Few things can compare to the absolute joy of binging your favorite show over the weekend on your TV, all cozy and comfy. That is until your TV is running fine. No, we’re not taking laptops into account because of their limited resolution and smaller screen size. So what do you do when your TV starts acting up? If your TV doesn’t have a self-diagnostic tool, you should learn a few troubleshooting tips before you take it to a repair shop.
Most modern TVs nowadays come with built-in self-diagnostic tools, which can help you identify the problems your TV might be facing. It’s mostly limited to smart TVs as they’re usually the higher-end models with a lot of bells and whistles. You get a ton of options including the ability to stream whatever you want using the internet and offer up to 8K resolution to enjoy the content.
Speaking of, if you haven’t watched something on a 4K or 8K TV, you should consider getting one because it is worth every penny. Oh, one other thing, you’ll need super-fast and consistent internet so your 4K or 8K smart TV can show you the content effortlessly. What’s the point in getting a very high-resolution TV when your internet can’t keep up? Luckily, CenturyLink internet makes it easier for you to get a high-speed connection at affordable prices with no contracts.
The TV not turning on
You should try replacing the batteries in your TV remote and make sure that all cords are plugged into the appropriate ports. If your TV is still not turning on, consider taking it to a repair shop, as it might be an electrical issue inside the TV.
Cropped, squashed, or stretched picture
Most modern TVs nowadays come with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, which is the default cinematic aspect ratio. However, older content used to come in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which can cause the image to get cropped, squashed, or stretched and you might miss out on the details. If you adjust the aspect ratio on your TV, the resulting image might appear with black bars on each side, effectively reducing your viewing screen.
Consider altering the aspect ratio of the input source like your DVD player, gaming console, streaming sticks, and other devices.
Get rid of the soap opera effect
The soap opera effect refers to the phenomenon when the TV softens the image to the extent that it becomes unpleasant to watch. Since movies and TV shows come with a framerate of under 30 fps, it sometimes becomes a problem for TVs with a higher refresh rate. Modern TVs come with a higher refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz to show a smoother image.
These TVs also come with built-in processing engines that artificially enhance the low fps content to make it more appealing. This can sometimes result in overblown images that are too soft and unpleasant to watch. You can try picking a lower refresh rate, so your TV doesn’t apply aggressive smoothing effects to the image.
The picture is too dark
This is another common issue with some TVs, as they get darker after a while. If you’re out of warranty, then you can’t replace it either. A dark TV makes it harder for the viewer to watch the content in a well-lit environment.
You can try checking if your TV has its energy-saving mode on as it forces the TV to consume less power resulting in decreased brightness. Moreover, you can try lowering the Gamma value of your TV, as a lower Gamma value corresponds to a brighter image.
Some TVs also come with ambient light sensors, which allow them to vary their brightness according to the surrounding light. A malfunction may cause it to read the room wrong and lower the brightness. You can rectify it by turning the ambient sensor off.
Another thing is that most manufacturers ship TVs with a default brightness setting, which is not the maximum. You can check if your TV is not running at maximum brightness and turn it up.
Recalibrating colors
Most TVs come with built-in settings to change the color of the picture and adjust it to whatever you like. If you’re not satisfied with the way content looks on your TV, you can try changing the color temperature and color gamut. Keep in mind that some TVs might not offer a very high level of customization and present you with some presets to choose from.
Conclusion
You can try these steps yourself depending on the type of issue you’re facing. If the issue persists, consider resetting your TV to its factory settings as a last resort. This can help rectify minor issues but is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If the issue is still unresolved, you can try contacting the TV manufacturer’s after-sales and services department for help.
