Roku Black Screen (or Flickering Black Screen) – Easy Fix!
It’s pretty common for Roku smart TV’s to go completely black, or start flickering black at some point.
It doesn’t matter what brand you own – TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Insignia, RCA – they all encounter this issue.
Luckily there is a really simple way to fix it.
Fixing a Roku Black Screen or Flickering Black Screen
Regardless of what model TV you own, if your Roku screen is black, or flickering black, the easiest way to fix it is to reset the TV using your remote. Simply hit the home button 5 times, up 1 time, rewind 2 times and fast forward 2 times. Your TV will reset in 60 seconds.
Resetting your Roku TV
The first thing to check is whether or not your Roku TV still has volume. To test this simply turn up the volume using your Roku remote and listen for a sound.
If your screen is black or flickering black but you still have volume, resetting your TV is likely to fix the problem.
To reset your Roku TV with your remote hit the home button 5 times, up 1 time, rewind 2 times and fast forward 2 times.
The TV will freeze and then turn on and off a few times. After about a minute your TV should be back on and working!
If you don’t have a remote, don’t worry, you can still factory reset the TV using the reset button on the back of the TV.
The location of the reset button will depend on what brand TV you own.
Once you find it, grab and paper clip or ball point pen and press and hold the reset button. Wait until you see the TV turn off and then on.
Once you see it turn on you can let go.
Checking for Loose Connections
Next, you’ll want to quickly inspect your Roku TV for any loose cables.
Weak or missing connections can easily lead to the screen going completely black or flickering black.
Just make sure that all of the wires are properly and securely inserted into your Roku TV.
If you need to unplug them and then plug them back in to ensure they are in properly, go ahead and do so.
Checking for Damaged Wires
While you’re making sure everything is properly connected, it’s a good idea for you to check for damaged wires.
You’re specifically looking for strange bends, fraying, and wires that can’t stay snug in the outlets anymore.
Most of these are very easy and cost-efficient to replace and should be easy to spot.
Most often the issue will be with the HDMI cord. These can easily warp and break over time.
Try Power Cycling Your Roku TV
There are some cases where power cycling your TV can fix the black screen issues you’re experiencing.
To do this simply turn the TV off by hitting the power button on the remote, or directly on the TV.
Next, unplug the TV from the wall outlet.
With the TV off and unplugged, go ahead and hold down the power button on the side of the TV for about 10-15 seconds. This step must be done with the power button on the TV itself, NOT the remote!
This will drain and residual power left in the TV.
Finally, plug the TV back into the wall outlet and power it on.
Power cycling forces the device to reset and just might resolve your black, or flickering black screen issues.
Contact the Customer Service Team
If you’ve tried all of the above black screen fixes for your Roku TV and you still aren’t sure what’s wrong, it’s probably time to contact the customer service experts.
They’ll either offer repairs, a new device, or a refund – depending on the status of your TV’s warranty.
As a last resort, you may need to purchase a new Roku TV.
Update Roku TV OS
Once you’ve resolved your black screen issue, you’ll want to just make sure that your Roku TV OS is 100% up to date.
Sometimes, the older versions of the software will no longer be compatible with your monitor or resolution settings.
You can update your Roku TV by hitting the Home button, settings, then checking for updates.
Here are the exact steps to finding the update menu:
- Press the home button on the Roku remote
- Press up and go over to the settings
- Locate the system menu, then click “System Update.”
- In this menu, you’ll find your current Roku version
- The device will automatically check for software updates from this screen
If you’re not sure whether your Roku TV needs an update, make sure to check the brand’s official website.
There, you should find the version number listed somewhere. If your Roku TV doesn’t have the current version, you’ll want to force it to make the upgrade.
Conclusion
If you Roku TV screen is black, or flickering black, you can easily resolve it by trying one or more of the following fixes:
- Reset your Roku TV
- Check for loose connections
- Check for damaged wires
- Try power cycling your Roku TV
- Reach out to customer service for help
- Update Roku software
If none of these fixes work, it might be time to invest in a new Roku TV.
If you were able to fix yours, make sure to let us know what you did! You might even help someone else with the same problem in the comments below.
