Fix Black Screen On Your Samsung Smart TV(15 Solutions)

Samsung TVs are arguably the most popular household TVs in the world. They come in great designs, are economical (in some cases), and the brand itself is very trustworthy. Most consumers are usually very happy with their purchases.

Check all the cables/loose cables attached to the back of the TV, select the correct input device, turn off the power/sleep settings from the menu, update the TV’s firmware, change the batteries in your remote, unplug your TV for 60 seconds, and plug it back in, try hard resetting your TV, plug it into the different outlet.

However, in some cases, the TV might have some issues that seem unfixable. The “Samsung black screen of death” is one such issue that causes the TV screen to go blank. It may seem unfixable at first, but as you read through the article, you will find out about some probable fixes that you should apply before taking the TV to an expert. Check out the list of the Best Streaming Devices on Amazon now!

Why Does My Samsung TV Turn On, But There Is No Picture?

There can be many causes for the black screen problem. It is wise to study the causes before the solutions as they can help with the final fix.

  • The most common cause for the black screen is related to the sources the TV is connected to. A loose/damaged/dirty cable, or an inactive power source, a cable from a DVD player/other external sources might be causing the black screen issue. Disconnecting and reconnecting the cables can solve the problem. To check if your TV has this problem, you can press the “MENU” button on your remote.
  • If the TV displays the menu options, it means that the problem is in the source. The TV is having some trouble displaying the data from the source it is connected to.
  • Another problem with the sources could be related to the “INPUT” settings on your Samsung TV. The TV may be set to a different input than the one that is actually sending signals to it. Thus, the TV would be displaying a black screen as it would be emitting signals from the dormant source. All solutions related to “sources” can be found in the next question.
  • The black screen issue can be caused by outdated firmware. Modern-day TVs run on operating systems because of the many applications they have. These smart TVs need regular updates to ensure that everything is running smoothly. The solution for this is to update the TV’s firmware.
  • Less likely causes for the black screen issue come from the TV’s settings. Settings like “Energy Saving Mode” will switch the display off after a time of inactivity. It is pretty evident how turning these settings on will cause issues like the black screen one.
  • A fatal cause for the black screen could be a hardware issue. A fault in the panel or a failure in its circuit board can cause the TV to malfunction and not display anything. Your hands are pretty much tied in such cases, and you have to visit a professional (or a Samsung repair office).

How Do I Fix My Samsung TV When The Screen Goes Black?

There are a couple of solutions to fixing this problem. However, because it is difficult to diagnose the cause, you must apply the solutions step by step from the easiest solution to the more complex ones. This way, you will be ruling out each cause, and if the TV works after any step, you will know what caused the black screen.

1. Soft reset your TV

Unplug your TV for 60 seconds and plug it back in. I mention this fix in many of my tutorials, it is so simple, yet effective.

2. Reboot your TV

Unplug your TV again and hold the power button on your remote for about 30 seconds. Then plug the TV back in.

3. Check the cables

Firstly, you need to check all the cables attached to the back of the TV. This will sort out the problem with any external sources (if the problem was caused by them). Remove all the cables and then attach them properly. Make sure you use high-quality HDMI cables. If the black screen still persists and you can still see the menu options after clicking the remote button, you must unplug all those external resources and power them on again. This will remove any temporary issues in those devices.

Also, make sure that your cables aren’t dirty or dusty, which can significantly hinder the connection and potentially cause the black screen issue. Get a can of compressed air and blow it into the HDMI socket to clean it out. On top of that, you can apply a contact cleaner to the HDMI plug which will clean the contacts in the HDMI socket when inserted in.

4. Select the right Source

Make sure to select the correct input device by clicking the “sources” button on the remote. Select the source that you know is sending signals to the TV. Most of the time it should be set to a TV source. To do that, go to Settings>Source>TV. If the problem still exists, then move on to the next step. Also, make sure the TV is set to the same source as your external device.

5. Switch the HDMI input

This is a simple thing to experiment with, yet it can help to tackle our issue. If, for instance, your TV was using HDMI 1 input, try switching it to something else and see if it works.

6. Turn off the Power/Sleep Settings

Press the menu button and switch off these settings from the “System” settings in the menu.To turn it off, go to Settings>General>System Manager>Time>Sleep Timer>Select Off.

7. Turn off the Energy Saving Mode/Eco solution

To turn it off, go to Settings>General>Eco Solution>Auto Power Off>Select Off.

8. Change the batteries in your remote

This sounds simple but has worked great for many people I know. On top of that, you can try to unplug your TV, and press all the buttons on your remote one by one to make sure one of them didn’t get stuck accidentally.

9. Try a different wall outlet

Sometimes a particular outlet might be at fault, so try doing this step to eliminate this issue.

10. Update the TV’s firmware

Go to the TV’s menu options and select the Settings>Support>Software Update>Update Now. Click on the “Software Update” option and follow the onscreen instructions to update the TV.

11. Factory reset your TV

If nothing seems to be working, let’s try a more radical solution. To factory reset your TV, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Menu button on your remote control
  2. Go to Settings
  3. Support
  4. Self Diagnosis
  5. Select Reset
  6. Enter your PIN( the default PIN is 0000)
  7. Your TV will now start a reset process and once it is finished, the TV will reboot.

12. Check your backlights

In order to do this, turn on your TV first. Next, take a bright flashlight and hold it 1 to 2 inches away from your screen. If you can see an image where the flashlight beam hits the screen it means your backlight is broken. In most cases, unless your TV is new and expensive, there is no point in trying to repair that.

13. Unplug the motherboard

This is a slightly more complicated thing to try, but it can help fix our issue with the black screen. Follow these simple steps:

  • You will need to carefully unscrew all the screws from the back of your TV.
  • Then locate your TV’s motherboard and disconnect all the cables and ribbon cables that are attached to it.
  • Take the circuit board out.
  • Make sure all the dust, if there is any, is gone and your motherboard is clean.
  • Place the motherboard back into the TV.
  • Make sure you plug all the cables back in properly.

14. Talk to professionals

If you’ve tested all the options, the only thing left to do is to try contacting Samsung Support directly and see if they can offer any viable solution that will suit you.

15. Get a new TV

As you can see it’s the saddest and the final recommendation we can possibly come up with. Assess the costs and the headache you will need to go through to make your current TV work. Is it worth it? Sometimes getting a new TV will ultimately be a better solution, especially in our day and age when you can get a nice reliable TV without going bankrupt.

Samsung TV Screen Goes Black, And There Is No Sound; What To Do?

If the TV goes black and there is no sound, it means that either there is a hardware issue or an issue with your sources. If you can see the Tv’s menu (by pressing the button on the remote), then your TV is still in good condition. Implement the steps given above, and you will recover your TV. However, if you can not see the menu option, then show the TV to a Samsung professional as soon as possible.

How Do I Reset My Samsung TV When The Screen Is Black?

If you can see the menu options by pressing the “Menu” button on the remote, then you can reset the TV in a normal way by going to the settings and selecting the “Factory Reset” option. However, if you cannot see this menu option, then the TV may have a hardware issue. It is better to let a Samsung professional repairman take a look at the hardware issue. Check out the list of the Best Streaming Devices on Amazon now!

Why Does My Samsung TV Keep Cutting Out, And What To Do?

Updating the TV or turning off the “Sleep” and “Energy Saving” settings is likely to sort this issue out. Refer to the questions above to find out how to do these. If your problem still persists, then you may have damaged the TV’s hardware. Have a professional examine it from this point onwards.

I’ve written a more in-depth article on this topic, check it out here.

Related Post: Must-Read: Samsung TVs Most Common Problems(+Fixes)

Conclusion

Modern TVs have complex settings that may be difficult to grasp for a new user. Sometimes those settings may be affecting the performance of the TV. The black screen issue is something that can be solved by playing around with these settings.