Recently, I was all pumped up and excited about catching a live football match on my Samsung Smart TV.
Turning the TV on, I just went into the kitchen to get some coke and snacks before the game would start.
After coming back, I noticed a black screen on my TV even when it was turned on.
I tried turning it off and back on but nothing changed.
There couldn’t have been worse timing for this to happen but I still hoped to find a solution on the internet.
I tried reading online forums, watched a few videos, and even visited some websites to understand what was wrong with my TV.
It was after hours of research that I got some information about the black screen problem and its potential solutions.
Though I ended up fixing the issue, it was too late as I missed the match and could only watch the highlights later.
This was so frustrating because just a few months ago, I faced the Roku black screen with sound error.
I fixed it by following very similar steps, so I had some experience when my Samsung TV gave up on me this time.
To help save you time and quickly let you resume watching, I’ve compiled proven solutions that I’ve tested, that’ll fix the black screen of death issue on your Samsung TV.
To fix the black screen of death on your Samsung TV, perform a soft reset on it. Unplug your TV from the power socket and wait at least 60 seconds. Press and hold the TV’s power button for 30 seconds. Plug the TV back in and it should work normally now.
What is the Samsung TV Black Screen of Death?
The black screen of death refers to a condition in which the Samsung TV shows a black and unresponsive screen even though the TV lights are on.
There may be several reasons for this including hardware issues, faulty cables, software problems, or issues with HDMI connections.
Soft Reset your Samsung TV
Applying a soft reset on your Samsung TV is most likely to help fix the black screen of death as it has worked for many users.
A soft reset will close all running applications or background processes and safely reboot your TV.
Performing a soft reset is simple:
- Unplug the TV from the power outlet
- Wait for at least 60 seconds
- Meanwhile, press and hold the power button of your TV for 30 seconds (Skip if the power button is not available)
- Finally, plug the TV back in and the black screen of death should be gone
Inspect the Cable Connections
Before moving on to other potential solutions, it is essential that you inspect all the cables connected to your TV.
Whether you’ve got cable or a set-top box, make sure that the HDMI cable is tightly connected to both the cable box and TV.
You can also try unplugging all the connections and plugging them back in.
While doing this, check the power cable and HDMI cable for physical defects or damage as well.
If not sure about internal defects, try using a different HDMI cable to verify.
Once confirmed that there are no connection issues, try using the TV again.
Check the TV Input Settings
If you’re on the wrong source, the TV won’t display anything and it may seem like a black screen issue.
Based on the external device, cable box, or streaming device you’re using, check if the input source is selected exactly for the device you’re trying to use.
To check your TV input settings:
- Press the Source button on your Samsung TV remote
- Check if the selected input source matches the external device you’re using
- Go to the Input Settings menu to verify if all the TV input settings are enabled
If all the input settings are configured properly and the correct source is selected, your TV should be rid of the black screen by now.
Try Using A Voltage Management Device
There’s a chance that a hardware malfunction may have occurred on your Samsung TV due to an unstable voltage supply.
This is because most Smart TVs aren’t capable of handling fluctuating power.
If your voltage goes higher than your TV’s rating, it could fry your TV’s motherboard, and if your voltage is lower than your TV needs, you’ll find it can’t display an image.
To avoid voltage fluctuations and provide a balanced power supply to your Samsung TV, I’d recommend using an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
This will ensure that no such hardware malfunctions affect your TV’s health due to unstable voltage issues.
Check Your TV Remote
It’s possible that some issues with your TV remote might have gone unnoticed.
Try replacing the batteries of your remote to verify if the old ones are still working.
Clean your remote by removing the batteries from the back and try resetting it as well.
To reset the remote:
- Take both batteries out of their respective slots
- Press and hold the power button on your remote
- Wait for at least 30-60 seconds
- Plug the batteries back in and try using the remote again
If the problem was related to the remote, your TV might turn on and start working properly now.
Check the Samsung TV Backlight for Defects
Another potential reason for the Samsung TV’s black screen of death is due to a broken or defective backlight.
A broken backlight may lead to a black screen even when your TV is turned on and working.
You can easily verify if this is the case through a flashlight test.
Here’s the procedure to perform a flashlight test on your TV:
- Ensure that your TV is plugged in properly and the power button is turned on
- Now closely point a flashlight at your TV screen (I’d recommend closing the lights of your room off for a better view)
- You can also try turning the volume up via remote to confirm if any sound is audible
- If you notice dull images appearing on the TV screen, it indicates that the TV backlight might be broken.
Once you’ve confirmed there’s a backlight issue, the LED backlight strips need to be replaced.
I’d highly recommend that you hire an expert for this job to ensure that the new LED strips are safely replaced.
This is because replacing the backlight strips is a bit risky and complicated process.
A lot of screws need to be removed to disassemble all the bezels.
Additionally, the fragile glass panel of the TV needs to be removed as well and any damage on it could cost you high repair charges.
Thus, it’s better to spend a few extra dollars for a perfect LED backlight strip replacement.
If you still decide to replace the LED backlight strip on your TV yourself, here’s a step-by-step guide for the replacement:
- Ensure that the TV is unplugged
- Make sure that all cables are disconnected from the TV including ethernet and HDMI cables
- Unscrew the back cover and remove it
- Disconnect the ribbon cables from the scan drive boards
- Now unscrew the bottom of the TV that holds the bezel in place
- Disconnect and remove the speakers to ensure that they do not fall when the TV is flipped
- Flip the TV over and remove the bezel carefully
- Release the scan drive boards from the tabs
- Carefully flip up the scan drive boards and tape them to the panel
- Using suction cups, remove the TV panel
- Slowly release and remove the four pieces of the panel frame
- Tape all of the layers of diffusion on the corners to keep them together
- Remove the layers of diffusion and the clear plastic clips on top of the reflector sheet
- Remove the reflector sheet
- Now using small pliers, remove the small rivets that hold the strips to the chassis
- Remove the LED strips from the chassis
- It is recommended to use double-sided tape on the back of the strips when you are replacing them, instead of tape on the top of them
- Unplug the strips from the power supply cable so they can also be disconnected from each other. Push down on the tabs to release them
- The new strips mostly come with adhesive on the back of them to secure them to the chassis
- If the adhesive is not present, you can use double-sided tape and attach it to each strip
- Align the replacement strips properly and connect them with each other and to the power cable as well
- Finally, reinstall and fix all the parts of the TV carefully and plug in all the cable connections
- The black screen issue should be resolved now
Replace the T-CON Board
The T-CON Board creates images on a TV screen.
In case it’s broken, then you’re most likely to not see any picture even if a dull light appears on the screen.
You may need to replace the T-CON board if it has broken on your Samsung TV.
It can be termed as a budget-friendly replacement and will solve the black screen of death in case the T-CON board is responsible.
You can buy a T-CON board online at an affordable price on Amazon, eBay, or Walmart.
Make sure that you verify if the board is compatible with your TV model before placing the order.
It may seem a bit tricky, but replacing a T-CON board is a fairly easy task and can be done without the help of an expert technician.
You can still opt to get it replaced by someone professional just in case.
If you decide to do it yourself, here’s how to replace the T-CON board on your TV:
- To start with, carefully remove the rear panels of your TV
- Now slowly disconnect all the ribbon cables on the T-CON board
- Unscrew the screw so you can take out the older board
- Unbox the new T-CON board and assemble it right in place of the older one
Get all the connections back on your TV and try running it again.
The picture should be properly visible now.
Factory Reset the Samsung Smart TV
Note that this solution is only applicable if you’re able to access the TV settings but the black screen keeps coming back while you’re watching.
Performing a factory reset on your TV will remove all the applications, customized settings, and accounts and revert it back to its default state.
One important thing to note is that it will remove all app data from your TV and you may need to re-download and login into all your accounts.
Thus, I’d suggest you try this as a last option in case none of the above solutions have helped fix the black screen of death till now.
Here’s how to factory reset the Samsung TV:
- Go to the Samsung Home Screen
- Click on Settings and choose General
- Now, select the Reset option
- When asked for a PIN, enter 0000 as the default
- Once the factory reset is complete, try using the TV again.
Factory resetting can also help if your Samsung Smart TV keeps losing internet connection.
Replace the Existing Streaming Device
In case none of the solutions have worked, the problem might be related to the streaming device you’re using.
Try connecting to a different streaming device and check if the black screen of death issue is resolved or not.
If it solves the issue, then your streaming device might have some hardware/software problem that needs to be fixed.
Get in Touch With Samsung Support
If your Samsung TV still has the black screen of death, I’m afraid it’s the best time to contact the Samsung Support Team regarding the problem.
Based on your TV model, they’ll provide personalized assistance to help diagnose the root cause of your problem.
If it turns out to be a hardware issue, Samsung-authorized service repairs will ensure that your problem is fixed.
This repair cost will depend on the diagnosis, warranty status, and repair type.
Enjoy The Color Screen of Life
If your Samsung TV doesn’t show anything on the screen even after it has been turned on, it’s called the black screen of death.
Before trying to fix the issue, it is important to diagnose the main cause leading to the black screen of death.
The root cause of the issue might be a hardware malfunction, software issues, outdated firmware, incorrect configuration of cables, etc.
Soft resetting your Samsung TV is most likely to solve the black screen of death as it performs a safe reboot after closing all applications and background processes.
There may be issues with the cables connected to the TV that may cause the black screen to show up.
Thus, check all the cables for physical damage and tight connections.
Most Smart TVs aren’t designed to withstand high instability in power voltage.
This may cause some type of hardware malfunction leading to the black screen of death.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, it is recommended to use a voltage management device such as Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
There’s a chance that your TV backlight is broken and causing your TV to show a black screen even if it is powered on.
Performing a quick flashlight test will confirm if this is the issue and you may go for a backlight strip replacement.
Prefer hiring an expert for this job as it carries a risk of damaging the glass panel of your TV.
If your TV doesn’t show any light on the screen, it’s possible that the T-CON board is broken.
In this case, you may need to consider replacing it.
As a final solution, in case the black screen keeps coming back after some time on your TV perform a factory reset on it.
This removes all settings, applications, and accounts, restoring them to their defaults.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I soft reset my Samsung TV if the screen is black?
- Unplug your TV from the power source
- Wait for at least 60 seconds to pass
- Meanwhile, press and hold the power button of the TV for about 30 seconds (Skip this step if you’re not able to locate the power button on your TV)
- Plug the TV back in and the soft reset is complete
What causes a TV screen to go black?
There are several reasons why a TV screen might go black.
These include hardware malfunctions due to unstable voltage, software problems, minor bugs, technical glitches, broken T-CON board, and issues related to an external device connected to the TV.
The simplest solution to fix a black screen issue is to power cycle your TV.
What are the signs of a damaged TV screen?
There are several indications that point out if your TV screen is damaged:
- Dead pixels visible on the screen
- Colors appear as distorted on the screen while you’re watching
- Bars and Lines appearing on the screen corners or even in the middle area
- The screen seems to show blurry or fuzzy pictures
- Faded areas or too low brightness can also indicate issues with the screen
- A Complete black screen even when the TV is turned on due to a broken T-CON board
