Why is my TV darker all of a sudden?

Q. The picture on my Sony TV seems a little dark, particularly during movies. Is there anything I can do about it? The TV looked a lot brighter when I saw it in the store. — Brian, Anaheim, California. 

I touched on this in our TV Answer Man feature, ‘How Stores Trick You Into Buying a TV.‘I wrote that retailers sometimes purposely tune the sets (all sets, not just Sony sets) on the show floor to look brighter to attract the attention of shoppers. However, as I noted in that article, brighter is not always better; you can lose picture details and color if you turn up the brightness too much.

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I’ve received some comments expressing skepticism that stores would do this (including one from a retailer), which is why I can address this question again. Doing some research to answer your question, I came across this quote from Sony’s support page:

“When a TV is in a store they are set up for Shop Front display settings which are very bright and vivid.”

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So if Sony acknowledges the practice on a public web site, well, I would think that’s all the evidence you would need.

Sony goes on to offer several tips if your set’s picture appears too dark and here they are: (Note: These tips can work for any brand TV.)

1. If Picture mode is set to Cinema or Custom, the screen may become dark. If the screen is still dark after the picture quality mode is changed, change the setting Backlight, Picture, Brightness and adjust the brightness to your taste.

2. If Power Saving is set to Low or High, the screen becomes dark. Example of setting method: Select Settings – System Settings – Eco and set Power Saving to Normal, and then check whether the problem is resolved.

3. Some TVs have a Light Sensor; the picture will become brighter or lower depending on room lighting conditions. Turning off the Automatic Brightness Control may increase picture brightness.

4. View programming from a different source, such as a DVD player or VCR, to see if the issue is being caused by the device providing the signal to the TV.

5. If it is a projection TV, consider replacing the lamp. Sony notes that for projection TVs, a dim or dark picture may be an indication that the lamp needs to be replaced. Refer to the owner’s manual for more information about replacing the lamp.

One last tip: Unplug the AC power cord for 30 seconds to reset the television.

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— Phillip Swann

The images on the screen suddenly went very dark. You could barely see the images, but looking closely could see they were there. I increased the backlight, the brightness and the color adjustments and the picture looks much better. My question is, how long can we expect the TV to continue operating with these greatly increased adjustments?

The television was purchased on March 10, 2010. I realize TV's don't last like they used to, but am hoping this one is good for a while yet. Please advise...

Thanks

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After a long, hard day, you finally sit down to catch up on your favorite show. But when you hit the power button on your remote control, your TV screen stays black! You try pressing the remote’s power button again and again from every angle, but still, your TV has no picture. If this sounds familiar, you’ve likely fallen victim to one or more TV screen issues.

What causes a TV screen to go black? Software issues, loose connections, or backlight problems are usually behind black TV screens. Learn about each of these causes and get tips for troubleshooting them so you can get back to relaxing with your favorite TV shows, movies, and video games.

1. Issue with the TV’s Software

If your TV screen is black and there’s no sound, you’ll want to check for an LED light or a small indicator light that tells you the TV has power. If there is no power to the TV while it is plugged in, there may be an issue with the outlet or fuse box in your home. However, if the TV is on but the screen is black, the problem could lie with your TV’s software.

How to Soft Reset Your TV

Unplug the TV from the wall, and, if possible, remove the power cord from the back of the TV to perform a soft reset. Wait 30 seconds, and plug the TV back into a working outlet to test it again. If you’re still having screen issues, you might want to bring in an expert — they’ll know how to fix your TV’s black screen.

2. Loose Input Connections

If your TV screen goes black but the sound still works, the first thing to check is the input source to ensure it is turned on and operating correctly. This includes external devices like cable boxes, video game consoles, laptops, and streaming devices. Once you’re sure the input source is working properly and you have the right input settings, check the cable connections. In many instances where the TV screen is black but the audio works, poor cable connections could be the issue.

How to Check TV Input Cables

Whether you’re working with an HDMI cable, RCA (usually yellow, white, and red cables) set up, or another type of connection, you need to ensure the cables are seated properly and firmly into their connection ports. With a good connection, the cable shouldn’t feel loose or easily disconnect when pulled on or moved around. If all your cables have a snug fit but the problem persists, try connecting the device to another TV. If your TV screen is still blacked out, you may need new cables.

3. Backlight Problems

Some TV displays, such as LCD screens, use a backlight to illuminate the picture. If the backlight burns out or stops working, it will result in a blank TV screen.

To check your TV’s backlight, make sure your TV is on. Then, turn off the lights in the room and shine a flashlight on the screen. If you can see a picture with the flashlight, then your TV’s backlight is likely burnt out.

How to Address a Burnt-Out Backlight

While you might be eager to learn how to fix a black-screen TV, a broken backlight does not come with an easy solution. The backlight will need to be replaced, and it’s best to get help from a professional with this task.

If repair costs are outside your budget or not worth it considering the age and condition of your TV, you may want to consider upgrading to a new smart TV. When you purchase a new TV from your local Rent-A-Center, you’ll enjoy free product service and repairs for the life of your agreement as part of our Worry-Free Guarantee.

What to Do if Your TV Screen Is Still Black

You’ve run all the tests, checked all the ports, and ensured your TV has power, but your TV screen is still black! There could be a more complicated (and expensive) issue, so it might be time to ditch your old TV for an upgrade.

Rent-A-Center makes it easy to own a new TV, like an LG 65″ 4K UHD Smart TV. From OLED to QLED, we’ve got ultra high-definition TVs with picture quality so crisp, you’ll wonder why you didn’t upgrade sooner. Avoid the headache of your old TV, and shop your favorite TV brands online today. You can even get same-day delivery on qualifying purchases in select areas!

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