Roku TV Flickering: One Fix That Worked For Me

I’ve been using my 4K TCL Roku TV for about 2 years and it has worked perfectly. Yesterday, when I turned on the TV to watch a movie, it started flickering suddenly.

I tried turning the TV off and back on but the flickering wouldn’t stop.

Annoyed by the constant flickering, I referred to the Roku community forums and read some solution articles to learn more about how to fix the issue.

Some folks on the relevant discussion threads pointed out towards a backlight issue and suggested getting it repaired or replaced.

I found the best way to fix the Roku TV flickering issue and also got a solution if the flickering occurs only when an external device is connected via HDMI cable.

To fix the Roku TV flickering issue, perform a power cycle on it. Unplug the TV from the power socket. Wait for at least 5 minutes before plugging it back in.

Power Cycle Your Roku TV to Stop It From Flickering

If your Roku TV has been on for a long time, you might find it flickering. Power cycling the TV can help fix the issue.

A power cycle forces the TV to restart and closes all background apps and processes. Additionally, it clears all build-up cache files as well, and stops your Roku TV from flickering.

Here’s how to power cycle your Roku TV:

Unplug your Roku TV from the wall outlet
Wait for about 5-10 minutes
Meanwhile, press and hold the physical power button on your Roku TV for about 30-60 seconds
Plug the TV back in and turn it on
Check if the flickering is resolved

Alternatively, all Roku TVs have a built-in System Restart feature that works similar to the power cycle process. It can also solve the flickering issue.

Follow these steps to system restart your Roku TV:

Press the Home button on your Roku remote
Scroll down and select Settings
Go to System
Select Power (if you can’t find the power option, skip this step)
Finally, select System Restart

Wait for your TV to restart
The flickering issue should be resolved now

There’s an alternate way to restart your Roku TV through a remote shortcut.

To restart your TV via Roku remote:

Press the Home button 5 times
Now press the Up button once
Finally, press the rewind button and fast forward button 2 times respectively
Wait for the Roku TV screen to restart
Verify if the flickering has stopped now

Inspect All Cables to Find Loose Connections

Another common cause for Roku TV flickering is loose cable connections. Inspect all cables connected to your Roku TV.

Ensure that each cable is firmly inserted into the respective ports of your TV. Moreover, confirm that there’s no issue related to the wall socket as well.

Try unplugging all connections and plugging them back in. Turn on your TV again and check if the flickering issue is resolved.

Replace Damaged Cables To Avoid Flickering

While checking loose connections, check if any cables are damaged. Prefer replacing the damaged cables to avoid flickering issues on the TV.

Any internal damage to the power cord of the TV can also lead to flickering. If you’ve got any extra cable, try replacing the older one and check if that fixes the issue.

Update Your Roku TV Software

If the flickering issue persists on your Roku TV, try updating its software version.

A software update can also fix any flickering or black screen issues on Roku TV.

You can manually check for Software updates on the Roku TV by following these steps:

Press the Home button on your Roku remote
Scroll and select Settings.
Select System
Select System update
Finally, select Check Now to check for new updates

If the updates are available, download and install it
Check if the flickering issue is resolved after the update is installed

Get in Touch With Roku Support For Further Assistance

If none of the above solutions helped fix the flickering issue, you can try to get in touch with Roku Support for assistance.

Provide a detailed problem description about your issue along with the Roku TV model name and other required information.

Based on the diagnosis, the Roku customer support team might suggest contacting your TV manufacturer if they suspect any hardware issues.

You can go through the TV manual or visit the official manufacturer’s website to learn more about the TV repair service and warranty.

Bonus Tip: Replace HDMI Cable To Solve Flickering Issues

In certain cases, flickering usually occurs if you’ve got any external device connected to the Roku TV.

The devices include gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox) and streaming devices such as Apple TV 4K. This flickering issue is mostly due to incompatible or damaged HDMI cables.

If you’re trying to stream 4K content, ensure that the connected HDMI cable supports UltraHD content.

Prefer replacing the older cable with a high-quality and certified HDMI cable for the best 4K support and high-definition streaming or gaming on your Roku TV.

Replacing the HDMI cable with a compatible one will most likely solve the flickering issue on your TV.

Get The Crystal Clear Picture Back On Your Roku TV

Some other potential causes include faulty or incompatible HDMI cables, especially while connecting a 4K-enabled device.

Make sure that you’re using a 4K rated HDMI cable and that the cable isn’t damaged and firmly inserted.

Additionally, if you’re using the input named “Computer” on your Roku TV, rename it to “HDMI”. This has helped fix the random flickering issues for many users.

To change the input, press the Home button on the Roku remote. Go to Settings > System > TV Inputs.

In the inputs menu, select your preferred input and open it. Finally, select the Rename option and enter the new name for your selected input.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my Roku TV screen goes black?

If your Roku TV screen goes black, you can try restarting the TV, checking the cables, and updating the software. Try power cycling your Roku TV by unplugging it for at least 5 minutes before plugging it back in. If none of these steps work, you may need to contact Roku support or get in touch with the TV manufacturer for further assistance.

What does it mean when the TV starts flickering?

Flickering generally refers to a visible change in the brightness displayed on the TV. It usually appears as random vertical or horizontal lines on the TV that highly disrupt the viewing experience. It mostly occurs due to loose or faulty cable connections. Incompatible HDMI cables or a technical glitch can also lead to flickering on Smart TVs.

What are the signs of a bad HDMI cable?

A bad or damaged HDMI cable may simply lead to fuzzy images or show no picture at all when used to connect any media device to your TV. Muffled or no sound is also a common sign of a bad HDMI cable. To fix such issues, the best way is to try replacing the older HDMI cable with a certified one.

Will a factory reset fix flickering on a Roku TV?

A factory reset may fix flickering on a Roku TV if the issue is caused by a software glitch. To perform a factory reset on your Roku TV press the Home button on the remote Go to Settings > System > Advanced System Settings and select Factory Reset. Finally, click on Factory Reset Everything. However, if the problem is hardware-related, a factory reset may not solve the issue. You may need to contact the TV manufacturer in that case.