Lorene Melone
How To Fix an ONN TV with a Black Screen but Working Audio
So, running into a black screen on your ONN TV while still having sound? Yeah, it’s super annoying, especially when everything else seems fine. The screen just blacks out, but the audio keeps going as if nothing’s wrong. Usually, it’s a sign of a minor glitch, though sometimes it’s hardware related. Anyway, here are some practical steps that might get that screen back without wasting hours on repairs.
Step 1: Power Cycle Your TV
This is the classic fix for most minor bugs. Basically, turn off the TV completely, unplug it, and let it sit for a bit. Here’s how:
- Unplug the TV from the wall outlet.
- Press and hold the power button on the TV (not the remote) for about 15 to 20 seconds. Weird, but sometimes this clears out residual power or stuck states.
- Wait at least 60 seconds. The TV needs a moment to fully reset.
- Plug everything back in and power it up. Fingers crossed the screen shows up now.
On some setups, it might take a reboot or two for this to really work, and sometimes the TV doesn’t come back immediately—patience is key.
Step 2: Double-Check Power Source
Sometimes, it’s not the TV but the outlet or power strip causing trouble. Use a different wall socket or plug the TV directly into the outlet if it’s on a surge protector or extension cord. When I’ve seen weird flickering or blank screens, switching outlets often fixed it.
Pro tip: ensure the outlet is actually powered by plugging in another device first.
Step 3: Disconnect All External Cables
If your TV is still black, turn it off and disconnect all HDMI, USB, or other cables—keep only the power cable. It’s possible a faulty device or cable is messing with the picture. After disconnecting, power it back on. If the screen lights up, then one of those cables or connected device is likely causing the issue.
Step 4: Use Remote Shortcut for Soft Reset
This is weird but worth trying. It’s like an unofficial way to ask the TV, “Hey, everything okay?”
Hold the following buttons in sequence (on the remote):
- Press the Home button five times.
- Press the Up button once.
- Press Rewind twice, then Fast Forward once.
- Finish with Rewind twice, then Fast Forward twice.
This kicks off a soft reset. Sometimes the screen just suddenly comes back after doing this, but who knows why it works, maybe just a firmware hiccup.
Step 5: Factory Reset (the nuclear option)
If nothing else works and the screen is still pitch black, it might be time for a full reset. Usually, there’s a tiny reset button—like a pinhole—somewhere on the TV’s side or back. Just:
- Using a paper clip, press and hold that button for about 15 to 20 seconds.
- The TV will power off and reboot, resetting to default settings. Be warned: this erases all custom settings, picture configs, and preferences.
Note: Some TVs might require you to do this from the menu if the reset button isn’t accessible. In that case, look for the reset option in the Settings menu under System > Reset.
Step 6: Check the Backlight (is it a backlight gone?)
This one is kinda sneaky. When the screen is black but audio works, and you’re in a super dark room, shine a flashlight at an angle on the screen. If you see shadows or faint images, it means the backlight isn’t working—probably a hardware failure.
Often this means the TV’s backlight LEDs or their power supply are dead. In that case, you’re looking at a repair job—probably not DIY-friendly unless you’re comfortable opening the panel. But on some people’s setups, this was caused by a faulty inverter or backlight fuse.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
- Make sure all cables are snapped in tightly. Loose HDMI or AV cables can cause weird display issues.
- Switch HDMI ports—sometimes, a port gets wonky or dirty.
- Inspect the cables for visible damage or bent pins.
- Check if your firmware is up to date—sometimes, old software causes display glitches (you can usually do this from the TV settings menu under System Updates).
Conclusion
More often than not, these steps sort out the black screen without a full teardown. Just gotta be methodical. If it still refuses to cooperate, a trip to a repair shop might be inevitable, especially if the backlight or display panel is fried.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the black screen problem keeps coming back?
Check for firmware updates and try avoiding power surges—that might help prevent recurrence. Also, keep an eye on cable quality and connections.
Will a software update help?
Sometimes updating the TV’s software fixes display bugs. Usually, you can do this through the Settings > System > Software Update menu if the screen is responsive enough to navigate.
Any tips to prevent this in the future?
Use good quality cables, avoid unplugging and plugging in randomly, and keep your TV’s firmware updated—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Summary
- Power cycle and unplug for a while
- Check power outlets and cables
- Disconnect devices to rule out external issues
- Try remote shortcuts for quick resets
- Consider a factory reset if stuff’s really broken
- Test for backlight problems in a dark room
Fingers crossed this helps. Fixed one for me—hope it does for you too.