We spend hundreds of bucks to get high-quality images from our TV.
So it’s out of the question to let a random black shadow remain on its screen.
That said, let me help you solve this problem in just minutes.
Continue reading to find out:
- 7 unchallenging fixes to this Samsung TV problem.
- The most common reasons why there’s a black shadow on your Samsung TV.
- How you can conduct a picture test to see if anything’s wrong with your TV’s display.
- And a lot more…
Why does my Samsung TV have a black shadow?
Your Samsung TV has a black shadow because its power-saving mode is glitching. This also happens if the HDMI cable of your TV is faulty. And in other cases, the Samsung TV display has a problem, and you need to reset its picture settings.
Black shadow on Samsung TV: 7 causes & solutions
#1: Change your power-saving mode settings
No doubt. Power-saving mode is a lifesaver.
That’s because, with it, you can reduce your TV’s energy consumption. And ease your eye strain while watching a movie.
However, there are instances when this mode ends up going to extremes.
So instead of slightly dimming your entire screen…
Power saving mode darkens a specific area only. Thus, causing a black shadow on your TV.
But fret not. This is incredibly easy to fix.
See, all you need to do is…
Change brightness settings on your Samsung TV’s power-saving mode:
Step 1: On your Samsung remote, press the Home button.
Step 2: Hover your controller’s selection to the left until you can click Settings.
Step 3: From the list, select General (wrench icon).
Step 4: Scroll down and tap the Power and Energy Saving option.
Step 5: Turn OFF settings related to brightness. And these include:
- Motion Lighting.
- Brightness reduction.
- Brightness optimization.
Now, restart your TV and observe if you still see the black shadow on your screen.
Editor’s pick: 13 Real Reasons Why Samsung TVs Are So Expensive
#2: Change channel or apps
Sometimes your Smart TV isn’t the problem.
Rather, it’s the source of its media.
That’s because a weak signal can also cause this black shadow problem.
So the next fix you should try is changing the channel or the apps you’re using to stream.
That said, if you’re watching on a streaming platform like Netflix, for example…
Try to use another app like Youtube instead.
Likewise, if you’re currently watching on the ESPN sports channel…
Test out the Fox network for now.
“I’ve changed my [app/channel]. What are the next steps?”
Then simply observe if you can still notice the black shadow on your TV.
If it’s now gone, then your TV isn’t the problem. It was the platform you were using.
And in that case, you should contact the support team of the app or channel that had a shadow. So that they can help you fix the problem.
However, if you’re still seeing the shadow despite being on a new platform…
Proceed to the next fix.
#3: Try out a different external input device
Are you using a streaming device for your Samsung TV?
I’m talking about gadgets like:
- Roku.
- Apple TV.
- Cable box.
- Amazon Firestick.
Or really, any input device that gives information to your TV.
Now, if your Samsung device is connected to any external inputs like the ones mentioned…
Then you should try switching it with a different input source temporarily.
That’s because your TV may not be the problem, but the gadget giving it information.
And the only way to check if this is the case is to use another input source.
That said…
Follow these steps to use a different input device for your TV:
Step 1: Disconnect the current streaming device from your TV
For example, if you’re using Roku…
Simply disconnect it from the HDMI cable connected to your TV.
However, if it’s a “stick” like device similar to a Roku stick or an Amazon Firestick…
Then unplug it from the TV itself.
Step 2: Connect an HDMI cable to your TV’s HDMI IN port
Now, if your TV still has that cable from the previous step, proceed to step 3.
However, if the device you unplugged didn’t have an HDMI cable in the 1st place…
Then you need to find a high-quality HDMI cable and connect it to your TV.
Step 3: Connect the new external input to your TV’s HDMI cable
Simply connect your new device to the HDMI cable connected to your TV. And ensure that the connection is snug and fit.
Now, if you don’t have other streaming devices around…
You can use these everyday gadgets for this test instead, including your:
- Phone.
- Laptop.
- Gaming consoles.
And once you’ve connected the new input to your TV…
Step 4: Plug the new external device into its power source
Connect your input to its power cable. And plug its adapter head into a wall outlet.
After doing so…
Step 5: Turn your TV ON
Now, check if you can still see the black shadow on your screen.
If you can, plug your original streaming device into your TV again and proceed to the next fix.
But if you’re thinking…
“I don’t see the shadow anymore.”
Then your original streaming device was the problem. So you should get it fixed or grab a new model.
You might also want to know: Samsung TV Not Recognizing HDMI Input: 11 Fixes
#4: Check your HDMI cable
The bridge between your TV and its streaming device is the HDMI cable.
That said, if your cable is faulty, your TV signals will also have issues. Even if both your TV and input device are perfectly fine.
So now, the next fix you should try is to…
Run an HDMI cable test on your Samsung TV (models 2021 and newer):
- Turn your TV ON.
- Go to its Settings.
- Select Device Care > Self Diagnosis.
- Click HDMI Troubleshooting.
- Select the HDMI connection you want to test.
- Follow on-screen instructions.
HDMI cable test for previous TV models:
- Turn On your TV and head to Settings.
- Tap Support > Self Diagnosis.
- Select Signal Information.
- Click HDMI Cable Test.
- Tap Start Test.
Note: Older TVs don’t have an HDMI connection test in their system. So if yours doesn’t have it, manually check your HDMI cable. And that’s by unplugging it from your TV and visually looking for any physical damage.
Now, if the test reveals that your HDMI cable is defective…
You should replace it with a new, high-quality cord. And the black shadow should disappear from your screen.
But if your HDMI cable isn’t the problem, move on to the next solution.
#5: Do a picture test
There could be a problem with your TV display.
And that’s why you still see the black shadow on your screen.
So now, you should do a picture test on your Samsung TV.
Now, the exact steps for this depend on when your TV has been released.
That said, let’s start with the…
Steps to run a picture test on Samsung TVs (from 2015 and later):
- Turn your TV ON.
- Head to its Settings page.
- Scroll down and select Support.
- Tap Device Care > Self Diagnosis.
- On the page, select Picture Test.
- Click OK.
- Follow the instructions you see on the screen.
Run the picture test on Samsung TVs released earlier than 2015:
- Turn ON your TV.
- On your remote, press Menu.
- Tap Support > Self Diagnosis.
- Click Picture Test.
- Follow the instructions for the test.
Now, if the test states something’s wrong with the picture settings…
Proceed to the next step.
However, if nothing’s wrong with your TV display, skip to fix #7.
#6: Reset picture settings
Even if something’s wrong with your TV display…
Most of the time, it can be fixed by simply resetting the picture settings. So that they’ll all return to their default states.
That said, here are the steps to…
Reset your Samsung TV’s picture settings:
- Head to the Settings menu of your TV.
- From the list, select Picture.
- Scroll down and tap Expert Settings.
- Hover down again and click Reset Picture.
- Tap Yes to confirm.
After the reset, check if you still see the black shadow on your screen.
#7: Factory reset your TV
It’s time to take out your wild card. And that’s to factory reset your TV.
See, similar to the picture reset…
This method will also remove custom settings from your device.
However, it’s not only limited to those. Because a factory reset also deletes your:
- Downloaded files.
- Installed applications.
- Data and information from the TV.
Now, why is this necessary?
That’s because some corrupted files on your TV may be causing this problem.
Or your apps and custom settings are.
That said, the easiest way to bring your TV back to its original state is through a factory reset. So that’s what you should try doing.
Now, don’t worry. Despite being a fancy term, it’s actually very easy to…
Factory reset your Samsung TV:
- Turn your TV ON.
- Hover over to the left until you can select Settings.
- Tap the General icon.
- From the list, click Reset.
- Input your TV’s PIN. (Default is 0000)
- Select Reset.
- Tap OK.
- Wait for your TV to reset and restart automatically.
Need a visual guide? Watch this video:
Note: Don’t turn OFF or unplug your TV while the reset is ongoing.
Now, if the mentioned steps don’t match the options on your TV, try these instead:
- Head to Settings.
- Select Support.
- Tap Self Diagnosis > Reset.
But if these also don’t work…
Check your TV’s user manual to find the exact steps to factory reset your TV model.
Bonus: Contact Samsung support
Fortunately, Samsung is 1 of the best brands when it comes to customer support.
So if your TV screen still has the shadow problem…
You should ask their support team to help you.
That said, you can…