Fluorescent and LED lights would flicker, and while it’s spooky, it’s a pretty normal thing! But when your smart TV flickers, it’s one unpleasant surprise that not only disrupts your movie night but also can make you conclude that your unit is haunted.
Fear not, though, as flat-screen TVs are prone to flickering and dimming (usually caused by a connection issue, among other things). The good news is you need not call an expert as you can DIY proven fixes to deal with the problem quickly.
A flickering TV screen can be fixed by resetting your TV, checking its cables, and updating its software. Also, check the TV for video sources, WiFi, interference, and hardware problems.
This guide will teach you how to fix a flickering TV screen using 10 proven fixes you can DIY. In that line, we’re giving you easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for each solution so you can get your TV back right away in one reading.
1. Reset your TV by turning it off and on.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 40 seconds |
| Things Needed | A TV remote controlWorking TV physical buttons |
There are various ways we can recommend you can do to learn how to fix a flickering TV screen. One such way is to perform a quick and easy restart sequence by turning your TV off and on to shut down and reboot its system.
This method is an effective way to refresh the system memory of your TV since it shuts down all of its running apps and programs at once. Doing so corrects any errors that might occur while the unit’s in use, improving its performance.
Indeed, a visual issue like a flickering screen is one of many things you can resolve with a simple TV restart. In most TVs, you can perform a restart by turning the unit off and on using its power button or the one on the remote control.
Depending on the TV’s brand and model, you might need to press and hold the power button for a full shutdown, as a single click usually puts them on standby or sleep mode. If in doubt, look up your unit’s user manual properly.
Step 1: Press and hold the power button on your TV or its remote control to shut it down. |
Step 2: Wait for the TV to reboot or press the power button on your TV or its remote control again if it doesn’t automatically turn on. |
2. Unplug the TV from its outlet and plug it back in.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 1 minute and 10 seconds |
| Things Needed | A working power/wall outlet |
Another quick and easy way to fix a flickering TV screen is to perform a power reset that will also shut it down and refresh its system memory. A power reset is unlike your standard on/off sequence.
It’s done by disconnecting your TV from the power source, which will turn the unit off immediately. The caveat is you need to wait for some time to make this method work.
The purpose of this method is similar to a restart with the bonus of discharging your TV’s residual electrical energy. It’s an effective way to resolve errors such as a flickering TV caused by the electrical energy stored by TV capacitors.
Instead of simply keeping your TV unplugged, we recommend pressing and holding its power button to power cycle it. A power cycle is a proven method of discharging the residual electrical energy on your TV.
Step 1: Disconnect your TV’s power cable from its wall outlet to shut it down. |
Step 2: Press and hold the power button on your TV for 30 seconds to discharge any residual electrical energy. Note: Depending on your TV, its power button might be on its underside, left or right side, or at the rear panel. Refer to the TV’s user manual for the exact location of its power button. |
Step 3: Keep the TV unplugged for 30 more seconds before you plug its power cable back into the wall outlet and turn it on. Note: Most TVs will automatically turn on once plugged into a power source. You can press the power button of the TV or its remote control if this isn’t the case for you. |
3. Inspect the cables on the TV for any loose connections.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time Needed | 10 to 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | A replacement power cableA replacement HDMI cable |
Loose cables are a common cause of display issues, and checking if they’re plugged in securely is advisable if you want to know how to fix a flickering TV screen. This applies to the power and HDMI cables connected to your TV.
A loose power cable can cause a power supply issue that might result in a flickering TV screen. Similarly, the HDMI cable can also cause a flickering TV screen if its connection is loose, as data transmission is affected.
We also recommend inspecting the wires of your TV’s power and HDMI cables to check for signs of damage. It’s common for these cables to sustain wear and tear or have missing contact pins in the connector, which results in a faulty connection.
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Plus, you should stop using damaged cables on your TV and replace them with a new one as soon as possible. Damaged cables not only cause display issues such as screen flickering but may also result in your TV sustaining further damage.
Reseat the HDMI cable on your TV and external input device.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Time Needed | 5 seconds |
| Things Needed | A replacement HDMI cable |
| Step 1: Disconnect the HDMI cable from your TV and external input device. |
Step 2: Reconnect the HDMI cable back into your TV and external input device. Note: Ensure the HDMI cable connector is a snug fit on both devices’ ports. If the connection is loose, keep reseating the HDMI cable until it fits tightly, or use a different cable that fits well on both devices’ ports. |
Reseat the power cable on your TV and wall outlet.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time Needed | 10 seconds |
| Things Needed | A replacement power cable |
Step 1: Disconnect the TV’s power cable from your wall outlet. |
Step 2: Reconnect the TV’s power cable to your wall outlet. Note: Ensure the power cable is a snug fit on the wall outlet. If the connection is loose, keep reseating the power cable until it fits tightly, or use a different cable that fits well on the wall outlet. |
Step 3: Disconnect the other end of the power cable from your TV’s DC/IN port. |
Step 4: Reconnect the other end of the power cable to your TV’s DC/IN port. Note: Ensure the power cable is a snug fit on the DC/IN port. If the connection is loose, keep reseating the power cable until it fits tightly, or use a different cable that fits well on the TV’s DC/IN port. |
4. Check if the video source is problematic.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time Needed | 10 seconds |
| Things Needed | A TV remote control |
Sometimes, the flickering on your TV screen isn’t caused by a display issue but by a problem with the video source that is being played. One way to fix a flickering TV screen is to check the video source to see if it’s the root cause of the problem.
To check if your TV’s video source is problematic, switch to a different input source to see if the screen is still flickering. If the screen flickering stops when using a different input source, it means that the previous video source was problematic.
It’s common for video sources streamed from online platforms to experience flickering due to slow internet speeds. Thus, you can only troubleshoot this issue by inspecting your WiFi router and resetting it if necessary.
Another option for you is to stick to the new input source that isn’t causing screen flickering on your TV. Otherwise, you need to refer to the instructions for troubleshooting your WiFi router in the later parts of this guide.
Step 1: Plug the TV into a wall outlet and turn it on. |
Step 2: Press the remote control’s source/input button to display the sourceselection menu on your TV screen.  |
Step 3: Select another input source on your TV (which may not cause screen flickering). |
5. Check if there’s electrical interference.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 1 |
| Time Needed | 10 – 20 seconds |
It’s not advisable to place multiple electronic devices close to each other as they’re known to cause electrical interference. This interference is terrible for your TV as it can cause its display screen to flicker or for the images to pixelate and distort.
Thus, we recommend moving some electronic devices near your TV to see if it will stop the screen flickering. Another thing you can do to fix a flickering TV screen is to turn off nearby unused wireless devices that might cause signal interference.
Most electronic devices emit electromagnetic waves. Top of that list is wireless communication devices such as your smartphone and microwave oven.
Most wireless devices use the same 2.4GHz signal frequency, so this frequency band is overcrowded and prone to interference. Mobile devices using a 4G network also cause signal interference and TV screen flickering.
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You must keep your electronic and wireless devices away from your TV as much as possible. If they’re not being used, we recommend turning them off not only to save power but also to avoid the possibility of interference.
6. Disable the power-efficiency features on your TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 15 seconds |
| Things Needed | A TV remote control |
Energy-efficiency features on TVs are tools for cutting down your power consumption, to lower your monthly electricity bill. The problem with these energy-saving features is that they might cause display issues.
Due to the lower power consumption, some TVs may experience slower performance and various display issues like the screen looking dark or flickering. In such cases, turning off the power-efficiency features is wise.
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Some TVs will have a dedicated energy-efficiency mode like Energy Saving Mode for Samsung or Energy Saving for LG. If your TV doesn’t have an energy-efficiency mode, you can turn off its power-saving features one by one instead.
Step 1: Press the settings menu on the TV remote control. Scroll down and click General. Note: Some TVs’ energy-efficiency feature might be located under the support menu instead. |
Step 2: Scroll down and click Eco Solution. Note: The name of the energy-efficiency menu varies between TV brands and models. |
Step 3: Scroll down and click Energy Saving Mode. |
Step 4: Select Off to disable its energy-efficiency mode. |
7. Consider the ambient lighting and the TV’s refresh rate.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 15 seconds |
| Things Needed | A TV remote control |
While in use, TV screens will flicker at a speedy rate that isn’t noticeable and distracting when you’re watching. It’s different from the screen flickering issue that’s caused by distortions and abnormal movements of the images on the TV’s display.
In some cases, the regular flickering on your TV display might become more noticeable and distracting due to the effects of the ambient lighting conditions. You can combat this by adjusting the brightness of the room where your TV is located.
Another way to address this problem is to adjust the refresh rate of your TV display screen. Please note that not all TVs have refresh rate options, but there are display settings that help smoothen the motion of moving pictures on the screen.
A good example is the Auto Motion Plus, Picture Clarity, or Motion Smoothing feature on Samsung TVs. You can turn this feature on to straighten out a flickering tv screen since it modifies the frames on the display.
Step 1: Press the menu or settings button on your TV’s remote control to open its settings menu. |
Step 2: Open your TV’s picture or display menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down to open Expert Settings. |
Step 4: Scroll down and click Picture Clarity Settings. |
Step 5: Select Picture Clarity and set it to Auto or Custom to see if it stops the screen from flickering. |
8. Inspect your WiFi router and modem.
TV screen flickering can occur if you’re streaming from an online video source and the internet speed provided by your WiFi router is slow. Depending on the signal frequency used by your WiFi router, you might need to move it closer to your TV.
WiFi routers that use a 5GHz frequency band have a short range, so keeping them closer to your TV is ideal. If your internet speed is still sluggish, you can also try resetting your WiFi router to refresh its internet connection.
Contact your ISP so they can provide you with further assistance with your internet connection. If your ISP is experiencing technical difficulties in your area, you can ask them for the time or date you can expect them to fix your internet connection.
Unplug the cables on your WiFi router and modem to soft reset them.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 2 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Things Needed | A WiFi router and modem |
Step 1: Unplug your WiFi router’s power and ethernet cables. |
Step 2: Unplug your WiFi modem’s power and ethernet cables. |
| Step 3: Unplug both devices for 2 minutes for a full shutdown. |
| Step 4: Plug in your WiFi router’s power and ethernet cable. |
| Step 5: Plug in your WiFi modem’s power and ethernet cable. |
Step 6: Wait for both devices to boot up and test your internet speed after the indicator lights on both devices turn on. |
Use a toothpick or paperclip to factory reset your WiFi router and modem.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 2 minutes |
| Things Needed | A WiFi router and modemA toothpick or paperclip |
Step 1: Use a toothpick or paperclip to access the hidden reset button inside the hole labeled “Reset” behind your WiFi router and modem. |
Step 2: Hold the reset button for 10 seconds or until your WiFi router and modem shut down and start the factory reset. |
| Step 3: Wait for both devices to boot up. |
Step 4: Connect to the default SSID and password on both devices’ sticker labels and test your internet speed once their indicator lights turn on. |
9. Inspect your TV for hardware problems.
| Difficulty | Easy ● ●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 – 20 minutes |
| Things Needed | ScrewdriverSoldering iron and wiresReplacement main boardReplacement power supply boardReplacement T-con boardReplacement capacitorsReplacement cables |
Hardware problems such as damaged components and boards inside your TV can cause display issues such as screen flickering. As such, we recommend inspecting your TV to check for any damaged hardware inside.
The likely culprits you need to look out for are the main board, power supply board, and T-con board. You also need to check if the components installed on these boards, such as the capacitors, are swollen or have any burn marks.
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Replacing the swollen or burned components and boards is an effective way to fix a flickering TV screen. Doing so also prevents your TV from suffering further damage that might render it irreparable.
You can perform the replacement yourself if you’re handy with electronics or if you have a friend to assist you. Otherwise, we strongly recommend sending your TV in for repair so a certified technician can inspect and replace you.
Step 1: Place the TV face down on a table or anything with a smooth and flat surface. |
Step 2: Unscrew the TV’s rear panel to remove it and reveal the components inside. |
Step 3: Check if the cables connected to various boards and components are plugged in securely and look for any signs of damage. |
Step 4: Unscrew the main, power supply, and T-con boards to inspect them for any burn marks underneath. |
| Step 5: Install a replacement for any component that has sustained any damage. |
| Step 6: Reinstall the rear panel and screw it back on your TV. |
10. Update the software of the TV.
Software-related issues can also cause the TV display screen to experience flickering problems. The best way to address this issue is to update your TV by downloading and installing the latest available version of its software.
Not only does this fix any software-related issues on your TV, but it also improves its performance and compatibility with newer features and apps on the market. Updating the software on most TVs is a straightforward process with WiFi.
Once connected to a reliable WiFi network, you only need to download and install the software update from your TV’s menu. Also, some TV vendors allow you to manually update your TV by installing the new software using a USB stick.
Please note that some TV vendors like Hisense don’t allow you to download the software update and put it on a USB stick yourself. You may have to contact them if you want to do a manual update so they can send you a USB stick with the updates.
Connect your TV to the internet to install its software update.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 – 20 minutes |
| Things Needed | A TV remote controlA working internet connection |
Step 1: Press the menu or settings button on your TV’s remote control to open its settings menu. |
Step 2: Scroll down and open your TV’s support menu. |
Step 3: Click Software Update. |
Step 4: Click Update Now. |
| Step 5: Wait for your TV to download and install the latest software update. |
Use a USB stick to update your TV’s software manually.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 11 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 – 20 minutes |
| Things Needed | A TV remote controlA working internet connection |
| Step 1: Press the menu or settings button on your TV’s remote control to open its settings menu. |
| Step 2: Scroll down and open your TV’s support menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down and click About This TV to check the device’s model number and current software version. |
Step 4: Go to your PC’s internet browser and visit your TV vendor’s product support page. |
Step 5: Enter your TV model number on their page’s search bar to access and download the software update file. |
Step 6: Extract the software update file and copy it to a USB stick plugged into your PC. |
| Step 7: Plug the USB stick into your TV and press the menu or settings button on your remote control to open its settings menu. |
| Step 8: Scroll down and open your TV’s support menu. |
| Step 9: Click Software Update. |
| Step 10: Click Update Now. Note: Ensure your TV isn’t connected to a WiFi network for the update to fail. A pop-up will then appear asking you if you want to scan the content of the USB stick instead, and you have to click Yes. |
| Step 11: Click Yes in the next pop-up to install the software update found on the USB stick. |
FAQs about Flickering TV Screen
What does it mean if my TV flickers when a nearby appliance is on?
There’s electrical interference if your TV screen is flickering whenever a nearby appliance is turned on. You need to turn off the appliance or move it away from your TV to stop its screen from flickering.
Does a low power supply cause the TV screen to flicker?
Low power supply causes flickering on TV screens due to the device not having enough electricity to power its components. It can also happen due to a faulty power supply board, which you need to replace to stop the TV screen flickering issue.
Can a firmware update resolve the TV screen flickering issue?
Firmware updates can fix flickering on TV screens if the root cause of the issue is software or firmware-related. It’s also an overall effective solution as it makes sure that your TV is working in its best condition.
Can HDMI cause TV screens to flicker?
HDMI connections can cause flickering on TV screens if it’s loose due to the data transmission being unstable. The screen on your TV screen will also flicker if either the HDMI cable or fault is faulty due to damage or dust buildup on their connectors.
