Unlike other entertainment devices, Roku TVs emphasize a user-friendly design and free access to video streaming. However, these TVs — like any other unit — aren’t without their faults. One of the more common Roku issues is a screen that keeps going black.
If your Roku TV keeps going black, there may be a software bug that you can resolve with a factory reset. Other common culprits include improper wiring, dead remote batteries, advertisements playing at a lower resolution, or an inactivity timeout setting in after four hours.
This article will address why your Roku keeps blacking out and how to resolve the problem. We’ll also explain when you should contact a Roku support agent to get a more definitive answer.
Roku Keeps Blacking Out/Going Black
If your Roku screen turns black, it could be an indication of a few different issues. One possibility is that the HDMI cable connecting your Roku to your TV is loose or damaged. Try unplugging the HDMI cable from both the Roku and the TV, and then plugging it back in securely.
Another possibility is that your TV’s firmware needs to be updated, so check for any available updates and install them if necessary. It’s also possible that the Roku itself needs to be reset. To do this, go to the Roku’s settings menu and select “System,” then “Power,” and finally “System Restart.”
If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be a problem with your TV’s HDMI port or the Roku itself. In this case, contact Roku customer support for further assistance.
Roku TV Keeps Blinking Black
Is your TV still flashing back, even after rebooting it? If so, your TV’s settings may be the problem. In this situation, a factory reset is your best bet.
There are two methods for resetting the television:
- A hard reset
- Through the configuration menu
Assuming you have access to the Roku remote, navigate to the Settings menu and perform the following steps:
- Select System.
- Navigate to Advanced System Settings.
- Choose Factory Reset.
- Select Factory Reset Everything and insert the on-screen code to validate.
If you can’t use your remote, you can execute a factory reset by pressing the reset button on the back of your TV. Hold the button for approximately 10 seconds using a small tool.
After performing a factory reset, your Roku TV will restart and show the original setup screen. All settings, including network settings and saved files, will be gone after a factory reset. In other words, you may need to recreate your Roku account once done.
How To Reset Your Unit Using the Remote
If you don’t want to risk losing your settings, you can perform a soft reset with your remote control. Although a soft reset isn’t as effective as a hard reset, it has been useful for resolving many blinking screen problems.
To perform a soft reset, press the Home button five times, followed by the up arrow once. Then, press rewind twice and fast forward twice. Wait a few seconds after entering the key combination. If the sequence were input successfully, your unit would restart.
If nothing happens, repeat the sequence at a quicker pace.
Roku TV Not Working Black Screen
The simplest way to troubleshoot a black screen is to check that all wires are correctly secured. You can also check the remote’s batteries for functionality.
After that, look for the status LED on your television. When the TV is off, the LED at the base of the television should be solid white. If this isn’t the case, the TV requires expert repair.
What Do You Do When Your Roku Screen Goes Black?
If the previous troubleshooting approaches don’t resolve the problem, it’s better to contact a Roku employee for assistance. You can do so via Roku’s user-friendly help forum.
However, before posting, search for a current subject that mentions your concern. This way, you’ll get the response even faster and won’t have to wait for an agent to see your message.
If you do wish to contact Roku, the following information is required:
- Software version
- Roku model number
- Serial number of your device
- A description of your home setup
- Whether the issue is reproducible
- Previous troubleshooting methods
- A thorough description of the issue
- Old case numbers from previous support assistance
- Channel name (This is necessary if the issue is channel-specific.)
- Channel version (Navigate to the channel and press the star key on your remote to see this.)
- An issue tracker report ID (You can create one of these by pressing the Home button five times, followed by the Back button five times on your remote.)
There might be instances where sharing personal details is necessary, but Roku doesn’t advise this on the Community. You’re better off sending a private message to a community moderator.
You can send a private message on a PC by pressing the envelope icon next to your user avatar in the right corner. You may submit a message on a smartphone by clicking on a user’s profile. When you’re on the user’s profile tab, scroll down to the Contact Me section and click Send.
Why Does My Roku TV Keep Going Black?
Does your Roku screen go blank continuously? If so, it’s likely due to advertisements playing at a lower resolution than what you’re streaming. Each transition requires the Roku TV to reset its video parameters, resulting in a brief blackout.
Another explanation is that the streaming is being disrupted by the Auto-adjust Display Refresh Rate, resulting in a black screen. If that’s the case, you’ll want to investigate and experiment with this feature to see if the problem resolves itself.
You can do this by following the steps below.
- Navigate to the Settings menu on your television.
- Scroll to the Advanced System Settings section.
- Select the Advanced Display Settings option.
- Choose Auto-adjust Display Refresh Rate. Set it to Disabled if it’s Enabled, or vice versa.
How Do You Stop Roku Inactivity Timeout?
Your Roku’s Bandwidth Saver function is likely triggering the inactivity timeout. You’ll know if this function is to blame if the device goes dark every four hours.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on May 20, 2021.
Using the directions below, you can disable this function for all streaming channels:
- Press the Home button.
- Select Settings.
- Choose Network.
- Find Bandwidth saver.
- Deactivate the function.
It’s worth noting that some streaming services have their own inactivity clocks. These services remain unaffected while Bandwidth Saver is disabled. To resolve this problem, navigate to the program’s configuration menu and make the necessary changes.
Roku TV Black Screen With Sound
Do you see a black screen on your Roku TV while still hearing the background audio? If so, unplugging the device for about ten minutes could fix the problem.
If you’re attaching an external computer via HDMI, your cable may be defective. Replace it with a new wire and do a test to see whether the swap made any changes.
The problem could also be with the connected unit and not with your TV. If you find this issue only while such hardware is attached, check the operation of these devices on other televisions. If there’s little change, you can be confident that the problem wasn’t with your Roku unit.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on May 20, 2021.
For additional assistance and support with this sort of problem, you’ll need to contact your Roku TV’s manufacturer.
How To Fix Black Screen on Roku
To resolve a black Roku screen, unplug your television from the wall outlet and disconnect all external equipment. After that, press and hold the power button for approximately one minute. Then, add a video source to the unit and insert it into a socket.
If the previous solution doesn’t work, you may have faulty LCD strips or a malfunctioning motherboard.
To figure out whether the LCD has failed, switch off all lights in the space and connect to an input source with available audio. Take a flashlight and shine it directly against the screen. If shapes are visible, the backlight has failed; you need to replace the LCD strips within the screen.
If you’re doing this at home, you’ll need to remove the device’s back panel and examine the LCD strips with a multimeter. You can replace either the defective LCD strips or all of them.
If the flashlight test produces no pictures, you may have a poor mainboard. It’s safest to contact an electrician to get an accurate diagnosis.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on May 20, 2021.