Yesterday, after a tiring week at work, I was all set to unwind with a feel-good movie.
Unfortunately, my Roku TV had other plans as it began displaying a black screen, albeit with sound.
Like a kid, I started playing around with the remote buttons only to hear the ting of channel switching.
So, the TV was on. Then why was I getting this black screen of death?
I did some basic troubleshooting of my Roku TV without success.
Yes, it was frustrating, but Friday night was not ideal for me to deep-dive into the matter.
Determined, I returned to it on Saturday with a fresh mind and found a simple yet effective fix.
Here’s how to get your Roku back to normal:
You can fix a Roku black screen with sound by soft resetting your Roku device. To perform a soft reset, unplug the Roku device from the power socket, press and hold the power button on it for at least 60 seconds, and plug it back in.
Basic Troubleshooting of Roku Black Screen
If a temporary glitch is causing the black screen issue on your Roku device, some simple fixes are all you need.
However, remember that the fixes for a Roku TV will differ slightly from that of a Roku set-top box or Roku stick.
Troubleshoot Your Roku TV
- Unplug your TV’s power cord and Plug it back firmly.
- Restart the TV using the Power button on its remote.
- You can also turn on your Roku TV without a remote by pressing the Power button on the TV’s body. This button will be located at the bottom-center, side panel, or back panel of your TV, depending on its model.
Once on, check if Roku works as intended.
Troubleshoot Your Roku Set-top Box or Stick
- Ensure that the Power supply cable of the Roku set-top box or stick is properly connected to the electric socket.
- Check that the HDMI cable is firmly plugged into your set-top box and TV. If you are using a Roku stick, insert it properly in one of the HDMI ports of your TV.
- Perform a quick reboot by turning your device off and on.
- Lastly, ensure that you have selected the proper HDMI source in your TV’s display settings.
If your Roku TV still shows a black screen, it’s time to dive a little deeper.
Soft Reset Your Roku TV
A soft reset is nothing but a power-cycle reset of your Roku TV.
It drains all the residual power left in the device and forces it to reset.
A soft reset won’t affect any of your settings or the installed apps. It will just weed out the glitches.
This solution should work for most of you.
- Unplug your Roku TV from the power socket.
- Press the Power button on the TV’s body for 60 seconds.
- Now, plug the power cord back in and turn on the TV.
Sometimes, you may notice that your Roku remote is not working after the power cycle reset. You can fix this by re-pairing it with your TV.
Advanced Troubleshooting of Roku Device
Often, the black screen with sound problem surfaces on a Roku device when it’s not up-to-date.
If that’s the case, updating your Roku software will do the trick.
However, you can only do so if:
- You face a black screen with sound only when you play a video.
- The black screen appears only on some particular apps.
- Your TV works fine on its own and only displays a black screen when connected to a Roku device.
If your Roku TV goes black instantly after the logo, skip to the factory reset steps.
Update Your Roku’s Software
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Click on System.
- Select System Update and tap on Check Now to check for updates.
- If updates are available for Roku or your installed channels, download and install them.
Your Roku will reboot automatically after the installation is complete.
Factory Reset Your Roku
It wouldn’t be possible to navigate to “Settings” and update the Roku device if you can’t see anything, right?
If that’s the case for you, a factory reset is the next possible solution.
Since your screen is all black, you can do a factory reset using your device’s physical “Reset” button.
Remember that factory resetting your Roku device will delete all your preferences and remove the installed apps.
Also, you will need to perform the setup and activation process from scratch once the process is complete.
To factory reset your Roku device:
- Locate the Reset button at the back of your Roku device.
- With the Roku device powered on, press and hold this button for 10 seconds.
- The LED indicator on your Roku device will blink rapidly to notify you that the factory reset is complete.
Once done, your Roku device will restart.
If your Roku does not show a picture even after all this troubleshooting, the problem lies in your display panel.
Detecting Hardware Problems on Roku TV
It’s common for backlight LED strips to get busted as your TV gets old.
Because of this, your TV does not get enough light to display a picture on the screen.
To know if that’s the case, you can perform a quick flashlight test.
- Take a flashlight. Even the one on your mobile will work.
- With your TV turned on, shine the flashlight on its screen.
- Move the light around to cover all areas of the screen.
- If your display is fine, the light should seamlessly reflect back at you.
- If not, you will probably observe flickering or faded images on the screen. It means your TV is playing a video, but the backlight is malfunctioning.
If your Roku TV is in the warranty period, your best option is to contact Roku Support and check your device.
Otherwise, you should call a technician and get your TV fixed.
Get Rid of Roku’s Black Screen of Death
Staring at a black screen on Roku while trying to watch your favorite content is a frustrating experience.
Depending on the reason for this problem, there can be an easy or hard fix.
In case of a loose connection or faulty cables, simply plugging in the cables firmly or replacing them will get the picture back on your Roku.
If it’s a minor glitch, a soft power-cycle reset will be enough to purge it out.
Make sure to use the physical “Power” button on your TV while doing so.
For a major glitch caused by a virus or faulty apps, you will need to factory reset your Roku device.
This is a very common problem as I have experienced this with my Samsung TV as well, but like my Roku, I was able to fix it in no time.
If nothing works for you, the problem lies in your TV’s hardware. In such extreme cases, you will need to get your TV checked and repaired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Roku screen black?
For Roku devices, the black screen problem is mostly because of faulty cables or software glitches.
Does Roku often display a black screen with sound?
While not often, many Roku users have faced the black screen problem at some point during their journey.
What should I do if there is no sound on Roku?
If you cannot hear sound on your Roku device, power cycle it by following these steps:
Switch off your Roku Device > Unplug it from the power source > Press the “Power” button on the device for 60 seconds > Plug it back in> Switch it on.
