How To Fix Common TV Picture and Image Problems

TV has a problem with the picture? Here are some simple ways to troubleshoot the issue. Follow our easy instructions to help you solve common TV issues with lines, pixels, tiles, jumping screen, frozen screen, a blue screen, a black screen, aspect issues, a stretched picture, black bars, captions, bad color, or a grainy screen.

Fix HDTV Picture Problems And IssuesFix HDTV Picture Problems And Issues

Fix Common TV Problems

TV has lines:

Check to be sure you do not have a bad cable or wire connection depending on what component you are using to watch TV. If all cables are tight and not damaged, unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue.

As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset. Be sure your screen is not cracked. If the TV screen is cracked, the screen will need to be replaced to fix the issue.


Try resetting your TV FIRST

TV has pixels or tiles:

A loose connections can cause the TV picture to have pixels or tiles. Remove and then reconnect the coaxial connections between your component and the TV equipment. Be sure all connections are secure. Inspect the coaxial cable for any damage as damage will cause a loss in the signal strength.

You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset. Be sure your screen is not cracked. If the TV screen is cracked, the screen will need to be replaced to fix the issue.

TV has jumping or jumpy screen:

To figure out what is causing your TV screen to be jumping look at everything that your TV connects to. If the jumping effect is only happening with a single source, then that source is what is causing your problem. Check the source and all cables. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV screen is frozen:

If using a SAT receiver, weather can interfere with the signal. Bad weather can cause your picture to become frozen. Other things that can cause a frozen TV screen is outside obstructions like trees or buildings that block the SAT signal. If you do not have SAT, then you need to check the connections. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has a blue screen:

Is your TV on the correct input? Change the input on your TV if needed. Check for loose or damaged connections on the back of your TV. Make sure the component you are trying to watch is turned ON. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has a black screen:

Make sure the TV is ON! Is your TV on the correct input? Change the input on your TV if needed. Check for loose or damaged connections on the back of your TV. Make sure the component you are trying to watch is turned ON. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has aspect issues:

Go into the TV menu and be sure the TV aspect is turned to NORMAL. The aspect ratio can also be set on some remote controls. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has a stretched picture:

Go into the TV menu and be sure the TV aspect is turned to NORMAL. The aspect ratio can also be set on some remote controls. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has black bars:

Aspect ratio on your cable or SAT box may be set incorrectly. If the picture does not fit the TV screen the way you like, then you need to change the aspect ratio on your cable or SAT box. Black bars on either side of the picture are caused when a TV show is broadcast in standard definition 4×3 format but displayed on a widescreen 16×9 HDTV. Try also changing the aspect ratio on your TV by going into the TV menu and setting the aspect ratio to NORMAL. The aspect ratio can also be set on some remote controls.

TV has captions:

You have set the caption to ON by mistake. Try using the remote control to turn captions OFF or go into the TV menu or the component menu such as the menu on SAT or cable box and look for the “captions” setting and turn it OFF. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has bad or wrong color:

The TV menu may have been wrongly set in the COLOR, HUE, or BRIGHTNESS. Try resetting the color in the TV menu. Also a loose or damaged wire and cable can distort the TV picture. Check the cable that you are using for that input and be sure it is not damaged or loose. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

TV has grainy screen:

It may be possible that a certain HDMI input is different than the others on your TV. If you are hooking up a computer or laptop to your TV, try using different HDMI input when you have a grainy or snowy screen picture. Also a loose or damaged wire and cable can distort the TV picture. Check the cable that you are using for that input and be sure it is not damaged or loose. You can also unplug the TV for 10 minutes and see if that resets the issue. As a last resort, go into the menu of your TV and do a factory reset.

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NOTE: Avoid using tools to tighten your cables. Simple finger tightening is sufficient. Pliers and similar tools may damage fragile connections therefore the wire may break and you will have a blank or distorted picture on your TV.

Do you have any other problems with your TV picture and need assistance? Please leave a comment below and we will be happy to assist.

12 thoughts on “How To Fix Common TV Picture and Image Problems”

  1. I have a jvc smart tv. I have been viewing photos through an external hard drive through the multi media. I have removed the external hardrive but it has left an image on the screen when i switch it on. How do i remove it ? Thanks

  2. Hey I have an older don’t model tv and i get those jumpy lines and distorted zig saggy picture…can I fix this manually?? Or

  3. My Logic TV was working fine earlier today. Now it comes on with blue streaks, changes to white and is now three quarters blue vertical lines/bars and a quarter white. There is no sound and no picture. What could be the problem? Thanks.

  4. My LG tv (43LH5700) changes the picture from perfect to rolling gray lines over and over again for a few seconds at a time. It is on cable. When turned on without the cable, the static does the same thing. I can’t find factory reset in the menu.

  5. My tv was working fine and then I lost all the channels. We changed the antenna cable and did a channel search and got the channels again. Shut off the tv and when it was turned back on there were no channels again. Did another channel scan and got 3 channels. What is the problem.

  6. Picture is OK then after awhile turns greenish when I set it back to movie mode it’s OK all the rest green I switch constantly pip picture is the when all modes work it happens after its on for a hour help?

  7. I have a problem with my TV.
    It only happens to some channels from time to time. I first thought it maybe the saterlight caused by bad weather. it starts losing picture with large color squares or pixels jumping all over the screen distorting the picture with the sound distorting at the same time, this can go on for hours then clears up for a week then starts all over again.
    Thank you.
    John.

  8. jeanne anderson

    Toshiba HDTV will not turn on from the remote; nor, will the remote allow channels to be changed. None of the remote’s features/options are operational. Changed the 2 AAA batteries inside the, TV was then functioning correctly for 1 day only.

    TV, when it is turned on from its panel buttons, will show the channel in the upper left corner- against a blue screen – and audio can be heard for immediately, then it cuts off completely. The screen remains blue for less than 5 seconds before it turns green. There are intermittent ‘staticky’ sounds [scratching] and the green screen either splits horizontally [with the channel designation in the lower half AND the solid green color in the upper half] OR the screen goes completely green & there is absolutely no audio. Sometimes vertical bands of white or other colors accompany the screen when it changes from blue to green. What’s wrong?? TV is 8 years old and is turned on for 15 hours each day.

  9. Karen aguirre

    My TV went to dark . there is still picture and I’ve reset the brightness and color but it seems that the lightbuld exploded I dont really know.
    It doesn’t have any lines, statics, there’s clear picture but not that clear.
    My TV is a pixel

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