How to Fix TV Turns On But The Screen Is Black

The TV turns on but the screen is black can be caused by a problem with cable connection from your external device that is connected to Your TV. Another cause is the TV’s backlight, which is what lights up your screen. Or maybe there’s something wrong with your TV’s input, like the cable box or gaming console you have connected to it. It could even be something simple like the brightness setting on your TV is set too low!

This problem can happen on any TV brand like Samsung or LG including standard TV or Smart TV.

Important note: “It’s always best to understand the problem before trying to fix it. You wouldn’t want to make the problem worse by doing the wrong thing!”

Checking the Simple Things

First things first, we want to check the simple things. These are easy to fix and don’t need any special tools or tech knowledge.

Brightness Settings

Maybe the brightness on your TV is set too low. To check this:

1. Grab your TV remote.
2. Look for the ‘Menu’ or ‘Settings’ button and press it.
3. Navigate to the ‘Picture’ settings.
4. Look for ‘Brightness’ and check if it’s set too low. If it is, turn it up!

Checking the TV Inputs

Sometimes, your screen could be black because the TV is set to the wrong input. To fix this:

1. Grab your TV remote.
2. Press the ‘Source’ or ‘Input’ button.
3. Try switching to different inputs to see if the screen comes back on.

Checking Power Supply and Connections

Make sure all your cables are properly connected, and your TV is getting power. Check the power cord and the connections from your cable box, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, gaming console, or whatever else you have connected to your TV.

If you’re experiencing issues with screen mirroring where you have sound but no picture, you might find this guide on screen mirroring issues helpful. It provides additional information and solutions for common problems related to screen mirroring.

Power Cycle Your TV

Power cycling your TV is a simple and effective way to fix many issues. Here’s how to do it:

1. Switch off your TV and unplug it.
2. Hold down the physical power button on the TV for at least 15 seconds.
3. Wait a few minutes for residual power to drain from the TV’s capacitors.
4. Plug your TV back in and try switching it on.

More Advanced Troubleshooting

If none of those simple fixes worked, don’t worry! We still have a few tricks up our sleeve.

Checking the Backlight

If your TV’s backlight is broken, the screen will be black even if the TV is on. You can check this by turning on the TV in a dark room and shining a flashlight on the screen. If you can see a faint image, your backlight might be the problem.

Table 1: What to do if it’s a backlight issue

What to do	Instructions
1. Reset the TV	Unplug your TV, wait for a minute, and then plug it back in. Sometimes, this can reset your TV’s backlight.
2. Adjust the backlight setting	Go to your TV’s picture settings (like we did for the brightness), find the backlight option, and try turning it up.
3. Get professional help	If none of this works, it might be time to call a professional.

Firmware or Software Issue on Smart TV

Sometimes, a black screen can be due to a software issue with your Smart TV. This can happen if your Smart TV software (also called firmware) is outdated or has an error. You can try to reset your Smart TV to its factory settings. Remember, this will delete any custom settings you have, so be sure you want to do this!

Here’s how you can do a factory reset:

1. Grab your Smart TV remote.
2. Press the ‘Menu’ or ‘Settings’ button.
3. Navigate to the ‘System’ or ‘Advanced’ settings.
4. Look for the ‘Factory Reset’ option and follow the instructions.

Fixing TV Motherboard

When your TV turns on but the screen remains black, it could be due to a problem with the main motherboard. This is the part of the TV that connects to all the components, like the USB, HDMI, and other connectors. If the motherboard loses connection to one of these components, you might not see anything on the screen.

Note: This method is a bit of a gamble and there’s no guarantee that it will work for your TV. It’s best to try this on an older TV that you’re not too worried about.

Preparing the TV

Before you start, you’ll need to prepare your TV. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Place the TV face down on a soft bench.
2. Let the stand hang down until you remove it.
3. The only tool you need for this job is a screwdriver.

Important: Handle the TV carefully to avoid causing any further damage.

Removing the Backplate

The first step is to remove the backplate of the TV. This involves unscrewing all the screws you can see. There are four screws for the stand and several others around the sides. Once you’ve removed all the screws, you can lift up and remove the backplate.

Note: Be careful not to lose any screws. Keep them in a safe place so you can use them to reassemble the TV later.

Identifying the Motherboard

Inside the TV, you’ll see a lot of different parts. The one you’re interested in is the main motherboard. This is usually located on the right side and has a black heatsink in the middle, which covers the main processor chip.

Disconnecting the Motherboard

Before you can warm up the motherboard, you need to disconnect it from the TV. This involves removing all the cable connectors from the board one by one. Each harness is a little bit different, so you’ll need to figure out how to remove each one without breaking it.

Important: Always pull or push on the plastic harness, not the wires. Pulling on the wires could accidentally disconnect them.

Warming Up the Motherboard

Once you’ve disconnected the motherboard, you can warm it up. This involves baking it in an oven. The heat from the oven will melt the solder on the motherboard, hopefully re-establishing a better connection when it cools down.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Place the motherboard on a piece of cardboard and cut it to the right size.
2. Put the whole thing on a piece of foil.
3. Preheat your oven to about 385 degrees Fahrenheit (about 200 degrees Celsius).
4. Bake the motherboard in the oven for about 10 minutes.

Note: Be careful not to overheat the motherboard. Some plastic parts may start to melt if the temperature is too high.

Reassembling the TV

After the motherboard has cooled down, you can reassemble the TV. This involves screwing the motherboard back into the TV and reconnecting all the cable connectors. Then, you can replace the backplate and screw it back into place.

Important: Remember to handle the motherboard carefully to avoid causing any damage.

Testing the TV

Once you’ve reassembled the TV, it’s time to test it. Turn on the TV and see if the screen is working. If it is, congratulations! You’ve successfully fixed your TV.

Note: This method may not fix all problems with your TV. For example, it may not fix issues with the TV’s internet connection.

Important note: “Always remember, if you’re not comfortable doing these steps, it’s okay to ask an adult for help or to call a professional.”

Fixing TV Screen Goes Black Randomly

Use High-Quality HDMI Cable

TV screen going black for a short time before returning is a common issue that many people experience, especially when they use less expensive HDMI to HDMI or TV cables.

The main issue is that these cheaper HDMI cables lack proper shielding, which can lead to interruptions in your viewing experience.

People often don’t know what’s causing these interruptions. They might change their voltage stabilizers, switch sockets, or even blame the TV itself. But in reality, it’s the cable that’s causing these issues.

The solution to this problem is quite simple: use a high-quality HDMI to HDMI cable. One recommended option is the Amazon Basics cable. This cable has shielding that protects against electrical interference, ensuring that your screen doesn’t go blank or flicker.

When you use a better quality cable, not only does it prevent interruptions, but it also improves the picture and sound quality of your TV.

Disable Power saving or Standby Mode

Power saving or standby mode can make your TV screen go black if the TV thinks you’re not watching. Here’s how you can turn it off:

1. Use your TV remote to open your TV’s settings menu.
2. Look for an option called “Power Saving,” “Standby Mode,” or something similar.
3. Choose the option to turn it off.

Conclusion

It can be really frustrating when your TV turns on but the screen is black. But with these tips, hopefully, you’ll be able to figure out what’s wrong and maybe even fix it yourself. Remember, if you’re not sure what to do, it’s always best to ask for help. There’s no problem in not knowing everything!

If you tried all these steps and your TV is still giving you a black screen, it might be time to call in a professional or to think about getting a new TV. Remember, even if you can’t fix your TV, you still learned a lot about how TVs work. And that’s pretty cool!