LG TV Turns On but No Picture or Sound? Press Volume First
When your LG TV turns on but no picture or sound comes, press a volume button on the remote: if the volume bar appears, LG says the problem may be with the external device or the cables, and if it does not appear, there may be an issue with the TV itself. The steps below follow LG’s page.
LG’s page opens with the same test: “If there is no sound or picture, first make sure the TV is turned on. Then press a volume button on the remote control to check if the volume bar appears on the screen.” LG’s note on scope: “This guide was created for all models, so the images or content may be different from your product.”
Step 1: check the standby light and do LG’s hard reset
The small light on the TV tells you whether it is on at all. LG’s reading is “If the standby light is turned on, it indicates that the TV is not turned on.” and “If the standby light is turned off, it indicates that the TV is turned on. Turn off the TV and check if the standby light illuminates.”
Then do the hard reset LG lists under Try This: unplug the TV’s power cable from the TV or the outlet, press and hold the physical Power button on the TV for about 10 seconds, and plug it back in and turn it on. LG’s second step reads “2. Press and hold the physical “Power” button on the TV for about 10 seconds.”
If the TV still powers on to a black screen with nothing at all, LG’s page says it may need a professional, in its words “If the TV is turned on but no message or picture appears at all, there may be an issue with the TV itself. This may require further diagnosis by an LG professional.”
Step 2: press volume and read the result
Use the remote to change the volume and watch for the bar. LG’s black screen section puts it as “To check if the volume bar appears, use the remote control to adjust the TV volume.” and “If the volume bar appears normally, the issue is likely with the set-top box or cable connection.”
No bar after pressing volume points the other way. LG’s line: “If the volume bar does not appear after pressing a volume button, there may be an issue with the TV itself.”
Step 3: if the bar appears, fix the box and the cables
LG lists five numbered steps for the case where the volume bar appears, under its heading “Reconnect the cable connected to the TV or reset the set-top box.”
All five, as printed, with the fifth opening the close:
- “1. Unplug the set-top box power cable and reconnect it after five seconds.”
- “2. Unplug the router power cable and reconnect it after five seconds.”
- “3. Reconnect the cable securely into the correct ports to prevent any connection issues.”
- “4. Similarly, reconnect the set-top box HDMI cable.”
- “5. If the issue continues after following the steps outlined above:”
Under step 5, if the problem continues and the screen says No Signal, LG says “the problem may be with the cables or external device.” and to “Inspect the set-top box or other connected devices.”
Pick the right input too. For a wired cable connection, LG says to press the Home Hub or External Input button on the remote and select Live TV; for a set top box or HDMI connection, press the same button and select the connected HDMI port.
What No Signal means on an LG TV
No Signal means nothing from the box or the provider is reaching the TV. LG’s wording is that the message “means the TV is not receiving a signal from the set-top box or service provider.” and its first check is “check the input mode and make sure the connected external device is turned on.”
The box itself may be the problem. LG’s next line: “In this case, the set-top box may require inspection. Please contact your service provider for assistance.”
Step 4: if the bar never appears, LG says to contact support
A TV that stays blank with no message and no volume bar is one LG’s page says may need professional inspection. Its closing lines are “If the TV is on but the screen remains blank with no messages, the TV may require professional inspection.” and “Please contact LG Customer Support.”
If the TV does not power on at all, that is a different problem with its own page: LG TV won’t turn on. For a remote that stopped responding, see LG Magic Remote not working, and for a Wi-Fi message instead of a black screen, LG TV says Wi-Fi is turned off.
Where LG’s page stops
LG’s page names no TV part and no backlight test. The words backlight, flashlight, panel and board do not appear in the article.
LG’s page gives no software update and no menu reset as a step. The words update and firmware do not appear on the page, and its two resets are the power cable hard reset and the set top box reset.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my LG TV have sound but no picture?
LG’s page sorts this case by the volume bar: press volume, and if the bar appears LG says the problem may be with the external device or cable connections. Run LG’s five box and cable steps above, and check that the input matches the port the box is plugged into.
How do I hard reset an LG TV with a black screen?
Unplug the power cable from the TV or the outlet, hold the TV’s physical Power button for about 10 seconds, then reconnect the cable and turn the TV on. Those are the three steps under LG’s “Lets try a hard reset.” heading.
Is a black screen on an LG TV the TV or the cable box?
Press volume. LG’s page says that if the volume bar appears normally the issue is likely with the set top box or cable connection, and that if no bar appears there may be an issue with the TV itself, which “may require professional inspection.”
You can’t do a factory reset is there’s no picture. Please check your troubleshooting.
I am tired of fooling with this LG Smart TV. It’s the worst TV I’ve ever had. The monitor turns black in the middle of a program, news, etc. Currently it’ll turn on, but that’s it. I’ve tried every suggestion, but I think it’s time for it to be replaced. It’s not that old – probably 3 years old. I don’t trust that it’ll behave any better if I call a repairman, spend money on parts, labor, etc. No more LG products for me.
Thank you for posting easy to follow suggestions.