Home > TV > TV How To

Vizio TV black screen – how to fix and possible causes

Fix the black screen of death on your Vizio TV with these simple steps.

Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock

Last Updated on January 19, 2024
A Vizio TV with a fix for black screen.
You can trust PC Guide: Our team of experts use a combination of independent consumer research, in-depth testing where appropriate - which will be flagged as such, and market analysis when recommending products, software and services. Find out how we test here.

Are you facing the Vizio TV black screen issue and can’t seem to figure out how to fix it? We’ve got you covered.

There’s nothing worse than seeing the black screen of death on your Vizio TV, as it can prevent you from literally doing anything on it. This can happen to anyone, no matter how new or old your TV is. Typically, it’s just a temporary problem that resolves itself once you restart your television. But if it doesn’t, you’ll need to resort to some manual fixes.

To help you out, we’re going to discuss the reasons why your Vizio TV has a black screen and what you can do to fix it.


Top 5 Cyber Monday deals

This year's Cyber Monday has officially kickstarted, offering up huge discounts on some of the market's leading tech products. Below, we'll list the best Cyber Monday deals we can find.

Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.


What causes the Vizio TV black screen issue?

Here are some possible reasons why you’re facing the Vizio TV black screen of death issue.

  • Loose cable connections
  • Faulty HDMI or USB connection
  • Streaming device issue
  • Power issue
  • Corrupt files
  • Hardware problems

How to fix the Vizio TV black screen issue

If your Vizio TV stops working and there’s only a black screen, you can follow these methods to fix the issue quickly.

Step

1

Power cycle your Vizio TV

Power cycling can help get rid of bugs or glitches that may be causing the black screen on your Vizio TV. Here’s how you can do it.

  1. Turn off your Vizio TV.
  2. Remove the power cable from both the TV and power outlet.
  3. Wait for three minutes and plug everything back in.
  4. Turn on the TV after waiting for another three minutes.

Step

2

Turn off the “mute” button

The “mute screen” feature lets you listen to audio from Spotify or Pandora without turning on your screen. Press and hold the mute button on your remote for 5 seconds to deactivate it and solve the black screen issue on your Vizio TV. This works when you can hear the sound in the background without any picture display.

Step

3

Turn off the sleep timer feature

Another feature with Vizio TV is the sleep timer, which forces your television to turn off the display, depending on the time set automatically. To prevent a blank or black screen of death, disable the sleep timer by doing the following:

  1. Scroll to the Menu
  2. Click System
  3. Then select Timers
  4. Scroll to Sleep Timer
  5. Toggle it off

Step

4

Disconnect a streaming device

If you can click and see the menu options, it’s usually a problem with your streaming device. The best approach is to disconnect the devices and troubleshoot before reconnecting them again to prevent the black screen issue.

Step

5

Check loose or faulty connection

Your Vizio TV is not transmitting video mainly because of a loose connection or faulty cable or port. Cycling through the ports and setting the correct input source should quickly solve the issue. But for a faulty cable, a HDMI, or the power cord, you’ll need to get a replacement.

Step

6

Consult a professional or Vizio TV support

If nothing seems to work, the problem may be linked to the T-Con board or the LED Backlight. In this case, instead of trying to repair the TV yourself, get in touch with Vizio support and ask them to send over a technician who can inspect the TV. If there’s an issue with the board or panel, you’ll have to send your TV back to Vizio. 

Is it worth replacing the backlight on a TV?

If the TV is out of warranty, it can cost a lot to replace the backlight on a TV. In some cases, the cost of repair is almost the same as the cost of a new TV. So, in such situations, it is better to go with a new TV.

Conclusion

If your Vizio TV turns on but there’s a black screen – don’t panic. Instead, give your TV a restart and see if that fixes the issue. If it doesn’t, power cycle your TV, turn off the mute button, and check for loose or faulty cables. But if nothing seems to work, the problem may be linked to the T-Con board or the backlight. In this case, your best option is to contact Vizio support for further assistance.

In case you’re planning to get a new TV, check out our top picks for the best Vizio TVs you can get from the market today.

Ramzi Musa is a Growth Manager and Editor for BGFG. He has experience and expertise in tech, gaming, and hardware.