Sunburn from direct sun

What's happening

Areca Palm grows beneath taller canopy in the wild and isn't built for harsh, direct sun indoors. When strong rays hit the fronds through glass, they scorch the tissue, leaving dry, faded, brown-to-bleached patches that don't recover — usually worst on the leaflets closest to the window.

How to fix it

Move the plant back from the window or to a spot with bright, indirect light, or filter the harsh rays with a sheer curtain. The scorched patches won't turn green again, so trim badly damaged leaflets or fronds at the base if you want a tidier look; the palm will replace them with healthy growth once it's out of the direct sun.

This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.