Imagine going home and getting ready to watch a movie or your favorite TV show. You have your snacks and beverage on hand, but when you press the power button on the remote to turn your Hisense TV on- nothing.
With patience running out and a growing sense of frustration, you try to get your TV to work. But the question is, how can you fix a Hisense TV with a black screen?
A black screen can be caused by a number of things, including a non-responsive app, power issues, an incorrect connection source, or even a dead remote. However, there’s a good chance that you can get your TV working again by following our Hisense TV black screen guide below.
Hisense TV Not Turning On: How to Fix
Sometimes a smart TV can act like a child and refuse to follow orders (inputs) from you. This includes seeing a Hisense TV that is powered “on,” yet has a black screen.
This phenomenon, called the ‘Black Screen of Death’ by some, is prevalent on all brands and models of smart TVs. Your Hisense TV can experience a BSOD even if it’s relatively new, which makes it all the more frustrating when you encounter it.
Barring a device failure or a ‘no picture’ TV with a broken screen, you can easily reset your smart TV and finally settle down with a good show or a videogame. You’ll need to invest approximately 2-5 minutes to complete a power cycle – we’ll show you how on the next section.
How Do I Fix the Black Screen on My Hisense TV?
As intimidating as it sounds, it’s pretty easy to get a picture on your Hisense TV following a BSOD (“black screen of death”).
What you’ll want to do first is to turn off your TV using the included remote control or by pressing the power button on the TV itself. If your Hisense TV responds to the command, wait for it to power down before pulling the power cord from the extension, AVR or wall outlet.
Then, count up to a full minute and connect the power cord back to the extension or wall outlet. Complete the motion as you would when turning on a TV, and you’ll have solved the black screen situation.
If for some reason your TV isn’t responding, then here’s what you can do.
- Unplug your Hisense TV from the wall outlet or extension, then wait a full minute.
- Use the TV’s remote and press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. This action should refresh the TV’s internal software and free up its memory and processor.
After that, plug in your Hisense TV and wait another 60 seconds. Power it on using the remote or the TV’s hardware button, and voila! You will have power cycled through it and (hopefully) resolved the black screen issue.
Fix a Hisense TV Black Screen – The Basics
A Hisense TV black screen problem can either be complicated or really simple. If you don’t mind spending a few more minutes to see why your TV is not showing a picture, here are a few basic troubleshooting steps to try.
Power Issues
Your Hisense TV may not be getting enough power to light up its screen. If this is the case, then you may have to do a bit of investigating to find out the cause.
First, check and see if the power cord is undamaged, and if it’s securely plugged into the wall outlet and the back of your Hisense TV. Replace the power cord if necessary, or try plugging the TV to another wall socket or extension to see if that fixes the problem.
Remote Issues
You could be pressing all the buttons on the included Hisense TV remote and fail to get a response. You’ll know it’s the remote if you’re able to control the TV via the hardware buttons on the TV itself.
Again, check the remote for damage and excessive wear and tear. Consider replacing the old batteries with fresh ones so you can give commands without having to get up from the couch. If the buttons are too worn out or missing, you can also consider buying a replacement.
Cable Issues
Your HDMI cable is a likely culprit if you’re seeing only a black screen when you want to play or stream content from your set top box, DVD, gaming console, or streaming stick. Most, if not all of them, connect through HDMI.
Take a look at the back of the Hisense TV and check if the HDMI is properly plugged in both ways (from the TV and from the device). Also, check for signs of damage. If you have a spare HDMI cable on hand, then you can replace the cable and see if it does the trick. (Alternatively, if your TV has multiple HDMI ports, you should try using a different one).
Inspect for Physical Damage
While you’re at it, you can do an inspection for any physical damage done to the TV screen. You can use a flashlight or turn on the lights in the room so you can see possible display cracks more easily.
Long lines and webs can mean that the TV screen is impacted, which could explain the reason why you’re not seeing a picture. If you’re only getting a partial picture, or if the colors are weird in any way then you’ll probably need to get your smart TV repaired.
Recall the Last Time and Action You Made On Your Hisense TV
The last step of troubleshooting involves retracing your actions to try and find the reason why the Hisense TV screen is black.
Overheating is a common culprit in a smart TV black screen of death. Too much usage can make the electrical components of the Hisense TV get too hot, which leads to a fried circuit. Similarly, using the TV in a hot environment can shorten its lifespan.
That said, you should turn your Hisense TV off and let it rest for an hour. Power cycle it for good measure, then turn the TV back on and see if that solves the issue. The same applies to connected devices such as gaming consoles and streaming sticks- give them a break every now and then, especially if you’ve been watching or playing for several hours straight.
How Do I Reset My Hisense TV Without Picture?
You can try to reset your Hisense TV if there’s no picture showing on the screen. It’s worth noting that a Hisense TV reset is different from a power cycle – it’s like a factory reset on a smartphone where all your previous settings will be lost.
A reset is a good option if you’re experiencing more than just a black screen. If the sound coming from your TV is distorted, or if the picture is unnatural, e.g., it’s too saturated or the colors are muted, then a reset can be a fix-all.
To reset your Hisense TV, you will first need a paper clip. Straighten one end of the paper clip so it forms a rod, then look for a small hole labeled ‘reset’ on the TV itself. It can usually be found at the back panel or near the bottom part of the TV.
Using the straight end of the paper clip, press the button hidden inside the hole and hold the position for around 15 seconds. The TV will then receive the command and go through the motions as if it were brand new. Alternatively, you can use a toothpick or something similar if a paper clip is nowhere in sight.
How Do I Factory Reset My TV When the Screen is Black?
The paper clip or toothpick method works well if you’re having a problem accessing your Hisense TV’s menu. A remote won’t be of any help since you won’t see where you’re going, and mindlessly pressing buttons while there’s no picture can exacerbate the problem.
Using a straightened end of a paper clip, locate and press the small hole in your Hisense TV that’s labeled ‘reset’ for 15 seconds. The TV has to be plugged in for this to work. Then, unplug the smart TV from the extension or wall outlet, wait for 60 seconds and turn it back on.
Some Hisense TVs will have a dedicated reset button on the remote for a quick fix. If you can get a picture you can force a factory reset or soft reset by going to the TV’s menu and Settings, and choosing ‘restart your TV’ or ‘Factory Reset your TV’. Follow the prompts to successfully complete the action.
Hisense TV Turned Off While Watching (Problems and Fixes)
Here’s another scenario- what if, your Hisense TV suddenly quit on you while you’re watching a TV show or playing a videogame? There might be sound still coming on the speakers, or there might not be. Either way, you can’t get a picture and want this fixed as soon as possible.
This time let’s troubleshoot the possible causes and solutions.
How Long Has the TV Been On?
Your Hisense smart TV may have reached its limit, hardware-wise, and has shut down as a result. This might be temporary or long-term, depending on the state of the TV and its internal components.
If this happens, then the best you can do is give your TV a rest. Press the power button to turn it off, then unplug the appliance from the wall socket or extension. Wait for an hour or two, then power the TV back on.
To try and prevent this from happening again, you’ll want to take a break every 2-3 hours of watching or playing, and more if the room or environment doesn’t have air conditioning.
Do a Backlight Test
This test is done to see if your TV’s front panel, where the LED lights or LED display goes, is too low to provide an adequate picture.
Leave the TV turned on and turn off every light in the room. If you have dark or heavy curtains, you’ll want to draw them and make the room as dark as possible. Before doing all this though, you will need a flashlight or one from your smartphone.
The next step is to shine a light directly on the TV to check and see if there’s a picture. Take a close look – if there’s a display, then it could be that the display is too dim for viewers. A replacement or sending in your TV for repairs could be necessary.
Is There a Power Outage?
Power interruptions do happen from time to time, and you could be so engrossed in the TV content that you fail to see that the lights have gone out.
The outage can occur locally, such as where your Hisense TV is plugged, or the whole house might be affected. Wait until the electricity goes back on, or plug your TV into a backup outlet to resume watching.
Did Someone Accidentally Press the Remote?
Accidental presses can also happen every now and then, especially if you have children or pets around the house. Also, you might have leaned on the couch or bed and pressed the remote’s power button, hence the black screen.
To get around this, locate the remote and point it at the TV screen, then press the power button. Put the remote in a place where it won’t be pressed by accident next time – atop a side table, the coffee table, or maybe right beside the TV.
Is The Device Connected via HDMI Still On?
A Hisense TV black screen can show a ‘no signal’ error or ‘HDMI not detected’, which usually means that the connected device has been shut off. These devices will have a power button located on the hardware itself, or via an included remote control accessory.
The quickest fix is to restart the connected device by way of power cycling – turn it off and unplug it from the power source. Wait for a full minute, then plug the device back in and turn it on. Resume the activity as you wish, or give the TV and the device a rest.
My Hisense TV Screen is Black but Has Sound
You can treat a Hisense TV with sound but no picture as a black screen of death and try to solve it the same way.
Turn off the smart TV and unplug it from the wall. Wait around a minute, then press the remote’s power button and hold it for around 30 seconds. Wait another 60 seconds, then plug the TV back in and turn the TV on.
Once you have a picture you can do a hard reset to completely refresh the TV.
Hisense TV Black Screen Red Light Flashing
A Hisense TV black screen with the LED indicator light flashing red means that your TV isn’t getting enough power. If this what you see, unplug the TV from the current extension or wall socket and find another one. Find a suitable source of power so your Hisense TV display won’t shut down intermittently.
Final Thoughts
We’ve listed every possible cause for a Hisense TV black screen and solutions for each one. In the event that your smart TV still won’t come on, you’d probably need to have your Hisense TV repaired (hopefully it’s still under warranty).
