TV Screen That Is Too Dark or Black (Easy Fixes)

Imagine how frustrating it is when you are watching your favorite movie or show, and the screen goes black, and you can barely do anything about it. There are several causes for a dark TV screen. Luckily, it’s only a temporary issue and can be fixed easily. Here’s how to fix the TV screen that is too dark.

Table of Contents

Why Is My TV Screen Darker Than Normal?

The picture on your TV screen appears too dark for these major reasons:

The power saving mode is set to the high setting.
The cinema mode is turned on.
The backlight is placed behind the LCD panel.

Most TVs feature various display modes for soap operas, animated shoes, and different movies. Normally, we do not adjust these modes. Sometimes, it automatically switches to the darker mode so that your eyes are not hurt.

On some TVs, “theatrical or cinema mode” is selected by default, sometimes resulting in a dark TV screen. So, it’s best to use the “Neutral Mode” for a clearer vision.

Why Is the Top Half of My TV Screen Dark?

The top half of your TV screen is dark because of faulty backlights, faulty HDMI cable, or connectivity issues with external devices.

If the backlights are not working properly, it will only light half the TV, making the other half darker.

Sometimes, the problem lies with the HDMI cable. If the HDMI cable is damaged, it will send the wrong signals to the TV, causing one side of the screen to appear dark.

The HDMI cable can also cause problems due to other external devices connected to your TV. So, you must check these external devices before buying a new HDMI cable.

Why Is the Bottom Half of My TV Screen Dark?

If your PC or smartphone is connected to a TV, this problem is likely to occur. Here, the TV acts as a screen, and the source device completely controls the signals.

If there is any discrepancy in the signal sent by the source device to the television, it will only result in dark patches or a black bar at the bottom of the screen.

However, you can solve this issue by restarting your TV. If this doesn’t work, try taking out all external devices and wires connected to the TV and then restart your TV.

If you do not find any problems with the wires and devices, then the issue lies with your television. In this case, you have two options: either you can replace it with another one or contact customer service to repair it.

Why Is the Right Side of My TV Screen Dark?

If your TV screen is dark on the right side, there may be a fault with the external devices or power outlet.

To solve this issue, try running your television through other power outlets and connecting various other external devices.

In most of the newer models, there is an option to diagnose problems with connected devices or HDMI cables. If you’ve bought a TV recently, you should use this feature to pinpoint the issue.

If somehow the problem is not solved, then it is the issue with the backlight on the right side of your TV. Here, you only have one option, which is to replace the TV.

Why Is the Left Side of My TV Screen Dark?

The picture on your TV screen appears too dark on the left side due to a fault with the backlight or the signal.

First, you need to check the signal strength of your network provider or the HDMI cable connected to your television. Sometimes, faults in the network or cable may be the cause.

If the cables and external devices are working properly, the issue is with the screen’s backlights. These lights may have stopped working or burned out, causing the screen to appear dark on the left side.

The only solution to this is to get a new TV because the cost of backlights is the same as that of a new television.

Why Is My Vizio TV Screen So Dark and How to Fix It?

The Vizio TV works well but occasionally has dark screen issues. Here are some possible reasons and solutions you can apply:

Sometimes, the issue is with the television’s power supply. If that’s the case, just unplug the cord and hold down the power button for a few seconds before turning it on.

Make sure the power and cable cords are not loosely connected.

Vizio TV comes with default picture settings, and features like “Ambient Light Sensor” and “Adaptive Luma” are turned on, which can affect the screen brightness. So it’s better to change the picture settings.

Steps to Change Picture Settings on Vizio TV

Tap on the “Menu” button on your remote.
Select “Picture“ and press the “Ok” button.
Now, change the Picture Mode to Custom by using the left or right arrow button.
Select “More” and press the right arrow key.
Choose “Advanced Picture” and press the right arrow key.
Select “Ambient Light Sensor” and turn it off.
Now select “Adaptive Luma” and turn it off.

Make other adjustments as well, according to your needs, and tap the back button twice to return to the main menu.

If your issue is still not resolved, try to reset Picture Mode.

Tap on the “Menu” button on your TV remote.

Select “Picture” and press the “Ok” button.

Press the down arrow key to move to “Picture Mode Edit” and then press the right key.

You’ll see a “Reset Picture Mode” option. Highlight it and press OK.

Now, a message will display asking you to cancel or confirm the reset. Choose the “Confirm” option and press OK.

If you still face the dark screen issue, try contacting VIZIO customer service for technical support.

Why Is My Samsung TV Screen So Dark and How to Fix It?

Most new Samsung TV models come with an Eco-sensor feature that automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness. So when you’re watching TV in a brightly lit room, the feature increases the brightness, and in a dimly lit room, it decreases the brightness. However, you can disable this feature in the TV settings.

Sometimes, by mistake, users set the power saving mode to high, causing the screen to appear dark. You can turn it off to solve this problem.

Another reason for a dark screen can be the signal strength of your network provider.

Sometimes, issues with the TV’s software also result in a dark screen, so it’s best to keep the system up to date.

Steps to Turn Off the Samsung Eco-Sensor Feature

Tap on the “Menu” button on your remote.
Select the “System” option on your TV screen and enter.
Now choose “Eco Solution” and press enter.
Select “Eco Sensor” and tap enter.
Now again, select “Eco Sensor” and tap enter.
You’ll see two options: “On” and “Off.”
Select “Off” and press enter to disable it.

Steps to Turn Off Power Saving Mode on Samsung TV

Turn on your TV and press the “Menu” button on your remote.

On your TV screen, select the “General” option and press enter.

Now choose “Eco Solution” and press enter.

Select “Energy Saving” and press “Enter.”

You’ll see four options – off, low, medium, and high.
Select “Off” and press enter to disable it.

Why Is My Apple TV Screen So Dark and How to Fix It?

There are several possible reasons for the dark screen on an Apple TV. Some of them are:

Active power-saving mode
Using a faulty HDMI cable
Not adjusting HDR settings on a device that supports HDR.
Light sensitivity is turned off.

Steps to Fix the Apple TV Screen Being Too Dark

Go to “Settings” on your Apple TV.

Select “General” and tap “OK.”

Go to Accessibility > Display Accommodations.

Enable Light Sensitivity.

Now change the display intensity according to your preference.

Why Is My LG TV Screen So Dark and How to Fix It?

The most common reason for the LG TV screen being dark is due to the power-saving mode and ambient light setting. If these modes are turned on, you’ll see fluctuations in the brightness levels.

The other cause of a dark screen is using a faulty HDMI cable. However, you can check the cable using the diagnostic tool featured on your TV.

Steps to Turn Off Power Saving Mode in an LG TV

Press the “Smart” home button on your remote.

Highlight “Settings” and press “OK.”

Select Picture Mode Settings under Picture and set it to “Eco.”

Picture Mode Settings under Picture to Eco

Now select “APS (Automatic Power Saving)” and turn it off.

You can also set the picture mode to standard to maintain a balance between brightness, contrast, and sharpness.

Why Is My Sony TV Screen So Dark and How to Fix It?

Features like Automatic Picture Mode and Power Saving Mode make your Sony TV screen dark.

However, you can turn both off to solve this issue.

Steps to Adjust the Picture Mode on Sony TV

Press the “Home” button on your remote.
Highlight the settings and press OK.
Select display/picture and press OK.
Turn off the Auto Picture Mode and change the settings according to your needs.

You can also select “Advanced Settings” to make more detailed changes.

Steps to Adjust Eco Settings on Sony TV

Press the Home button on your remote.

Go to “System Settings” and open “Preferences.”
Select “Eco” and press “OK.”

Now turn off power saving mode, or you can change settings as per your needs.

If these methods don’t work for you, it may be a problem with your TV. In this case, you can only contact Sony customer service to repair or replace the unit.

How to Fix the JVC TV Dark Screen Issue?

Try the following solutions to fix dark screen issues on JVC TV.

Try changing the picture modes and brightness level of the TV.
Check the external connections and power cords and make sure they are in good condition.
If none of these solutions work, contact JVC customer service for technical help.

How to Fix the Phillips TV Dark Screen Issue?

If you own a Phillips TV, you might have encountered the dark screen issue several times. Follow these steps to solve this problem.

Disable power saving mode.
Adjust the screen brightness manually.
Change the picture mode to neutral.

If the above solution doesn’t work, then you’ll need to contact customer service.

How to Fix TCL TV’s Dark Screen Issue?

Generally, the dark screen issue does not appear on TCL TVs. If it does, all you have to do is to change the HDR settings and the TV’s display settings.

Steps to Change TCL TV Display Settings

Press the “Home” button on your remote.
Navigate to “Settings.”
Highlight “TV Picture Settings” and press OK.
Change the display settings as per your needs.

However, you can also press the *(asterisk button) to jump right to the “Options menu.”

How to Fix the Hisense TV Dark Screen Issue?

Follow these steps to solve this problem.

Adjust the screen brightness manually.
Disable power saving mode.
Change the picture mode to neutral.

If the above solution doesn’t work, you’ll need to contact customer service.

How to Fix Sharp TV’s Dark Screen Issue?

If you’re facing a dark screen on a Sharp TV, you can try these simple solutions.

Check the HDMI cable and externally connected devices.
Adjust the brightness manually.

Turn Off The Light Sensor Feature

Navigate to the Menu.
Select the “Picture” option and press “OK.”
Select “Automatic Light Sensor” and turn it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Adaptive Brightness?

Adaptive brightness provides ideal contrast and brightness levels while saving more power and consuming less energy. If you face sudden changes in the brightness level, you can turn off this feature anytime.

Why Is My Adaptive Brightness Not Working?

Adaptive brightness fails to adjust the brightness levels under quick changes in lighting conditions. To fix this, you can reset it under Display Settings. You can also turn it off to set the brightness levels manually.

The Bottom Line

If you’re facing darker screen issues on your TV, don’t worry. Just follow these easy fixes to solve this problem.

Turn Off Power Saving Mode.
Set the Picture Mode Manually.
Check the HDMI Cable and External Connections.
Turn Off the Ambient Light Sensor.
Check the Signal Strength.
Reset Picture Mode.
Adjusts the Brightness Manually.
Adjust HDR Settings on an HDR-Capable Device.
Turn On Light Sensitivity (for Apple TV).

Hopefully, one of these solutions has worked for you. Were you able to solve the dark screen issue? If so, let me know in the comments below.