TV screen flickering is a common problem with today’s digital televisions. It usually occurs when the TV cannot receive video signals from the source device, leading to an erratic display.
The TV will display quick flashes or create a strobe effect, making it impossible to get clear pictures. The brightness levels also increase unexpectedly, causing an uncomfortable viewing experience.
Fortunately, TV screen flickering is a fixable issue. You only need to establish the cause of the problem.
TOP REASONS
Damaged/Faulty cables – replace damaged cables.
Loose connections – ensure that every cable is firmly connected to the appropriate port.
Electrical interference – devices and appliances such as Bluetooth speakers, cordless phones, baby monitors, hair dryers, and microwave ovens can cause severe interference. Keep your TV away from these devices.
Poor reception and weak broadcast signals – if you’re using an OTA antenna, try improving your reception by repositioning the antenna or installing an amplifier.
Your source device might be defective – try replacing it.
Outdated software – update your TV.
Overheating – consider turning off the TV for a few hours to prevent it from overheating and causing further damage
Dying Backlighting – LED backlights on your TV are replaceable, but you should seek professional help if you are not a technician.
LG TV Flickering Issue – Official LG Troubleshooting Guide
Reasons Your TV Screen is Flickering
Here’s a breakdown of the possible reasons your TV screen is flickering:
1. Faulty Cables
The latest TVs use HDMI cables as the standard connection between the TV and the video input source.
Like any other cable, your HDMI cable might become faulty or damaged because of bends or normal wear and tear.
The quality of the HDMI cable determines how long it can last, so you should always invest in top-quality replacement to prevent flickering issues in the future.
You can manually Inspect all your cables for bends and breakage to ensure no defective wires connect to your TV.
If you have a Samsung TV, you can check the condition of your HDMI cables using the Self Diagnosis/Device Care feature. Simply:
- Press the Home button on your remote control
- Navigate to Settings
- Select Support
- Go to Device Care
- Select Self Diagnosis
- Select HDMI Troubleshooting to check the condition of your cables
2. Loose Connections
Aside from faulty cables, loose connections can cause your TV screen to flicker unexpectedly.
When inspecting your cables for faults and defects, ensure they are firmly secure in the appropriate ports.
You can also check the ports for clogs and blockages caused by dust and dirt buildup. If the pins are bent, you can straighten them using a tweezer.
3. Electrical Interference
If you have a smart TV, the screen might start to flicker because of electromagnetic interference from nearby devices.
Devices and appliances such as Bluetooth speakers, cordless phones, baby monitors, hair dryers, and microwave ovens can cause severe interference, leading to a flickering screen and distorted images.
A bad Wi-Fi connection can also interfere with TV signals, leading to a flickering TV screen. Consider resetting your router or moving it away from the TV to prevent interference.
4. Weak Broadcast Signals
Poor reception can cause your TV to freeze or flicker unexpectedly.
If you use an OTA antenna, disconnect it from the TV and reconnect it to reset the reception status.
Ways to Improve an OTA Reception
You can also check the signal information and use it to re-adjust the antenna’s position to improve the reception.
Here’s how to check the digital channel signal strength on a Samsung TV:
- Press the Home button on your remote control
- Navigate to Settings
- Select Support
- Go to Device Care
- Select Self Diagnosis
- Select Signal Information
5. Defective Video Source
Your TV might flicker or freeze because of a defective video source such as a DVD player, Blu-Ray Disc player, or cable box.
Flickering may also occur when the video source relays corrupted frames while watching a broadcaster recording or streaming content.
You can reboot your TV and the video input source to check if this step resolves the issue.
If rebooting doesn’t help, consider resetting the video input source to factory settings. A factory reset will erase all custom settings, requiring you to configure the device afresh.
If the video source device is defective beyond repair, the only solution is to replace it.
6. Outdated Software
Every TV runs based on a particular operating system. Smart TVs use Android, Roku, WebOS, and Tizen OS, among other operating systems.
If you have a smart TV, you must upgrade its software regularly. TV manufacturers usually provide firmware updates to help fix minor bugs and glitches.
Missing software updates can cause your TV to freeze or flicker because of electrical glitches.
The only way to mitigate this issue is to update your TV software.
How to Update Your Sony Android TV
7. Overheating
Overheating is another possible reason for TV screen flickering.
Even though the latest TVs have an elaborate cooling system, they can still overheat after long hours of usage, leading to flickering and dead pixels.
Consider turning off the TV for a few hours to prevent it from overheating and causing further damage.
If the problem persists, you may have to buy a new TV.
8. Dying Backlighting
Your TV screen might flicker because of dying backlighting. Like all screens, a TV consists of LED backlights that operate via a coprocessor.
The coprocessor might malfunction, forcing your TV to turn off the backlighting and causing the screen to flicker.
The LED lights that form the backlighting might also fail one by one, leading to flickering issues and distorted images. The good news is that they are replaceable, but you should seek professional help if you are not a technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Why is my screen flickering all of a sudden?
Answer: With LCD TV screens, flickering usually occurs because of loose connections, faulty cables, and malfunctioning adapters. Your screen can also flicker because of dying components, outdated software, signal interference, and overheating. Inspect all physical connections and parts to ascertain they are in the appropriate ports and functioning optimally.
Question: Why does my TV flicker with HDMI?
Answer: If your TV flickers with HDMI, the cable might be defective and requires replacing. A faulty HDMI cable cannot send signals appropriately from the digital receiver to the TV, causing an erratic display. If there are no issues with the HDMI, consider lowering the TV’s screen resolution. Ensure the incoming signal resolution corresponds to the resolution of your TV.
Question: Why is my Samsung Smart TV flickering?
Answer: Your Samsung Smart TV is flickering for several reasons unrelated to the product. Weak broadcast signals can cause your TV to freeze or flicker. Check the signal strength and quality before re-tuning your antenna to improve the reception. Your TV might also flicker because of loose HDMI connections, faulty cables, and outdated firmware. Ensure the HDMI cable is properly connected and replace any damaged or faulty connections. You can also update the TV’s firmware to fix minor glitches and bugs.
Question: Why is my TV turning ON and OFF every 5 seconds?
Answer: Your TV might turn ON and OFF every 5 seconds because of loose connections, a malfunctioning video source, or a failing electrical component. Ensure all cables are firmly secure in the appropriate ports and check the video sources for possible malfunctions. For hardware failure, consult a professional to repair or replace dying components.
Question: How do I fix my TV from flickering?
Answer: One quick way to fix a flickering TV is to turn it OFF and ON. This hack resets the TV, effectively stopping the screen from flickering. You can consider unplugging the TV directly from the wall outlet for a few minutes before plugging the power cord back. If nothing happens, inspect your cables for faults and loose connections and replace any damaged HDMI cords.