Sony TV no Picture/Black screen—Fix in Minutes

No picture or a completely black screen, while overwhelming, is quite common in Sony TVs, especially in older models.

This doesn’t mean that new model users don’t face this issue; they do, but it’s rare.

Typically, the black screen or no picture issue is triggered due to the TV’s internal system glitch, and often a faulty backlight.

However, In this guide, I will break down why your Sony TV stopped powering on and what you need to do to get your TV back to its normal state.

Here we go! Let’s dive into it…

Investigate the issue in more detail

To identify the issue, start by inspecting the TV and checking if the standby light is on. If the indicator light is red, your TV is likely in standby mode, and the issue may be with the remote control or the TV’s IR receiver.

If your TV has sound but no picture, possible that the T-con board, display panel, or backlight has been damaged. These components are responsible for displaying the picture on your screen and may require repair or replacement.

If you don’t see a standby light at all, then your TV isn’t receiving power for some reason. It could be an issue with the power cable or a problem with the TV’s internal power supply.

Sony TV black screen of death (no picture)

To troubleshoot the black screen issue on your Sony TV, first, disconnect the TV from the power outlet, and wait for 60 seconds. During this time, press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds. Once done, power the TV back on.

Here’s the detail and some more advanced troubleshooting step:

Step 1: Power reset

Power cycling is often the first and most effective step to resolving issues with any device. According to many Sony TV owners, this method has proven successful in fixing various issues, including this one, in almost 95% of cases.

One reason why power cycling can be effective is that Sony TVs are prone to damage from power outages or sudden impacts. When this happens, it can cause stored data in the TV’s memory to corrupt or malfunction. By power cycling the TV, you are essentially rebooting the device which can resolve the issue.

I also succeeded with this method when I encountered this issue with my Sony TV. Fear not; performing a power cycle will not erase your downloaded content or settings. Here’s how to power cycle your TV:

• Turn off the TV and unplug it from the power outlet.
• Wait for at least three minutes before plugging it back in.
• Once the required time has passed, turn on the TV.

I hope that power cycling the TV has resolved your issue. However, if you are still experiencing this issue, proceed to the next step in troubleshooting.

Step 2. HDMI cable connection

If the problem persists after trying the previous steps, you should check the HDMI connections next. Ensure all devices connected to your TV through HDMI have a secure connection.

There are several types of bad HDMI connections that you should be aware of, including loose connections, faulty HDMI ports, and bad HDMI cables.

If you have confirmed that the connection is secure, it is also a good idea to check that you are on the correct input channel.

Sony TVs often have multiple ports, sometimes up to four, so try using a different port and see if this resolves the issue. If it doesn’t work, try replacing your HDMI cable.

Step 3. Backlight

TV’s backlight can become damaged due to a power outage or other issues with the electric flow. If the backlight is damaged, it will be necessary to replace it to restore the TV to proper functioning.

Additionally, you may see a blinking red light six times if the backlight is faulty. However, there is a simple way to determine whether your TV’s backlight has been damaged.

To do this, first, make sure the TV is powered on. Then, take a flashlight and hold it close to the screen. As you shine the flashlight on the screen, carefully observe whether any image is visible.

If you can see a faint picture on the screen when the flashlight is shone on, this may indicate that the backlight needs to be replaced.

Related: 6 Things You’re Doing That Are Shortening the Life of Your TV

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F.A.Q.s

Q: Can a power surge cause a Sony TV to have a black screen or no picture?

Yes, a power surge can potentially cause a Sony TV to have a black screen or no picture. Power surges can damage the TV’s components, including the power supply and the screen.

Use a surge protector with your TV and other electronic devices to stay safe from this.

Q: Why does my Sony TV display a black screen but still have sound?

This could be a problem with the backlight or the screen itself.

You can try shining a flashlight on the screen to see if you can see any images. If you can, it may be a backlight issue. If you can’t, it may be a problem with the screen.

Q: How can I determine if the issue is a result of a hardware or software malfunction?

To determine if a Sony TV with a black screen or no picture is a result of a hardware or software issue, you can try resetting the TV to its default settings or checking for any available software updates.

If the issue persists, it may be a hardware issue and you should contact a professional technician for further assistance.