We’ve all been there before.
You’re turning on your TV, trying to play your favorite video game, or catching some Sunday night football, but your LG TV isn’t cooperating- the screen stays black!
Why is your screen black, and what can you do to fix it?
Many issues can turn your LG TV screen black, from minor software glitches to incorrectly-managed cables. In most cases, a simple restart, power cycle, or a quick review of your power and display cables should fix the issue.
There is a myriad of reasons why your LG TV might display a black screen, but thankfully, not all of them are catastrophic.
Almost all of them are remarkably simple to fix.
Let’s look at some ways you can try to fix the black screen on your LG TV.
Try A Basic Restart
A simple restart can fix the vast majority of issues with your LG TV, since the odds are high that they are due to a minor software glitch.
However, restarting does not mean simply turning it off and back on again- though that may certainly work.
Turn your TV off and unplug it.
Wait 40 seconds before plugging your TV back in and turning it on.
If this step doesn’t fix your TV, you should try it 4 or 5 more times before moving to the next step.
Power Cycle Your LG TV
Power cycling is similar to a restart, but allows the device to fully power down by draining all the power out of its system.
Once you unplug and turn off your TV, let it sit for 15 minutes.
When you plug it in and turn it on again, hold the power button down for 15 seconds.
If restarting your LG TV did nothing, the power cycle is your best bet for a full repair.
Power cycling can also fix any sound issues with your LG TV.
Check Your HDMI Cables
Sometimes the issue your TV faces is far less complex than you might expect.
Check the display cables of your LG TV- typically, these will be HDMI cables.
If the HDMI cable is loose, unplugged, or has debris inside the port, it will not fully connect to your TV, and the device will have a partial or empty display.
Try A Factory Reset
If all else fails, you can always try a factory reset.
A factory reset will remove all of your personalization and settings, and you will have to proceed with the setup process again, but it is a thorough cleansing of your LG TV that will fix all but the most severe software errors.
With LG TVs, a black screen is different from most other TVs- it’s not just a failure of the LEDs, but a software issue.
Often, you can still use your apps and settings.
Select your general settings and press the “Reset to initial settings” button.
This will factory reset your LG TV and you should not experience black screens again.
Contact LG
If you can’t see your settings and none of these fixes have worked, you may have a hardware issue with your TV and need to contact LG.
If your device is covered under warranty, LG TV may send you a new one.
In Summary
Having a black screen on your LG TV can be frustrating.
After all, we all want to use our TVs for their intended purpose- watching things! Who can watch things with a black screen?
Thankfully, a black screen on an LG TV is not the end of the world.
In many cases, you can fix them without much technological know-how.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is The Reset Button On My LG TV?
There are two reset buttons on your LG TV- one on your remote and one on the TV itself.
First, you can reset your LG TV by pressing the button labeled “Smart” on your remote control.
Once the related menu pops up, click the gear button, and your TV will reset.
Alternatively, you can manually reset your LG TV via the device itself.
An LG TV doesn’t have a dedicated reset button, but you can achieve the same effect by simultaneously pressing the “home” and “volume up” buttons on the TV in a process similar to taking a screenshot on a Google phone.
How Long Will My LG TV Last?
LG estimates that the LED backlights on their televisions will last up to 50,000 hours before expiring or burning out.
This lifespan is equivalent to around seven years of constant use, so if you have had your LG TV for over seven years, your LG TV may have simply met its expiration date.
However, the average LG TV can last upwards of a decade- averaging around 13 years- in households that do not leave their TV on 24/7.
On the other hand, higher-end LG TVs that utilize OLED technology may survive up to 100,000 hours of constant use.
You can extend the lifespan of your LG TV by regularly powering it off, protecting the interior diodes from burning out due to overuse.
