“Uh oh. That can’t be good.”
So you just saw your Sony TV’s light indicator turn red.
And it’s now blinking 6 times.
That usually means bad news.
But no need to worry, though.
There are several easy fixes you can do to resolve that.
Continue reading to discover:
- 9 effective ways to fix your Sony TV’s red blinking light.
- What the actual reason is for the red light that’s blinking 6 times.
- How your TV’s actual location can play a role in causing this problem.
- What settings you need to change on your TV to prevent this red blinking light issue.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why is my Sony TV blinking red 6 times?
Your Sony TV is blinking red 6 times because of a backlight issue. To fix this, do a power cycle on your Sony TV. And then turn down the backlight level via Settings. In addition, it’s possible that the backlight itself is already defective. You may need to take it to a service center for repair.
Sony TV red light blinking 6 times: 9 ways to fix it
The great thing about Sony TVs is that you can easily diagnose a problem by simply looking at a light indicator.
The color of the light and the number of times it blinks will tell you exactly what’s wrong.
And a red light blinking 6 times usually means a backlight failure.
As some of you may know, there are backlight strips installed inside your Sony TV. These strips have several small LED lights attached to them.
And when one or more of those LED lights malfunctions or completely fails…
You’ll see a red light blinking exactly 6 times.
Now that you know what’s causing the problem, you don’t need to worry.
Because there are easy solutions.
And I’ll be providing you not just with fixes but ways to prevent this from happening as well.
You’ll find those in the Bonus section.
Alright, let’s dive in.
#1: Perform a power cycle on your TV
A power cycle is a process of restarting any electronic device.
It’s always the first troubleshooting option because it works. It’s a simple process that resolves many technical issues.
It’s possible that your Sony TV is experiencing a temporary malfunction. And it’s somehow affecting the backlights.
So performing a power cycle is an easy solution for that.
There are 3 ways to do that with your Sony TV:
- By unplugging.
- By using the remote.
- By going to the Settings menu.
Power cycle by unplugging
- While the TV’s still on, unplug it from the outlet.
- Wait for about 30 seconds to a minute.
- Plug the TV back into the outlet.
Power cycle using the remote
- Press and hold your remote’s Power button.
- Wait until a “Power off” message appears on your screen.
- Let go of the button. Wait for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Press the Power button again to turn the TV on.
Note: In some Sony TV models, you’ll see a menu pop up instead of the “Power off” message. In that case, look for the Restart option and select it.
Power cycle via the Settings menu
- Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
- Navigate to System and select it.
- Select the Restart option.
- You’ll be asked to confirm. Select Restart again.
Note: Depending on your TV model, the Restart option may appear under the About menu instead of System.
You may also check out this video on how to restart your Sony TV:
#2: Plug your TV directly into a wall outlet instead of a power strip
Do you happen to be using a power strip or a surge protector?
If so, you should unplug your TV from there.
Power strips are used when you need to plug in more devices than your wall outlet allows.
Surge protectors are similar to power strips in that aspect.
But they also offer the benefit of preventing sudden spikes in power. Which, in turn, helps prevent damage to your electronic device.
Both devices are useful. But they’re also prone to malfunctions.
And if you’re using a defective one, it may also affect your Sony TV and its backlights.
So unplug your Sony TV from there. And then plug it directly into a wall outlet. See if it fixes the blinking red light issue.
#3: Temporarily move your TV to a well-lit room
Some of the more modern Sony TVs have a light sensor.
This detects the lighting situation for your TV’s location. And then automatically adjusts the backlights accordingly.
If it’s too dark, the backlight levels are turned up. And the opposite if the place is well-lit.
It’s likely that your TV is in a dimly-lit room. And it’s trying to automatically increase the backlight level. But it couldn’t quite do it because one or more LED lights are defective.
The solution?
Move your TV to a well-lit room. At least temporarily.
You may also shine an LED torch or flashlight directly onto your TV’s light sensor. It’s located at the bottom front of most models.
And then, once your TV finally turns on, change all backlight-related settings.
You may jump to the Bonus section for that.
#4: Clear out the space surrounding your TV
This is in connection with Fix #3.
It won’t help your TV if it’s crammed in between objects. Especially ones that are directly blocking its light sensors.
So make sure there’s enough space around the TV. Move all nearby appliances and other objects away from the TV.
This also helps with your TV’s ventilation. This should help if an overheating LED is causing the red blinking light issue.
#5: Remove all external devices connected to your TV
We’re all used to connecting multiple external devices to enhance our TV’s function.
But it’s also possible that one or more of these devices are causing the issue.
It could be a cable box. A gaming console. Or a streaming stick.
A setting in one of these may be affecting your Sony TV’s backlight.
So it’s best to disconnect all external devices attached to your TV.
And once you’ve removed all of them, perform a power cycle.
If the red blinking light disappears, then you’ll know the external devices are causing it.
You may then plug the devices back one at a time. So can see which one is actually causing the problem.
#6: Gently tap the back of your TV several times
An old-school way of fixing any electronic device is by giving it a hard smack.
Now I wouldn’t want you to do that. As it may only further damage your TV.
But giving it several gentle taps may help.
“How so?”
Well, there may be a dirt or debris build-up in your TV’s backlight strips. And it’s what’s causing the malfunction.
Gently tapping the back of your TV can help dislodge the dirt that has built up.
So turn off your TV. Unplug it from the outlet. And then lightly tap the back multiple times. Then plug it back in and turn it on again.
#7: Clean your TV’s vents
With time, dirt will inevitably build up in your TV’s vents.
And when it happens, it may cause your TV to overheat. Which may also affect the backlights.
Sony’s website recommends cleaning the vents at least once a month.
You may use a clean cloth for wiping. Or a vacuum cleaner for a more thorough cleaning.
#8: Do a factory reset on your TV
As a last resort, you may opt to perform a factory reset on your Sony TV.
Now this will erase all of your data. Including your account details. Downloaded apps. And personal settings and preferences, among others.
But it’s worth it because factory reset has also been proven to work with red blinking light issues.
There are 2 ways to do this:
- Through the Settings menu.
- By pressing the Power and volume button on the TV.
How to factory reset via the Settings menu
- Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
- Navigate to System Settings and click it.
- Select Customer Support.
- Scroll down to Factory Settings and click it.
- Click OK to confirm.
How to factory reset via the Power and volume button
- Unplug the TV from the outlet.
- Press and hold the Power button and the volume down button.
- Plug your TV back into the outlet.
- When you see the Sony logo on the screen, let go of the buttons.
The factory reset process should then automatically begin.
#9: Take your TV to a Sony service center for repair
Have you tried all the fixes? And are you still seeing that red blinking light?
If so, then it’s likely a seriously-damaged backlight.
It’s likely caused by the usual wear and tear. Especially if your backlight levels are high. And your Sony TV’s light sensor is on.
Of course, you may try replacing the backlight strips yourself. But do note that it may void your warranty.
So for an issue like this, it’s best to consult with a technician.
Visit your nearest Sony service center. Or an authorized repair center.
They should be able to help fix your TV’s issue.
Bonus: Sony TV settings that you’d need to adjust
I mentioned at the beginning that a backlight issue is the main cause of the red light blinking 6 times.
You can prevent this from happening. First is by taking care of your Sony TV’s backlight.
And the way to do that is by adjusting your TV’s settings.
Particularly with these 2:
- Light sensor.
- Backlight level.
I’ll provide the steps for both. So make sure you have your remote with you.
How to adjust your Sony TV’s backlight level
- On your remote, press the Home button and click Settings.
- Select Display & Sound.
- Select Picture.
- Under Picture Mode, scroll down to Backlight.
- Lower the level to 4 or less, depending on your preference.
How to turn off the light sensor
- Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
- Select Display & Sound.
- Select Picture.
- Scroll down to Light Sensor
- Press the toggle button and switch it to Off.
You might also want to know: Sony TV Not Turning On: 11 Ways To Fix It