It’s easy to get jumpy when your LG TV produces sound but nothing but it’s showing nothing but a black screen. Your knee-jerk reaction may be to call in expert repair, but before you do that, know you could save tons of money using quick fixes detailed here.
The LG TV sound but no picture issue can be fixed by performing troubleshooting tricks like a power cycle, firmware update, or factory reset. You can also inspect the cables and hardware for damage and replace them as needed.
The worst thing you can do in this situation is press the panic button! In this post, we’ll walk you through six quick, proven fixes to repair an LG TV sound but with no picture issue, so we highly recommend you read up.
| Difficulty | Hard ●●●●○ |
| Duration | 2 hours and 1 minute |
| Number of Fixes | 6 |
| Things You Need | • LG TV • LG TV remote control • A PCA working internet connection • Screwdriver • Voltmeter • Replacement HDMI cable • Replacement power cable • Replacement LED strips • Replacement T-con board • Replacement power supply board |
| Estimated Costs | $140 – $300 |
How to Fix LG TV With Sound but No Picture
Fix an LG TV with sound but no picture by performing a power cycle, software/firmware update, or a factory reset. Also, check and replace the faulty HDMI and power cables, LED strips, T-con board, and power supply board.
Don’t let the technical side of it all stop you. We’re giving you all the details you need so you can DIY all the quick fixes here on your own; all you have to do is follow the steps below as given.
A word of warning, though. There’s a good chance you may want to pick a solution and apply it from there but we recommend you start from the top and not skip a quick fix so you don’t waste precious time and effort.
1. Quick reset/power cycle your LG TV.
Something like the LG TV sound but no picture issue can result from a minor problem in the unit’s software. The most basic way to troubleshoot such issues is to reset/power cycle quickly the LG TV to refresh its system memory.
In some cases, a quick and simple reset should be enough to correct any minor issues and improve performance. For more efficiency, we recommend performing a power cycle also to drain residual energy, which can cause other issues.
The extra time you spend to keep your LG TV unplugged during a power cycle is what allows it to discharge any of its stored residual energy naturally. Once it’s plugged back into a power source, your LG TV should reboot and get back its video.
Follow the steps below to perform a quick reset on your LG TV:
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Duration | 35 seconds |
- Disconnect the power cable of the LG TV from the wall/power outlet to shut it down.
- Wait around 30 seconds and connect the power cable of the LG TV back to the wall/power outlet to boot it up.
After doing that, you need to do a power cycle which should increase your chances of dealing with the situation properly.
Follow the steps below to reboot your LG TV via a power cycle:
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 1 minute and 5 seconds |
- Disconnect the power cable of the LG TV from the wall/power outlet to shut it down.
- Press/hold the power button on the underside/back of the LG TV to facilitate the power drain.
- Release the power button on the underside/back of the LG TV after 30 seconds.
- Wait around 30 seconds and connect the power cable of the LG TV back to the wall/power outlet to boot it up.
Now, if that didn’t work, you need to move along. The next quick fix should have you covered.
2. Check if the power cable for the LG TV is properly plugged in.
The next course of action is to check the power cable of your LG TV. If it’s loosely connected to the wall/power outlet and the DC-IN port, it can lead to problems such as the LG TV sound but no picture issue you’re experiencing.
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It’s also important to inspect the connectors and wiring of the power cable for any signs of wear and tear. Make sure that the connector is intact, and it fits tightly into your wall/power outlets to prevent any power supply issues from emerging.
If the power cable is already damaged and faulty, replacing it with a new one is best. Do note that the wall/power outlet may be problematic, so be sure to plug into different power sources first to ensure the cable is the real culprit.
Or you can also use another electronic device such as a transistor radio to check if the outlet works fine. It’s easy for you to miss a faulty outlet so testing it should be timely.
3. Reseat the HDMI cable you’ve connected to the LG TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Duration | 5 seconds |
Like the power cable, the HDMI connection on your LG TV is prone to malfunction. Plus, the HDMI cable you’re using to connect your TV to an external input device is also likely to have sustained damage over time.
You should always ensure that the HDMI cable is connected tightly to both the ports on your LG TV and the external input device you’re using. It’s also advisable to inspect the wiring and the HDMI connector on the cable to check for any damage.
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Another thing that must be considered is if you’ve selected the correct input source on your LG TV. If you haven’t already, you must switch to the right input to fix the LG TV sound but no picture issue.
Follow these steps to select the correct input source for your LG TV:
Step 1: Press the input button  on your LG remote control to go to the HomeDashboard menu.  |
| Step 2: Select/click the desired HDMI input to use it and set it as the default input source.  |
Of course, we recommend buying a replacement HDMI cable if you believe the one you’re using has damage. Before doing so, try plugging the cable into different HDMI ports to confirm if it’s faulty and isn’t just due to a problematic port.
You can also try blowing air into the HDMI connector and ports to dislodge dirt and dust that’s been collected inside. You wouldn’t believe how often a simple trick like this can help you save money instead of buying a replacement cable.
4. Update your LG TV by installing the latest firmware.
There’s a reason updating your LG TV whenever possible is highly recommended by every guide and by LG themselves. Using updated firmware on your TV allows it to function properly thanks to the latest improvements, compatibility, and added features.
Improvements aside, software/firmware updates usually patch bugs and issues plaguing older versions. We believe this is an effective solution to fix any software-related problems causing the LG TV sound but no picture issue.
There are two ways that LG allows you to update their TV products. You can either perform the software/firmware update directly over the air or manually via a USB stick that contains the latest upgrade file for your LG TV model.
Follow these steps to install the latest software/firmware directly over the air:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 8 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
Step 1: Press the gear button  on your remote control to show the options panel.  |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click About This TV. |
Step 5: Scroll down/click CHECK FOR UPDATES. |
Step 6: Click YES to download and install the latest software/firmware update. |
| Step 7: Wait as your LG TV downloads and installs the latest software/firmware update from the internet.  |
| Step 8: Apply the latest software/firmware update you installed by restarting your LG TV.  |
Now, if you’re not connected to the internet, factoring a system upgrade via a USB should be wise. It’s more taxing but it should be worth the hassle.
Follow these steps to install the latest software/firmware using a USB stick:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 14 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
Step 1: Press the gear button on your remote control to show the options panel. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
| Step 3: Scroll down/click Network. Make a note of the LG TV model listed under Network.  |
Step 4: Go back to All Settings and scroll down/click General. |
| Step 5: Scroll down/click About This TV. Make a note of the current software/firmware version installed on your LG TV.  |
| Step 6: Switch to your PC and open an internet browser. Go to the official web page of your LG TV vendor.  |
| Step 7: Click the search bar on the vendor’s web page and type/search your LG TV model.  |
| Step 8: Select/click the latest software/firmware update and download it into any location on your PC.  |
| Step 9: Plug a USB stick into your PC and extract the downloaded software/firmware update there.  |
Step 10: Select/rename the extracted folder and replace it with “LG_DTV.” |
| Step 11: Unplug the USB stick from your PC and plug it into the USB port of your TV. Power on your LG TV.  |
| Step 12: Wait as your LG TV scans and detects the software/firmware update. Select/click YES to install the software/firmware update inside the USB stick.  |
| Step 13: Select/click CHECK NOW to monitor the progress of the software/firmware update.  |
| Step 14: Click YES to restart your LG TV and apply the software/firmware update once it’s completely installed.  |
If that failed to settle the issue, brush the dust off your feet and move on to the next quick fix. The next one is rather drastic so it should take care of the situation better.
5. Reset your LG TV to its factory/initial settings.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
The LG TV sound but no picture issue might also be a result of a glitch or bug caused by a system error or a corrupt file. The way to combat this is to perform a factory reset that will restore everything in your LG TV to its initial/default state.
This method’s downside is that it will also remove every change you’ve made to your LG TV. The things a factory reset will remove include your account data, installed apps, and settings preferences, which you’ll need to manually add back afterward.
WARNING:
Save your personal files/data on your TV to another media before you do a factory reset. This way, you’ll not lose key essentials.
On the bright side, your LG TV should feel like a new device and should no longer have the problems you were facing earlier. You only need to set it up once more to get started and use your TV again.
Follow the steps below to perform a factory reset on your LG TV:
Step 1: Press the gear button on your remote control to show the options panel. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Reset to Initial Settings. |
Step 5: Click OK to conduct the factory reset on your LG TV. |
6. Check the backlight, power supply board, and T-con board on your LG TV.
We have to tell you right off the bat, this solution is a bit more technical than the ones before it. But following the baby steps given should make it easy to apply.
Pictures might not appear on your LG TV display screen due to a faulty backlight, power supply board, and T-con board. If the backlight isn’t working, the LCD will still generate and display the images but it will just appear like a black screen to you.
You can confirm if this is the case by performing the flashlight test. With this test, you’ll be able to see if there are pictures in the display by pointing a flashlight at the LCD from different angles as shown in the sample image below.
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If there are visible pictures in the display when a flashlight is pointing at the LCD panel, this is the dead giveaway that the backlight is faulty. You can resolve this hardware issue by replacing the LED strips in the backlight.
Follow the steps below to remove and change the LED strips on your TV:
| Difficulty | Hard ●●●●○ |
| Number of Steps | 21 |
| Duration | 1-hour |
| Costs | $40 – $100 |
| Step 1: Lay your TV facedown on a flat surface or workbench. Unscrew/remove the back panel of your LG TV using a screwdriver.  Pro tip: Take a photo of what your LG TV looks like on the inside for future reference. This is helpful when putting everything back together afterward. |
| Step 2: Disconnect the cables connected to the speakers. Lift/remove the speakers.  |
Step 3: Unscrew the plastic cover below the T-con board using your screwdriver. |
Step 4: Unplug the cable connected to the main board to remove the plastic covers. |
Step 5: Unscrew the metal covers that hold the scan drive boards. |
Step 6: Unscrew the bezel from all sides of the TV using your screwdriver. |
Step 7: Lift/set aside the metal covers that hold the scan drive boards. |
| Step 8: Lift the scan drive boards to release them. Unplug the ribbon cables connecting them and the T-con board.  |
Step 9: Flip the TV and detach the bezel after it was unscrewed earlier. |
| Step 10: Flip the scan drive boards over to the side of the LCD panel. Secure them to the LCD panel using tape.  |
| Step 11: Dislodge the tapes and tabs from all sides of the TV to release the LCD panel from the chassis.  |
Step 12: Lift/remove the LCD panel using a pair of suction cups. |
| Step 13: Dislodge the tabs that secure the filter frame to the chassis. Remove the filter frame.  |
| Step 14: Tape the corners of the light filters to join them. Lift them from the chassis and set them aside.  |
Step 15: Flip the TV and use your pliers to pinch/dislodge the reflector clips. |
Step 16: Flip the TV and lift the clips that secure the reflector sheet. Note: The clips can be lifted smoothly by sliding them to the side first. |
Step 17: Lift/set aside the reflector sheet. |
Step 18: Disconnect the cable that connects to the LED strips. |
Step 19: Dislodge the LED strips with a 5-in-1 tool. |
| Step 20: Install the replacement LED strips and reconnect the cable that connects to these LED strips.  Pro tip: Secure the LED strips to your TV’s chassis by placing double-sided tape at the points where you’re going to install them. |
| Step 21: Put everything back together. Install/screw the back panel of your LG TV using a screwdriver. |
If the flashlight test didn’t show any pictures on the display after looking at it from different angles, it’s not due to the backlight. The hardware problem must be caused by a faulty T-con or power supply board instead, which you should also replace.
Follow these steps to check and replace the T-con and power supply board:
| Difficulty | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Costs | $100 – $200 |
| Step 1: Lay your TV facedown on a flat surface or workbench. Unscrew/remove the back panel of your LG TV using a screwdriver. Pro tip: Take a photo of what your LG TV looks like on the inside for future reference. This is helpful when putting everything back together afterward. |
Step 2: Use a voltmeter to get a reading on the T-con board. |
Step 3: Use a voltmeter to get a reading on the power supply board. |
| Step 4: Uninstall/replace one or both of these boards if you’re not getting a reading with the voltmeter. |
| Step 5: Put everything back together. Install/screw the back panel of your LG TV using a screwdriver. |
If voltmeters and other electronic devices mentioned here are new to you, you may have to do a bit of research. Or call a friend who knows what these things are all about.
Why is My LG TV Screen Black
Various software and hardware-related problems can cause your LG TV screen to remain black. Below is a rundown that we’ve prepared for your reference, which lists the most common causes of this black screen issue.
1. The cables on your LG TV are loose.
Since the power cable is responsible for sending electricity to your LG TV from the power source, a loose connection will result in insufficient power. This issue then leads to your TV not turning on properly and the display staying black.
In the case of HDMI cable, it’s responsible for sending the signal data from your input devices to the LG TV. If it’s loosely connected, the display will either be unable to generate the images properly or it might just stay black with no images at all.
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As such, loose cable connection is arguably the most common cause of the LG TV’s black screen. This is also the easiest to troubleshoot as you only need to disconnect and reconnect the power cable and HDMI cable to correct the bad connection.
2. Your LG TV firmware is problematic.
Older firmware versions are more vulnerable to errors and malfunction. They’re also incompatible with newer features and devices, which might result in problems such as the LG TV sound but no picture issue.
Luckily, it’s easy to update LG TVs over the internet as long as they’re connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, you can also update them manually using the USB stick method.
3. Your LG TV has hardware problems.
The more uncommon reason for the LG TV’s black screen is a problem with its hardware components. You don’t want your LG TV to suffer hardware-related issues because they’re often costly and difficult to troubleshoot.
A list of hardware problems that can cause your LG TV to have a black screen can be seen below.
The LG TV has a faulty power supply board.
The power supply board is aptly named. This board is responsible for supplying the power that other components need for them to function, which it takes directly from the power cable.
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If this board isn’t working properly, you’re LG TV will not even turn on and the display screen will just remain black.
The LG TV has backlight problems.
Even if the LCD panel can generate and display images on your LG TV, the screen will look black if the backlight isn’t working. This is why you must replace the LED strips inside your TV for the images to appear again.
The LG TV is suffering from a temporary glitch.
No hardware is perfect, and everything is prone to glitches and malfunctions. There are a bunch of factors that can cause glitches on your LG TV, but most of them are minor, which is why shutting down and rebooting the TV often works like a charm.
FAQs about the LG TV With Sound But No Picture Issue
Abnormal behaviors and click sounds are the usual signs of a hardware issue on an LG TV. Some examples of these abnormalities include a black screen, dead pixels, terrible sound quality, screen flickering, TV not turning on, etc.
Of course, it’s recommended to open up your LG TV to physically inspect the hardware inside for visible signs of damage. You can also send your TV for an official consultation with a certified technician.
30 years is what LG claims to be the lifespan of their newer OLED TVs if the average user uses their unit for 10 hours every day. This translates to a whopping 100,000 hours of uptime, which they say is only possible due to recent technological advancements.
Repair prices are around $150 – $250 based on the flat rate for both labor and functional part charges when you send your LG TV for an official repair service. Do note that the price is higher if your TV needs a replacement part that isn’t covered by the flat rate.
LG OLED screens are reliable compared to LCD or Plasma TV screens. Not only are OLED models more power-efficient and lighter, but they’re also more durable and less likely to suffer from cracks and scratches.
