free, tint-safe cleaner.

No. Once the film itself has permanently changed color, the proper solution is to remove the deteriorated film, prepare the glass, and install new film.

No. Quality film that's properly maintained can retain its color for many years. We have a personal vehicle with film that's been installed for more than 15 years without turning purple or changing color.

If your current tint has turned purple or brown, putting another layer over it isn't the solution.

The old film needs to be removed.

At Dope Tintings in Pennsauken, we can inspect the existing film, determine what we're dealing with, remove the failed tint when appropriate, and prepare the glass for a new installation.

Learn more about our South Jersey window tint removal service.

If you're replacing failed film and researching a new installation, you can also review our South Jersey window tinting services.

Window tint turns purple—or sometimes brown—when the color or dye in the film deteriorates.

If the discoloration begins relatively quickly, such as within six months to a couple of years, we'd be suspicious of lower-quality film.

If the film maintained its color for many years before changing, we wouldn't automatically call it cheap film. We'd also want to know how the film was maintained and what products were repeatedly used to clean the inside of the windows.

Ammonia-containing cleaners are something we specifically tell customers to avoid.

And no:

All window tint does not eventually turn purple simply because it gets old.

We have a personal vehicle with film that's been installed for more than 15 years, and it still isn't showing signs of purple or brown discoloration.

Once tint has permanently changed color, however, you cannot restore the original black or charcoal appearance.

The proper solution is:

Remove it.

Prepare the glass.

Replace the film.

And don't install new tint directly over the purple film.

The old layer is already failing.

Start with a clean foundation and quality film, then take care of it with the correct products.

If you need failed tint removed, learn more about our South Jersey window tint removal service, compare our Window Tint Packages, or contact Dope Tintings.

Or call 856-577-4119.

Dope Tintings
6830 N Crescent Blvd
Pennsauken NJ 08110