A flickering screen is a common issue for many smart TVs. Despite having a high-quality TV, you might still experience this problem every once in a while. So, why is your TV screen flickering? And how can you fix it?
To fix a flickering TV screen, start by power cycling the TV, and then check all the cable connections. Next, navigate to your picture settings and experiment with changing them (especially “refresh rates”) to see if that fixes the issue. Past that, you’ll want to get in touch with the manufacturer.
Regardless of which TV brand you have — LG, Samsung, Sharp, or another option — you can fix a flickering TV screen with similar troubleshooting techniques. Let’s get into the details to find out what causes the problem and how to address it.
Why Is Your TV Flickering?
There are several causes of this nuisance, most of which you can quickly fix. Here are the possible reasons why your TV screen is flickering:
Loose Cables
Loose or damaged cords connected to the TV can lead to flickering. In the case of HDMI cables, the outcome is “snow” or flickering colors. The result is usually random and sudden changes in color intensity and brightness for the coaxial and other analog cables.
Electrical Interference
If other appliances are on a similar circuit as your TV, they can take up enough power to cause the TV screen to flicker. You’ll notice the electrical interference when the image abruptly goes dim once you turn on the other appliances.
Dust
When dust and dirt build up in the cathode ray tube (CRT sets), it could result in electrical arcing, which looks like a brief jumping or squiggle of the image occurring randomly or continuous flickering.
Power Supply Malfunction
The power supply unit in a TV is responsible for maintaining the proper voltage level needed by the TV to keep the picture at a stable brightness level. When the power supply gets faulty, you’ll notice a swift dimming of the image, and eventually, the TV could fade to black.
Overheating
The rapid movement of electrons inside the TV produces heat, which fans normally regulate. However, these fans may stop working, leaving the TV to overheat and possibly causing constant flickering.
Low Refresh Rate
A low refresh rate can cause your TV screen to flicker. The refresh rate is how often the screen updates per second, and the operating system controls it. A lower refresh rate makes it more likely for the human eye to notice the screen flickering. It’s also easier to notice flickers in a brighter room.
Hardware Damage
Sometimes internal components of your TV can get loose, disconnected, or damaged, making the screen flicker. Such an instance would be when the LED bulbs are damaged.
TVs work by backlighting the projected image with a band of LED lights. If one or more LED bulbs malfunction, you’ll start noticing flickering spots on the screen.
How Do You Fix Your Flickering TV?
There are several ways to fix a stubborn flickering screen. Here are some of the most effective solutions:
Turn the TV Off and On
To solve a TV screen flickering issue, you first need to turn off your TV and then switch it on after a while. This resets the TV, and it might stop the screen from flickering. Unplug it from the power source, then press and hold the power button for around 15 seconds to drain any residual power. Turn it back on after a few minutes.
If turning the TV off and back on doesn’t resolve the problem, there might be issues with the backlight, light bulb, or LED. Move on to the next solution.
Check for Loose Cable Connections
If you notice that the flickering only happens when using a certain input, you need to inspect for loose cords, bent wires, or damaged cables.
For instance, if your TV screen only flickers when playing video games, you have to check all the cables connected to your console. HDMI cables are notorious for breaking. If you need a new one, go for a durable, high-quality option like this 8K HDMI Cable from Highwings (on Amazon).
Adjust Room Brightness
Interestingly, TV screens are always flickering while refreshing, although it’s so fast that you can’t tell at first sight. Certain lighting levels can make the flickering more noticeable, so you’ll have to either brighten or darken the room to fix the issue. Alternatively, you can adjust your TV’s brightness settings and check if that works.
Check for Electrical Interference
Your TV screen could also flicker if other home appliances on the same circuit as the TV consume more power. You can easily spot this if the picture suddenly becomes dark when you turn on the other appliances.
Turn off the appliances, then power cycle your TV to stop it from flickering. You can also get an electrician to inspect the primary ground at the service panel and ensure it’s tightly connected.
Update Your TV’s Firmware
Updating your TV’s software fixes various connection issues and bad refresh rates, which might be causing the screen to flicker. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings and select ‘Support.’
- Select ‘Software‘ under the support page.
- Select ‘Update Software‘ and wait for a few minutes for the TV to download and install the updates.
Check the Video Source
Some video sources can make your TV flicker, especially if they contain corrupted frames or when you’re streaming or watching a recording. Unfortunately, there’s no way to correct the video source, but you can try rebooting your TV or resetting your router if you’re streaming to stop the flickering.
Reposition Your Router
A bad connection with your router could also cause your TV screen to flicker. You can try resetting the router or moving it closer to the TV.
Be careful not to place it too close to the TV, as routers relay signals mess with older TVs. If you use an old TV that doesn’t need an internet connection, keep the router as far from it as possible.
Shorten the Pins
If your LED TV screen is flickering, the fault could lie with the main processor. The defective main processor board might be instructing the LED backlight to be switched off through the control line. You can repair this problem by shortening the two pins with a jumper wire.
You must have some tech skills under your belt to avoid ruining your TV when doing this repair. Additionally, you’ll have to purchase new LED strips or processor boards, which can be expensive.
Disable Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency setting on your TV could also cause the screen to flicker since the TV isn’t drawing enough power to run correctly. Try turning off the setting and using the TV normally to see if it fixes the issue.
Get Professional Help
If you can’t pinpoint the exact source of the problem, or if none of the above methods have fixed the consistent flickering, some internal electrical components in your TV, like the ribbons, could be worn out.
You won’t be able to fix these internal faults without adequate professional training, so it would only be best to take your TV to the repair shop. You could also contact the manufacturer for a free repair or replacement if your warranty card is still valid.