Vizio TV Black Screen: How To Fix [2023]

The screen of death may perhaps be the most critical problem a TV could acquire. And Vizio TVs, just like any other Smart TV, are in no way immune to black screens.

Black screen issues can take on different levels of severity, from a simple mixup of input sources to a more severe motherboard issue.

If your Vizio TV screen turns black, check the power supply and perform a system reset as a preliminary fix. Check if the audio is intact so as to negate the chance of total system shutdown. Internal circuit damage can also trigger black screens on your Vizio TV.

Below, I've compiled a list of troubleshooting steps to adopt if your Vizio TV shows a black screen.

Check the Power Supply and Power Cycle Vizio TV

Power may be the most instrumental aspect of the black screen issue on your Vizio TV.

Hence, it's imperative to ensure a snug connection.

Apart from loose connections, the condition of the cables also plays a crucial role in communication.

Wear and tear, chaff, cuts, kinks, etc., can all impair the proper signal and power transmission.

If you happen to come across any such debilities on the cables, then waste no time patching them up with electrical tapes but instead replace them with a fresh one.

When shopping for a new cable to replace your old worn-out one, choose the manufacturer-certified cables over third-party alternatives.

Oft times, third-party cables are synonymous wth counterfeit ones both in function and quality. Using such products will only exacerbate the issue rather than fix it.

Accessories from reputed third-party resellers can be trusted for the most part, though.

Power Cycle Vizio TV

Once you've taken care of the cable situation, next, reboot your Vizio TV.

The black screen issue, being a byproduct of bugs and errors, maybe a mere indication of the things to come in due time.

And so, it's better to nip these malicious files right when they start to take form on your TV.

A power cycle test will do the job for now.

Power cycling your Vizio TV will also deplete the system of any pent-up static charges, which may prove to be crucial in wiping out the bugs and errors.

Here's how to do so:

1. Start the process by unplugging the power supply, along with all the other cables, from the TV.
2. After about 15 seconds, press and hold the Power button for a couple of seconds. Repeat this step a few times.
3. Then, plug back in the cables and power ON the TV. Check for the issue now.

Check the Audio Situation on Vizio TV

Black screens can arise as an indication of quite a few scenarios, maybe the issue is with the display, or it could come about only when dealing with a particular source.

But none of these issues could possibly overcome the severity of a total system failure. If that's the case, I'm afraid the only possible fix is to replace the TV.

Before we come to such drastic measures, we'll have to confirm the said scenario. And the best way to do so is to check the audio situation on your Vizio TV.

If the audio is intact, then for sure, the issue is with the display alone.

Now, you can check the status of the Vizio TV audio in several different ways.

For starters, check if the startup audio comes on when you power on the Vizio TV.

You could also switch the input to a cable or an Antenna TV source and see if the audio is playing as intended.

Likewise, check if the menu navigation tones are playing when using the Vizio Remote.

Disable Sleep Timer on Vizio TV

Yet another feature that could put the display to sleep is the Sleep Timer on Vizio TV.

When you enable a sleep timer, the TV will automatically shut down after the set period.

The shutdown isn't hindered by the activity of the TV, a.k.a it can happen even when the TV is running.

And so, if your Vizio TV happens to transition to a black screen while making use of it, you needn't look elsewhere but the Sleep timer setting.

To access the said feature on your Vizio TV, follow these steps:

1. Open the Menu tab of your Vizio TV.

2. Select the Timers option.

3. Click on the Sleep Timer option and toggle OFF any active timers.

Exit the menu tab and restart the TV.

Check the Status of the Backlight Panel on Vizio TV

Backlight panels provide the required illumination for the TV display. If this panel goes haywire, there's no going back; you'll have to replace it to fix this issue.

But how will you know whether the panel is or isn't the culprit?

The answer is pretty simple! Perform a torch light test.

Here's how it's done:

1. First, secure yourself a torch light (you can use the flashlight on your smartphones too)

2. Turn ON the TV and shine the torch on any given part of the display. Make sure to direct the torch up close to the TV panel.

3. Now, check if you can observe fragments of the picture on the TV.

If you can see dull/dimmed glimpses of the display in doing so, you have your confirmation of a broken backlight panel. If not, the display unit as a whole is at fault.

Factory Reset Vizio TV

A factory reset maybe the best option left for you to try out when met with an issue of proportional severity as the one at hand.

With a factory reset, you get to start all over, once again.

Factory resetting the Vizio TV will cause the device to reset all the system preferences to its factory defaults.

Also, all your personal preferences and downloaded data, too, get wiped out, including the settings you have made for gaming on Vizio TV.

Now, you can reset your Vizio TV in a few ways. Let's start with the good-old method.

You could also factory reset your Vizio TV through the system interface. Follow these instructions to do so:

1. From the Menu tab, select the System option.

2. Click open the Reset and Admin option.

3. Select Reset TV to Factory defaults.

4. Then enter the Parental control code (default code: 0000).

5. Click on OK to initiate the reset.

Proceed to reconfigure your Vizio TV after the reset is complete. Check for the issue now.

Final Thoughts

Black screens can also arise on your Vizio TV due to a broken T-CON board. The T-CON board controls various aspects of the power and the display.

If none of the fixes mentioned here seems to fix the issue, then better enlist the services of a professional and have your Vizio TV checked for a damaged T-CON board.

Who knows, you may even get lucky and could get away with a blown-up fuse.

Aleatory talks aside, you may also contact the customer services of Vizio for further assistance, especially when dealing with damaged goods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you fix VIZIO TV that turns on but the screen is black?

In such cases, first, check the condition of the cables connected to the TV. Then, perform a routine power cycle test. If the issue still persists, try factory resetting the TV. Worst case scenario - damaged backlight panel or T-CON board. If that's the case, avail the services of a professional.

Do VIZIO TVs have a reset button?

Older Vizio TV models do feature a physical Reset button. On newer SmartCast TVs, press the Input and the Volume Down buttons together until a message pops up on display. Then, hold down the Input button alone to initiate a reset.

Why won't my Vizio TV screen turn on?

If your Vizio TV won't turn ON, first, check the status of the power supply. Slack cable connections and damaged power outlets can hinder the proper supply of power to the TV. If the power supply isn't an issue, then consider the chances of damage to an internal motherboard element. Enlist the services of a professional for further assistance.

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