
“Help! My TV screen has suddenly turned pink. How do I fix it?”
Seeing your TV screen turn pink can make you panic (especially when you first experience it).
But don’t worry! A pink screen doesn’t necessarily indicate damage to your TV.
Plus, it’s very easy to troubleshoot. That being said…
Read on to discover:
- 7 most common reasons why your TV screen is pink.
- 7 easy troubleshooting methods to fix a pink TV screen.
- How to change a device’s color space to remove the pink tint on the TV.
- 3 methods to fix HDMI handshake failures that are causing pink screens.
- And much, much more…
Why is my TV screen pink?
Your TV screen is pink due to a loose and faulty HDMI connection between your unit and external device. This often happens if the cable is damaged or not seated properly. Or if an HDMI handshake failure occurs during setup. Having incorrect color space or outdated software can also be the reason.
7 reasons your TV screen is pink + how to fix it
#1: TV electronic glitch
Did your TV screen turn pink one day while you’re watching TV?
Well, it might be due to a software glitch.
Note: It’s a temporary and minor disruption or error in the system. However, this can cause some TV functions to malfunction or not work at all.
A glitch has no distinct description. But it can come in the form of your TV:
- Slowing down.
- Freezing or lagging.
- Not responding to commands.
Or, in your case, turn the TV screen pink.
How to fix it:
Resolving software glitches is very easy: You just have to refresh your TV’s system.
And you can do it in 2 ways, either by:
- Switching off the unit.
- Power cycling the unit (also called a “reboot”).
For a comprehensive guide, check the instructions below.
Method 1: Switch off the TV
Note: Do this if your TV has a physical POWER button.
Usually, it’s located under the TV logo or at the side of the unit.
- While the TV is displaying a pink screen, press the POWER button.
- Wait for at least 5 seconds.
- Then, press the POWER button again to turn ON the TV.
Method 2: Power cycle the TV
- Ensure that the TV is powered ON.
- Unplug the TV from the power source.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Then, plug the TV again into the power source.
Suppose you can’t access the power cord of your TV. Turning off its circuit breaker would do the trick.
#2: Overheated cable box
Did you leave your cable box and TV running overnight?
If yes, then that’s what has caused the pink screen on your TV.
When the cable box is left running for hours, it’ll overheat.
When this happens, it can either:
- Lose some of its function temporarily.
- Lose a good connection with your TV. Which causes a pink screen.
How to fix it:
To fix it, just restart your cable box. Either by:
- Power cycling it.
- Turning it off and on once.
Method 1: Power cycle the cable box
- Ensure that the cable box is powered ON.
- Unplug its power cord from the outlet.
- Wait for at least 2 minutes.
- Replug the cable box into the outlet.
“Why does power cycling the cable box take longer than the TV?”
Since the cable box is overheated…
Letting it unplugged a few minutes longer helps cool down its hardware. And so helps the device get back to its normal operation.
Method 2: Turn off and on the cable box
Note: Do this if you’d want to use your cable box immediately.
- Ensure that the device is powered ON.
- Press its POWER button to turn off the device.
- Wait for a few seconds.
- Then, press the POWER button again to turn it on.
You can also watch this video to see how this method works:
You might also want to know: How To Use Smart TV Without Cable
#3: Unmatching color space
“My TV screen has turned pink after connecting a new external device.”
If that’s the case, then perhaps the color spaces of your devices aren’t matching.
Note: Color space is the set of colors that your device supports. It’s also sometimes referred to as the “video format.”
Most image-outputting devices have 2 basic types of color spaces:
- RGB.
- YCbCr.
These two color spaces don’t necessarily turn your TV screen pink.
A pink screen occurs when your devices can’t determine what color space to use.
How to fix it:
Luckily, you can easily fix this problem by setting the color space of your HDMI device. And you can do it from your TV settings.
Note: The actual steps vary depending on your TV brand and model.
But here’s the typical way of doing it:
- Go to settings.
- Select “Display” or “Setup.”
- Click “HDMI.”
- Tap “Screen/color settings.”
- Then, choose the color space you want to select.
Try to switch between RGB and YCbCr to see which one fixes the pink screen problem.
#4: Loose connection
If you’re experiencing an intermittent pink TV screen…
Then, your HDMI connection is loose or faulty.
The reason:
A pink TV screen usually occurs when your TV receives weak signals from your input device. And that can often happen due to a loose cable connection.
Several things can cause your HDMI connection to become loose, including:
- Incorrect setup.
- Loose HDMI port.
- Improperly seated cable.
How to fix it:
You can easily fix a loose cable connection by…
Disconnecting and reconnecting the input device from the TV.
To do that:
- Unplug the HDMI cable from the TV.
- Wait for about 3 to 5 seconds.
- Then, replug the cable back into the TV.
If that doesn’t work, try this method:
- Unplug the TV from the socket.
- Disconnect the HDMI cable from the TV port.
- Replug and turn on the TV.
- Reconnect the HDMI cable from the TV port.
“How to know if the cable is properly seated into the port?”
The cable is properly seated if:
- The TV can quickly recognize your input source.
- You feel a “click” after inserting the cable into the port.
- The cable plug doesn’t easily disconnect even if you move the cable around.
#5: Faulty HDMI cable

Speaking of a loose and faulty connection…
It can also happen if the HDMI cable you’re using to connect your input source is damaged.
Why?
When the cable wires are bent or cut, the video signals from the source to the TV won’t be able to travel.
And so, your TV will display either a pink or black screen.
To know whether your HDMI cable is faulty, see this checklist:
- Are the HDMI connectors bent or burnt?
- Are some of the HDMI connector pins pushed back?
- Do you see exposed wiring on the cable, especially on the ends?
Note: The connector pins are the small gold components at the ends of the HDMI cables.
If you answer “Yes” to some or all of the questions, consider your HDMI cable faulty.
Alternatively, you can test whether it’s faulty by trying another cable.
How to fix it:
If your HDMI cable is faulty, your only solution is to replace it with a high-quality one.
There are 3 basic types of HDMI cable ends:
- HDMI Type A (Standard).
- HDMI Type C (Mini).
- HDMI Type D (Micro).
HDMI Standard is what’s commonly used in TV HDMI ports.
Depending on your input device, you’d need to get an:
#6: HDMI handshake failure
“My TV screen turns pink when changing sources or plugging a new one.”
Given that situation, it must be due to an HDMI handshake failure.
Note: In simple words, HDMI handshake is the devices’ ability to recognize and communicate with one another.
If it fails, your TV won’t output video content from the input source. And that’s when the TV screen turns pink.
And several things can cause HDMI handshake failure, including:
- Incorrect setup.
- Electronic glitches.
How to fix it:
While an “HDMI handshake failure” sounds a complicated term…
Fixing it requires little effort.
You just have to refresh the connection between your TV and the input source.
And you can do that in 3 ways:
Method 1: Switch sources
Do this when: You have several sources plugged into your TV. And your TV screen turned pink after plugging in a new one.
- Press the SOURCE button on your TV remote.
- Use the navigation buttons to select any source.
- Repeat step #2 until the pink screen is gone.
Method 2: Try other ports
Do this when: Your TV screen has suddenly turned pink while watching TV.
- Ensure that your devices are powered ON.
- Disconnect your input source from the TV.
- Plug it into another available HDMI TV port.
Method 3: Turn off the TV and disconnect the cable
Do this when: Your TV screen is pink upon turning it on.
- Ensure that the devices are switched ON.
- Disconnect the input source from the TV port.
- Wait for about 3 to 5 seconds.
- Reconnect the input source into the TV.
Further reading: Samsung TV Not Recognizing HDMI Input: 11 Fixes
#7: Outdated device software
If you’ve tried everything already, but nothing has worked…
Then perhaps your TV or input source software is outdated.
Note: Software is a set of programs that makes your device run and operate.
When it’s outdated, some of your device’s functions can fail to work. And that includes your TV’s ability to recognize and connect with your input device.
How to fix it:
Fixing this specific problem is simple: Update your device’s software.
Note: The process of updating software varies depending on your device.
So, I suggest reviewing your product manual. Or visit your manufacturer’s support page.
Learn more: How often do smart TVs update their software?