Why are there white spots on my TCL TV?

I recently purchased a TCL TV and was disappointed to find white spots appearing on the screen. I was frustrated and determined to find out what was causing this issue. After researching and testing various solutions, I am writing this blog post to share my experience and to provide other potential solutions to this issue.

Common causes of white spots on TCL TVs are a fallen reflector inside the TV, a damaged processor, dead pixels, or because you need to turn on local dimming.

It is not uncommon for TCL TVs to have bright patches on parts of the screen. This is usually because a feature called local dimming is turned off. To fix this, you need to go into the settings and turn on local dimming.

Tips:
White spots on a TCL TV are caused by various factors.
To fix a fallen reflector, a professional should be called.
To reduce white spots caused by a damaged processor, reduce the backlight and brightness settings, and turn off all auto-adjustments.
Dead pixels can sometimes be revived by gently pressing a microfiber cloth on the area of the dead pixel.
Check the warranty before attempting to repair a TCL TV.
If the warranty has expired, call a local television repair professional for assistance.

Table of Contents

Why are there white spots on my TCL TV?

Below are likely reasons why your TCL TV has white spots.

Fallen reflector

It might be the case that there is a fallen reflector inside the TV. A reflector is a lens inside the TV panel that sits in front of the LED backlight and amplifies the light on the screen. It might be the case that this happened to your TCL TV. This would be more likely if only one area has a white patch.

Damaged processor

The second cause of white spots on a TCL smart TV screen is a damaged processor, which may occur because of an overheating issue. An electrical surge can damage the processor, and a lack of cooling around the television can cause the problem, too.

Dead pixels

The third reason white spots may occur on your TCL TV is a dead pixel or series of dead pixels. Sometimes pixels get stuck in a particular state and no longer respond to commands sent to them by the television’s processor.

Sometimes, modifying the settings on the television can fix the issue. In other cases, a professional’s help might be the only way to eliminate the white dots.

Dealing with a Fallen Reflector on a TCL TV

A fallen reflector on a TCL television is a job best handled by a professional because fixing the tv on your own may void the warranty. To fix a fallen reflector on a TCL TV, the work involves taking the television apart and readjusting the fallen reflector.

The process involves disassembling the entire rear of the television, disconnecting the speakers, taking the circuit board out of its place, and readjusting the reflector to secure it with glue.

A television repair professional can perform this quickly, and paying them to fix the television generally costs less than buying a new tv.

Dealing with a Damaged Processor on a TCL TV

A damaged processor that causes white dots on your TCL TV is repairable. However, it may need replacement if the damage is too severe, and modifying the settings doesn’t help eliminate the appearance of the dots. You’ll want to have your remote and access to the television’s settings to make the white dots disappear.

Here are the settings you’ll need to change to make the white dots disappear.

1. Reduce the backlight setting as low as possible.
2. Reduce the television’s brightness to the lowest acceptable level.
3. Turn off auto-adjustments that change the brightness of the television.
4. Make all settings on the television manual, so none of the settings change.

Reducing the television’s brightness – both the backlight and the overall brightness – can reduce the appearance of the white dots on your TCL television.

Unfortunately, if the white dots are still visible after you modify the settings, you may need to replace the entire processor, which is a complicated endeavor most often performed by an expert.

Dealing with damaged pixels on your TCL TV

Over time, small white dots may appear on your TCL TV that aren’t as large as those you might see because of a damaged processor or a fallen reflector. When it’s a tiny white dot that won’t disappear, the problem could be a dead or malfunctioning pixel.

While it is not possible to fix a completely dead pixel, sometimes they can be revived after starting to malfunction.

To revive dead pixels:

1. Take a microfiber cloth and press it gently on the area of the dead pixel.
2. Make sure the television is off before placing the fabric on the TV.
3. After pressing gently, turn on the power supply to the TV and see if the problem corrects itself.

If pressing the pixel gently doesn’t work, some television owners may swipe downward on the television with their cloth to fix the problem.

Unfortunately, a pixel that doesn’t revive isn’t something that may be reasonably repaired on a television.

Always check the warranty before trying to fix a TCL TV

TCL televisions come with warranties just like any other large electronic device, and many problems are covered under warranty for the first few years of ownership. TCL will send a repair person or persons out to your location and repair the television, even if it’s a significant repair.

In the event your television isn’t under warranty anymore, and you want to get the white dots on the TV repaired, you may want to call a local television repair professional. White spots on a television are common, and fixing them may be a more affordable option than completely replacing the television.