(11 Fixes) Samsung TV HDMI No Signal [Updated 2023 Guide]

As a console gamer, there are no 2 words I dread more than:

“No signal.”

Sadly, this happens way too much on my Samsung TV.

Fortunately for you, I’ve gone through every possible solution for this problem.

So, let me teach you all of them through this article.

Keep reading to discover:

11 surefire ways to fix a Samsung TV with a “No Signal” issue.
Which HDMI cable should you buy to prevent the “No Signal” error.
What’s HDCP and its role in the HDMI signal error of your Samsung TV.
How to update 5 external devices that could cause your Samsung TV HDMI issue.
And so much more…

Why does my Samsung TV say no signal when HDMI is plugged in?

Your Samsung TV says “No Signal” when HDMI is plugged in because of a broken cable. Otherwise, it’s because you’re on the wrong input or the cable isn’t properly connected. The HDMI handshaking glitch could also be the culprit. If not those, then it’s either a software glitch or outdated firmware.

Samsung TV HDMI no signal: 11 ways to fix it

#1: Perform a power cycle

Ask anyone what’s their go-to solution for malfunctioning devices, and most of them will reply:

“A restart.”

And for a good reason too.

You see, the errors on your device are possibly just glitches from stuck tasks and processes.

To get rid of these glitches, you need a type of restart called a power cycle. This differs from a normal restart because it removes all residual charges on your TV.

So, follow these steps to do a power cycle:

Shut down your TV.
Unplug it from the socket.
Wait for 30 seconds.
Plug it back in.
Turn it on.

Those 30 seconds are crucial. Without it, your TV will still have power and default to Sleep Mode instead of shutting down.

#2: Switch to the proper input

Could it be that the reason you’re getting the “No Signal” error is…

You’re not on the right input?

If so, just press the Input button on your remote, and you’re good to go.

You can also avoid having the same problem in the future.

How?

By changing the name of your inputs.

This way, you won’t get confused as all devices on your TV will be labeled. Change the name of your inputs with these 6 easy steps:

Press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote.
Head to the Source menu.
Navigate to the input whose name you want to change.
Once it’s highlighted, tap the Up button on your remote.
Select Edit.
Change Unknown to the name of your choosing.

You may also be interested in: How To Change Input On Samsung TV

#3: Reseat your HDMI cable

Now, for the solutions where you actually need to stand up.

The first is reseating your HDMI cable or detaching and reattaching it.

This typically works as this process improves conductivity or transfer of electric charge. Also, reseating ensures you tightly connect your external device to the TV.

To reseat an HDMI cable, all you have to do is:

Turn your TV off.
Remove the cable from the TV.
Wait for a few seconds.
Reattach the cable. Ensure that you insert it tightly.

Next, check if your input works this time.

You can try reseating your cable until it works if it still won’t work. Reseating usually takes a couple of tries.

Or, you can try a different fix.

#4: Clean your HDMI port

Speaking of conductivity…

Another thing that could block charges from an external device from going to your TV is dust.

You see, dust tends to accumulate in charged devices, such as your TV. And, when they do, they tend to settle in ports or other crevices.

That’s the reason why you need to clean your HDMI ports. And this is how you can do that:

Unplug your TV from the socket.
After about 30 seconds, put 1 drop of isopropyl alcohol inside the port.
Wrap a microfiber cloth around a thin object.
Use that to get rid of the dirt around your HDMI port.
Let it dry.
Repeat these steps until your port is spotless.
Straighten any bent pins with an anti-static tweezer.

#5: Address incompatibility issues

Another culprit of your “No Signal” problem is incompatibility.

The HDMI handshaking glitch, to be exact.

This error happens when the cable you use isn’t compatible with the specs of the external device. And it can manifest in different ways, like:

And, of course, incompatibility causes your TV not to receive any signal from your input.

To fix this, you’ll have to look up the specs of your external device. Once you got that on hand, use that data 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

And if your device isn’t compatible with the cable…

I highly suggest that you buy the appropriate one.

#6: Splice your HDMI cable

Next, inspect your HDMI cable.

Do you see any exposed wire anywhere?

If so, don’t buy a new cable just yet.

You can save your old one by splicing it. This means connecting two separate parts of a cable or wire to remove the broken part.

To splice your cable, you’ll need the following:

Don’t have some of those? Don’t worry.

You can always use a matchstick instead of a heat gun. Or an electrical tape instead of tubing.

Now, this is how you can splice your cable in 8 steps:

Locate the exposed part of the cable.
Measure 1-inch from the left and right of the exposed wire.
Cut the cable into 2.
Unsheath the cable using the measurements from step #2.
Repeat steps #2 to #4 for the smaller wires inside.
Partner the wires and put a heat shrink tubing over them. (Or an electrical tape.)
Bind the connection using a heat gun. (Or a matchstick.)
Repeat for the main cable.

#7: Disable HDCP on your external device

Do you ever wonder how streaming services like Netflix prevent piracy?

This is possible using something called High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. Or HDCP for short.

HDCP is code embedded in HDMI cables that prevent you from taking videos of your screen.

But, this isn’t exclusive to HDMI cables only.

For example, try to open Netflix on your laptop and take a screenshot.

It turned out black, didn’t it? That’s because of HDCP.

The problem is that HDCP can sometimes malfunction.

Usually, the fix for this is to buy a new HDMI cable. However, that’s not exactly cheap.

Unfortunately, most external devices can’t disable HDCP…

Except for one. And those are PlayStation devices.

And this is how you can disable HDCP on your PS4 and PS5:

PS4

Open your PS4 using a different TV or monitor.
Go to the Settings menu.
Head to the System tab.
Set Enable HDCP to Off.

PS5

Open your PS5 using a different TV or monitor.
Press the Settings icon on your screen.
Go to the System menu.
Head to HDMI.
Set Enable HDMI Device Link to On.
Set Enable HDCP to Off.

#8: Update your TV’s firmware

Another thing you can try is updating your Samsung TV’s firmware.

Not only will this get rid of errors on your system, but it can also do the following for your TV:

Make it faster.
Allow more apps.
Provide more features.

Depending on the status of your internet service, there are 2 ways you can update your firmware:

With internet connection

Press the Settings button on your Samsung TV remote.
Go to the Support page.
Tap Software Update.
Select Update Now.
Choose OK to confirm.

Without internet connection

Now, what if your Samsung TV has internet issues?

Don’t fret. There’s still a way to update your TV, but you’ll need a flash drive that:

Has at least 2 Gb of free space.
Formatted as FAT32, EXFAT, or NTFS.

Once you’ve secured one, here’s how you can update your firmware:

Get your TV’s latest firmware here.
Copy and extract the downloaded file into your USB.
Turn your TV off.
Insert the flash drive into your TV’s USB port.
Power your TV on.
Press Yes to the prompt asking if you want to update your TV.

For more information about updating your Samsung…

Check out this video made by Samsung themselves:

#9: Factory reset your TV

Sometimes, the best solution for any problem with your TV is to erase everything.

To do that, you’ll have to factory reset your Samsung TV.

At the expense of your data and accounts, a factory reset will get rid of all:

Errors.
Glitches.
And potential malware.

I’d say that’s a fair trade.

So, to factory reset your TV, all you need to do is:

Press the Home or Smart Hub button on your Samsung TV remote.
Go to the Settings page.
Head to the General menu.
Select Reset.
If applicable, enter your PIN code. This should be 0000 by default.
Tap Reset again to confirm.

However, this only applies to Samsung TVs released in 2020 or later.

For other Samsung TVs, this is how you factory reset:

Year of Release	Factory Reset Directions
2016 to 2019 (K, M, Q, NU Series)	Home > Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset
2015 (J Series)	Menu > Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset
2014 (H Series)	Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset
2013 (F Series)	Screen Menu > Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset
2012 (E Series)	Menu > Support > Self Diagnosis

#10: Factory reset your external device

If it’s not your TV…

Then it’s likely that the problem is with your external device.

Fortunately, you can also factory reset your input to eliminate all glitches.

The catch?

There’s a different way to reset each input.

However, don’t worry. I’ll guide you through most of them:

Streaming devices

Any Roku device

Look for a pinhole at the back of your Roku device.
Use a thin object like a needle or toothpick to press the pinhole.
Hold for 10 seconds.
Let go once a light begins to flash rapidly on your Roku.

Chromecast with Google TV

Plug the Chromecast into your TV and a power source.
Press and hold the button at the back of your TV.
When the yellow light turns white, let go of the button.

Apple TV

Connect your Apple TV to a Macbook with macOS Catalina or a later version.
Open the Finder on your Macbook.
Select the Apple TV option from the sidebar.
Tap Restore.

Gaming consoles

Unfortunately, there’s no way to factory reset PS5 or Xbox without a screen.

So, grab any monitor in your home if these consoles won’t open on your Samsung TV.

Once you have one, you can factory reset them with this tutorial:

PlayStation

Go to the Settings menu.
Head to System Software.
Press Reset Options.
Tap Reset Your Console.
Select Reset to confirm.

Xbox

Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Go to Profile & System.
Head to the Settings page.
Under System, press Console Info.
Tap Reset Console.
Select Reset and Remove Everything.

#11: Get in touch with Samsung

When everything else fails, and nothing’s working…

Don’t give up on your TV.

Instead, get a professional to take a look at it.

In this case, you can contact Samsung directly for a personal consultation.