Horizontal Lines on Your TV? Here’s the Easy Fix You Need!
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Noticing horizontal lines on your TV screen is scary. But in most cases, it’s nothing to panic over.
There are a number of reasons why you might see horizontal lines on your TV screen. Luckily, most are easily fixable.
Check for Loose Cables and Faulty Connections
The most common cause of horizontal lines on a TV screen is loose connections to the TV.
Check that all your cables are properly secured to their ports. Tighten loose cables and check for signs of damage, like frays or bends.
If you find any damaged HDMI cables, power cables, or coaxial cables, replace them as soon as possible.
Reboot Your TV
Rebooting your TV usually solves minor issues. If you see horizontal lines on your screen, turn your TV off and unplug it from the power outlet. Wait a few minutes, then plug it back in and turn it back on.
Many times, a quick reboot will take care of the horizontal lines.
Reset Connected Devices
Horizontal lines on your TV screen can be a direct result of problems with external devices, such as FireSticks or cable boxes. If the cables are plugged securely into the TV and you still see horizontal lines, try rebooting the device.
- Turn the device off.
- Turn off the TV.
- Unplug the device from the wall outlet. Wait a few minutes, then plug it back in.
- Turn the TV back on.
- Turn the device back on.
Run a Picture Test on Your TV
Sometimes, horizontal lines on your TV screen are caused by hardware or software problems. Running a picture test can determine whether the problem is with your TV’s settings, software, or hardware.
The steps you’ll take to run a picture test depend on which brand you own. Here’s how you can run a picture test on a Samsung TV:
- Press the Settings button on your remote.
- Select “Support.”
- Select “Device Care.”
- Select “Self Diagnosis.”
- Select “Picture Test.”
- Begin the test and follow the on-screen prompts.
If the picture test diagnoses the issue, you’re good to go. If not, you’ll need to keep troubleshooting.
Update Your TV’s Firmware
Updating your TV’s firmware can sometimes snap it out of a weird glitch. If you haven’t updated your TV in a while, check for and install any available updates.
Installing a firmware update is different on every TV. Here are a couple of guides to get you started:
Factory Reset the TV
If you’re still experiencing issues, you might want to try a factory reset. This process resets your TV to factory settings, meaning you’ll need to set it up like new again. It’s inconvenient, but it’s a good last resort when nothing else is working.
The steps you’ll take to perform a factory reset vary by manufacturer. Here are a few guides for different operating systems:
- How to Soft Reset or Factory Reset a Samsung TV
- How to Reset an LG TV Back to Factory Settings
- How to Reset or Reboot the Fire TV Cube (Works for Fire TV models)
- How Do I Reset My Vizio Smart TV?
Check for Physical Damage
Falls, hits, and even improper cleaning techniques can damage your TV’s internal components, causing horizontal or vertical lines to appear on the screen.
Inspect your TV screen for cracks and dents. If you see any or suspect physical damage is the culprit here, you may need to replace:
- The backlight
- The t-con board
- The LCD panel
Replacing the backlight usually won’t cost too much. But, if the problem stems from something like your LCD panel, it’s usually best to replace the TV altogether.
Contact Tech Support
If you can’t find the problem yourself, it’s time to contact the professionals. You can contact your TV manufacturer’s support line, or you can contact our agents at Tech Supportal.
They can troubleshoot any problem with any device, and they’re available via phone or chat 24/7.
Replace Your TV
If there’s nothing you can do to fix the horizontal lines on your TV screen, it’s probably time to replace it.
I currently have this Samsung and this LG TV.
Some TVs are pretty inexpensive to replace, while others are more of an investment. If your TV is still under warranty and the problem can be traced to a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer will probably replace it for free.
Different manufacturers offer different warranties on their TVs. For example, Hisense and Samsung both offer one-year limited warranties. Be sure you know the terms of your particular warranty before you call.
Will My Warranty Cover Horizontal Lines on My TV?
Whether or not your warranty will cover horizontal lines on your screen depends on how it happened. It’ll probably be covered if it results from a manufacturing error or defect, but it likely won’t be covered if something hit your screen or your TV fell off the stand.
Manufacturer warranties generally only cover damages for things the customer didn’t contribute to.
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