In a sense, those vertical lines on your Samsung TV are like the bars of a bird cage–taking your freedom to enjoy the movie you’re watching. Luckily, there are proven fixes you can DIY can get the best TV shows going.
To fix Samsung TV vertical lines on the screen, perform a power cycle. Plug the unit off the wall, hold the power button for 30 seconds, and put the TV back on after another 30 seconds.
If not, update the firmware, or reseat the HDMI cable. Also, clean your Samsung TV and tape the ribbon cables on the T-con board.
But don’t worry! We’re giving you all the details you need to know to factor in a Samsung TV vertical lines fix in this post. Specifically, we’ll lay out the steps you need to take to DIY 6 proven fixes — and get rid of those pesky bars within an hour!
How to Get Rid of the Vertical Lines on a Samsung TV
Those vertical lines on your Samsung TV are indeed a call for help. What’s not true is it need not translate into a bad day as the problem is highly manageable.
While you can cherry-pick a solution from the list below, we highly recommend you apply these quick fixes in the order they are presented. That way, you need not waste time as the most straightforward solutions appear first.
1. Power cycle your TV to discharge it.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Time to perform fix | < 2 minutes |
| Number of steps | 3 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV |
Often when you’re experiencing issues on a device such as a phone or TV, a power cycle is enough to solve it completely. Most errors are tied to the residual electrical energy stored on components such as a capacitor.
The same is true for your Samsung TV, which might slow down, misbehave, or have display issues due to its stored residual energy. We recommend performing a power cycle as your go-to Samsung TV vertical lines fix to help tackle such issues.
Plus, power cycling is easier and faster than the other solutions, making it an ideal first option. This action will also not harm the data inside your Samsung TV as it only shuts the unit down and reboots it.
Follow the steps below to hard reset and power cycle the Samsung TV:
| Step 1: Remove the power cable of your Samsung TV from the wall/power outlet to shut it down.  |
| Step 2: Press/hold the power button of your Samsung TV for 30 seconds to discharge its residual electrical energy.  Note: If you can’t find the power button on your Samsung TV, you can refer to its user manual for information. You can also try looking for the power button at the usual spots such as the underside, left/right side, or behind the Samsung TV. |
| Step 3: Release the power button but keep the TV unplugged for 30 more seconds. Insert the power cable of your Samsung TV back into the outlet to turn it on.  Note: Your Samsung TV should turn on automatically once plugged into a power source. If this doesn’t happen, you can manually turn it back on by pressing its power button. |
However, the solution may not be enough. Sometimes, it’s loose cable connections that are giving you a Samsung TV screen headache.
2. Reseat the HDMI cables hooked to your TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Time to perform fix | < 2 minutes |
| Number of steps | 5 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV |
HDMI cables are responsible for transmitting audio and video data from an external device to your Samsung TV, making them a prime suspect to any display errors. This can be due to the HDMI cable simply being loosely fitted or even faulty.
Whichever the case is, it’s essential to reseat the cable by unplugging and plugging it back into the HDMI port to make sure it’s properly connected. It’s a simple Samsung TV vertical lines fix you can use before seeking other possibilities.
You should also check how the HMDI cable is connected to the external input device to see if it’s the root cause of the problem instead.
Follow these steps to reseat the HDMI cable hooked to your Samsung TV:
| Step 1: Unplug the HDMI cable connector from the port at the back of your TV. |
Step 2: Plug the HDMI cable connector back into the port at the back of your TV. Note: Check if the HDMI cable connector fits perfectly into the port. If it’s loose, try correcting it to prevent faulty video and audio data transmission. |
If the HDMI loosely fits into the port no matter how you plug it, it might be better just to replace it with a new one. The same is true for HDMI cables with wear and tear on their wires or missing pins inside their connector.
However, if your HDMI cable fits into the port perfectly and shows no signs of damage, it might just have dust or dirt inside its connector. You can try blowing air into it to eliminate any dust that’s likely messing with the HDMI connection.
Dust may be but a speck but if compounded, these can cause a disconnect. In that regard, cleaning your TV’s HDMI cables every now and then is wise.
3. Download a new firmware update on your Samsung TV.
One of the likely culprits of the display issues on Samsung TVs is the version of firmware currently installed on them. As a general rule, it’s always better to update the firmware on a device to avoid and fix issues prevalent in its older versions.
For this reason, performing a firmware version update is an effective Samsung TV vertical lines fix. Once updated, you can expect your Samsung TV to perform better and experience fewer issues with newer features and applications.
Please note that there are two ways to update the firmware on a Samsung TV, depending on how good your internet connection is.
Users with reliable internet can download the update straight from the internet. But if you’re experiencing a poor internet connection, you can use a USB stick instead.
Follow these steps to update your Samsung TV’s firmware from the internet:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Time to perform fix | 20 minutes |
| Number of steps | 6 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
| Step 1: Open your Samsung TV’s Smart Hub by pressing the home button  on its remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings to open your TV’s settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to access your TV’s support options. |
Step 4: Select/click Software Update to check your TV’s firmware version. |
Step 5: Click Update Now to perform the firmware update right away. |
| Step 6: Let your Samsung TV check for any available firmware updates. Download and install the latest firmware version once it’s found.  |
Some users don’t have reliable internet speeds that can securely download firmware updates in one go. That’s why there’s an alternative way to install a firmware update through a USB stick manually.
With this method, you can slowly and steadily download the firmware update from Samsung’s product support page and transfer it to a USB stick. You can then plug the USB stick into your Samsung TV so it can detect and install the new firmware.
Take note that the process could be a bit long and winding but the baby steps below should make it all easy. It’s just about following them one after the other.
Follow these steps to update your Samsung TV’s firmware using a USB stick:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Time to perform fix | 25 minutes |
| Number of steps | 17 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV USB stick |
| Step 1: Open your Samsung TV’s Smart Hub by pressing the home button on its remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings to open your TV’s settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to access your TV’s support options. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click About This TV to view your unit’s information. |
Step 5: Write down the model number and current firmware version of your TV. |
| Step 6: Visit Samsung’s product support page using a PC and go to its download section to search for your TV using its model number on the search bar.  |
| Step 7: Scroll down to the firmware section and look for Upgrade File(USB type), then select the Download button below it to download the firmware update.  |
Step 8: Extract the firmware update into your desired location on your PC. Note: It’s not advisable to rename the firmware update as it might cause problems later on during installation. |
| Step 9: Insert a USB stick into your PC’s USB port, then copy/paste the firmware update into the USB stick.  |
| Step 10: Pull the USB stick from your PC’s USB port then insert it next into the USB port of your Samsung TV.  |
| Step 11: Open your Samsung TV’s Smart Hub by pressing the home button on its remote control. |
Step 12: Scroll left/click Settings to open your TV’s settings menu. |
Step 13: Scroll down/click Support to access your TV’s support options. |
Step 14: Select/click Software Update to check your TV’s firmware version. |
Step 15: Select/click Update Now and wait for the firmware update check to fail. |
Step 16: Select/click Yes to search for the firmware update inside your USB stick. |
Step 17: Select/click Yes to install the firmware update on your Samsung TV. |
By now, you should have settled the issue. Still, if it persists, and those pesky vertical lines are still plaguing your screen, fret not as a more potent solution follows.
4. Reseat the ribbon cables on your TV’s T-con board.
| Difficulty | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Time to perform fix | < 10 minutes |
| Number of steps | 6 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV Screwdriver |
Speaking of likely culprits, the T-con or control board inside your Samsung TV is also a suspect when it comes to display issues. You can tell if your Samsung TV display has no video output or image color if the T-con board is faulty.
Patterns on display, such as horizontal and vertical lines, are also some telltale signs of issues with the T-con board. This doesn’t automatically mean that the control board is damaged, as it can also be due to the ribbon cables connected to it.
As such, we suggest reseating the ribbon cables on your T-con board as your initial approach to identify the root cause of the problem. This action should serve as a simple Samsung TV vertical lines fix.
Just to let you know, the steps below involve handling electronics. In that regard, we urge you to understand the steps thoroughly and factor them in carefully with the right tools as stated.
This also means you should factor in the solution below when your Samsung TV is off, and not plugged into power.
Follow the steps below to reseat the ribbon cables on the T-con board:
| Step 1: Put the TV facedown on any surface or table that’s soft and smooth. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the TV’s back panel.  Note: Ensure your Samsung TV is out of warranty before opening it up. Doing so while it’s covered by warranty will cause it to be void. |
Step 2: Remove/lift the TV’s back panel to reveal the components inside your TV. |
| Step 3: Check the ribbon cables connected to the T-con board and see if they’re plugged in tightly.  |
Step 4: Lift the flaps to release the ribbon cable connectors from the T-con board. |
Step 5: Pull the ribbon cables carefully from the T-con board. Pro tip: Check if the connectors are dirty. You can wipe them clean before reconnecting the ribbon cables into the T-con board. |
| Step 6: Put the ribbon cables back into the T-con board and close the flaps to secure them in place.  |
5. Tape the ribbon cable to block its signal on the T-con board.
| Difficulty | Hard ●●●●● |
| Time to perform fix | < 30 minutes |
| Number of steps | 15 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV ScrewdriverTape A smooth surface |
This method is a more advanced Samsung TV vertical lines fix you can use from this guide. You can ask a friend for assistance on this one or reach out to a qualified technician who can help perform this method if you’re not sure about it.
Taping the contact point on the ribbon cable connected to your T-con board should block the signal that’s causing the vertical line to appear. Doing so will lower the quality of the display, but it shouldn’t be visible when watching like normal.
This solution’s tricky part is identifying which contact points on the ribbon cable are the culprit. Also, ribbon cables are prone to damage, so you need to be careful when handling them so you don’t end up damaging them.
Follow the steps below to tape the faulty points on the T-con ribbon cable:
| Step 1: Put the TV facedown on any surface or table that’s soft and smooth. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the TV’s back panel. |
| Step 2: Remove/lift the back panel to reveal the components inside your TV. |
| Step 3: Pick your TV up and make it stand. Plug it into a power/wall outlet and turn it on while its back is exposed. |
Step 4: Disconnect one of the ribbon cables connected to the T-con board.  Note: Doing so will cut off the signal on one side of your Samsung TV display. |
Step 5: Check if the active side of the Samsung TV display has vertical lines. |
Step 6: Reconnect the first cable you removed and disconnect the next one. |
Step 7: Check if the other active side of the Samsung TV display has vertical lines. Note: This indicates that the first ribbon cable sent the signal with vertical lines. Also, we’re showing a display with horizontal lines, but this should also apply to a display that has vertical lines. |
| Step 8: Identify the contact points on the faulty ribbon cable that connects to the pins on the T-con board.  Note: You can refer to the labeling on the T-con board to identify what the contact points on the ribbon cable correspond to. |
| Step 9: Mark the faulty contact points on the ribbon cable once identified. Cover these contact points with tape.  |
| Step 10: Reconnect the taped ribbon cable back into the T-con board. |
Step 11: Check if the entire Samsung TV display still has vertical lines. |
If you have approached things with caution, factoring in the steps above should be a walk in the park. Again, remember that you need to unplug the TV when you work on its internal electronics.
6. Expose the back of your TV & clean it with compressed air.
| Difficulty | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Time to perform fix | < 30 minutes |
| Number of steps | 4 |
| Things you need | Samsung TV Screwdriver A can of compressed air |
Follow these steps to open the back panel and clean your Samsung TV:
| Step 1: Put the TV facedown on any surface or table that’s soft and smooth. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the TV’s back panel. |
| Step 2: Remove/lift the back panel to reveal the components inside your TV. |
Step 3: Inspect the T-con board for loose ribbon cable connections and dust or dirt. |
| Step 4: Use a brush to clean the T-con board gently. Switch to a can of compressed air for hard-to-reach spots. |
That should do it. If it still fails you, don’t worry as you still have one ace up your sleeve.
Non-DIY Solutions to the Samsung TV Vertical Lines Issue
Coordinating with Samsung’s official support channels is the best course of action when troubleshooting your TV doesn’t fix the vertical lines issue. You can approach this in two different ways depending on the state of your Samsung TV.
Take note that time is of the essence here. Your Samsung warranty will be honored only if you present the TV within the warranty period.
Return your Samsung TV if it’s under warranty.
The best-case scenario is that your Samsung TV is still covered by its warranty. In this case, you can return it to Samsung, and their technicians can apply the necessary repairs to fix the vertical lines on the TV display screen.
It’s also not unheard of for Samsung to ship you a new unit in place of the broken one sent to them. If you’re lucky, this might happen, and you can have a brand-new Samsung TV instead of a refurbished one.
So brave it all out. If the unit is under warranty, get it up front.
Contact Samsung Support for out-of-warranty assistance.
Even if your Samsung TV is already out of warranty, you can still contact Samsung Support for further assistance with your unit. The customer service agents on Samsung should give you pointers and directions to troubleshoot your TV.
You can also book an appointment with a local Samsung Service Center through their support page. Please note that you’ll need a Samsung account to send a repair request.
Also, repair services will cost you around $100 – $200 depending on the damage to your Samsung TV. It might even cost more if other parts need to be replaced.
What causes vertical lines on my Samsung LED TV?
There are multiple likely suspects regarding vertical lines on your Samsung TV. Identifying the root cause of the problem is the first step in knowing what Samsung TV vertical lines fix can help resolve this display issue.
Below are some common root causes of vertical lines appearing on the display screen of Samsung TVs.
- Fluctuation in the power supply causes your Samsung TV to misbehave and not display images properly.
- Too much residual electrical energy stored inside your Samsung TV causes it to experience various issues, including lines on its display.
- Loose HDMI cable connections cause the video and audio data not to be transmitted correctly, resulting in poor image quality, no video output, or lines appearing on display.
- Software-related issues due to an outdated firmware version make your Samsung TV prone to other problems, such as having vertical lines on its display.
- Damage and dirt buildup around the T-con board and its ribbon cables cause your Samsung TV to display poor-quality images or vertical lines.
If you look at it, the causes can vary. This is also the reason why factoring the 6 quick fixes above should be done efficiently to matter.
FAQs about Samsung TV and Vertical Lines
A loose HDMI connection is the common cause of vertical lines appearing on the Samsung TV display screen. The HDMI cable must be connected securely to ensure that video and audio data is transmitted correctly.
HDMI cables can also sustain damage over time which can cause them to not work properly. In such cases, you’ll need to purchase a replacement HDMI cable or use a spare.
Vertical lines are repairable on Samsung TVs, like most display issues. Depending on the root cause of the issue, simple solutions such as power cycling and reseating the HDMI connections should fix it.
In some extreme cases, you might need to open up your Samsung TV to replace its faulty T-con board. If the LCD panel is damaged, that can also be replaced to repair the vertical lines on the TV.
Check its HDMI cables regularly and make sure they’re connected securely. You can also clean their connectors and the ports to prevent dust or dirt buildup that might cause issues with the connection later on.
Avoid physical contact with your Samsung TV display screen that can cause physical damage to it. Also, turning your TV off completely when not in use is advisable since keeping it on for too long causes it to overheat.
It’s worth repairing a Samsung TV with vertical lines since it usually only requires simple troubleshooting. Unless the repair cost is close to the price of a new Samsung TV, it’s always much more cost effective to repair the one you have.
Indeed, there’s no harm in trying. Plus, the steps above should make it all a cinch.
