As an owner of a Samsung TV, I know how frustrating it can be when your Netflix picture appears too dark. I recently experienced this issue and did some research to try and solve it.
| Tips for Adjusting Samsung TV for Netflix |
|---|
| – Adjust the brightness settings on your Samsung TV |
| – Make sure the Eco Mode is turned off |
| – Adjust the backlight settings if the picture is too dark |
| – Try out the various picture modes available on your Samsung TV to find the best one for your Netflix viewing experience |
| – Change to SDR mode if you’re watching in HDR and the picture is too dark |
| – Adjust the settings on your streaming device if you’re watching Netflix through it |
| – Update the software on your Samsung TV to ensure it’s functioning properly |
| – Turn off the black tone setting |
Table of Contents
Your Brightness Settings Need Adjusting
The brightness settings are a very common cause for Netflix to appear too dark on your Samsung TV. Here’s how to adjust it:
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Choose ‘Picture’
- Select ‘Expert Settings’
- Access ‘Brightness’ and adjust its level (45 to 55 is generally recommended)
- In addition to ‘Brightness’, you can also adjust ‘Sharpness’ and ‘Color’
The Eco Mode Is On
You may be watching Netflix on your Samsung TV while the Eco mode is engaged.
This mode automatically changes different settings on the TV to save power, including the brightness level. As a result, Netflix gets too dark.
Here’s how to switch off Eco mode:
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Choose ‘General’
- Select ‘Eco Solution’
- Turn off all of its settings
Your Backlight Settings Need Adjusting
The default backlight setting on your Samsung TV is probably medium. This, however, may appear too dark depending on your surroundings, so you may need to adjust it as follows:
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Choose ‘Picture’
- Select ‘Expert Settings’
- Access ‘Backlight’ and adjust its level
You’re on a Darker Picture Mode
The picture mode is one of the main reasons why your Samsung TV’s display is too dark. Consequently, it can also be the reason your Netflix isn’t showing as bright as you’d prefer.
Samsung TVs come with a few built-in picture modes and you can also customize your own. These picture modes have different settings when it comes to brightness, contrast, saturation, color, sharpness, and so on.
For example, the Dynamic picture mode offers an especially bright screen, whereas the Movie picture mode has a darker screen because it’s meant to be watched in dark environments.
As such, you need to try out the various picture modes on your Samsung TV and choose the one that best suits your Netflix viewing experience. Here’s how:
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Choose ‘Picture’
- Select ‘Picture Mode’
- Change modes to see how Netflix appears in each one
You’re Watching in HDR
If you’re watching in HDR, some details can appear more vivid, but the display can also turn a bit darker. If this causes you a brightness issue in your Netflix viewing experience, don’t hesitate to switch your Samsung TV to SDR mode.
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Choose ‘Picture’
- Select ‘Expert Settings’
- If the ‘HDR+ Mode’ is turned off, use the toggle button to turn it on
You’re Watching via a Streaming Device With Different Settings
If you’re watching Netflix on your Samsung TV via a streaming device, the picture or resolution settings may not be the same on both machines resulting in a darker display. Changing the settings on your streaming device to match those of the TV can fix the issue.
The Software Needs an Update
If the software version on your Samsung TV is outdated, there’s a big chance it’ll malfunction and possibly cause the screen to look darker. Here’s how to perform a software update:
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Go to ‘Support’
- Select ‘Software Update’
- Choose ‘Update Software’
The Black Tone Setting Is On
The black tone setting can result in the black and dark gray spots on your Samsung TV’s screen appearing less bright. As such, the overall Netflix display can look darker.
Turn off the black tone setting as follows:
- Press ‘Settings’ on your remote control
- Choose ‘Picture’
- Select ‘Expert Settings’
- Go to ‘Black Tone’ and use the toggle button to switch it off
Your PWM Settings Need Adjusting
Short for “pulse width modulation”, these settings detect changes in scenes on your Samsung TV and automatically adjust the brightness accordingly. This can cause the screen to turn too dark, so you’ll need to change your TV’s PWM settings to 100 as follows:
- Press ‘Mute’, ‘1’, ‘8’, ‘2’, then ‘Power’ on your remote control
- In the ‘Service Menu’, choose ‘SVC’ then ‘Other Settings’
- Select ‘CAL Data Restore’ then ‘OK’
- Press ‘Return’ then go to ‘Advanced’
- Press ‘0’ four times
- Choose ‘Picture_2D’ then ‘SubSetting’
- Change everything to 100
The TV’s Backlight LEDs Is Defective or Damaged
If all the options above fail to make Netflix on your Samsung TV appear brighter, then the TV’s backlight LEDs are probably defective or damaged. In this case, you’ll need to get the TV repaired or replaced.
Pros of Netflix with Samsung TV
- High Quality Picture
- Wide Range of Content
- Easy to Set Up
- Affordable
Cons of Netflix with Samsung TV
- Potential for Darker Picture
- Software Updates Required
- Potential for Picture Quality Issues
- Possibility of Buffering
Wrap Up
If your Samsung TV is displaying Netflix too dark, the issue is probably related to the picture mode or brightness levels. Make sure to check all the solutions discussed above before deeming your TV broken.
Read more: Samsung TV weak signal