Samsung TV Black Screen of Death? (Possible Causes & Fixes)

There is little argument that Samsung Smart TVs are some of the most popular on the market. The reliability and quality of these TVs are unquestioned. However, like any appliance, Samsung TVs are subject to their share of problems and issues. One of the most often asked about problems is the black screen of death.

A Samsung Smart TV that suffers from the black screen of death probably has issues with the devices attached to the TV, the settings in the TV, or a power supply problem. Typically, many of these issues can be resolved by checking the connections, resetting the Samsung Smart TV, or resolving issues with the power supply.

Many of these issues are easily diagnosed and corrected by a homeowner willing to spend the time. A systematic approach to solving these problems is the key. Our step-by-step instructions should help you identify and even correct many of these problems that can lead to the black screen of death.

The first step in diagnosing a black screen of death problem is to remove all the inputs to your Samsung Smart TV. This includes an external antenna if one is connected. With everything unplugged, try turning your Samsung Smart TV off and on again.

A conflict between an accessory and the controller in your Samsung TV will often result in a black screen of death. If your Samsung Smart TV comes back on after you have unplugged all the accessories, it is a matter of elimination to discover which accessory is causing the problem.

Begin plugging each accessory into the proper input port on the Samsung Smart TV. As you attach each accessory, access the proper input port from the TV menu and see if the accessory works properly. As you add different accessories, watch for the TV to display the black screen of death.

If you observe a black screen of death after plugging in an accessory, you have identified the problem. Now you can determine what setting to adjust to get that accessory working properly with your Samsung Smart TV.

Damage to accessory input cables and the plugs is rare but can happen. Inspect the cables you use to connect your accessory devices to your Samsung Smart TV for damage. Sometimes, the damage may not be apparent with a cursory examination. Substitute another cable to test the connection.

Plugs should be tight but not so tight that they must force them into place. If there is much more than easy resistance, an inspection of the plug and receptacle is necessary. Bent pins or foreign debris in the plugs and receptacle are common problems. If the plugs or pins are damaged, replace the cable.

Unfortunately, the more services and options included with your Samsung Smart TV, the more places that an incorrect setting can affect your TV. More than likely, if a setting is the cause of your black screen of death issues, the problem is in the input settings. This can be time-consuming and tedious to diagnose and repair.

The fix requires you to access each set of settings for every input channel on your Samsung Smart TV. You must ensure that the settings for that input channel are correct for the device or accessory plugged into that port. This requires consulting the instructions with the device and your Samsung Smart TV and making the correct settings for each input port.

The connection problem may not be with your Samsung Smart TV at all. If your Samsung TV connects to your internet service through a wireless connection, check the router and make sure it operates properly. Often, internet providers will update the router firmware and make changes that can affect your TV connection.

Correcting this problem may involve changes to the wireless connection settings on your Samsung TV or in your router. If the problem is in the router, a phone call to your internet customer service often makes a solution easy. Resetting the wireless connection in your Samsung TV is easily accomplished by following the instructions in the TV user’s manual and following the on-screen directions.

If your Samsung Smart TV is connected to your router through a Cat5 cable, ensure the cable is plugged in properly and in good repair. A BAD Cat5 cable connection can cause a black screen of death.

Samsung routinely issues firmware updates for their Smart TVs. The firmware on your Samsung Smart TV is the heart of your system. It controls virtually every aspect of the Samsung TV operation.

Failing to install the latest firmware version to your Samsung Smart TV may result in some options and features of your Samsung TV from working. This can include some of the input options, which can result in a black screen of death.

Each model of Samsung Smart TV has its own requirements and instructions for installing firmware updates. Follow the instructions in the user’s manual or available on the Samsung website to install the latest firmware version for your model of Samsung Smart TV.

Most Samsung Smart TV models have both a power saver mode and a sleep mode. You may have inadvertently set one of these features. This can cause the Samsung Mart TV to appear to have a black screen of death when it is just doing what you told it to do.

Consult the instructions in your user’s manual to learn how to access the power saver and sleep mode controls. Reset these options to the factory setting, which is usually the off position. This may eliminate what looks like the black screen of death on your Samsung TV.

If none of the above steps eliminates the black screen of death on your Samsung Smart TV, you may try performing a full factory power rest of your TV. This is a last-ditch effort. Performing a power reset will erase all your settings and programming and return the TV controller to the original state it came from the factory.

Before performing a power reset, we suggest that you unplug all the accessory devices plugged into your Samsung Smart TV. This will eliminate any conflicts or possible problems during the reset. It is also suggested that you update the firmware of your Samsung Smart TV at this time.

To perform a power factory reset on your Samsung Smart TV, follow the directions in the user manual that came with your Samsung Smart TV. On many models, you can perform a factory power reset from the settings menu on the TV.

If these remedies fail to solve your black screen of death issue on your Samsung Smart TV, the last option is to call a trained Samsung service technician. A trained technician has the tools and expertise to diagnose the problem with your Samsung smart TV and offer possible solutions.

If your Samsung Smart TV is still under warranty, the repairs may be covered, and your cost will be minimal. Many internal parts of Samsung Smart TVs are replaceable and repairable at much less than the cost of a new comparable Smart TV.