A flashing TV is a common and frustrating issue. Fortunately, most of the likely causes of your TV flickering are well known and can be resolved easily.
This issue usually happens due to degraded or distorted signals. Therefore, checking your system for loose connections should be your initial point for troubleshooting. After ensuring that all the cables connected to your TV, including AV, HDMI, and Antenna cables, are correct, you can move on to the power cord.
In some cases, electromagnetic interference due to other devices can also cause flickering of the television screen.
Quick Fixes for Flashing TV
- Reset the TV
Remove your TV’s cord from the power outlet and re-plug it after a couple of minutes to reset your TV.
- Check the cables
Check each cable coming to and going from the TV. Ensure that there are no loose connections and that each connector is plugged correctly. The other ends of the cables connected with other components should also be checked and tightened if required.
- Disable energy conservation features
It has been observed that in some models, the flickering issue gets better on disabling energy conservation features if you have checked other things, then try disabling the energy-efficient feature.
- Identify and remove the faulty component
Your TV screen might flicker because of an externally connected faulty component. You can quickly identify any such problematic component by removing them and then reconnecting one at a time.
- Inspect the plug
Sometimes, a TV screen flickers just because of a loose electrical plug. If this is the issue in your case, then you possibly will hear a “chattering” coming from the socket or outlet. Please take out the plug and check it for any carbon depositing and heating signs. Replace the plug if required.
What to Look for When Checking Cable Connections
When checking cable connections, you should look for damages, bent wires, and loose connections. If you are sure that the screen of your TV flickers while working with specific input, check the cables associated with that particular input first.
For example, if your TV screen flickers while playing video games, you should inspect all the cables and connectors related to the console. Similarly, if it happens when you watch cable TV programs, then you should check the cables associated with the cable box first.
We generally use HDMI and RCA cables for connecting our devices and TV. These cables tend to break on getting bent at steep angles. A cable with internal damage cannot be identified by visual inspection, so replacing a suspicious cable with a healthy one is better.
Sometimes, additional components such as HDMI adapters and RCA splitters are also used in TV cabling. These passive components don't malfunction, but it's good to do a visual inspection to find and fix any loose connections.
Over time, the metallic connectors terminated at cable ends deteriorate due to the debris and moisture in the surroundings. It is more reasonable to replace cables with even slightly oxidized connectors as these cables can degrade the signal, and consequently, your TV will flicker on missing frames.
Indicators of Hardware Failures
The TV screen mostly flicker because of cable-related issues or power surges, but we cannot rule out the possibility of an underlying hardware issue.
However, you must ensure nothing is wrong with the cables before calling a maintenance specialist or taking your TV to the workshop. Let us talk about some key indicators which indicate hardware-related flickering.
Consistent Flickering
A significant indication of hardware-induced TV flashing is consistency. A TV operating with a worn and about-to-fail internal component will show consistent flickering regardless of the video source it is connected to.
Partial Flickering
If you can observe your TV screen flickering partially only, there is a definite chance that it is related to hardware such as a backlight or ribbon affecting a particular area of the screen.
Abrupt Brightness Surge
A consistent abrupt change in the brightness level of your TV screen can be an early indication of the TV's failing power supply. Usually, a power supply maintains the system voltages with great precision, but flickering happens when it fails in keeping the voltage level stable.
Flickering That Turns the TV Off
If your TV works fine when you turn it on but turns off with a heavy flicker, it also shows that there is something wrong with the hardware.
Other Factors to Consider
In addition to cable and hardware related issues, there can also be other reasons that could affect your TV display such as the following.
Lightning Conditions
Interestingly, LCD screens are designed to flicker but at a rate that is impossible for the human eye to notice. However, in some lighting configurations, the inherent flickering of an LED TV screen becomes noticeable. You can easily mitigate that kind of issue by adjusting the brightness settings of your TV.
Interference from Other Appliances
There are some home appliances that can interfere with the video signals our TV receives and processes. Try not to place other wireless devices such as cordless phones and cell phones near your TV to avoid interference. Electrical interference related issues get worse when your TV operates on an RF input.
Wi-Fi and Internet Issues
These issues are specific to the internet-enabled smart TVs only. If you use your smart TV for streaming content online and are facing quality issues then ensure that it's well within your Wi-Fi router coverage area. It's obvious that streaming content over a slow internet connection will cause degradation in the picture quality.
Other Factors to Consider
In addition to cable and hardware related issues, there can also be other reasons that could affect your TV display, such as:
Lightning Conditions
Interestingly, LCD screens are designed to flicker but at an impossible rate for the human eye to notice. However, in some lighting configurations, the inherent flickering of an LED TV screen becomes noticeable. You can quickly mitigate such issues by adjusting the brightness settings of your TV or by slightly changing the lighting configuration of your TV lounge.
Interference from Other Appliances
Electrical interference-related issues get worse when your TV operates on an RF input. Some home appliances can interfere with the video signals our TV receives and processes. Try not to place other wireless devices such as cordless phones and cell phones near your TV to avoid interference.
Wi-Fi and Internet Issues
These issues are specific to the internet-enabled smart TVs only. If you use your smart TV for streaming content online and face quality issues, ensure it's well within your Wi-Fi router coverage area. Streaming content over a slow internet connection will cause degradation in the picture quality.
Common Questions Relating to TV Flashing
What is the energy-saving feature on my TV?
The energy-saving feature enables a smart TV to adjust screen brightness frequently for reduced power consumption. Usually, this feature works fine. However, in some cases, your TV might not work correctly with the energy-saving feature in condition, and you may notice its screen flickering. You can turn this feature off by accessing the Picture Settings menu of your smart TV.
If this is the case, the issue is with your gaming console. Try replacing the HDMI or RCA cabling connecting both devices.
Can I repair the flickering screen of my TV?
Many videos on the internet provide step-by-step instructions about changing various components and modules inside a television set. However, hardware-related issues should be referred to a trained, professional repairman. Unscrewing a TV will void its warranty.
What to do if my TV screen flickers?
Check all the cables connecting other devices and your TV and ensure that each connector is properly plugged-in. You can also try resetting your TV by removing its cord from the power outlet and re-inserting it after a minute or so.
The Verdict
It is fairly common for TV screens to flicker or flash. Most of the time, flickering is caused by faulty cables or connectors and can easily be rectified. So, it is advisable to troubleshoot this problem by checking cables and connectors.
A TV with a failing power supply, carboned LCD ribbon, or other hardware issues may also exhibit consistent flickering. Another place to look for the root cause behind a flickering screen is the devices connected to your TV. Let it be a DVD player or a gaming console; these devices can make the screen of an otherwise healthy TV flicker.