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Vizio TV Dark Spots (Causes and How to Fix it)

I’m a proud owner of a Vizio TV, but recently I’ve been frustrated by the dark spots that have been appearing on my screen. After some research, I’ve found some tips and tricks to help combat this issue, and I’m here to share my findings with you. In this blog post, I’ll be discussing the causes of the dark spots, as well as how to fix them. Hopefully, with my help, you’ll be able to get your Vizio TV looking like new again!

Dark spots on a Vizio TV may occur as a result of damaged cables, dirty ports, or faulty internal components such as the TV’s backscreen lights. They can also be caused by software glitches.

Causes of Dark SpotsPotential Fixes
1. Issues with cables– Try using a different cable
or ports– Connect the input device to another display to check for dark spots
– Clean the ports using an air blower
2. Software glitches– Perform a power cycle:
1. Unplug all external input devices from the TV
2. Turn off the TV and unplug it from the power supply
3. Press and hold the power button for 3-5 seconds
4. Plug in the TV and reconnect the input devices to test the display
– Perform a hard reset:
1. Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote
2. Select “System”
3. Choose “Reset & Admin”
4. Click on “Reset TV to Factory Defaults” (Note: this will erase any saved data, such as app login details)
3. Damaged internal– Contact Vizio’s technical support for professional repairs or component replacement
components (e.g.,backscreen lights)– Check if your Vizio TV is still under warranty; repairs may be covered if the problem is due to manufacturing defects

Why Are There Dark Spots on Your Vizio TV?

Let’s jump right in with three of the most likely reasons behind the dark spots you’re seeing on your Vizio TV:

1. Issues With Cables or Ports

Your Vizio TV relies on connections to external input devices. This connection is established via an HDMI or coaxial cable.

The catch here is that torn or damaged cables may be causing issues with the connection between your input device and TV. While this might cause your TV to not detect the input altogether, it can also affect the quality of the picture.

On the other hand, the cables might be intact, but the faulty connection may be a result of dust or debris accumulation in the ports.

How to Fix it: Cable Replacements and Port Cleaning

The first thing you should do in this situation is to try out another spare cable. If the TV works just fine without spots, then you’ll know for sure that the cable you were using was the source of the problem.

If this doesn’t solve the problem on the screen, try connecting your input device to another display. If there are no dark spots, the issue may be with the ports on your Vizio TV instead.

In this case, you can remove any dust that may have settled in the ports using an air blower. 

2. Software Glitches

As is the case with all smart TVs, your Vizio device works using the software programmed into it by the manufacturer. In some cases, malfunctions in this software may cause dark spots on the display.

How to Fix it: Power Cycles and Hard Resets

To address any software issues your Vizio TV may be experiencing, you should try power cycling the set. If this doesn’t work, you might have to hard reset your TV.

Power Cycle

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to perform a power cycle:

The first thing you’ll need to do is to make sure that all external input devices are unplugged from your TV. Next, you can turn off the TV and remove the cord from the power supply. Then, press the power button and keep holding it down for 3-5 seconds.

Finally, you can plug in your TV and reconnect the input devices to test the display.

Hard Reset

Here’s what you’re going to need to do to give the TV a hard reset:

First, press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote. Next, you can select “System.” From the list that pops up, choose “Reset & Admin.” Finally, go ahead and click on “Reset TV to Factory Defaults.”

Keep in mind that a hard reset also means you’ll lose any saved data, such as app login details.

3. Damaged Internal Components

Another possible reason behind the dark spots on your Vizio TV is damaged internal components. The component most likely to be causing your issue is the backscreen lights.

These lights inside your TV allow it to display your content at the optimum brightness and resolution. If your Vizio TV has recently taken a nasty bump or fall, the lights may have gotten damaged.

Faulty screen lights can also result from the fact that you’ve simply had your TV for a long time.

How to Fix it: Professional Repairs

Unless you have experience in dealing with faulty electronic components, this isn’t the kind of issue that you can tackle on your own.

Your best course of action, in this case, is to get in touch with Vizio’s technical support and schedule a repair for your TV’s screen lights or replace them altogether.

Just remember to check if your Vizio TV is still under warranty. You might not have to pay for the repair if the source of the problem is manufacturing defects.

Conclusion

Several issues can cause dark spots on a Vizio TV screen. The common culprits are hardware problems, such as hiccups with the cables connecting the input device to your TV and damaged internal components.

The former is an issue that you can easily tackle by replacing the cables and cleaning the ports. On the other hand, the latter requires assistance from Vizio’s technical support.

However, if the problem is software-related, you can power cycle or hard reset your Vizio TV and see if it fixes the display.