Finding your favorite show or a riveting movie unexpectedly interrupted by a blank black screen is incredibly aggravating for any TV viewer. This can often happen without warning with Hisense Smart TV models. Thankfully, there are a number steps you can take yourself to troubleshoot and resolve sudden black screen issues on your Hisense television.
What Triggers the Frustrating Black Screen of Death?
Before exploring potential solutions, it helps to review what exactly causes a Hisense TV display to suddenly show the dreaded black screen. There are a few common culprits behind blank picture problems:
Power Supply Problems
If the backlight LEDs or other key components don’t receive adequate electrical power, the TV will fail to show a visible picture. Issues like loose plugs, faulty cords, bad regulators, or even sudden electrical surges can disrupt power delivery. The TV itself can actually seem to be working fine since the speakers produce sound, but the screen stays dark.
Outdated Firmware & Software
Smart TVs rely on complex software to drive features and apps that go well beyond displaying shows from cable and satellite boxes. These sets receive periodic firmware and operating system updates. If these updates fail, aren’t installed properly, or the TV can’t communicate with the internet servers, software crashes can trigger black screens.
Hardware Component Failure
Modern flatscreen TVs have sensitive electronic boards, processors, screens and backlight systems that allow them to work like small computers versus simple displays. If any essential components like the T-CON board, LED driver or display panel itself fail, you’ll likely wind up looking at a black screen even if the TV itself seems to turn on and function.
This wide range of potential triggers means resolving black screen problems requires a bit of electronic troubleshooting and process of elimination. The good news is that many issues can be repaired yourself without pulling out your wallet for technician house calls or expensive TV repairs.
Step-By-Step Hisense TV Black Screen Troubleshooting
Walking through these troubleshooting steps methodically can typically uncover whether your particular black screen trigger just requires some simple cable changes, firmware updates or more intensive component repairs.
First Basic Step: Restart Hisense Smart TV
It always helps to start simple and rule out momentary electrical glitches or software freezes. So the first logical step is to cycle power on your Hisense television set:
- Locate Main Power Cable – On the back of your television, identify the main AC power cord that runs from a wall outlet or surge protector into a port on the TV labeled something akin to “AC Input”.
- Unplug TV – With television powered off, firmly grasp main TV power cable and pull directly away from the back of the set so metal prongs pull out fully from the inlet.
- Wait Minimum 30 Seconds – With TV completely disconnected from power source, wait at least 30 seconds to ensure components fully discharge. This clears any temporary errors.
- Reconnect Power Cable – Plug the main AC power cord firmly back into wall outlet or surge protector. Ensure cable is securely inserted into TV port as well.
- Power On Television – Using remote control or power button on the television itself, turn on the Hisense TV to determine if black screen is still visible or if television display returns to normal appearance.
In many cases, simply cycling input power to reboot the Smart TV clears any temporary app errors, software communication issues or electrical anomalies causing black screen problems. However, deeper troubleshooting is needed if display fails to illuminate after these restart steps.
Inspect All Power Cables & Connections
Before assuming internal electronic faults within the television itself, double check that consistent clean power is actually reaching your Hisense television components to begin with:
- Examine Cable Condition – Closely inspect the black power cord that runs directly into the TV for any damage, frayed wires or broken metal prongs. Cords can wear over time and fail to provide stable current.
- Check Port Fit – Verify that connections on BOTH ends of ALL cables are firmly fitted into their respective ports. Loose HDMI or power cord connections are common causes of black screens due to disrupted communication.
- Eliminate Daisy Chains – Make certain that the TV power cable itself runs directly into a wall socket rather straight into a power strip or UPS battery unit. Other high energy devices on the same strip can cause voltage drops.
- Swap Cables – For abundant caution, experiment with swapping HDMI and power cables for known working spares to identify faulty cords that could cause black screens with sound. Test different ports as well.
By checking condition, security of cable connections and quality of power delivery itself, you can reveal simple problems causing black screens despite TV powering on otherwise normally.
Update Hisense Smart TV Firmware
Televisions have become increasingly sophisticated computers behind that sleek panel of glass. Complex software called firmware controls critical functions well beyond just tuning to cable channels.
If the main computer processor can’t communicate properly with components like display drivers, tuners and internet servers due to outdated code, black screens or frozen operation can occur as a result.
Confirm your Hisense television firmware is fully up to date:
- Navigate to Settings from the main menu
- Choose Support or System Update submenu
- Identify the currently installed Firmware Version number
- Initiate search for System Update and install improved firmware if available
- Follow all on-screen instructions to download and install enhanced system code
- Restart television after confirming firmware installation success
Updating to the latest firmware can resolve software crashes, communication errors with components and internet server compatibility issues potentially causing those frustrating black screens.
Reset Video Connection Handshake
Another quick troubleshooting item to address before assuming hardware failure is firmly reseating HDMI video input connections between devices.
The HDMI standard requires electronics like your cable box, streaming stick and television to perform an electronic “handshake” for video and audio signal communication. If this handshake process fails or gets interrupted, black screens with sound can occur.
Resetting this connection sequence is straightforward:
- Power Off Devices – Turn television and any source devices like Roku or DVD players completely off via remote.
- Disconnect HDMI At Both Ends – Unplug HDMI cable from TV HDMI port AND from source device like Blu-ray player. Allow devices to fully power down for 5 minutes.
- Reconnect Source End First – Firmly reinsert HDMI cable end into port on playback device like Apple TV box first.
- Connect Display End – Finally, take free end of HDMI video cable and connect securely to HDMI port on back of television.
- Power On Devices – Turn on connected electronics in proper sequence to allow fresh HDMI handshake process.
If an improper initial HDMI synchronization is at fault for the black screen, resetting TV and source device connections prompts them to rerun handshake communication and potentially restore video signal.
Inspect Fragile Backlight LEDs
On modern flat panel TV designs, the liquid crystal display (LCD) sheet itself does not produce light to form images. Instead, a panel of high power LED lights shines from behind the LCD glass to illuminate pixels.
If several LEDs fail, the display goes dark with no backlighting to allow picture – even though sounds play normally from intact speakers.
- To check for potential failed backlight panel, turn TV on displaying black screen and shine bright flashlight at the display.
- Faint images may be detectable indicating video signal is working but inadequate backlight intensity.
- No image visibility points to an LED or power supply failure.
Replacing or repairing delicate backlight components requires professional disassembly and soldering work. But identifying backlight issues can determine if more serious service is ultimately needed versus simpler do-it-yourself steps for software resets or cable changes.
Eliminate Cable Box / Source Problems
Before assuming your Hisense television itself has internal hardware faults, quickly verify display works properly with alternate video source devices:
- Connect a laptop directly to TV via HDMI cable to isolate wiring and cable box issues
- Toggle TV input to view built-in Streaming Apps to isolate external device problems
- Consider trying different devices like DVD players, game consoles or even antenna feed
If display functions reliably showing video from assorted sources above, your cable box, disc player or streaming stick itself potentially has malfunctioning video output stages.
Reset Television to Factory Settings
If working through various user settings menus fails to uncover any clear problems contributing to persistent Hisense Smart TV black screens, restoring your television software to original out-of-box factory conditions should clear any problematic app settings, configurations or corrupted drivers.
Before factory resetting, be sure to have any WiFi passwords or app login details handy for network reconfiguration:
- Navigate to Settings then Device Preferences
- Locate full Factory Data Reset option
- Confirm request to reset television to factory defaults
- TV will automatically power down and reboot
Allow several minutes for television to reboot, reload operating system and apply default component drivers with apps disabled.
When to Call in a Professional TV Repair Service
If working through all of the above self-troubleshooting tips fails to resolve the dark screen, more complex internal hardware faults are likely causing the issue – probably requiring a qualified TV repair technician.
Common Internal Hardware faults triggering black screens include:
- Defective LCD Display Panel – Faulty TFT glass, damaged connectors or backlight electronically fail.
- Short Circuited Inverter Board – Power regulators fail providing backlight LEDs high voltage.
- Malfunctioning T-CON Board – Critical timing controller fails commanding display drivers.
- Cracked Ribbons – Flex cables tear internally preventing component communication.
Signs more serious professional TV service may be required:
- No Improvement After Numerous Power Cycles
- Backlight Fully Non-Operational
- Visible External Damage to TV Enclosure
- Past Lightning Storms or Electrical Surges
While inspecting and testing components requires TV disassembly, certified repair experts have proper tools and experience for this process along with access to manufacturer replacement parts.
Contacting Hisense Support
Don’t hesitate to call Hisense Customer Support if all self-troubleshooting measures fail:
- For TV and Audio = Phone:+1 (888) 935-8880
- For Appliances = Phone:+1 (877) 465-3566
Hisense agents can review your particular troubleshooting steps tried and diagnose likely faulty hardware causing problems. Support can guide you through any other advanced tests and determine if professional repair dispatch or replacement options are warranted under your TV’s warranty coverage.
Have your Hisense television model identification number and original purchase date handy when you call. Capturing any flashing indicator light sequences can provide useful diagnostic details as well.
Is Buying a New TV With Latest Features Better?
If your problematic Hisense television is over 5 years old, has no picture and requires substantial electronic component repairs, purchasing an entirely new Hisense Smart TV with today’s innovations could actually cost less than fixing the old set.
Consider a new 2023 model Hisense Roku TV if:
- TV Repair Costs Exceed $300+
- Set is Over 5 Years Old
- Desired Latest HDMI 2.1 Connectivity
- Attractive New Warranty Protection
For example, the 2023 Hisense U6 Series offers excellent picture quality & motion handling with:
- Stunning 4K Ultra High Definition Resolution
- Bright 600 nit 120Hz VA Panel
- Next-Gen HDMI 2.1 Ports
- Intuitive Roku TV Platform
- Alexa and Google Voice Assistant Built-In
traded in to an electronics recycler, your old non-working Hisense TV can earn additional discount on a sparkling new replacement television with today’s advanced features.
FAQ’s
How do I fix my Hisense black screen?
Unplug the TV and wait for at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in. This can sometimes help to reset the TV. Check all the cables and connections to make sure they are secure and not damaged. Ensure that the TV is not on a power strip or surge protector, as this could cause issues with the power supply.
Can you fix a TV screen without replacing it?
You replace the whole TV because >80% of the value of a TV is in the display panel itself. It’s not economically viable to fix the panel itself. If it’s another component of the TV, including the backlight (which is a not uncommon problem) then that can potentially be repaired by a competent technician.
Why is my TV screen black but it’s on?
Loose connections can cause intermittent signal loss and result in a flashing black screen. Power supply issues: If the TV is not receiving a steady flow of power, it may result in intermittent blackouts or flickering. Check to ensure that the power cord is properly plugged.
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Rockies Ripple is the founder and lead writer behind the independent blog tvplutos.com