As an owner of a Samsung TV, I know firsthand how frustrating it can be when it glitches or flickers unexpectedly. When it first happened to my TV, I was concerned and confused. After doing some research and testing, I am here to share how I solved my issue and the other potential solutions I discovered along the way.
The most common reason for TV flickering is faulty cables. Flickering could also happen due to other external factors other than internal hardware issues. Learn what to do if these are the root factors.
| Tips for Fixing TV Flickering |
|---|
| 1. Check cables for damage |
| 2. Avoid Wi-Fi connection interference |
| 3. Ensure proper power supply and room lighting |
| 4. Check refresh rates |
| 5. Ensure input devices are not faulty |
| 6. Check for overheating and defective home appliances |
| 7. Update firmware and software |
| 8. Try a soft reset or hard reset |
| 9. Do a picture test to self-diagnose the problem |
Table of Contents
Why Is My Samsung TV Glitching/Flickering?
Flickering TVs can be caused by a variety of internal and external factors. The majority of these can be fixed through simple troubleshooting.
Problem With the Cables
Screen flickering can be caused by faulty or loose cables plugged into your TV.
A flickering color or “snow” on your TV when using an HDMI. Whereas on AUX, the effect is random with abrupt color intensity and brightness.
To fix this, you can try swapping out cords or jiggling wires to see if this eliminates the flicker.
The best way is to tighten the connections with your power tools.
If this still doesn’t fix the issue, replacing the cable is your last resort.
Wi-Fi Connection Interference
It is common for an LED or QLED TV to have interference with the Wi-Fi router because they send signals of sorts.
Try moving the Wi-Fi router one meter away from your TV and see if this fixes the flickering.
Low Power Supply
TVs are built with a power supply that keeps a steady level of brightness.
A significant rapid brightness level change is noticed due to a failing power source.
The TV can also project a black screen. This indicates hardware damage that needs to be repaired by experts.
Room Lighting and Refresh Rates
Although it’s not the most common reason you can think of, room lighting and your TV’s refresh rate can cause a flickering screen.
If you notice a flicker in low-light conditions, turn on a bright light to see if it persists. If it doesn’t, the problem is with the lighting.
You can fix this by using a brighter light or lowering the TV’s refresh rate.
Do this to change your Samsung TV’s refresh rate:
Locate the Menu on your remote. Then select Picture > Picture Options.
Older models only support 50Hz and 60Hz refresh rates, whereas newer models support 60Hz and above.
It’s also okay to play with them to see which works best in low light and which works best in bright light.
Faulty Input Devices
Flickering may be caused by a problem with the input devices, such as a DVD or Blu-Ray player or a gaming console.
The solution is to change the video or input source.
You can also check the connections of your other audio-video devices, such as a Roku or Firestick.
Overused TV Leads to Overheating
Overheating may also be a problem for older TVs. Flickering may occur.
Generally, fans are used to reduce the heat generated by electronics. However, these may fail over time due to excessive use of the TV.
It is best to allow the TV to rest by turning it off for a while.
Consider replacing your cooling system should this happen again.
Defective Home Appliances
Faulty electrical appliances in the household could draw power from your TV, causing flickering.
Powered-on appliances cause your TV to flicker until its power cycle is completed. This suggests that electrical interference is happening.
To resolve this, best to have a technician check your primary household ground.
Additionally, have a dedicated power output for the appliance or your TV to reduce electrical interference.
Lights Bulbs Are Burned Out
LED TVs function with a series of LED lights to backlight the projected image.
If a LED bulb fails, flickering spots will be noticeable.
Unfortunately, there’s no simple solution for this. An LED replacement is needed.
Lucky you if your Samsung TV’s still under warranty, you may be able to have it replaced for free.
Television Burn-in
TVs with this problem are most frequently found in plasma models.
Burn-in usually happens when the same image, or a part of an image, was left on the screen for a good amount of time.
This can also cause flickering over time. Sadly, this is the end of the road.
To avoid this, make sure you are not leaving a single static image for too long when not being watched.
Outdated Firmware or Software
Samsung TVs need frequent over-the-air updates. Older models don’t need this though.
Outdated software is also one of the causes of screen flickering. If it is applicable to you, go to settings then Support then select Software Update.
Additionally, the problem can be resolved by turning it on and off since auto update should be selected by default.
Try doing a soft reset
Often, a soft reset is all that is needed to solve issues on a Samsung TV. A soft reset does not erase any data. To soft reset a Samsung TV, you simply need to turn the TV off, then remove the plug from the wall outlet and wait for 60 seconds, then put the plug back in and turn the TV on again.
Try a hard reset
A hard reset involves completely reseting the TV to its factory defaults and your data will be erased.
To do this, do the following:
- Turn on the TV and press the “Home” button on the remote
- Go to “settings”
- Then click “general”
- Then click “reset”
- You must then enter a 4 digit pin number which is 0 0 0 0 by default
- Then click ”Yes” to reset the TV
- The TV will then turn off once it has finished resetting
- You can now turn the TV back on and set it up again
Do a Picture Test
A picture test is a self-diagnostic process that allows the TV to identify the problem and find a suitable solution.
To do this, do the following:
- Press the “settings button”
- Go to “Support”
- Go to “Device Care”
- Go to “Self diagnosis”
- Then click “Picture Test”
Conclusion
Why is my Samsung TV glitching/flickering? It’s mostly due to a faulty cable. Just ensure that all the cables are working and all your input devices are operational. Simply tighten the connections using tools and adjust the video or input source.
If all else fails, hiring a professional is your last option.
Read more: iPhone won’t connect to Samsung TV
