
So your TV screen’s as dark as a black hole…
But don’t be paranoid. It won’t draw you in.
And panicking won’t magically make your Vizio TV screen better too.
So, let’s both do ourselves a favor and start with what we know best:
Fix life problems.
Ready?
Read on to find out:
- 11 easy fixes to eradicate the Vizio TV black screen of death.
- 1 simple Vizio black screen of death fix when your TV’s unresponsive.
- How to do a flashlight test and check for any hardware problems on your Vizio TV.
- And so much more…
Why is my Vizio TV on but the screen is black?
Your Vizio TV’s on but the screen’s black because of a power board failure. Other times, the issue may lie in your TV’s backlight strips. Another cause of a Vizio black screen of death is HDMI or USB and streaming device connection issues. Finally, you might be dealing with a faulty power outlet.
How to fix Vizio TV black screen of death? 11 fixes
#1: Do a sound test
“Why should I do this?
Isn’t my TV screen that’s the problem?”
You’re absolutely right. But…
How do you know your black Vizio TV screen isn’t because of an external device?
What if it’s your streaming stick that’s causing the issue?
That said, here’s what you wanna do:
- Make sure your Vizio TV’s turned on.
- Turn the volume up.
- Listen for any sound in your Vizio TV.
“I hear a sound coming out. What does that mean?”
If you hear audio coming from your Vizio TV, it could mean a few things:
- Your TV’s functioning, and it could be a hardware problem.
- There’s an issue between your TV cable and power outlet.
From here, head to fix #4.
But if you don’t hear any sound at all, don’t worry.
When dealing with the Vizio TV black screen of death issue, there are several fixes you can do.
We’ve only managed to do 1.
So, let’s go ahead and try the remaining 10 fixes.
#2: Test different TV inputs
Have you tried switching to a different channel?
Did you test your Vizio TV’s other functions?
Because you may just be in the wrong TV input.
Or rather, this could simply be a temporary glitch.
For instance.
Say your Vizio TV’s currently set to the AV input.
Now, if there aren’t any cables attached to your AV port, you get a dead signal.
In other words, you’ll see the Vizio black screen of death.
From here, all you need to do is…
- Press the “Input” button at the top-left corner of your Vizio remote.
- In the pop-up menu on your screen, try selecting different inputs.
- Test each TV input and check for a black screen.
#3: Restart your Vizio TV
In some cases, the Vizio black screen of death is a software bug or glitch messing with your TV.
Annoying, right?
Luckily, the solution’s simple:
- Unplug your Vizio TV.
- Wait for 1 minute.
- Plug your Vizio TV back into its power source.
Now, take note.
It’s crucial that you wait at least 1 minute before powering your Vizio TV back on.
Why?
Because this allows your Vizio TV to refresh and clear any junk sitting in its system.
But if this Vizio black screen of death fix didn’t work, it’s time to inspect your hardware.
And first on our list is to…
#4: Do a flashlight test
“What in the world is that?”
Calm down.
Because it’s actually an effective way to check if your TV has…
- Hardware issues like damage to your TV’s backlight.
- Whether your TV’s video/image is simply faded on the screen.
Now, how does it work?
Well, it’s as literal as the name suggests:
First, you’ll need a flashlight.
I suggest buying one that’s extremely bright.
A good example is the GearLight LED flashlight.
Then, follow these steps:
- Stand 2 inches away from your Vizio TV.
- Shine your flashlight onto the TV screen.
- Check for any moving images or pictures on your screen.
If your flashlight reveals an image, it confirms that it’s a hardware problem.
Specifically, your Vizio TV’s backlight is damaged.
From here, head to fix #11.
However, if you don’t see any moving images at all, it could be a power supply issue.
And in that case, you should…
#5: Try a different wall outlet
Power supply issues are fairly common in TVs.
For a Vizio TV, it’s not just a black screen.
Sometimes, you might notice it blinking on and off or flickering repeatedly.
At first, it’s common for many to think it could be a bug or glitch.
However, you should also consider that the culprit lies with your electrical outlet.
In fact, your Vizio TV’s power cable could even be faulty.
As a result, your TV doesn’t receive enough power to function properly.
And in effect, it behaves like a maniac by flickering and flashing.
Or in some cases, your Vizio TV doesn’t have sufficient power and becomes totally dark.
From here, you have 2 options:
- Test your Vizio TV in another electrical outlet.
- Buy a new power cable and replace your old one.
You might also like: 5 Ways To Fix A Vizio TV That Won’t Turn On
#6: Disconnect all your TV cables
Remember the “Sound test” we did earlier?
If your Vizio TV’s producing sound but the screen’s black, 1 reason why this happens is:
It’s a streaming device problem.
Meaning, the connection between your external device and Vizio TV is faulty.
And I’m not only referring to loose cable connections.
Think of it like this:
If your streaming/external device has a bug in its system, what do you think happens?
Well, it could very well infect your TV and create errors in the system.
And the best way to solve an issue like this is by resetting your external/streaming device.
If you currently have a Vizio Sound Bar installed, you can easily reset it in 1 minute.
That aside, other devices like Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Chromecast work differently.
So, how do you reset these streaming devices? Easy. Just:
- Unplug the external/streaming device from your Vizio TV’s port.
- Wait for at least 3 to 5 minutes.
- Plug your external/streaming devices back in.
“The black screen of death appeared after plugging in my external device.”
In that case, you’re dealing with either:
- A faulty cable.
- Damaged external/streaming device.
From here, you’ll have to replace the USB/HDMI cable and your external/streaming device.
#7: Hold the Volume up and Input buttons for 1 minute
Want a simple hack to fix your Vizio TV black screen of death?
You’ve got it!
This fix is perfect if your Vizio TV’s unresponsive to any commands.
And all you need to do is:
Hold your remote’s volume up (“+” icon) and “Input” button for 1 minute.
Then, a menu should pop up.
From here, try fixes #8 to #10.
#8: Disable the “Mute Screen” feature
First time hearing about it?
What the “Mute Screen” feature does is it automatically turns off your screen.
However, this only happens if you stream an audio application like Spotify.
Fortunately, disabling the feature takes literally only seconds.
Simply hold down your remote’s “Mute” button for 5 seconds.
Then, your screen should be back to normal.
But if it doesn’t, there’s another fix worth trying:
#9: Toggle off your Sleep Timer
Just like the “Mute Screen” feature, your Vizio TV’s sleep timer function works similarly.
How so?
After a set period, your TV turns itself off automatically.
In other words, it’s a feature programmed to make your TV fall asleep.
Think of it as if your Vizio TV’s in standby mode.
And in effect, your screen appears black.
So, what next?
Simple. All you have to do is toggle off your Vizio TV’s sleep timer:
- Hit the menu button on your Vizio TV remote.
- Scroll down and select “Timers.”
- Toggle off your “Sleep Timer.”
#10: Factory reset your Vizio TV

As mentioned earlier, fix #7 taught you how to bring up your Vizio TV menu.
From here, you should have access to your menu settings.
Now, the main reason why you need access to your Vizio TV’s menu is to do a factory reset.
Put simply, you’re removing all the data on your TV, including…
- Any stubborn glitches or bugs.
- Corrupted files causing errors in your TV.
- Software malfunctions that create TV issues.
Here’s how to do it:
- On your Vizio TV menu, scroll down and tap on “System.”
- Select “Reset & Admin.”
- Choose “Reset to Factory Settings.”
- Confirm the process by tapping “OK” on your screen.
- After the reset, check if your Vizio TV screen’s still black.
In addition, you can also use this video as a reference:
#11: Replace the power board or backlight strips
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but…
If none of the fixes above worked, it means 2 things:
- Your backlight strips are faulty.
- You have a damaged TV power board.
Between the 2, a power board issue’s more urgent.
Why?
Because it generates power for your TV.
And if it dies, your Vizio TV simply won’t operate.
In most cases, though, a Vizio black screen of death means your backlight strips have failed.
Basically, these are LED strips attached to your TV screen that produces light.
Remember the “flashlight test” from earlier?
When the backlight strips fail, you’ll see moving images on your screen.
However, you can only see them if you’re using a flashlight.
Without these LED strips, there’s not enough light to show any video or picture on-screen.
Or put it this way.
Say your smartphone’s brightness is set to its lowest setting in a dark room.
Would you be able to see your screen?
Of course not, right?
Your TV’s backlight strips work the same way.
Except – this time – they’re dead AF.
So, as a last resort option, you’ll need to contact Vizio support.
Personally, I recommend calling Vizio on their phone to get an immediate response.
Call the number: “(844) 254-8087.”
From here, inform the Vizio support agent of your current issue.
Don’t forget to mention all the fixes you tried too.
Because that way, the agent can send a technician sooner to inspect your unit.