It can be very frustrating when you’re trying to relax and watch your favorite show, but you’re greeted by a green screen when you switch on the TV. So what causes the green screen on your TV? How can you fix the issue?
To quickly fix a green screen on your TV, start by navigating to the picture settings and adjusting the color, and check all the cables for damage or loose connections. Power cycle the TV, and if the screen is still green after that go ahead and contact the manufacturer for support.
Let’s get into the details and find out what causes the annoying green screen on your TV so you can fix the problem and get back to your entertainment.
Why Is Your TV Screen Green?
There are several reasons why your TV screen might be green. Here are some of them:
Temporary Software Glitch
Your TV screen could turn green due to a temporary software glitch caused by power fluctuation.
Loose or Damaged Cables
Loose or damaged connection cables or jacks may distort some color information. Various video connection techniques break down, convey, and rebuild video information in distinct ways.
For instance, if the SCART cables (usually used in Europe) are faulty, the only color information they can convey to the screen is predominantly associated with the green part of the picture.
In other cases, connection faults result in the picture taking on a hue with many colors — but still greener than it’s supposed to be.
Wrong Picture Settings
Your TV screen could be green due to an improper configuration of the picture settings. Your TV breaks down color information into green, red, and blue components, with the intensity of those colors able to be modified independently.
If the red and blue are too low or the green is too high, it could yield an exceedingly green picture.
TV Hardware Malfunction
If the cable connections are okay and the color settings are in order, your TV might be faulty. This could be even more true if the picture is entirely green. The problem could be caused by the failure of the guns that relay electrons onto the color screen.
These guns deal with red, green, and blue. Therefore, if the blue and red guns are faulty, the screen may get stuck on green. Such a defect in the guns could be caused by holding magnets next to the TV screen, and it could be temporary or irreversible.
How Do You Fix the Green Screen on Your TV?
Before rushing your TV screen to the repair shop due to the green screen error, you could try out the following troubleshooting techniques to see if they can fix the problem. Also, take into consideration whether your TV is a regular TV or Smart TV before doing some troubleshooting.
Check for Damaged Wires and Faulty Cable Connections
Before carrying out any quick-fix methods, check that your cables are correctly and firmly connected. Unplug each cord from your TV, then plug it again firmly, checking if the green color on the screen changes. Firmly re-inserting the connection cables fixes the green screen issue more often than not.
While ensuring that all the cords are properly connected, it would also help to check if the wires are damaged. Look for strange bends, worn areas, and looseness around the outlets. These faults are easy to spot, and the cables are relatively cheap to replace.
Adjust the Color Settings
Some TVs have a setting to adjust the green, red, and blue levels separately. Confirm in your manual if these settings exist. If not, search for details about your TV make and model on a legitimate and trustworthy online site since the settings depend on the TV class and model.
Power Cycle the TV
Power cycling your TV could fix the green screen if a temporary bug causes it. Here are the steps for performing a power cycle:
- Switch off your TV and unplug it from the power source.
- Wait for around 10-15 minutes.
- Plug it back into the power source.
- Switch on the TV and check if the power cycle has fixed the error.
Update TV Software
Smart TVs need regular updates to ensure they work optimally. So, if your TV system software isn’t up to date, it might experience various issues such as the green screen. Every TV model has a different method of updating the software, but here’s an overview of what to do:
- Go to the TV Settings.
- Select ‘Support‘ and go to ‘Software Update.’
- Choose ‘Update Software.’
The TV will automatically update itself and notify you when the process is complete after a few minutes.
Disable HDR+ Mode
The high dynamic range (HDR) mode can set off the green screen on some TVs. Here’s how to disable this mode:
- Navigate to the Menu and open ‘Settings.’
- Select ‘Picture‘ and go to ‘Expert Settings.’
- On the expert settings tab, select ‘Disable HDR+ Mode.’
- Check if the green screen is fixed.
Alternatively, you could leave the HDR+ Mode on and turn off the RGB Only mode. Try switching between these options to find out if one fixes the issue.
Reset the TV
If you’ve tried all the above solutions, but the problem persists, you can factory reset your TV to see if it fixes the nuisance. This will only be possible if you can see some text on the screen or if the green screen affects some channels.
A factory reset could fix the green screen if a software glitch causes it. However, you’ll lose all your data since the reset will return your TV to default settings. So, it would be best to back up all your data and settings before resetting your TV. Here’s how to do it:
- Using the remote control, select ‘Settings,’ then go to ‘General.’
- On the list of options displayed on the screen, find the reset option and select it.
- If you’re prompted to supply a PIN, enter it and click on the reset option.
- Wait for a few minutes for the TV to complete the process and restart.
Check if the reset has resolved the green screen error. If not, you’ll have to contact your TV manufacturer as the issue might lie deeper in the TV.
If for some reason the TV screen when black, you may check our previous post on how to fix it.