Sharp TV Black Screen of Death (12 Fixes)


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When your television suddenly goes black, it’s the dreaded Sharp TV Black Screen of Death.

A black screen can mean many things with most being small. But there’s always the occasional, more serious problem.

In this article, I will go over the common causes of a black screen on the Sharp TV. I’ll also provide solutions to each cause. Hopefully, these solutions will help you fix your TV quickly and get back to watching your favorite shows.

Sharp TV Not Turning On
Sharp TV Black Screen

12 Fixes for Sharp TV Black Screen 

1. Test the HDMI Cable Connection

This test and fix is also valid for other types of cables and not only HDMI cables.

The first thing that you should do if you have a problem with your Sharp TV having a black screen is to test the HDMI cable connection to your streaming device or other external device, like a smart hub or DVD player. 

The cable might be loose from either end or there could be something wrong with the cable. To check if there’s a problem with the cable, follow these steps first: 

  • Look for and check the HDMI cable on the back of your TV.
  • Unplug the HDMI cable on the TV and plug it back in. 
  • Unplug the cable on the external device.
  • Check the TV for an image. 

If there’s still no image and it’s a black screen on the Sharp TV, you can perform a signal test to see if it’s a problem with the HDMI cable. Follow these steps to perform the HDMI cable test: 

  • Navigate to Settings
  • Select Support
  • Select Device Care
  • Select Self Diagnosis
  • Select Signal Information
  • Select HDMI Cable Test
  • Select Start Test.

The cable test will let you know if the HDMI cable is “Good” or “Bad.” If the test says that the HDMI cable is bad, use a different cable to see if that works. 

If the test says good, let’s move on to the next solution to try. 

2. Check the Input Source of the Sharp TV

Sometimes when you turn on the Sharp TV, it’s on a different input source than you are expecting. Maybe someone else was using the TV before you and switched the input source. 

There are a few different things to try here with the input source: 

First thing to do, double-check that you are using the HDMI 1 TV source if that’s where your streaming, cable, or other device is connected. Make sure your external device is turned on as well. 

Second thing to try, if there’s no picture in HDMI 1, try checking HDMI 2 and the other input sources to see if they will give you a picture on the TV screen or if it’s still a black screen. 

If you see images on the other input sources, then there could be an issue with the HDMI 1 port or the external device.

Third thing to try is to remove all the other HDMI cables in the other sources on your TV. One of them could be affecting the HDMI 1 from functioning correctly. 

3. Try Different External and Streaming Devices

Another possible cause of a black screen on a Sharp TV is a problem with your streaming device, like the Roku or Apple TV, cable box, or even gaming console. 

If there is a black screen on the Sharp TV, but you still hear sounds coming out, then you know that the TV is turned on. The black screen could be caused by a video output issue with your external device, and not because of your TV.

Let’s try using other external devices in the HDMI port to test if it’s an issue with the external device or the HDMI port itself. 

  • Plug another external device into the same HDMI port.
  • Confirm the Sharp TV input source is correct and see if you have an image. 
  • If you have an image and sound, then it’s an issue with the external device and its video output.
  • If you still have a black screen with sound, then it’s an issue with the HDMI port or the TV itself. 

4. Try a Soft Reset or Reboot of the Sharp TV

With Sharp smart TVs becoming more powerful and ability to run processes like a computer, a soft reset can help. It will clear any settings on the internal components of the Sharp TV, but not your personal settings.

A soft reset, also known as a power cycle, will also stop any background processes and apps that might’ve been causing black screen issues. Soft resets can also help with other issues like slow Wi-Fi speeds and Bluetooth connection problems. 

To perform a soft reset on a Sharp TV, follow these steps: 

  • Unplug the TV’s power cable for at least 60 seconds. 
  • Plug the cord back into the power outlet.  

 That’s all there is to a soft reset. 

Another thing to try is to reboot the Sharp TV, which can also help with various issues.

  • Unplug the TV. 
  • On the Remote, Press and Hold the Power button for 30 seconds. 
  • Plug the TV back into the power outlet.

5. Configure the Sharp TV Input Settings

Black screens on the Sharp TV can occur with bad input settings for the input source. To check this, first make sure that the TV is powered on.

To check and fix the input settings on the Sharp TV, follow these steps: 

  • On the remote control, Press the External Power Source button. 
  • Select Input Settings
  • Go over the TV Inputs and make sure they’re all Enabled
  • Go back to Input Settings
  • Make sure the other Input Source Settings have no issues. 
  • Save the Settings.
  • Try the TV again. 

6. Turn Off Power Saver and Sleep Timer

Power saving and sleep timer are two features on some Sharp TVs that can cause black screens on the TV. These features are great for saving on your energy and electric bill, but they can potentially lead to black screens of death. 

If you’re having trouble getting a picture on the TV, try turning off the power saver and sleep timers. Follow these steps to disable the Sleep Timer on your Sharp TV: 

  • On the remote, Press the Home button to open the Menu
  • Select Settings
  • Select Time
  • Select Sleep Timer
  • Change it to Off by using the arrows. 

Follow these steps to disable Power Saver Mode on the Sharp TV: 

  • On the remote, Press the Home button to open the Menu
  • Select Settings
  • Select Power Saving
  • Change it to Off

7. Update to the Latest Sharp TV Firmware Version

There are times when older firmware can lead to the black screen on Sharp TVs. Sharp will release new firmware updates periodically to fix bugs, so it’s best to update to receive those bug fixes. 

Firmware controls how the Sharp Smart TV works internally. It controls the menus, settings, how pictures are interpreted and shown on screen, and much more.

The latest firmware version for Sharp TVs can be found through the TV Settings, and it should also be available for download on the Sharp website.

To update the Sharp TV firmware through Settings, follow these steps: 

  • On the remote, Press the Home button to open the Menu
  • Select Settings.
  • Select Support
  • Select Software Update
  • Select Update Now
  • The TV will reboot, so the new firmware can take effect. 

8. Protect the Sharp TV From Voltage Fluctuations

Voltage fluctuations in the home can sometimes cause black screens and frozen screens on the Sharp TV. This occurs because the voltage fluctuates too high or low, causing the TV to not function and display correctly.

If you experience black screens on your Sharp TV, using voltage management devices such as surge protectors or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) can help prevent display issues.

These surge protectors will protect the devices connected to them from voltage fluctuations. 

9. Factory Reset the Sharp TV

So you’ve tried all the other potential solutions above, but you’re still having black screen issues on the Sharp TV. Before opening up the Sharp TV, this is one last potential fix, a factory reset of the TV. 

Factory resetting the Sharp TV to its original factory settings can solve many problems caused by software errors.This is one of the last non-hardware solutions to try because a factory reset removes any personal information stored on the TV, including saved passwords, usernames, and favorites. 

Resetting the TV will all clear out all of its settings and data. If you’ve been experiencing problems with your TV, resetting it may resolve the issue. 

Here is how to perform a factory reset on your Sharp TV with a black screen: 

  • On the remote, Press the Home button to open the Menu
  • Select Settings.
  • Select Support
  • Select Self Diagnosis.
  • Select Reset
  • Enter 0000 for the Security Pin. 
  • Confirm with the Yes

But of course, if you have a black screen, you may not be able to navigate the menus. There are two ways to reset the Sharp TV with a black screen using the remote control. 

The first way to reset the Sharp TV with the remote: 

  • On the remote, Press and Hold the Exit button for 15 seconds. 
  • Press OK to trigger the factory reset. 

The second way to factory reset the Sharp TV with the remote: 

  • On the remote, Press and Hold the Info, Menu, and Mute buttons for 5 seconds. 
  • Then Press 8 and 2 on the remote to start the factory reset. 

10. Check the Sharp TV T-CON Board

Now we get into potential Sharp TV hardware issues. The Sharp TV T-CON board is what creates the image on the TV screen. The T-CON board creates the horizontal and vertical lines that make up the picture, and it’s located below the main circuit board.

The T-CON board has an LCD driver chip that controls the backlight brightness. When the T-CON board malfunctions, the backlight becomes dimmer than normal. This causes the colors to become darker and less vibrant.

If the T-CON board is malfunctioning, you can buy a new T-CON board to replace the current one. These circuit boards are relatively inexpensive and under $100, even under $50 for the majority of Sharp TVs. 

You can find T-CON boards on Amazon. 

Here is a great video on how to replace the T-CON board on a Sharp TV. 

How to install and/or remove RUNTK4909TPZA Sharp T-Con Board

11. Check the LED Backlight Strips in Sharp TV

LED backlights are used in Sharp TVs and most modern televisions. The LEDs emit light that’s converted into images displayed on the television screen. When an LED backlight fails, the image quality decreases, which causes the picture to appear dark and blurry. 

To replace the LED backlight strips in the Sharp TV, you’ll need to disassemble the TV, which is not easy. 

It is definitely best to get a Sharp service team member to repair the backlight strips, or you may cause other issues.

Here’s a video of what it takes to replace the backlights on a Sharp TV: 

Sharp Hisense 58" LED TV - No Backlight No Image LED Strip Install Replacement Model LC-58 58R6 58H6

12. Check for an Active Sharp TV Warranty

Most Sharp TVs come with a warranty for 1 year from the purchase date. If your Sharp TV is still under its warranty period, then you should contact Sharp Support directly about any problems you’re having. The warranty you have may cover replacements and/or repairing various parts of the TV. 

If you bought the TV at a retail store, you might be able to buy an extended warranty for it. Retailers often offer warranty extensions on products they sell you to increase revenues. 

Extended warranties are often better than manufacturer’s warranties. If you’re buying a big ticket item like a Sharp TV, the extended warranty may be worth considering.

Sharp TV Black Screen Final Thoughts

If you’re experiencing a black screen on your Sharp TV, there are many things you can do to fix it. You just need to know how to troubleshoot the problem and be patient as you go through possible solutions.

I hope this article helps you understand what’s going on when a Sharp TV displays a blank screen. I also hope you learned some tips and tricks on how to resolve the issue yourself. 

For more black screen troubleshooting for other TV manufacturers, check out these articles: 

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Written by:

Greg Randall
Greg Randall is deeply immersed in Smart Home Technology, with years of experience in home automation, from smart displays to TVs. He enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with like-minded enthusiasts. Beyond smart homes, Greg loves snowboarding and exploring new culinary scenes with friends, bringing a zest for adventure and fine dining to his tech-savvy lifestyle.