
My friends and I were watching the NBA finals. Until…
We look at each other, and I ask:
“You see that, right?”
My friend Dave replied, “You mean, we don’t see that.”
He’s right.
We’re only staring at our reflections…
After my Vizio TV turned black a couple of minutes ago.
Luckily, I know how to fix it.
Keep reading to discover:
- 9 effortless ways to get rid of the Vizio black screen of death.
- Which parts of your Vizio TV need to be replaced to fix this issue.
- How to update your Vizio TV firmware if experience a black screen.
- And so much more…
Why is my Vizio TV on but the screen is black?
Your Vizio TV is on but the screen is black because of outdated firmware or muted display. Hardware issues like loose cables, dead backlights, or a power board can also cause this issue. The screen could also be black due to a faulty power source, especially when using a surge protector.
Vizio TV black screen of death: 9 ways to fix it
#1: Power cycle your TV
Do you know what the first-aid equivalent of fixing your TV is?
Turning it off and then on.
Trust me. It’ll work.
How so?
Well, it’s quite complicated to explain…
But, essentially, your TV’s processes can get slow because of stuck charges.
To get rid of these charges, a complete power cycle is needed.
However, restarting your TV isn’t enough. You have to:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug it from the socket.
- Leave it alone for 30 seconds.
- Push the physical Power button for 5 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Turn it on.
#2: Turn the sleep timer off
I’m an insomniac.
So, naturally, I can’t fall asleep at night, but I do fall asleep at the most random of times.
Sometimes when I’m watching TV.
That’s why the Sleep Timer on Vizio TVs is so handy.
The setting allows my TV to turn off by itself using a timer.
Here’s the thing:
There are times that I forget that I set the timer up.
I can’t tell you how often I was binge-watching, and my TV suddenly turned black.
Honestly, you might’ve too.
If you suspect this to be the case, please:
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Head to Timers.
- Disable Sleep Timer.
- Select OK to confirm.
#3: Update firmware

The next step to getting rid of a black screen is to update your TV.
Firmware updates are known to patch issues that users are currently experiencing.
But, wait a minute…
How are you supposed to update your firmware if you have a black screen?
First, check if your standby light is on.
If it’s flashing red, your TV is still receiving power…
And only the screen is having issues.
In that case, proceed to:
- Get a flash drive with at least 2 Gb of free storage.
- Download and extract the latest Vizio TV firmware.
- Copy the extracted file to the USB.
- Insert the flash drive into your TV that’s turned off.
- Wait until a prompt appears.
- Select OK to confirm the update.
#4: Unmute your screen
Do you know that you can mute not only your audio…
But also the display on your TV?
Yes. You can.
Do you hear sounds from your TV but with no video?
That’s how you’ll know it’s muted.
Now, I know you’re going to ask:
“Wait, I’m not doing anything. How was my TV’s video muted?”
Chances are, you accidentally sat down on your remote.
After all, you just have to press the Mute button on your remote for 5 seconds to mute your video.
And that’s also how you can unmute your TV.
#5: Remove your surge protector
I like to protect my devices from harm. I’m frugal like that.
That’s why I invested in a surge protector.
If you haven’t heard of it, what it does is simple:
It protects your TV from receiving extra electricity from blackouts and power surges.
A surge protector can do this using a grounding wire…
Which is basically a wire that directs electricity to nowhere.
But, father time remains undefeated.
Age can corrode your surge protector.
When it does, something weird happens…
The grounding wire can start doing the opposite.
Instead of releasing extra energy, it can direct more power to your TV.
And more power means that your TV is more prone to an electrical short.
This is why it’s essential to change your surge protectors every once in a while…
Or invest in a really good one, like the:
#6: Reattach the ribbon cables
This is an odd question but…
Does your TV happen only to have 1 side of it completely black? Or maybe it flickers before it turns off?
If so, it’s time to open your TV—we’ll reattach its ribbon cables.
These cables are responsible for letting the individual parts of your TV communicate.
Sometimes, the clips holding them in place can become loose.
When that happens, we need to put them back manually.
But, before we start, let me say this:
I know that opening your TV for repair might seem intimidating. And that you might be scared of further damaging your Vizio.
You shouldn’t be. Do you know why?
Because you got me. And I’ll guide you every step of the way. Starting with:
- Position your TV face down on a soft surface.
- Unscrew the back of your TV and remove the cover.
- Detach all ribbon cables.
- Lightly blow on it to displace all dirt.
- Reattach the cables by clipping them into place.
Note: Are any of the ribbon cables chipped? Detach those and throw them into the trash. It’s a telltale sign that you need to replace your cable.
You may also be interested in: Vizio TV Screen Flickering: 7 Ways To Fix It ASAP
#7: Replace the power board
While the back of your TV’s open, check something for me.
First, plug your TV back in.
Don’t worry. This step will be quick, and you won’t get electrocuted.
Unplug it now.
If the standby light was off the entire time, your power board is dead.
The power board is responsible for distributing electricity to your entire TV.
Got it? Now, go and:
- Unscrew and remove the old power board.
- Flip it and read the model number.
- Buy a replacement board with the same model number.
- Once you have one, slide it into place.
- Bind it to the chassis with screws.
- Put everything back together.
Also, remember, it’s okay if you’re still confused after reading the instructions. You can always watch this video to understand the process fully:
#8: Replace the backlight
Now, for the last part…
We’re not just going to open the back of your TV…
But also the front.
For what purpose?
To access the backlight array?
“The what?”
The backlight is responsible for the brightness of your TV.
Without it, your TV will just be a collection of really, really dark outlines.
That’s actually how we’re going to test if the backlight is your issue.
First, get a flashlight. The brighter, the better.
Now, point and open that flashlight towards the screen.
Do you see the faintest traces of a menu?
Yes? Then, it’s time to replace your backlights.
To start:
- Open the back of your TV.
- Remove all of the ribbon cables.
- Flip your TV.
- Detach the bezels.
- Carefully remove the screen using suction cups.
- Put aside the white sheets above your backlight array.
- Now, unclip the old backlights and remove them.
- Place the new backlights and attach their sides to the cable.
- Put tape over them to ensure that they won’t accidentally fall.
And you’re good to go.

#9: Contact Vizio
There’s something cathartic with admitting defeat.
And you should know when to throw in the towel.
Why?
Because someone else will take over for you.
In this case, you can always call Vizio for further help.