How to Fix Vizio TV Black Screen of Death?

The biggest nightmare in today’s era is your device turns faulty. Be it a laptop, gaming console, smart TV, or smartphone, you may face problems from time to time.

It can be due to excessive use, faulty parts, or manufacturing defect. When it comes to televisions, you can find a wide range of quality brands and models.

However, the chances of being defective are quite high. You cannot be dead sure whether the device will work fine for years or become faulty after using it for a few months. 

Vizio TV is one of the most popular brands in the United States and is affordable as well. The company was the second-largest seller of flat televisions in the United States in 2020. It sold over 80 million televisions and 11 million sound bars in 2021. 

Black screen or screen of death is the most common problem that is not only limited to a few brands including Vizio. Your heart may skip a beat after seeing a black screen at a time when you want to watch Reelz without cable on the weekend. 

There are several reasons you might experience a death screen on Vizio TV such as input sources to motherboard issues.

Before we pen down troubleshooting tips to fix Vizio TV black screen, it is important to know the reasons behind this. Without further ado, let’s dive straight into why Vizio TV shows a black screen.

Why is My Vizio Screen Black?

If you experience a black screen Vizio, don’t just count on your money to get it replaced. Some reasons you will come to know in this section will let you figure out the reason behind them.

And fix it on your own without any support or help. Moreover, you don’t even have to replace it with a new one after investing a hefty amount. 

• Sleep Timer is Turned On

You may have pressed the sleep timer button without noticing. Or a kid while watching kids’ animated movies on Netflix might have pushed the button. This may cause Vizio TV black screen, which will end after the time ends. 

• Loose and Tangled Cables

You may experience a black Vizio screen if the power cord is too loose and has not been plugged in properly. Moreover, due to tangled cables, your television might turn off before it turns on. 

• Mute Screen

This feature is unique and great for listening only to music on Spotify and similar apps. Vizio TV allows you to mute the screen and listen to the audio without any visuals. This could also be the cause of Vizio TV black screen. 

• Firmware Update

Sometimes the older firmware of devices could also cause issues like black screen. Vizio black screen can also be caused by any software bug or firmware update. 

• Overheating of Television 

If your Vizio TV is in use for a long period, it may overhear. The overheating could result in a black screen.

If the vents of your Vizio TV are blocked or the placement of your television has poor ventilation. The components integrated into Vizio TV would result in overheating, causing a black screen of death. 

• Faulty Hardware

The black screen of death on Vizio TV could also be due to faulty hardware. If the television goes through hardware problems like a damaged display, broken backlight, or faulty power supply unit, can also be the reason behind Vizio black screen.

What does Vizio’s Black Screen of Death Look Like?

The Vizio black screen of death will turn your screen black, no matter if you have a 70 inch wide TV or as small as 32 inch TV for your bedroom. but the sound remains functional.

As mentioned earlier you can fix the issue without any trouble. How to test Vizio Tv Black Screen of Death, here’s what you need to know.

How to Test Vizio Tv Black Screen of Death?

You might be wondering how to test Vizio Tv black screen of death before resolving it. It is better to go through a series of tests we are going to discuss shortly. Don’t rush to buy a new television or expensive parts.

Let’s find out how to test Vizio TV black screen of death. 

1. Do a Sound Test

• Power on your television 
• Turn the volume up
• If you can’t hear anything, try to stream anything that would create sound

2. Flashlight Test 

Flashlight test is also one of the tests to perform when experiencing Vizio black screen of death. Here’s how to perform it.

• Take a bright torch and put batteries
• Stand 5 to 6 inches away from the television screen and point the torch toward the television while it is turned on
• If you can see the image, that means the inverter board in the TV has gone faulty

3. Check the Power Connection

Before panicking and counting on money for repair, you need to check the power connections. Here’s what you need to do when Vizio’s black screen of death appears. 

• Turn your television off and unplug it from the power supply
• Push the power button on the television for 30 seconds
• Release the button and plug back the television again

How to Fix Vizio Black Screen of Death?

There are multiple ways to fix Vizio black screen of death. Let’s take a brief overview of how to resolve Vizio black screen of death with these tried and tested methods.

Method 1 – Check the Connections

One of the ways to fix Vizio black screen of death is to look at wires connecting to external devices.

If any of the wires are broken or loose, make sure to fix or replace it immediately. Also, verify whether the wires are connected and inserted into the right ports of the television.

Method 2 – Update Firmware

If you are experiencing Vizio black screen of death, it might be due to outdated firmware. It is recommended to check firmware updates from time to time before coming up with a black screen problem.

Now if your Vizio screen has turned black, just look at the instructions on the official website to update the firmware.

Method 3 – Power Cycle can Fix Black Screen Issue

The power cycle can fix the black screen of death issue. You can try this method immediately after the black screen appears.

All you need to do is turn your television off and disconnect it from the main power supply. Wait for a while before plugging back in. Turn on your television and check whether the issue is resolved or not. If not, proceed to the next method.

Method 4 – Reset the TV

Reverting back the Vizio TV to its original settings can also fix the issue of a black screen. This is normally caused by software bugs or vulnerabilities.

You can check our detailed post on How to Reset Vizio TV with & without a Remote to reset it and fix the issue.

If you want to have a quick solution just go to TV settings and select Reset to Default Settings. Keep in mind that this will erase all your data and apps you installed after buying.

Method 5 – Press Menu on the Remote

If you press the menu button on your remote and see it on your television screen, it means your TV is perfectly fine.

There is only a minor issue with other devices connected to the TV or the wires. Make sure to change the wires and reconnect them properly.

Method 6 – Turn on Sleep Setting

Vizio TV black screen of death could be due to Sleep Timer on Vizio TV. When turned on, the television will turn off after the set time.

The television can go to sleep even if it is running. If your Vizio TV screen has turned black, you need to turn off sleep settings.

Here’s how to do it. 

• Go to the menu of your Vizio TV by pressing the Menu button on remote
• Select the Timer option and then select Sleep Timer to Toggle off active timers
• Exit the menu and restart your Vizio TV again

Method 7 – Factory Reset Vizio TV

Factory reset is another great option if your Vizio TV screen is black. Although you will lose all your settings, preferences, and applications installed, will resolve the problem.

Let’s find out how to factory reset Vizio TV to fix Vizio black screen of death. 

• Enter the menu of Vizio TV and select the System option
• Open Reset and Admin option
• Click Reset TV to Factory Defaults
• Enter parental code, which by default is 0000
• Click Ok to start the factory reset. 

After clicking ok, it will take some time to factory reset your Vizio TV. Hopefully, Vizio black screen of death will be fixed after adopting this method.

Method 8 – Visit Vizio Repair Center

After trying and testing the aforementioned methods, if your Vizio black screen of death is not fixed, it’s time to take it to the repair center.

If there is any board or circuit problem in your television, you may not try fixing it yourself unless you are an expert. Before taking your TV to the repair center, it is better to call Vizio customer support for assistance.

How to Avoid Vizio Black Screen of Death?

If you want to prevent Vizio black screen of death, you can follow the tips mentioned below. 

1. Keep Your Television in an Open Space  

We mentioned earlier in the post that lack of ventilation can also cause Vizio to black screen. Make sure to place your Vizio television in an open space to ensure ventilation.

Avoid placing your television in enclosed spaces as it may overheat your television and may cause damage to other parts of TV. 

2. Use a Surge Protector 

Buying a surge protector for your television can safeguard it from power disruptions leading to equipment failure. 

3. Prevent Installing Dangerous Apps and Software

Smart TVs allow you to install any app that is compatible. Vizio TV also allows you to do so. Make sure to install applications from trusted sources such as the official website or store.

Summing Up

Black screens of death are commonly seen in smart TVs. Vizio TV is not an exception, but you don’t need to worry if you find yourself in this situation.

We have discussed the easiest ways to deal with Vizio TV black screen of death.

Frequently Asked Questions