The Vizio TV black screen issue occurs for several reasons, and the most common ones are problems with connections, power settings, and the TV’s firmware. Luckily, it’s only a temporary problem, and you can easily fix it. Here’s how to fix Vizio TV black screen of death issue.
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How to Fix Vizio TV Black Screen of Death?
Soft reset your Vizio TV to solve the black screen of death issue. First, unplug the cord from the wall outlet and wait for one minute. Press the power button on your Vizio TV and hold it for 30 seconds. Wait for 15 seconds and turn the TV back on.
If your problem is not solved, try these troubleshooting methods.
1. Power Cycle your TV
If your Vizio TV suddenly shows a black screen, try to unplug the power cord from the wall socket and wait for one minute. Press and hold the power button on your TV for at least 5–10 seconds. It’ll allow the TV to reset itself. Plug the cord into the socket and turn on your TV. It should work.
However, some Vizio TV models have an option to “Power Cycle” the TV using the menu. Take your remote and press the Menu button and choose System. Now, select “Reset & Admin> Soft Power Cycle” and press OK.
2. Check all the Connected Cables
If soft resetting doesn’t do the trick, try to check all the connected cables to the TV, especially HDMI cables. It’s because streaming devices like Firestick and Roku require an HDMI connection, and if the HDMI cable is damaged or loosely connected, you’re likely to see a black screen of death error.
So, ensure that all cables are securely connected to their respective ports.
You can also try connecting the HDMI cord to different ports and using a different wall outlet for the power cord to see if that fixes the issue.
If your issue is not resolved, you need to replace the cable. The best alternatives for replacing the cables are the Belkin Ultra HDMI 2.1 and the Cable Matters Polarized Power Cord.
Along with the cables, try to inspect the HDMI ports too. Clean the ports using isopropyl alcohol if dirty and ensure that the HDMI ports are not physically damaged.
3. Check the Input Sources
Sometimes, we incorrectly connect devices like Roku, Blu-ray players, a PlayStation, or an Xbox to the Vizio TV. As a result, we face the Vizio TV dark screen problem.
The first thing you need to do is to unplug the TV from the wall socket and wait for one minute.
Now, connect the external device to the TV. Make sure to connect the wires firmly.
Turn on your TV and press the power button on both the external device and the TV.
If the device is powered on, proceed to the next step. If not, contact the manufacturer of the external device.
Take your Vizio TV remote and press the “A/V Controls” or “Input” button. You’ll see options like TV/AV, HDMI 1, Screen Mirroring, USB, and many more.
Now, select the right input source. If you’ve connected the external device to the HDMI 1 port, select the “HDMI 1” option in that Menu.
However, you can also edit the names of the input modes to make it easier for you to switch between them.
4. Unmute the TV screen
Vizio offers a “Mute screen” feature on some of their TV models. It allows you to turn off the screen if you’re listening to music or podcasts so that the screen won’t distract you. So, if your TV has this feature, you can turn it off or on by holding the “Mute” button on your TV remote for 5–10 seconds.
5. Replace the Batteries in your TV Remote
This simple hack worked for many users. Turn the TV off, replace the batteries and try to press all the buttons one by one on your remote.
6. Update Vizio TV OS
Sometimes, using outdated firmware could result in the Vizio TV black screen issue. Follow the steps to update the Vizio TV OS.
- Make sure your TV is on and is connected to the internet.
- Using your remote, press the Home button.
- Scroll down to select Admin & Privacy. On some older TV models, it may be listed as System.
- Scroll down and select “Check for Updates”.
The TV will check for the latest updates, and if found, it will download and install them.
7. Factory Reset your Vizio TV
If updating the OS doesn’t work, it’s time to factory reset your TV. It’ll solve all the software-related problems. Before doing a factory reset, make sure you back up the necessary stuff.
Factory reset your Vizio TV when the screen is visible:
- Take your Vizio remote and press the Home button.
- Choose “Admin & Privacy.” On some older TV models, it may be listed as System> Reset & Admin or under Help option.
- Scroll down and select the Reset to Factory Settings option, enter the security pin (0000), and press OK.
- Once the reset is complete, set up the TV correctly to reduce any risk of getting errors in the future.
Factory reset your Vizio TV when the screen is black:
Locate the volume and input buttons on the back panel of your TV. Press and hold the volume down and the input button simultaneously for 15–20 seconds or until you see a message on the screen. Now, press the input for 10 seconds. After doing that, your TV will reset itself.
If a factory reset didn’t help you resolve the issue, then the problem may lie with the internal circuits.
8. Check the Issue with the Backlight
If your Vizio TV turns on but no picture is visible and you hear the audio, it’s likely because of a failure in one of the LED power strips.
To check the backlight issue, take a flashlight or turn on the flashlight on your phone and close all other lights in the room. Turn on your TV and shine the flashlight closer to the screen.
If it is working fine, you’ll see a dim image on the screen. Take your remote and give some commands to the TV, like changing the volume or channels, to see if the TV responds.
Try to move the flashlight around the screen to see if there are some changes on your TV’s screen. If you hear any sound, you’re also likely to see some dim pictures too.
If you can control your TV from the remote and see a dim image on the screen, it means your TV’s mainboard and T-CON are working fine.
In this case, the problem lies with the LED backlights of your TV.
Now, you’re left with two options: either contact Vizio for help or do it yourself to save the cost of repairs.
However, it’s best to contact Vizio if your TV is under warranty, as disassembling it will void its warranty. If the warranty period is over, try dismantling the TV if you’re well aware of its internal circuitry.
You can also compare the cost of repair with that of a brand new TV to know if that part is worth replacing.
9. Replace your Vizio TV LED Backlight Strips
If you’ve decided to replace the LED backlight strips, there are some things that you should know before doing it.
- If one light in the strip breaks, then the complete strip set won’t work.
- You can buy the strips online by searching for the exact model name.
- You should try to replace the entire strip because replacing a single LED light is quite a hassle.
- Be ready, as there are many screws that you’ll need to remove. Plus, you’ll also need to disassemble the expensive and fragile glass panel.
The cost of replacing the strips depends on the number of strips you need. Vizio TVs have more than nine LED backlight strips, depending on the model you have. Mostly, the cost is between a hundred and two hundred dollars.
Replacing the LED backlight strips on your own is a good option to save money on official repairs. It also helps you to solve other issues, like if the screen is dim or if one side of the TV has an image and the other does not.
Note: If you’re unfamiliar with disassembling the Vizio TV, contact Vizio customer service to get professional help.
10. Replace the T-CON Board
The T-CON board creates an image on the Vizio TV screen. If you do not see any picture on the screen when you shine the flashlight on the TV, it’s likely because of a broken T-CON board.
Replacing the T-CON board is far easier than replacing the LED backlights.
Find the model number of your TV and search for it on any search engine. You can buy the T-CON board for under a hundred dollars from any online marketplace, such as Amazon or eBay.
Remove the back panel of your TV. Put the screws in a safe place.
Disconnect the ribbon cables attached to the T-CON board. Usually, there are 2-3 ribbon cables connected to it.
Now, remove the four screws, take the old T-CON board out, and place the new one in the same location.
Once you do it, assemble the TV and soft reset it. It should now work.
11. Check the Issue with Motherboard
If your Vizio TV problems black screen after checking the backlight and T-CON board, it might be an issue with the motherboard. The TV mainboard is responsible for converting analog and video signals to digital signals that are transmitted to the T-CON board that projects them on the TV screen. If the motherboard is damaged, you’ll not see pictures on the screen.
Follow these steps to check the issue with the motherboard:
- Get a soft cloth or towel to protect the TV’s display, a tray to place all the screws, and a screwdriver of the appropriate size according to your Vizio TV.
- Place your TV on a smooth surface (a wooden table is preferable) and open the back panel using the screwdriver.
- Now, look for the fuses on your TV. You might see five fuses. Check these fuses, and if the fuses are blown, try to replace them with new ones.
- Locate the motherboard, disconnect all the ribbon cables and cords, and take the circuit board out. If possible, use a multimeter to check the current flow on the board. It’ll save you from any minor shocks.
- Take the cloth, clean the motherboard, and ensure all the dust is gone. Put the motherboard back into the TV, and reconnect all the wires. Now, reassemble the screws and close the back panel. After that, power on your TV and see if it solves the issue.
If it didn’t help, replace the motherboard with a new one by reopening the TV and placing a new one. You can buy the motherboard online by searching for the TV’s model name.
12. Vizio TV Support and Warranty
If none of the above methods helped you solve the issue, try contacting Vizio support to get professional help.
However, Vizio offers a 1-year warranty on most of its products. If your TV is under warranty, you might get the work done without spending too much.
What to do if a Vizio TV Shows a Black Screen with Sound?
Most Vizio TVs have a mute screen feature that allows users to disable the screen temporarily. If you hear audio from your TV, but the screen is black, you might have enabled this feature. You can press the “mute” button on your remote for 5–10 seconds to disable this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Press and hold the volume down and the input button located on the back panel of your TV simultaneously for 15–20 seconds or until you see a message on the screen. Now, press the input for 10 seconds. After doing that, your TV will reset itself.
Here are some of the reasons why you face the Vizio TV black screen of death issue:
> Faulty HDMI cables or ports
> Wrong input settings
> Incorrect sources
> Power saving mode is enabled
> The sleep timer is turned on
> Vizio TV OS is not up to date
> Hardware failure
If you see a black screen when you turn the TV on, perform a soft reset and try to inspect all the connections, especially the HDMI connections. If the cables are firmly connected, and there is no problem with them, then factory reset your TV to fix this issue.
If your TV is powered on and you don’t see pictures on the screen, it may result from an incorrect cable setup or a wrong input channel setting. If this isn’t the case, your TV might have experienced a software glitch and frozen, which you can fix by power cycling your TV.
The Bottom Line
If you’re facing the Vizio TV dark or black screen issue, follow these proven fixes to solve this problem.
- Power Cycle your TV
- Check all the Connected Cables
- Check the Input Sources
- Unmute the TV screen
- Replace the Batteries in your TV Remote
- Update Vizio TV OS
- Factory Reset your Vizio TV
- Check the Issue with the Backlight
- Replace your Vizio TV LED Backlight Strips
- Replace the T-CON Board
- Check the Issue with Motherboard
- Vizio TV Support and Warranty
Hopefully, one of these fixes has helped you solve the problem. Were you able to fix the Vizio TV black screen issue? Let me know which one worked for you in the comments below!
