TCL TV Green Screen (Causes and How to Fix)

As a TCL TV owner, I was incredibly frustrated to experience the dreaded green screen. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share my experience and solutions I discovered to fix this issue.

In this blog post, I will explain the causes of the TCL TV green screen, as well as how to fix it in a few simple steps. Hopefully, this post will help other TCL TV owners who have encountered this issue.

Tips
Check HDMI cables and connections
Unplug the TV and wait for a few minutes
Test the HDMI cable on other devices
Try a soft reset by pressing the power button for 10 seconds
Use the “System Restart” option in TV settings
Turn off “Fast Start”
Perform a factory reset as a last resort

Table of Contents

What Causes TCL TV Green Screen?

Green screens typically appear when streaming video content from Netflix, Youtube, or similar platforms. So, why does this happen?

This problem is usually caused by faulty HDMI cables or internal decoder chips. Interestingly enough, users complain of this problem happening more in warmer months.

How to Fix TCL TV Green Screen?

The good news is that this is an easy-fix problem. All you have to do is determine the source of the problem. Then, go through our list of troubleshooting tips and figure out which one will put an end to your problem.

Unplug TV From Power Source

Typically, when the TCL screen goes green, you can still navigate through the menus. However, if both the streaming views and menus are frozen, your only option is to unplug the TV. This is perfect if you’re not comfortable navigating through complicated settings menus with the remote.

Luckily, many users have reported that unplugging the TV fixes the TCL green screen 9 times out of 10. First, remove the plug, then wait for around 30 seconds before switching the TV on again.

Bear in mind that repeated unplugging can gradually damage the cable in the long run. Therefore, we recommend using a socket with a switch if this seems to be a recurring problem.

Even better, you can invest in a smart plug that you can easily switch on and off from your phone with a quick “OK Google” command.

Troubleshoot HDMI Cable

Interestingly, the TCL green screen will rarely appear while watching live TV. Instead, it’s associated with game consoles and online streaming services, like Youtube.

The HDMI cable is at the heart of most entertainment systems, so make sure it’s working well, like this:

First, check that the HDMI cable is connected to both ends.

Then, try the cable on another device or use another cable for the TV.
Start by switching on the streaming device or console first, followed by the TV set.

Soft Reset

For a soft reset, you need to switch off the TV first before unplugging it from the power source. Then, after unplugging the TV, wait for a minute before pressing the screen power button for another 10 seconds. This will help drain any residual power from the TV.

Remember, you can’t long-press the power button on the remote because you won’t get any response from the TV.

System Restart From Menu

If your TV is mounted on the wall, you might not be able to reach the socket to unplug it. In this case, use the remote control to navigate to “System Restart” from the TV settings menu.

This is the fastest way to reboot your TCL TV using the remote.

Watch Live TV

You might not expect this, but watching live TV shows is one of the easiest ways to fix the green screen issue. All you need to do is to switch the streaming service off.

Then, turn to any channel airing live TV. Keep it on for a few moments before switching back to the streaming service.

Switch off “Fast Start”

Several users have realized that the green screen rarely occurs after switching off the “Fast Start” option. Instead of going into sleep mode, this option allows the TV to fully reboot every time it’s powered on.

Depending on your TV brand, you can toggle this option from the “Device Preferences” or the “Power” menu.

Factory Reset

We saved the factory reset option till the very end. This is because, for one, it takes longer than the other options.

The second reason is that it will delete all your saved preferences, personal data, and network connections. As a result, you’ll need to go through the setup process again by reconnecting to the internet source and relinking your accounts.

If this is your last option, you can choose factory reset from the advanced settings menu on the TV. Alternatively, you can long-press the reset button next to the HDMI port at the back of the TV set.

Wrap Up

TCL TV green screens can be annoying. One minute you’re watching your favorite show, and the next minute, nothing!

While it’s a common problem, the silver lining is that it’s easy to fix. In our handy guide, we offer several DIY solutions that save you the hassle of having to contact customer service. Plus, you’ll be back to streaming your favorite shows in no time!.