They say you get what you pay for.
Let’s just say I didn’t listen.
That’s why I ended up with a great but affordable Hisense TV.
The thing is…
The display is gone. It’s just black.
I guess you could say I got my money’s worth…
But I say I’m going to fix this. And yours too.
Keep reading to discover:
- The beginner’s guide to replacing a TV’s hardware.
- 9 easy ways to fix a Hisense TV with a black screen.
- How to resolve the HDMI handshaking glitch to fix your black screen issue.
- And so much more…
Why is my Hisense TV screen black?
Your Hisense TV screen is black because of outdated firmware or dead backlights. There’s also the HDMI handshaking known to cause a black screen. Broken hardware—like the mainboard and the power board—can also turn your screen black.
Hisense TV black screen: 9 ways to fix it
#1: Power cycle
When I was a kid, I convinced myself that I was a magician.
Why?
Because every time a gadget of mine stops working…
I could always make it work again. How?
By turning it off and then on.
It wasn’t until I was in my teenage years that I discovered that it isn’t magic but science.
The way my science teacher explained it to me was:
This restart process is called a power cycle. This method can dislodge stuck charges on electronics, making them work again.
But it isn’t just a simple restart. Instead, you have to:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug it from the socket for 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Turn your TV back on.
#2: Factory reset through the service menu
Does the standby light on your TV still flash red even though your screen is black?
That means that there’s still power going to your TV…
But for some reason, the screen won’t turn on.
When that happens, you need to factory reset your Hisense.
Now, I know you’re going to ask:
“How am I supposed to factory reset a TV without anything on the screen?”
You see, there’s a secret menu on your TV designed for technicians.
This menu is accessible anytime, as long as there’s power on your TV. And the backlight isn’t broken.
And it’s called the service menu. Here’s how you can factory reset your Hisense through this menu:
- Turn your TV off.
- Press the following buttons in this exact order: Info, Menu, Mute, Power.
- Head to Options.
- Select Factory Reset.
You might also be interested in: How To Reset Hisense TV Without Remote
#3: Resolve HDMI handshaking glitch
Do you only get the black screen issue when you plug an HDMI cable into your TV?
If so, you must be experiencing the HDMI handshaking glitch.
This error happens when your HDMI cable is incompatible with one or both of your devices.
The solution?
Get a new cable.
The question is:
Which one?
To find out which HDMI cable works best with your TV…
First, check the specs of your Hisense and the device you’re trying to use.
More specifically, its resolution and refresh rate.
Got the info? To figure out what cable you should buy, proceed to use the specs as a reference for this table:
| HDMI Type | Resolution | Refresh Rate |
| Cat 1 – Standard | 720p to 1080i | 30 Hz |
| Cat 2 – High Speed | 1080p to 4K | 30 Hz |
| Cat 3 – 4K | 4K | 60 Hz |
| Cat 3 – 8K | 4K to 8K | 4K at 120 Hz, 8K at 60 Hz |
#4: Update firmware
Sometimes, my colleagues ask me how to fix issues on their TVs.
Without fail, I always ask them:
“Have you tried updating the firmware yet?”
Do you know what they reply?
“What the hell is firmware?”
And that’s a perfectly valid question.
Technicians often refer to firmware as “the hardware for your software.”
Think of it this way:
Without firmware, the mainboard of your TV is just metal and lead glued together on one board…
But, with firmware, it becomes a functioning cog in your TV.
Suddenly, it has a purpose, and it knows what to do.
Okay. Discussion over.
Let’s now move on to updating your firmware.
Usually, you can update the Hisense firmware by:
- Going to the Settings menu on your TV.
- Heading to Support.
- Pressing System Update.
- Selecting Check Firmware Update.
However, you can’t do that with a black screen, can you?
So, we’ll have to brute-force the firmware installation using a flash drive.
Just grab a spare USB and:
- Go to Hisense’s download page.
- Enter and search for your TV model.
- Download the latest firmware.
- Copy the downloaded file to your USB.
- Insert the USB into your TV while it’s turned off.
- Press the physical Power button of your TV.
A prompt asking if you want to proceed with the update should appear if you’re successful.
#5: Edit color settings
Now, what if you’re TV isn’t pitch black…
But really, really dark?
Sit down and grab your remote.
It’s time to edit your color settings.
And for this, let’s focus on 2 settings in particular:
The Backlight and the Brightness settings.
Relax. We’re not changing these settings to blind you.
We’ll just tweak them until you get the optimal brightness for your TV.
To start:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Head to Picture Settings.
- Tap Fine Tune Settings.
- Maximize the Backlight slider.
- Adjust the Brightness slider until you’re satisfied with the display.
Warning: If this fixes the problem but your TV’s starting to overheat, turn down Backlight.
#6: Reattach ribbon cables
Now, it’s time to bust out the screwdrivers…
We’re going to fix the hardware on your TV.
But, to not overwhelm you, let’s start with the easiest first:
Reattach the ribbon cables.
Think of these cables as the nerves of your Hisense. Why?
Because the ribbon cables are what connect each part of your TV.
To access these cables, all you have to do is:
- Lay your TV down on a soft surface.
- Loosen and remove all of the screws that hold your TV together.
- Disengage the cover of your TV using a prying blade.
- Detach all of the ribbon cables.
- Blow on it lightly to dislodge any dirt or dust inside the pins.
- Reattach the cables.
And you’re done.
Check if your screen works now. If it still doesn’t, don’t reattach the back cover of your TV yet…
#7: Replace mainboard
If the ribbon cables are the nerves of your TV…
The mainboard is its brain.
And you must replace it when it breaks.
You see, due to age, sometimes your TV’s mainboard can just stop working.
Don’t worry. This is a safe process, and you won’t get hurt.
But you must follow the steps carefully to avoid further damaging your TV.
Now, let’s crack on, shall we? To start:
- Loosen and remove the screws that hold your mainboard.
- Turn the board over and look for the model number.
- Look and buy a replacement board online with the same model number.
- Place the new board where the old one was.
- Screw the board into place.
#8: Replace the backlight array
A while ago, we talked about changing your backlight settings.
Now, let’s talk about changing the backlight itself.
First, confirm if the backlight really is your problem.
Does your TV have a blinking red light when you try to turn it on? Yes?
Next, grab a bright flashlight. Point that light towards your screen.
Do you see the faintest outlines of your apps or menu?
If the answer’s also yes, you have a broken backlight array.
What you should do now is buy a replacement backlight for your TV.
Have one? Great. Now to changing your TV’s backlight:
- Open the back of your TV.
- Detach all of the ribbon cables.
- Flip your TV and lay it on a soft surface.
- Remove the bezels.
- Lift the screen off the TV using suction cups.
- Safely put aside all of the reflector sheets.
- Now, remove the tabs holding the old backlight array.
- Place the new backlights where the old ones were.
- Tape them into place and attach the cable to the side.
And you should be done.
You’re not? And you’re still confused on how actually to replace the backlight?
It’s okay. You can watch:
#9: Contact Hisense
As a last-ditch effort, you can also try to contact Hisense for personalized support.