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Purple Line on a Samsung TV (Causes and How to Fix)

As an owner of a Samsung TV, I know how frustrating it can be when you see a purple line appear on your television screen. It’s happened to me, and I’ve spent a lot of time researching what could be causing it and how to fix it. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my own experience with this issue, as well as some other solutions I discovered. Hopefully, this will help others who may be facing the same problem.

A purple line, or vertical lines of other colors, on a Samsung TV can happen due to multiple reasons. A faulty T-Con board, loose or faulty ribbon wiring, and damaged components of the mainboard or screen panel can cause this problem.

Causes of Purple Line on Samsung TVSolution
Loose or faulty ribbon wiringReattach the ribbon connection
Dirty or faulty T-Con boardClean or replace the T-Con board
Mainboard failureCall customer support or replace the mainboard
Screen damageReplace the screen panel or buy a new TV if cost is not justifiable

Causes of a Purple Line on a Samsung TV

Vertical lines on an LCD or LED TV seem to be a recurring issue, especially with Samsung TVs. The first step to fixing this problem is to figure out exactly what’s causing it, which boils down to one or more of these reasons:

Loose or Broken Ribbon Wiring

Ribbon wiring is spread across the TV in several places. It connects the mainboard to the screen panel with multiple connections at the top and the bottom of the screen.

Figuring out whether this is the problem causing the vertical purple line is pretty simple; just pinch the top and bottom screen bezel at and around the point where you see the line. If the line disappears, then the issue is caused by the ribbon wiring coming loose in this area.

Dirty or Faulty T-Con Board

The T-Con board, short for Timing Controller Board, is one of the main components of the TV. It processes all the signals coming from the screen panel and is connected directly to the mainboard.

A dirty or faulty T-Con board can present itself as different image issues, from simple lines or artifacts on the screen to a more serious “white screen of death.” A single or multiple purple lines on the screen can be the result of this issue.

Mainboard or Screen Panel Damage

If you tried troubleshooting the previous reasons to no avail, the reason for the purple line on your Samsung TV is probably a more serious issue. 

Mainboard failures at the connection to the T-Con board can cause this problem, but a bigger reason would be an impact point on the screen panel.

If your TV was subjected to a blow and the line appeared afterward, it was probably due to damage to the panel at that point.

How to Fix a Purple Line on a Samsung TV

Depending on the reason there’s a purple line on your Samsung TV, the fix can cost you next to nothing or it can be a fatal issue for the TV. However, most vertical line problems are due to the first and second reasons, and thankfully, their repairs are pretty easy.

Reattach the Ribbon Connection at the Point of Fault

If your attempt at removing the line by pinching the screen bezel worked for some time then the line reappeared, you’re looking to secure the ribbon connection at that point.

Now, if you’re still within the warranty period, don’t attempt this because it can void your warranty. Just ask for Samsung customer support and request a home visit from a technician who can fix this issue.

If your warranty is over and you want to fix the issue yourself, follow these steps:

  • Open the back of your Samsung TV
  • Lay the screen face down and remove the bezel
  • Put the screen back up and inspect the point of the faulty ribbon connection
  • Pich the area until the purple line disappears
  • Fix the ribbon wire using a hot glue gun or soldering pen
  • Make sure the issue is fixed before putting the TV back together

Clean or Replace the T-Con Board

If the ribbon wiring repair doesn’t work, then you can try cleaning the T-Con board using a cotton swab or soft toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol. If the line doesn’t disappear, then replacing the T-Con board is in order.

Again, if you’re within warranty, call Samsung to take care of this. If not, then you can easily disconnect the old T-Con board with a new one. These parts aren’t usually that expensive; just make sure you’re getting the correct replacement.

Call Customer Support or Get a New TV

Unfortunately, sometimes the reason for a purple line is more severe. Replacing the mainboard or screen will cost a lot of money. If you’re within warranty, Samsung should send you a new TV or repair the old one for free. 

However, if the warranty period is over, the cost of a new mainboard or screen panel won’t justify the repair. Even the company will advise you to buy a new TV.

Conclusion

The most common reasons for a purple line on a Samsung TV are faulty connections, a dirty or faulty T-Con board, mainboard failure, or screen damage. You can troubleshoot the reason and fix the issue with your TV accordingly, just beware of voiding your warranty in the process.

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