Something’s wrong with your TV.
You look at the buttered popcorn you’re holding.
Then you look back at the TV.
And you wonder, “Why is it the same color?”
Relax, not all hope is lost. We can still find a way to fix your screen.
So…
Keep reading to discover:
- How UV lights can destroy your screen.
- 5 reasons why your TV screen is yellow.
- How smoking can turn your TV screen yellow and how to clean it.
- How to update your color temperature settings to prevent yellow-tinted display.
- And so much more…
Why is my TV screen yellow?
Your TV screen is yellow because it is degrading. Smoking is also a factor why TVs turn yellow. If you’ve been using the TV for years, it could be because your backlight is giving up. You might also need to adjust your color temperature settings. Or turn off “Eye Comfort” mode.
Yellow TV screen: 5 causes & fixes
#1: Your screen is degrading
We get it, some movies nowadays are really dark.
But that doesn’t mean that you should put your TV on 100% brightness.
Studies show that LED screens can emit UV radiation.
Don’t worry, the UV radiation from TVs doesn’t affect us in any way. However, our TV screens can get damaged if the backlight is used heavily.
UV rays will degrade TV screens. This can come from an internal or an external source. This means that putting your TV next to a window with a lot of sunlight is also a bad idea.
Degradation from UV light manifests as a yellow discoloration on your screen.
What you can do
The easiest fix for this issue is prevention.
If you’re worried that this might happen to your screen, you need to:
- Save your warranty.
- Turn your TV off when no one is using it.
- Move your TV screen away from sunlight.
- Don’t use 100% backlight unless necessary.
Sometimes it may be too late and your TV already has a yellow discoloration.
In this case, it’s best to contact your customer service representative.
Further reading: 5 Ways To Make Your TV Less Bright (New How-To)
#2: Eye comfort mode
Have you noticed that your eyes have been straining less lately while watching TV?
If so, maybe the reason why your TV is yellow is that someone turned on the Eye Comfort mode.
This mode was created by manufacturers to combat eye fatigue and prevent nearsightedness. They do this by limiting the screen’s blue light thus making the screen warmer.
By taking away the blue light, your screen turns more yellow or orange in color.
While eye health is very important, some of you might find the warmer tones to be distracting.
What you can do
Eye Comfort mode is something that can be easily toggled off on your settings menu.
To turn it off on LG TVs:
- Press the settings button on your remote.
- Go to ‘All Settings’.
- Select ‘Picture’.
- Choose ‘Additional Settings’.
- Toggling ‘Eye Comfort’ mode on or off.
Note: Eye health is a serious issue. The ‘Eye Comfort’ mode has been proven to help in preventing eye problems.
#3: Backlight issues
Ever wonder why your TV is bright?
The answer to that lies beyond your TV screen.
There’s a panel at the back of your TV called the backlight panel. Think of it as lines of flashlights facing your screen. These flashlights can be in the form of diodes or bulbs.
When a diode dies in your backlight, it can result in either an extremely dim screen or a discoloration. For the latter, it’s usually purplish in color.
But it can also sometimes be yellow.
What you can do
You can tell if your backlight is emitting yellow hues by removing the back of your TV. Check the edges, is it yellow or white?
If it’s the former, you need to replace your backlight array.
While it may be intimidating to change your backlight, it’s actually quite easy if you have the right tools. You can do this by:
Note: Fixing the TV can sometimes void your warranty.
- Order a new backlight array that is compatible with your device.
- Remove the casing at the back of your TV.
- Strip off the old strips carefully. It may be difficult to remove as it’s being held with an adhesive.
- Lay a new line of adhesive or double-sided tape following the old one.
- Carefully attach the new strip according to your line of tape.
#4: Color temperature settings
Messed around with your color settings recently?
Are your contrasts higher than usual? Or is your brightness cranked up to 100? Maybe your TV has a green tint?
Most TVs have preset picture settings. You can choose from these settings for your optimal viewing experience. For most TVs, these are:
- Natural mode.
- Cinema mode.
- Dynamic mode.
- Standard mode.
When you switch from one mode to another, other settings might also change. This includes the color temperature settings.
Color temperature essentially describes how “warm” or “cold” your TV appears.
The warmer your TV is, the more yellow it will be.
What you can do
You can change your color temperature settings just by simply going to your settings.
For Samsung TVs:
- Go to ‘Settings’.
- Select ‘Picture’.
- Choose ‘Expert Settings’.
- Press ‘Color Temperature’. You have four choices: ‘Cool’, ‘Standard’, ‘Warm 1’, and ‘Warm 2’.
- Try all four settings and choose what best suits your preference.
For a more detailed explanation, check out this video:
#5: You smoke too much
Have you been smoking a lot more recently?
Perhaps you’re stressing over a work deadline. Or you’re having friends over for drinks. Maybe you just picked up the habit.
It’s okay, we don’t mind.
But your TV screen does.
Tar and nicotine leave behind more than just a foul smell. They leave behind a strong yellow discoloration from the smoke. These residues can settle in your walls, on your floor, and in your teeth.
Even on your TV screen.
You might notice that when your TV is off, you can still see yellow patches near its bezels. This is a sign that your issue isn’t internal but external.
This means that years of smoke and dirt have settled on your TV screen, and you really need to clean it.
It might be time to lay off the Marlboros.
What you can do
Luckily, cleaning a TV with smoke residue is easier than quitting smoking. (Although, you probably should)
Cleaning your TV is different for each type of screen you have.
For plasma TV:
- Create a homemade cleaning agent with 1 part detergent to 100 parts of water.
- Put the mixture inside a spray bottle.
- Spray a little bit of the mixture to the middle of your screen.
- Using a microfiber cloth, gently wipe your screen clean from left to right.
- Don’t spray the mixture near the bezels to prevent it from penetrating the TV.
For LCD TV:
- Create a homemade cleaning agent with 1 part rubbing alcohol to 1 part water.
- Lightly dab a microfiber cloth in your mixture.
- Gently wipe your screen clean from left to right.
Warning: Do not use any cleaning agent with ammonia in it. This strips off the protective coating on your TV screen. Ammonia might penetrate and damage your circuitry.
Furthermore, it’s also important that you quit smoking. At least, in front of your TV.