Wonder How To Fix Roku Flashing Black Screen? Roku smart TVs frequently go completely black or begin flickering black at some point.
It makes no difference what brand you own – TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Insignia, RCA – they all have this problem. Fortunately, there is a very simple solution.
FIXING A ROKU Flashing BLACK SCREEN OR FLICKERING BLACK SCREEN
If your Roku screen is black or flickering black, no matter what model TV you have, the simplest way to fix it is to reset the TV with your remote.
Simply press the home button 5 times, then the up button once, the rewind button twice, and the fast forward button twice. In 60 seconds, your television will be reset.
1. How to Reset Your Roku TV?
The first thing to look for is whether your Roku TV still has volume. To test this, use your Roku remote to increase the volume and listen for a sound. If your screen is black or flickering black but you still have volume, resetting your TV should resolve the issue.
To reset your Roku TV with your remote, hit the home button 5 times, up 1 time, rewind 2 times and fast forward 2 times. The television will freeze and then turn on and off several times. After about a minute, your television should be back on and operational!
Don’t worry if you don’t have a remote; you can still factory reset the TV by pressing the reset button on the back of the TV.
The location of the reset button will vary depending on the brand of television you own. Once you’ve located it, take a paper clip or a ballpoint pen and press and hold the reset button. Wait for the TV to turn off and then back on. You can let go once you see it turn on.
Alternative Video: Fix Roku Black Screen Or Flickering Black Screen
2. Checking for Loose Connections
Following that, you should quickly inspect your Roku TV for any loose cables. Weak or missing connections can easily result in the screen going black or flickering black.
Simply ensure that all of the wires are properly and securely inserted into your Roku TV; if you need to unplug them and then plug them back in to ensure that they are properly inserted, do so.
3. Checking for Damaged Wires
It’s a good idea to check for damaged wires while you’re making sure everything is properly connected. You’re looking for unusual bends, fraying, and wires that can’t stay snug in the outlets any longer.
Most of these are simple and inexpensive to replace, and they should be easy to spot. The HDMI cable is usually the source of the problem. These are prone to warping and breaking over time.
4. Try Power Cycling Your Roku TV
There are some cases where power cycling your TV can fix the black screen issues you’re experiencing. Simply turn off the TV by pressing the power button on the remote or by pressing the power button directly on the TV.
Then, unplug the television from the wall outlet. Hold down the power button on the side of the TV for about 10-15 seconds while the TV is turned off and unplugged. This must be done using the power button on the TV, not the remote!
This will drain any remaining power in the TV. Finally, reconnect the TV to the wall outlet and turn it on. Power cycling resets the device and may resolve your black or flickering black screen issues.
5. Contact the Customer Service Team
If you’ve tried all of the above Roku TV black screen fixes and still don’t know what’s wrong, it’s time to contact the customer service experts. Depending on the status of your TV’s warranty, they’ll either offer repairs, a new device, or a refund. As a last resort, you could buy a new Roku TV.
6. Update Roku TV OS
After you’ve resolved your black screen issue, you should simply ensure that your Roku TV OS is completely up to date. Older versions of the software may no longer be compatible with your monitor or resolution settings.
You can update your Roku TV by pressing the Home button, then going to Settings, and then checking for updates. The exact steps for locating the update menu are as follows:
- Press the home button on the Roku remote
- Press up and go over to the settings
- Locate the system menu, then click “System Update.”
- In this menu, you’ll find your current Roku version
- The device will automatically check for software updates from this screen
If you’re not sure whether your Roku TV needs an update, make sure to check the brand’s official website. There, you should find the version number listed somewhere. If your Roku TV doesn’t have the current version, you’ll want to force it to make the upgrade.
HOW TO FIX THE BLACK SCREEN ON ROKU STREAMING STICK?
Even if you can’t see anything on your screen due to the black screen, you can restart by pressing the button combination listed below on the Roku Streaming Stick Remote.
- Hit the home button twice (to ensure you’re in the early stages).
- Raise your hand.
- Right.
- Above.
- Right.
- Three times out of three.
- Right.
- Above.
- Right.
- Now, click OK.
If you follow the steps correctly, you should see the Roku logo on your screen after a few moments and will not have the problem of a black screen on your Roku streaming stick.
Install Roku Streaming Stick Properly:
If you have not properly installed or inserted the Roku Streaming Stick into the HDMI slot on your television. As a result, you may encounter the issue of black screens on your television. To resolve this issue, unplug the stick from the TV’s slot and re-plug it properly.
Push a little further when installing this to avoid problems like a loose connection. Turn it back on and see if that solves the problem. You could also try HDMI.
This will resolve the overheating issue with the Roku Stick, and you will most likely not have to deal with the black screen issue on your Roku TV.
System Update the Roku:
If you can turn on your Roku streaming stick system without a black screen, try updating it. To update the Roku firmware, follow the steps below.
- Holding the Roku remote in one hand, press the Home button once.
- To select settings, press the key below or above and scroll.
- Locate and select the system, then update it.
- The current Roku software version, as well as the build version with date and time, can be found here. Select the check now option. If an update is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.
Contact TCL Roku:
If your TCL Roku tv continues to display a black screen. So you could try contacting TCL Roku or Roku for assistance. Many users have reported that the LED backlight on the TCL Roku is causing this issue.
For whatever reason, the LED on Roku TV stops working, resulting in a black screen problem on Roku TV; in such a case, you must contact the Roku team, who will also provide you with proper guidance and diagnose the problem.
Why is TCL TV Flashing Black Screen?
A black screen can be an indication of a more serious underlying issue, and determining what that issue is is the first step in troubleshooting.
One of the most likely causes of this is a problem with the HDMI cable that outputs the display from whatever device you are using the TV with. Another possibility is that the TV’s backlight is failing.
Most televisions rely on a backlight to illuminate the image, and a problem with the backlight can result in black screens. Another possibility is that there is a software bug in the TV or the device you are using with it. But don’t worry, with this guide, I hope to make repairing your TV as simple as possible.
1. Power Cycle The TV And Remote
The restart is the first step in any troubleshooting guide. In this case, we’re attempting a power cycle, which is a type of restart. A power cycle, as the name implies, is the process of unplugging or removing the power source, turning off the device for up to a minute, and then plugging everything back in.
A power cycle can resolve issues that arose as a result of an unintentional setting change, either made by you or made automatically, that caused the TV to go black.
To power cycle your TCL TV:
- Turn off the TV. Wait until all the status lights on the TV go off.
- Unplug the TV from the power outlet and wait for 1-2 minutes.
- Plug the TV back in and start it up again
To power cycle the remote:
- Remove the remote’s batteries.
- Wait for about 1-2 minutes.
- Reinstall the batteries.
To see if you’ve resolved the problem, try to recreate what you were doing when the black screen appeared. Use the TV normally while keeping an eye out for the black screen to reappear.
2. Power Cycle the TV Using an Alternate Method
If the method described above does not work, there is another way to power cycle the TV. You’ll need a paperclip or something similar to get started. Then:
- Unplug the TV from the wall and turn it off.
- Locate the reset button on the TV’s side. It appears to be a tiny hole into which only a paperclip can fit.
- Hold down the reset button for at least 30 seconds.
- Restart the television.
Recreate the exact situation and confirm that the problem has been resolved.
3. Restart the TV Using the Remote
This method is only applicable to TCL Roku TVs. You can restart your television by pressing a specific key combination on your remote. This combination is simple to put together and is described in detail below.
- Five times on the Home button
- Once, press Up.
- Press the Rewind button twice.
- Press the Fast forward button twice.
The TV will restart once you have correctly completed the combination. After restarting the TV, use it normally to see if the problem persists.
4. Check the Cable Connections
I previously stated that a loose connection or damaged cables could be the cause of a black screen on any TV. Examine the back of the TV to ensure that all connections are secure.
If your HDMI cable is getting old, I recommend replacing it. Even if you are using the stock HDMI cable that came with the TV, purchasing a new one from a reputable brand such as Belkin is a good idea. I’d go with the Belkin Ultra HD HDMI cable. It’s gold-plated, so you can be sure it’ll last forever, and it has fast speeds for a lag-free display.
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5. Update Your Firmware
Since TVs switched to the Android ecosystem, software on TVs has gotten more frequent updates, and the TCL TV is no exception. Software updates are constantly fixing major and minor issues, so it is a good idea to update your TV as well.
A software update for Android TVs updates the TV’s firmware, making it simple to check for and install firmware updates. To update your TCL Android TV, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on the remote and navigate to the Settings menu.
- Open the Settings menu and select More Settings.
- Choose Device Preferences>About.
- Select System Update
- Select Network Update from the box that is displayed.
- The TV will look for a software update and, if available, download it.
- After it finishes, click OK to confirm.
6. Tweak Fast Start Option
People on online forums reported that they were able to fix their black screen by enabling or disabling the TCL TV’s Fast Start option. Enabling it if it was previously disabled or disabling it otherwise is something worth investigating, and I will walk you through the process below.
Follow these steps for the TCL Roku TV:
- On the Roku TV remote, press the Home button.
- Navigate to System > Settings.
- Select Quick TV Start.
- Enable or disable Fast TV Start as needed.
For TCL Android TVs:
- Open the Settings menu.
- Select Power
- Change the “Instant power on” setting as applicable.
- Restart the TV and check if the issue has been solved.
7. Factory Reset the TV
A factory reset should be your last resort, primarily because it will erase all settings and logged-in accounts from the TV. You’d also have to repeat the initial setup and reconnect to your WiFi network.
To perform a factory reset on your TCL Roku TV, follow these steps.
- Choose Settings.
- Scroll down and select System.
- Go to System Settings > Advanced > Factory Reset.
- Choose Factory Reset All Settings.
- To proceed with the factory reset, enter the code displayed on the screen.
To reset everything to factory defaults on an Android TV,
- From the home screen, press the settings button on the remote.
- Navigate to More Settings > Device Preference > Reset.
- Choose Factory Data Reset.
- Select Erase Everything.
- Enter the PIN displayed on the screen and press OK.
CONCLUSION: Flashing Black Screen
If your Roku TV screen is black or flickering black, you can easily fix it by attempting one or more of the following solutions:
- Reboot your Roku device.
- Look for any loose connections.
- Examine the wires for damage.
- Try restarting your Roku TV.
- Contact customer service for assistance.
- Roku software should be updated.
If none of these fixes work, it may be time to buy a new Roku TV; if you were able to fix yours, please let us know how you did it! You might even be able to assist someone else who is experiencing the same issue in the comments section below.
FAQs On Black Screen Or Flickering Black Screen
Why is my Roku blinking black?
TVs that perform post-image processing on the HDMI signal, such as hue/saturation/contrast adjustments, will cause the Roku to flash black screens on a regular basis.
Roku, why is my TV screen black but I can hear it?
If the screen on your TCL Roku TV has gone black but the audio is still working, it is most likely due to a loose cable connection or a hardware issue affecting your TV’s LED lighting. The problem is resolved by unplugging the TV from all cable connections, including power, and then plugging it back in after 5-10 minutes.
How do I fix the black screen on Roku?
Hold down the RESET button on your Roku to reset it. Alternatively, you can use the remote to press the Home button, then navigate to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset. Resetting the software will return it to its factory defaults, which may resolve the black screen issue.
How do you clear a Roku black screen?
Customers who were experiencing this problem were able to resolve it by unplugging their television for 10-15 minutes and then plugging it back in. Try that to see if it solves the problem you’re having.
Why is my Roku playing but no picture?
Check that the video cable is firmly connected to the back of your Roku player and to the HDMI or composite connector on the TV. If you have a Roku Streaming Stick, then make sure it is firmly connected to the HDMI connector on your TV.