As an owner of a flat-screen TV, I was frustrated when I noticed that one side of my TV was dimmer than the other. After doing some research, I’ve compiled some tips and tricks on how to solve this problem and I’d like to share them with you in this blog post. In this post, I’ll discuss the common causes of TV dimming on one side, and how to properly fix the problem.
This issue can happen for many reasons. For starters, you might have a faulty or loose HDMI cable. Also, there might be a problem with the backlights of your TV. In some rare cases, this can happen due to interference from other electronic devices.
| Cause | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Faulty or Loose HDMI Cable | Damaged or improperly connected HDMI cables can cause dimming issues. | Check the connection and try using a different HDMI cable. |
| Damaged HDMI Port | Damage to the HDMI port can lead to one-sided dimming. | Try using a different HDMI port or input method. |
| Backlight Damage | Damage to the backlight can cause dimming on one side of the screen. | Contact the manufacturer for repair or replacement. |
| Interferences | Electronic devices and magnets can cause electrical interference, leading to dimming on one side of the screen. | Move electronic devices and magnets away from the TV. |
| Physical Damage | Dropping the TV or other physical damage can harm internal components, resulting in one-sided dimming. | Contact the manufacturer for repair or replacement. |
| Local Dimming Settings | Advanced local dimming settings on some TVs can cause dimming in specific areas of the screen. | Turn off or adjust local dimming settings in the TV menu. |
| Factory Reset | If other solutions do not work, a factory reset may help resolve the issue. | Perform a factory reset (refer to the manufacturer’s instructions). Be aware that this may delete data. |
| Contact the Manufacturer | If none of the above solutions work, there may be an issue with the TV that requires professional assistance. | Contact the manufacturer for further help or to schedule a repair. |
Table of Contents
Why Is Your TV Dimming on One Side?
Here’s a list of the most common reasons why your TV is dimming on one side:
Faulty or Loose HDMI Cable
Just like most cables you use in your daily life, HDMI cables can get damaged. As a result, it can cause many issues with the viewing experience.
Additionally, a loose cable can cause your TV screen to be dimmer on one side.
Damaged HDMI Port
On most TVs, the HDMI ports are on the back or the side. As a result, it can be hard to plug your HDMI cable into the port, especially if the TV is mounted on the wall.
So, while trying to plug in the cable, you might damage the HDMI port. In turn, it can cause your TV to dim on one side.
Backlight Damage
The backlight, as the name suggests, is the part of your TV that’s responsible for emitting the light on the screen. Additionally, it’s a very delicate component.
So, any physical damage can permanently ruin your backlight. Also, sudden power surges can cause a lot of damage to the backlight of your TV.
Interferences
There are tons of electronic devices around your household that can cause electrical interference with your TV. If the interference is big enough, it can actually cause your TV to be darker on one side.
Physical Damage
Did you accidentally drop your TV? Well, that can cause permanent damage to many components inside your TV, and it can lead to one-sided dimming.
How to Fix TV Dimming on One Side
The following steps will guide you through fixing your TV dimming on one side:
Restart Your TV
While it may seem like a very simple solution, restarting the TV might fix the issue right away. Don’t just turn it off and back on though. You’ll need to unplug your TV completely. Then wait for sixty seconds and plug the TV back in and turn it on.
Check the HDMI Port and Cable
If you’re using an HDMI cable, you need to make sure that it’s correctly plugged in. First, unplug the HDMI cable. Then, wait 30 seconds and plug the HDMI cable back in.
If your TV is still darker on one side, you can try using a different HDMI cable.
After that, you can check if you have a damaged HDMI port by simply changing the input method or the picture source on your TV, like a DVD player.
If you don’t have another source available, you can simply use the screen mirroring option on your phone.
If the problem still remains after switching to a different input method, that means your HDMI cable and port are the cause of this issue.
Check Local Dimming Settings
Some modern TVs have an advanced dimming option, which allows you to dim certain areas on the screen, while the rest of the screen will remain normal.
If your TV has a local dimming option, turn it off from the settings menu. You can also check the manufacturer’s instructions to adjust the local dimming effect.
Move Electronic Devices Away From Your TV
To exclude interference issues, you need to move any electronic device or strong magnet away from your TV.
That includes the following devices:
- Smartphones
- Chargers
- Home Appliances
- Router
- Radio
- Bluetooth devices
Perform a Factory Reset
Typically, you’ll find the factory reset option in your settings menu. Unfortunately, resetting your TV will delete all the applications you downloaded, as well as any saved accounts and passwords.
If you’re having trouble resetting your TV, check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Contact the Manufacturer
If you weren’t able to fix the dimming issue after following our guide, the best thing to do is to contact your TV manufacturer.
In most cases, you’ll need to schedule a repair for your TV.
Conclusion
So, why is your TV dimming on one side?
That can happen due to a faulty or loose HDMI cable, as well as a damaged HDMI port. Additionally, a defective backlight can cause your TV to be darker on one side. Some electronic devices and strong magnets can cause this issue too.
So, the first thing you need to do is to restart your TV, and then check the HDMI cable. After that, make sure that local dimming is off and move away any electronic devices.
Finally, perform a factory reset on your TV. If none of these steps can fix the problem, you can contact the manufacturer for further help.
