I was watching a movie last week on my Samsung TV.
Out of nowhere, a dark line popped up.
It was a black shadow and didn’t seem to leave.
This ruined the whole TV experience.
However, I did some research and fixed it quickly.
Let me tell you how.
Keep reading to find out:
- 7 easy fixes for this Samsung TV problem.
- How to examine the TV screen for black shadows with a Samsung picture test.
- Why turning off Power and Energy Saving features can fix it and where you can find it.
- Why a black shadow on your TV can be caused by your HDMI cable and how to test it.
- And that’s only the beginning…
Why does my Samsung TV have a black shadow?
Your Samsung TV has a black shadow because the HDMI cable is faulty or because of a streaming device. Another reason can be that the Power and Energy Saving feature is malfunctioning. And in other cases, it can also be caused by a broken LED backlight that needs replacement.
Black shadow on Samsung TV: 7 ways to fix it
#1: Inspect your HDMI cable
I’ve seen more than once that cables appear to be fully in.
But, in fact, they’re only plugged halfway in, making the signal unstable.
To use an example, look at the HDMI cable.
It has a long plug and can look like it’s fully in for the naked eye.
Especially if it’s connected to the back of your TV, where it can be darker and harder to see.
This can mess up what’s being displayed on your TV screen and create black shadows.
So, if necessary, pull the HDMI cable out and replug them (entirely) in.
And if you have doubts about the quality of the HDMI cable, then test with a spare one to be sure.
If you don’t have an extra one at home, the next fix you should try is to…
Do an HDMI Cable Test
This HDMI Cable Test tells you if the HDMI cable is defective or not, and it’s super easy.
Note: Not all Samsung TVs have this option. Check the TVs manual to see if your Samsung TV has this test available.
You can take these 5 simple steps if you have a Samsung TV from 2021:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Device Care.
- Navigate to Self Diagnosis.
- Choose HDMI Troubleshooting.
- Select the HDMI connection and follow the given instructions.
And on previous Samsung TVs, you can take these simple steps:
Note: Ensure the TV’s source is on the correct HDMI setting for the cable you want to test.
- Go to Settings.
- Choose Support.
- Go to Self Diagnosis.
- Select Signal Information.
- Choose HDMI Cable Test.
- Start Test.
If you’ve done the test and it shows that the cable is defective, replace it with a new one.
You might also want to know: (11 Fixes) Samsung TV HDMI No Signal
#2: Do a picture test
A picture test is an easy way to see if the black shadows are caused by the TV itself or something else. For example, an external streaming device.
Via a shown photo, you’ll check your TV screen for flaws or faults.
To do a picture test, follow these 5 simple steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Support.
- Choose Device Care (on some models, you can skip this step).
- Select Self Diagnosis.
- Choose Start Picture Test.
Then follow the on-screen instruction and finish the test.
If you finished the test and it states something is wrong with the picture settings, read on to fix #4.
If the test shows you the picture in a good way, then focus on the external device and check out the next fix.
#3: Check connected devices
As mentioned, a weak signal can cause black shadows on the TV screen.
And by now, it’s not the HDMI cable.
So, check the connected devices.
Let’s say you’re using a media streaming player like a Roku TV stick, Amazon Fire TV stick, or Blu-ray player. Then unplug them and try it with a different device.
Then check to see if the black shadow disappeared.
If yes, then you know it was the previously connected device.
However, if the black shadow is still there, read on to the next fix.
Reading recommendation: Can You Use Roku And Firestick On The Same TV?
#4: Change Power and Energy Saving Features
Lots of Samsung TVs have Power and Energy Saving Features.
With it, you can lower your display settings to save energy consumption.
That’s all fun since you save a few bucks on electricity.
Plus, it can even ease your eye strain while binge-watching your favorite TV series.
No harm in that, right?
However, it can also result in a darker screen that appears like a black shadow.
If that’s the case, you should disable Power and Energy Saving features by following these 5 simple steps:
- Push the Home button from your remote control.
- Select Settings.
- Go to General.
- Select Power and Energy Saving.
- Choose from the list the setting you want to turn off.
The list includes the following 7 settings:
- Brightness Optimization.
- Minimum Brightness.
- Brightness Reduction.
- Motion Lighting.
- Screen Saver.
- Auto Power Off.
- Available Remote Battery.
It’s best to turn off numbers #1 to #4 since these are the most associated with the brightness settings.
For visual guidance, check out this helpful video:
After that, restart your TV and see if the black shadow has disappeared.
If they’re still there, then…
#5: Change channel or Source
Specific channels can have a weak signal, and as a result, you see black shadows on your TV screen.
To test this, simply try out a different channel to see the difference.
If it doesn’t help, then change the Source.
For example, plug your connected device from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2.
After that, select the correct source with your remote control (here’s how):
- Push the Source button from the remote control.
- Highlight the correct source.
- Press Enter to confirm the correct source.
Then try it out and see if the black shadows are gone.
If it didn’t work, it’s about time to do a…
#6: Factory reset picture settings and TV
If you want to start over and be completely fresh, it’s time for a good solid factory reset.
This will reset your TV to its original settings…
Warning: A factory reset will delete all data. Including your account settings, downloaded apps, and network settings.
Factory reset picture settings
Take these 5 simple steps to perform a factory reset of the picture settings:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Picture.
- Open Expert Settings.
- Choose Reset Picture.
- Select Yes to confirm.
Note: If your Samsung TV doesn’t have these steps, check your TV manual for more details or download them.
Factory reset TV
And here’s how to do a factory reset of the TV in 5 easy steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Choose Reset, and enter the PIN (0000 is the default PIN).
- Select Reset.
- To finish the reset, choose OK.
The TV will restart automatically.
If you have a different Samsung TV and don’t recognize the previous steps, you can take these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Open Support.
- Select Self Diagnosis.
- Open Reset.
#7: Contact Samsung TV support
If you’ve tried all the previous fixes and it didn’t work, it’s time to contact Samsung TV support.
Here’s where you can contact Samsung TV support.
And to make it a bit easier for them, write down your Samsung TV model and serial number.
This helps them to get quickly to the correct department and fix.
Note: Apparently, many Samsung TVs with black shadows are caused by a broken backlight. The latter is often replaceable but can also cost you some money (if you’re out of warranty). If it costs too much, then consider replacing the whole TV.