How to Troubleshoot an LCD With Sound But No Picture

Trying to repair some electronic devices can be so expensive that replacement makes more sense. Before you consider replacing an LCD TV with sound but no picture, help may be available on the manufacturer's website. You should also make sure the problem isn't caused by a bad connection to your cable box or other external devices. A simple adjustment is often all that's needed to restore the picture to your flat-screen TV.

The first step in troubleshooting a TV with no picture is making sure it's turned on, but that's not the case if you can hear sound coming from it. Next, inspect your screen for damage. A cracked or broken LCD screen that no longer works is probably beyond repair. Instead of trying to replace a broken screen, it's usually easier and cheaper to invest in a new television.

If you don't see physical damage to your TV screen, see if you can use your television remote to navigate to the TV's menus. If you can, go to display settings and make sure brightness, contrast and other settings are not causing your display issue. Reset to factory display settings if you're not sure what the settings should be.

If your problem persists and you have a cable box, the next thing to check is whether other channels are dark since it's not unusual for a single channel to have cable broadcast problems. When a dark screen occurs on every channel, resetting your cable box may fix your display problem. You should also check the connection between your cable box and TV to make sure both ends are firmly connected and not damaged.

If your display problem occurs when your TV is connected to another device like a DVD player, try changing the TV port you're connected to. You can also try connecting a different device. If the problem persists, you might have an issue with your HDMI cable.

Problems with LCD or LED TV displays are sometimes caused by a faulty HDMI cable. Try using a different cable to see if your TV picture is restored. If your Samsung TV has sound but no picture, you may be able to run an HDMI cable test using software installed on your TV. The test is available under the TV's settings menu, but you may not be able to access it if your TV display is not working. You could also try resetting the entire TV to its factory default settings, but this will also be difficult if you don't have a picture to help navigate the TV's settings menus.

When you've confirmed that you actually have a TV problem and not an issue with a cable or external device, it's time to visit the manufacturer's website for additional support. You should be able to find troubleshooting tips and tutorials related to your TV display. You may also be able to initiate an online support session, schedule an in-home repair or find out where to ship your TV for repair.