You just got home from work. All you wanted to do was to relax.
But when you turned on your TV, to your surprise, the screen was purple-tinted. Every TV character now looked like Thanos from the Marvel Comics.
Purple TV screens are a fairly common issue. But they do come with easy fixes.
Read on to learn:
- How to calibrate your TV’s color via settings.
- Why backlight issues can turn your TV screen purple.
- How to get rid of purple patches caused by magnetic interference.
- How to resolve HDMI-related issues that are causing the purple screen.
- And so much more…
Why is my TV screen purple?
Your TV screen is purple mainly because of HDMI issues. It’s usually a case of either a faulty HDMI that you need to replace or an improperly attached HDMI that you need to secure. In other cases, though, it may be because of an issue with your LED backlight or a simple color calibration error.
5 reasons your TV screen is purple + how to fix it
#1: Your HDMI is not properly attached
One of the most common causes of a purple screen? Loose HDMI from your TV to other equipment.
For example, between the TV and the cable box, or other streaming devices.
But what has caused this?
You or someone from your household may have accidentally knocked it loose. Your favorite pet may have tripped on it. Or you may have simply failed to attach it firmly or securely enough.
Whatever the cause may be, a loose HDMI connection is bound to cause issues. You’re likely going to experience a compromised video and audio quality.
So for video-related problems such as a purple screen? Your HDMI connection is one of the very first things you have to check.
How to fix it:
To fix this issue, unplug your HDMI first from the TV and your other equipment.
You may also want to turn off both devices. Unplug them as well from the power outlet.
Wait for a few seconds. Then, plug the HDMI back in. Make sure that you attach it firmly. It shouldn’t be easy to wiggle.
Plug your TV and the other device back in as well. And then turn them on.
Attaching the HDMI firmly fixes most purple screen issues. Especially if you perform a power cycle after.
Another quick fix is to try to connect the HDMI to another port. Modern TVs typically have multiple ports for HDMI.
It may very well be a case of a malfunctioning HDMI port. HDMIs themselves are durable. But HDMI ports are prone to issues time and again.
#2: Your HDMI may be faulty
You’ve removed and reattached your HDMI. You’ve even tried to switch the ends of the HDMI from your cable box to TV. You’ve also power-cycled your TV.
But you’re still getting a purple screen. What now?
This may be a case of a faulty HDMI. You may have been using it for a long time. And it might be time to consider replacing it.
How to fix it:
You may want to try to double-check first if your HDMI is really no longer working.
Try connecting your HDMI to other devices. It can be another TV, laptop, or projector. See if it’s working.
If it’s still working, then other issues are causing the purple screen. Read on to find out what the other problems may be.
If it also fails with other devices, then that’s confirmation that you need to replace your HDMI.
If you have another one in your home that you know is working, try to use that instead.
Or you may also simply purchase one. HDMIs are generally really cheap. It should be very easy to replace them.
You might also like: (7 Fixes) Netflix Won’t Play Through HDMI
#3: Your TV has an LED backlight problem
Modern LED TVs actually have an LCD display but use LEDs for backlights.
These backlights are what gives our TVs glowing colors. They’re crucial in enhancing the quality of the pictures that we see on our screen.
These lights are also typically cold or neutral white.
However, in time, these backlights may start to malfunction. Due to its limited life span. And because of the typical wear and tear.
Purple screen is one of the signs of your TV’s backlight starting to fail.
Instead of vibrant white light, it may start emitting bluish or purple color. This would be very noticeable on your TV screen.
How to fix it:
The only solution to a failing backlight is to replace it.
You’re going to have to order a new set of LED arrays or modules. It can be difficult to remove the existing ones and replace them. You would need several tools for that.
But if you’d like to give it a go, you may check out this Youtube video on how to replace a backlight:
The model for the video is an LG so the procedure will likely vary per brand.
However, it’s probably best to contact your nearby technician. Their expertise would be well worth it in fixing this particular problem.
Plus, it may be too risky to do it yourself. You may only end up having more TV problems.
#4: There’s a problem with your TV’s color calibration
When your TV’s color doesn’t look right, it won’t hurt to check the color calibration.
Whether the image you see is purplish or bluish. Too warm and bright or too dim. You may always try to check the color calibration.
Sometimes, it may simply be a case of you or someone clicking the wrong button.
Or perhaps an instance of resolution mismatches between your connected devices.
How to fix it:
Calibrating the color of your TV can be really tricky. Make sure to refer to the user’s manual on how to do this.
But generally, it involves the following steps:
- Click the menu or settings button on your remote.
- Look for the display settings.
- You should be able to find the settings for contrast, hue, and saturation.
- You may adjust them according to your preference.
When in doubt, though, you may always opt to reset the picture settings. And barring any other problems, this should fix your screen’s color.
You might also want to check out: 11 Ways to Fix Your TV Brightness Problem
#5: Your TV maybe experiencing magnetic interference from nearby devices
“Magnets? But I thought modern TVs are no longer affected by that!”
It’s definitely worth mentioning. Modern LCD and LED TVs no longer really experience magnetic interference.
It was a common problem in older cathode-ray tube TV sets. But not in modern TVs.
However, there may still be instances where you may see purple patches on the side of your TV.
Samsung TVs in particular have been reported to have this purple patch issue.
And their official website affirms. These patches may still have been caused by magnetic interference. They may also vary in color.
Other than purple, these patches may also be in the form of blue or green color.
Even if these patches are small, they can still be quite distracting. And they may still ruin your viewing experience.
How to fix it:
An easy way to fix this issue is to simply move electronic or magnetic devices away from the TV. It doesn’t have to be too far.
Samsung’s official website mentioned that a three-foot distance should be enough.
Perform a power cycle after moving the other electronic devices away. If the patches still persist, this might be a manufacturer problem.
It’s best to contact your TV’s manufacturer for technical support.