My Onn TV has started acting up recently. It suddenly goes black when I’m trying to watch the game or sometimes the display won’t work at all.
The last time this happened, I even considered getting a new TV. Then I took a couple of deep breaths, calmed down and decided to go the DIY route. I’m handy around the house and I figured this wouldn’t be too hard to pull off.
I watched around 20 YouTube videos and read multiple community posts and tech articles. After about six hours, I finally found the fix for my black screen. Here’s how I fixed my Onn TV’s black screen.
To fix the Onn TV black screen issue, turn your TV off and on after 60 seconds. If this doesn’t work, switch the TV off for 10-15 minutes before turning it on again.
Restart the TV
9 times out of 10, resetting the Onn TV sorts out the black screen issue. There are a couple of different ways that Onn TV can be reset:
- Power cycle the TV:
- Switch off your Onn TV and unplug it from the power source.
- Press the power button for 30 seconds. This will drain any residual power in the TV.
- Plug the TV back into your outlet and switch it on again after 60 seconds.
- If the black screen persists, try leaving the TV switched off for 10-15 minutes before turning it on.
- Use the remote keybind: In Onn TVs with built-in Roku, there is a remote shortcut which allows you to reboot the TV. To use this shortcut, do the following on your TV remote:
- Push the Home button 5 times.
- Push the Up button once.
- Push the Rewind button 2 times.
- Finally, push the Fast Forward button 2 times.
Reset the Remote
If resetting the TV doesn’t help you, ensure that your TV remote is working properly. Do the following to troubleshoot your TV remote:
- Check the batteries of your TV remote. Replace any old drained batteries with fresh new ones.
- Power cycle your remote by removing the batteries. Follow this by holding down the power button for 30 seconds. Replace the batteries and try using the remote now.
- Press all your remote keys at once to determine if any keys are stuck.
- Check if the IR blaster is working on your remote. To do so, open your smartphone camera and point it at the remote. If while pressing the buttons, the remote lights up on the camera, your remote is working fine. If not, you might need to replace your TV remote.
Check the Power Source
If resetting the TV and remote doesn’t resolve the black screen issue, check the power source of your Onn TV. Insufficient or faulty power can affect the functioning of your TV.
Try plugging in another device in your TV’s power outlet to see if it is working properly. Alternatively, you can try plugging your TV into another power source to see if it functions well. Note: The TV must be directly connected to the power source and not through the USB cord of another device.
Check the TV Cables
Once you ensure that your power source is working well, check the input cables of your Onn TV. Typically, an Onn TV will have at least two input cables: the power cable and the HDMI cable. Check all the input cables of your TV for any breaks or damage. Replace the damaged cables, if required.
Additionally, check the connecting ports of the TV cables. Loose connecting cables could be hampering your TV’s screen functioning. In the case of the HDMI cable, try moving the cable from HDMI port 1 to HDMI port 2 to see if the black screen issue resolves. Note: Make sure to adjust the input settings of the TV accordingly.
Check the Input Settings
If there are no external factors affecting the TV, then it is time to consider troubleshooting the TV itself. The first step for this would be to check the input settings of the Onn TV.
Ensure that you are using the correct input source for your Onn TV. For example, if you’re watching just the TV, ensure that the input source selected is TV and not HDMI or AV. To find the correct input source, you can select all the available options till the TV display corrects itself.
Once you have selected the correct TV input source, the next step would be to check the input settings. To do so:
- Press the power button on your TV remote.
- Go to Input Settings > TV Inputs
- Set all inputs to ‘Enabled’.
Reset the Picture Settings
Improper picture settings on your Onn TV could be affecting the display. Incorrect brightness could be leading to a dark or dim playback which affects your ability to watch content on your Onn TV.
To rectify the picture settings, you need to reset them to the factory defaults. Here’s how you can do that:
- Select Settings > System > Advanced System Settings
- Select Factory Reset > Reset TV Audio/Picture Settings
Change the Sleep Timer and Power Saver Settings
If your Onn TV screen turns dark randomly in the middle of playback, it might be due to the enabled Sleep Timer and Power Saver settings. These settings push the TV into standby mode after detecting idle activity. Disabling these settings can restore your Onn TV screen.
Disabling Sleep Timer:
- Go to Settings > Time
- Select Sleep Timer > Off
Disabling Power Saver Mode:
- Go to Settings
- Select Power Saver > Off
Upgrade Onn TV firmware
If troubleshooting the TV settings doesn’t resolve the black screen, the problem may lie with outdated firmware. Every smart TV requires regular updates to function properly. Make sure your Onn TV is up-to-date since outdated firmware can cause playback errors.
To update your Onn TV:
- Go to Settings > Support
- Select Software Update > Update Now
- Your TV will reboot on its own to implement the new firmware
Factory Reset your Onn TV
One of the last resorts for troubleshooting your Onn TV is performing a factory reset. Since a factory reset removes all saved data, it is usually not used as a first troubleshooting step. Make sure to save all important data and settings from your TV before performing a factory reset.
To factory reset your Onn TV:
- Locate the Reset button on the back of your TV. It should be a small button labeled Reset.
- Use a pin or a small, sharp object and press the Reset button for 15-20 seconds.
- Restart your TV and follow the onscreen instructions to set it up.
Check the Backlight
If none of the above fixes works to resolve your Onn TV’s black screen, the problem may lie with faulty backlight.
To check your TV’s backlight, point a flashlight at the screen. A functioning backlight will simply reflect the flashlight at you. However, if you see dim-moving pictures under the flashlight, then your backlight is damaged.
Repairing or replacing a backlight is a highly technical task. Contact Onn TV customer support and get professional help in rectifying this issue.
My Onn TV is On Again!
My sense of humor aside, I am relieved to get my Onn TV working again.
More importantly, I am glad I didn’t have to spend a fortune repairing the TV! By following a few simple steps, I can fix my black screen issue anytime now.
If I have a black screen with no audio then I need to reset my TV and remote. I can also check all input cables and change the input settings. If I can hear the audio but see no picture, I know the issue lies with either the backlighting or the picture settings.
And in the case of the pesky mid-viewing black screen, I know that the issue lies with the Sleep Timer and the Power Saver mode. Now that my TV works just fine, I can go back to football!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I factory reset my Onn TV?
There are two methods to resetting your Onn TV:
- The first method is to long press the Reset button on the back of your TV for 20 seconds
- The second method is as follows:
- Select Settings > System > Advanced System Settings
- Select Factory Reset > Factory Reset Everything
Why is Onn TV’s red light on but it is not working?
The red light in Onn TV is an indication that your TV is in Standby mode. This can be either due to a long period of inactivity leading to Standby or your TV’s Power Saver or Sleep Timer settings.
Alternatively, insufficient power can also cause your TV to go into Standby mode. Rectify this by either changing the power source or checking your power cable for any damages or loose connections.
