12 ways to fix a samsung television black screen

Samsung TVs are among the most widely used televisions in homes throughout the globe. In addition to the cutting-edge technology and pricing that caters to all segments, Samsung is also known for its dependability. However, even the best brands have their shortcomings. In this case, Samsung TVs tend to suffer from an issue known as Samsung TV black screen of death. 

Samsung tv black screen of death

Samsung TV black screen of death is a pesky issue. Problems with the hardware or cables are likely the root cause. This issue can be resolved by correctly inserting the cables into their ports. To fix the problem and improve the performance of your Samsung TV, you can turn off all power-saving features.

Users first notice the Samsung TV black screen of death issue when they switch on their TV and see nothing but the pitch-black screen even though the lights are on. This is because the TV display goes black when the input device cannot transfer data to the TV. 

If your Samsung smart TV’s display turns black, many factors might be at play. The connections should always be checked first. If the problem persists, you should get in touch with Samsung support so they can look into it further. 

How-to fix a samsung tv black screen

Facing a Samsung TV black screen of death issue currently? This guide will walk you through a slew of troubleshooting methods to resolve the issue and bring your Samsung TV to life! 

Check Cables

There are several things you need to do before you can begin troubleshooting the Samsung TV black screen of death issue. Make sure all of the cables are removed and then reconnected correctly. Ensure that you use HDMI cables of the highest quality. 

You can also determine the cable issue by checking the signal history on your Samsung TV. This will tell you if there’s been any recurring issue. You can check the signal history on your Samsung TV by going to Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Signal Information. Unplugging and replugging all of your external resources may help. Devices with short-term malfunctions will be fixed by this method, as well. 

It’s also essential to ensure that your cords are clean and dust-free, as this might produce a black screen. You may use a can of compressed air to clear up the HDMI socket. Then there’s the option of using a soft-bristled brush to get the dust out. 

Soft Reset TV

If your Samsung TV freezes, a soft reset is typically all that is needed to get it working again. However, certain applications you have previously disabled may be temporarily enabled if you perform a soft reset. 

You can do a soft reset to resolve the Samsung TV black screen of death issue and enhance your TV performance. Unplug the TV for 60 seconds, then replug it in. This should do the trick. If a transient glitch has caused problems, this will resolve them. 

Another option is to perform a hard reset. To do a hard reset on your Samsung TV — Unplug your TV from the power socket and then press and hold the power button on your remote for 30 seconds.  

Check TV Sources

It’s more likely that your Samsung TV’s input source is faulty. However, by following a few easy steps, you can diagnose and repair the problem. 

Samsung TV black screen of death issue can also occur due to external devices connected to it, like the Blu-ray player. You need to check all such devices by plugging and re-plugging them. Basically, you need to double-check every input source to fix the black screen issue on your Samsung TV. 

Check every externally connected device and cable, and then power off and on your Samsung TV to see if you can see the colorful screen. 

Check TV Input Settings

Smart TVs offer a variety of ways to access information, such as streaming videos and apps. There are a lot of features on Samsung TVs that might make it difficult to manage. A common problem is a black screen on the TV for many users, which can be caused by a faulty setup of the TV’s source. 

To resolve the “Incorrect source” error, you need to press the “Source” button on your Samsung TV’s remote control, then check the Input Settings menu to ensure all of your TV’s inputs are enabled

Check that all input sources are configured correctly in the Input Settings menu. For example, if you have several HDMI devices like FireTV Stick connected to your Samsung TV, check each HDMI source by pressing the “Source” button on the remote. 

Try A Voltage Management Device

Unfortunately, even slight voltage swings are too much for some new-age smart TVs. Voltage fluctuations can cause malfunctions, including frozen screens, low-quality displays, and even dark panels. 

You’ll need to keep an eye on the TV’s power supply. Power management devices such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) are needed to ensure that your smart tv’s voltage needs are met.

Turn Off Power Saver Mode 

Power saving mode on your Samsung smart TV is a great way to save some power and money on power consumption. Although it is a nifty way to save some energy, it could contribute to the Samsung TV black screen of death issue. So, you may have to turn it off to resolve the issue. Follow the steps below to turn off power saver mode on your Samsung TV. 

How to turn off power saver mode on a Samsung TV

  1. Press the Menu button on your Samsung TV remote
  2. Go to Settings > Power Saving mode
  3. Toggle the option from On to Off 

After doing this, turn off your TV and turn it back on after 30 seconds to check if the issue has been resolved. 

Check the Backlight

Another troubleshooting step is to check the backlight on your Samsung TV. You need to take a flashlight and look closely. If you can see the image where the flashlight shines, your TV’s backlight is broken. 

Turn Off Sleep Mode

Among the many advanced features of your Samsung smart TV is the Sleep Timer. It helps monitor your screen time and schedule your TV to turn off from time to time so that you can follow a routine. Although it is good for your eyes, the feature could also be a troublemaker and cause issues like Samsung TV black screen of death. And that’s why you will have to disable it. Follow the steps below to do that. 

How to disable sleep timer on a Samsung TV

  1. Press the menu button on your Samsung TV
  2. Go to Settings > Time > Sleep Timer
  3. Toggle the timer from On to Off

Once the timer is disabled, switch off your TV and wait for 30 seconds before turning it back on. Your TV should work seamlessly now. 

Update Firmware

Sometimes Samsung TV black screen of death issue could also come up due to dated firmware. One could easily fix that by updating the firmware on their Samsung TV. 

As per many comments in public forums, you can see that the black screen of death issue has plagued Samsung TV customers, wherein the fault in the firmware prohibits them from seeing any content on their TVs. 

The firmware controls all the functions of the TV.  Nothing on your TV will work without it, and you can do it from the comfort of your couch, even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy. 

Users can navigate to the settings menu on their Samsung TV to install firmware upgrades. To update your Samsung TV firmware, go to 

How to upgrade firmware on Samsung TV

  1. Press the menu button on your Samsung TV remote
  2. Go to Settings > Support 
  3. Now, select Software Update > Update Now
  4. Wait for the firmware installation to complete, and your TV will restart

Once the new firmware is in action, you will notice that the black screen issue has been resolved. If not, move on to the nest method. 

Factory Reset TV

If your Smart TV is having software issues, a factory reset should fix them and delete any previous user data that may have been stored there. 

To restore your Samsung TV to its factory settings, follow the steps below.

How to factory reset Samsung TV

  1. Using your Samsung TV remote, go to Settings 
  2. Now, click Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset
  3. You will get a prompt to enter the security PIN; just enter 0000
  4. Click Yes to confirm the reset

Your TV will reset and restart after the factory reset is complete. If you have a Samsung account and have been using it before the factory reset, you can retrieve all your data from your TV via the Samsung cloud. It will help you restore the previous settings. 

Replace Streaming Device

If every troubleshooting step failed and you have already checked every cable and external device, maybe the fault lies with a streaming device connected to your Samsung TV. If you are using a streaming device like Fire Stick or Roku, you must check if it is a cause of the Samsung TV black screen of death issue. 

You can check your streaming stick by plugging it into a different TV. If it works fine, the issue is with your Samsung TV. 

Remove the Motherboard

Alright, so this method is super technical, and if you have never assembled a PC or ever dealt with any hardware component before, we suggest ignoring this one. However, if you do have some experience with handling hardware components or are a geek who knows about assembling, then, by all means, give this a try! But proceed with utmost caution. 

You can unplug the motherboard on your Samsung TV to fix the Samsung TV black screen of death issue. Just follow the steps below. 

  1. Gently unscrew the screws on the back of your television 
  2. Find the motherboard of your TV and remove all of the wires and ribbon cables connected to it
  3. Remove the motherboard
  4. Ensure that your motherboard is free of dust and other contaminants 
  5. Reinstall the TV’s motherboard carefully
  6. Make sure all of the wires are plugged in correctly before powering on the TV

Contact Customer Service

Finally, when everything fails to work and resolve the issue plaguing your Samsung TV, you must contact Samsung’s customer support. They will most likely book a technician visit for you. If your device is under warranty, you might not have to pay for the repair. 

Other black screen issues

There could be different variations to the Samsung TV black screen of death issue. We list all three scenarios with their troubleshooting methods below. 

Samsung TV black screen of death with sound

Samsung TVs have an issue where the sound works, but there is no image and just a black screen. The number of Samsung TV users who claim to have had this issue is plentiful. Fortunately, a simple remedy should work for around half of Samsung TVs with no picture and sound.

If you are battling a Samsung TV black screen of death with sound, you should reset your TV by plugging it out of the socket and waiting 60 seconds before plugging it back and powering it on. 

We also wrote an article on How to Fix a Samsung TV That Has No Sound. If you’re struggling with this issue, check it out. 

Samsung TV keeps going black

Changing your Samsung TV’s “Sleep” and “Power Saving” settings or updating the firmware will solve this problem. You can refer to the steps in the troubleshooting methods above to turn off the sleep timer and power-saving mode on your Samsung TV. 

If the problem persists, you may have damaged the TV’s internal components. From this point on, have it examined by a specialist.

Samsung TV goes black then comes back on

TV screens are critical, and they shouldn’t go blank when watching. Just recently, a Samsung TV user had a problem with their device. They were watching TV when the display abruptly went blank and afterward restored, repeating this pattern multiple times until the video input was eventually replaced. 

Make sure your power cord is in good working order. If you see a loose connection on the wall outlet or the back of your TV, double-check that the cable is correctly attached. If that does not fix the issue, your best bet is to consult a technician. 

What causes the samsung tv black screen of death

The Samsung TV black screen of death does not appear without reason. There could be numerous triggers for the issue. We list them below.  

Cable Connection 

Likely, the HDMI connection from the Smart Hub to the TV isn’t properly connected. Many additional cables, such as Ethernet and DVD connections, may also produce problems. As a result, you must use caution to identify the issue and determine the best method for resolving the problem.

Thermal Shutdown

Overheating is one of the most typical causes of this. For example, overheating might occur if your television isn’t properly cleaned and dust builds up. 

It takes a lot of electricity to run a TV’s internal components. As a result, the TV’s thermal shutdown protection may shut it off suddenly if it becomes too hot.

Dated Firmware

Sometimes your TV’s firmware gets dated and stops functioning properly. Generally, the newer televisions can run the most recent applications available. Samsung’s black screen of death will appear if the TV’s operating system is not the most recent version. As a result, the TV’s firmware must be checked and updated regularly.

Hardware Failure

Malfunctioning hardware is another explanation for the Samsung TV Black Screen of Death. Your TV may have been outfitted with a piece of hardware that has since stopped operating. A defective TV panel or a damaged circuit board might be the source of the problem. The sooner you have your TV repaired, the more quickly it will be back in working order.

Input Setting 

If you haven’t already adjusted your input options, you may need to do so now. A black screen may still show if the settings are not suitable. To fix the black screen issue, you must adjust your TV’s input settings.

Capacitor

The TV’s internal capacitor is a typical source of failure for Samsung televisions. It’s not possible to watch an image on television with this issue. TV’s red standby indicator flashes and the TV makes a clicking sound. Occasionally, the TV will come on after a  period of time, ranging from a few seconds to a half-hour. Other times, nothing happens. 

In 2012, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the makers of this clicking capacitor. Samsung committed to fixing the faulty units as a result of the lawsuit. Models manufactured between 2006 and 2008 are particularly affected by the capacitor problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

After mentioning every possible cause and method to fix the Samsung TV black screen of death issue, let’s answer some related questions.

What to do when your TV turns on but the screen is black?

If your TV turns on, but the screen is black, you should unplug it from the wall socket and wait 60 seconds before turning it back on. 

Why is my Samsung TV on but the screen is black?

There could be many reasons why your Samsung TV is on, but the screen is black. One of the most prevalent causes is the lack of input sources. If there’s no input device connected to the TV, it will be black. 

What causes Samsung Black Screen of Death?

There are many possible causes behind the Samsung black screen of death issue, including hardware problems, incorrect input method, loose cables, outdated firmware, etc.  

What is TV black screen of death?

The expression “black screen of death” is derived from a popular phrase,  “Blue Screen of Death.” used to refer to Windows’ most common errors. The black screen of death on Samsung TV is when you can’t see anything on your screen, but you can still hear the sound. There may be no sound in certain circumstances.

Conclusion

We hope this guide helps you resolve the Samsung TV black screen of death issue. If your Samsung Smart TV suddenly displays a black screen of death, don’t forsake it. In many cases, the black screen on your Samsung Smart TV is caused by a faulty connection or an incorrect setup. 

Step-by-step troubleshooting generally yields a quick and simple solution. An experienced technician should repair your Samsung TV if none of the fixes work. 

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About Melissa

Hey! I'm Mel, I write the occasional article for Spacehop, amongst other things. I love meeting new people and chatting, so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

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