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9 Reasons Your TV Screen Is Green + How To Fix It (2023)

Why Is My TV Screen Green

They say the color green is pleasing to the eyes.

True.

Just not when it comes to your TV screens.

But don’t worry. No need to turn green with rage. 

We’ve got plenty of solutions for you.

Continue reading to find out:

  • How magnets can affect the color of older TVs.
  • 3 specific connectors to check if your TV screen is green.
  • Why it’s important to secure your TV’s cable connections.
  • What Samsung TV’s RGB Only Mode is and how to turn it off.
  • And a lot more…

Why is my TV screen green?

Your TV screen is green because of loose cable connections. You may be using an HDMI, an RCA, or a coax cable. If any of them aren’t securely attached, you’ll have screen issues. An incorrect color or picture settings may also cause a green screen. It’s also likely an internal hardware problem.  


9 reasons your TV screen is green + how to fix it


#1: Possible glitch in external devices connected to your TV

Before going through other troubleshooting steps… 

Let’s try to isolate the cause of your green screen. 

What if there’s actually nothing wrong with your TV itself? 

Maybe it’s the external devices connected to it. Perhaps they’re the ones glitching. 

Examples of these external devices include:

Do you have any of these devices connected to your TV? 

If so, you may want to consider disconnecting them. At least temporarily.  

How to fix it:

You may try to perform a power cycle first. 

A power cycle is just a simple restart of your TV. 

Do this before disconnecting external devices. It may very well instantly solve your green screen issue. 

This is how to do a power cycle:

  1. Turn off your TV.
  2. Unplug it for about 30 seconds.
  3. Plug it back in and turn it on.

Note: You may also try pressing the actual TV’s power button after unplugging. Do this for about 15 seconds. This helps drain any remaining power on your TV.

Still seeing a green screen? 

You may go ahead and disconnect all external devices attached to your TV. You may do this while the TV is on.

Did the green tint on your screen go away? 

If it did… 

Great news! Your TV is not defective. No need to take it to a repair center. 

Removing external devices is a good first step. This helps you get closer to figuring out the actual cause of the green screen. 

Now you just have to figure it out… Which one of your external devices is actually causing it? 

#2: Loose cable connections

Loose Cable Connections

Smart TVs are perfectly functional. Even without external devices. 

But where’s the fun in that, right? 

External devices help enhance your TV user experience. And you don’t have to permanently remove them. 

It’s likely that it’s just one of the cable connections being loose. 

It may be an HDMI cable. RCA connector for older TV models. Or a coax cable

Loose cable connection is actually one of the most common causes of a green-tinted TV screen. 

The reason for that? 

It’s through these cables that your TV receives video and audio from external devices. 

So it’s only natural. If a cable connection is loose? Expect audio and video problems.

Always see to it that they’re firmly connected.

How to fix it:

Is your TV attached to an HDMI cable? If so, try to wiggle the actual HDMI plug. 

Do this while your TV is on. So you can see possible real-time changes on your screen. 

You may also want to unplug the HDMI cable. Both from your TV and external device. Then reconnect. And make sure that they’re hooked firmly and securely. 

If you’re using a coax cable. Perhaps directly from your cable box to your TV. 

Ensure that the coax cable’s pin is properly inserted into your TV’s port. See to it that the screws are tight. 

Do you have an older TV model? Then you’re likely using an RCA connector.

Try to unplug them. Then plug them back in again.

Simply attaching cables securely solves many green screen issues. 

#3: Defective connectors

So you’ve done your best to secure the cable connections. 

They’re now firm. Tight. Perfectly attached.

Yet your TV screen is still green.  

Perhaps it might be a case of faulty connectors. 

Connectors like HDMI and coax cable will eventually deteriorate over time. 

It may be due to normal wear and tear. Or dirt accumulation. 

In addition, HDMIs and coax cables also have pins in the middle. It’s possible one of these pins may have been broken. Likely by accident due to careless plugging. 

The good thing about these cables, though? 

They’re relatively cheap. And very easily replaceable. 

How to fix it:

Don’t throw away your connector just yet. Try to check first if it’s really defective.

You can do that by using it with another device. You may try connecting your HDMI to a computer or a laptop with a port for it. See if it’s working. 

If it didn’t work? You may also try to gently blow into the HDMI’s plug. To remove dirt or other small particles that may have been stuck inside. 

If it’s still not working, look for a replacement. 

Do you have another HDMI cable at home? One that you’re sure is working?

If so, try to use that instead. Replace the one that’s currently attached to your TV. 

Of course, you always have the option of just purchasing a new one. 

#4: Your TV’s connector port is likely damaged

So you’ve secured your connectors’ attachment. And you were also able to verify. That your connectors are working just fine with other devices. 

Well, you may still be having a green screen because of your TV’s port. 

Then…

The port where you connect your HDMI, coax cable, or RCA may be defective.  

How to fix it:

One of the many great features of Smart TVs is multiple ports.

Modern TVs have at least 2 ports for HDMI. Some may even have up to 8. 

There are also TVs today that come with 2 ports for coax cables. 

So if it’s a port issue, simply plug your connector into another one in your TV. 

You may also try to blow into a defective port. Dust and dirt accumulation may also cause them to malfunction. 

#5: Incorrect picture settings

It’s also possible that incorrect picture settings may have caused the green screen. 

The green screen may be a result of an imbalance in the color, hue, and contrast settings. 

Perhaps you or someone from your household has simply changed it by accident. 

How to fix it:

The way to change picture settings will vary depending on your TV brand. As well as the make and model.

But generally, you can find it by going to Settings. Then Picture. 

As to the right amount of color, hue, and contrast? 

You may refer to your TV manufacturer’s official website for the most ideal settings. 

You might also like: 11 Ways To Fix Your TV Brightness Problem

#6: Incorrect RGB settings

Samsung’s Smart TVs have an RGB Only Mode

RGB here stands for Red, Green, and Blue. This mode is one of the many ways to enhance picture quality on your Samsung TV.

But it also has an option to highlight only one particular color. 

That being said, it’s possible that the reason your screen is green… 

Because you or someone highlighted that color in the RGB settings.

How to fix it:

You need to turn off the RGB Only Mode. 

Here’s how to do it on your Samsung TV:

  1. Click the Settings button on your remote.
  2. Select Picture.
  3. Select Expert Settings.
  4. Select RGB Only Mode. 
  5. You’ll see 4 options: Red, Green, Blue, and Off. Click Off. 

Other Smart TVs may also have a similar feature. You may refer to your user’s manual. 

Look for something similar to Samsung TV’s RGB Only Mode. And try to switch it off.

You may also check out this video on how to easily turn off RGB Only Mode:

#7: You have an outdated firmware

For any glitch in modern Smart TVs. You can never rule out firmware problems. 

Outdated firmware is rarely the cause of a green TV screen. But it definitely wouldn’t hurt to check your TV firmware’s status. 

Updates generally happen automatically. As long as your TV is connected to the internet. 

But what if your TV hasn’t been online for several days? 

It’s possible it has missed out on some necessary updates. And it’s probably why it’s having issues. 

How to fix it:

If your TV has a stable internet connection, updating should be easy. 

Here’s how to do it on some TV brands.

Samsung TV
  1. On your remote, click Settings then Support.
  2. Select Software Update.
  3. Select Update Now.
Sony BRAVIA
  1. Click Settings on your remote.
  2. Look for Customer Support, Setup, or Product Support. 
  3. Navigate to Software Update and select Yes.
LG TV
  1. Press the Home or Smart button on your remote.
  2. Click Settings and go to All Settings.
  3. Navigate to General.
  4. Look for About this TV and click it.
  5. Select Check for Updates and click Ok.

The process should be similar for other TV brands.

#8: Magnet disruption from nearby equipment

Are you still using one of those old, bulky TVs? 

If you are, don’t worry. We won’t judge you. Old school is cool, after all. 

Those bulky TVs are actually called CRT TVs. The CRT stands for Cathode-ray tube

We don’t need to dig deep into the science behind it. 

It’s safe to say that that cathode-ray tube is an electronic device. With beams that are used to display images on your TV screen. 

The presence of magnets near your TV may disrupt these beams. Causing picture problems such as a green screen.

How to fix it:

External speakers use magnets. That’s why they’re usually the main culprit for color problems for CRT TVs. 

Do you happen to have speakers near your CRT TV? 

If so, try to move them a little further away from your TV. It doesn’t have to be too far. Just make sure there’s enough space between your TV and speakers. 

Around 2 to 3 feet of distance should be enough. 

#9: Internal hardware issues

If you’ve exhausted all the basic troubleshooting steps. 

And your TV screen is still green…

Then it’s highly likely a hardware issue. It may be a backlight issue. Or even a motherboard problem.

It’s also possible that one of the ribbon cables inside the TV is defective. 

But regardless of any internal hardware issues. It’s always best to contact your TV’s manufacturer. 

Most brands offer a limited 1-year warranty. Check if your TV still qualifies for that. If not, you may have to shell out money for repair.

Further reading: 5 Reasons Your TV Screen Is Purple + How To Fix It