If you’ve tried turning your Samsung TV on and off again, jiggled all its cords, and pushed in all the plugs as hard as you can, there may be more to your Samsung TV that keeps on flashing.
There are a number of reasons why your TV flashes, flickers, and blinks on and off. In this guide, we’ll go over the most common causes and share surefire ways to fix it.
Why Does Your Samsung TV Keep Flashing?
Basically, here are the most common causes:
- TV settings
- Incoming signal issues
- Faulty cable
- Loose connection
- Malfunctioning receiver
- Electronic interference from other devices too close to the TV (e.g., speakers, cellphones, cordless phones, rotating fans)
- Software issue (e.g., bugs, glitches in apps)
How Do You Get Your Samsung TV to Stop Flashing?
Fix #1: Built-In Troubleshooting
Sometimes, you might the solution by troubleshooting the device. You might have done this already. But just to cover our bases, here’s a two-step solution some people don’t even think of doing.
- Perform a Picture Test.
- Turn off Energy Saving.
The picture test is easy to find:
- Step #1: Navigate to the Support Tab under Menu.
- Step #2: Select Self-Diagnosis, then press Enter.
- Step #3: Choose Picture Test. It’ll walk you through a series of troubleshooting steps that might resolve the problem.
The Samsung Service Center crew usually asks for the results of this test so make sure you get a copy. A photo from your phone should do.
Next, if you’re not already aware, Energy Saving automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on what you’re watching. Sometimes, this is behind the flashing and turning off this feature fixes the issue.
Fix #2: Double Check for Nearby Culprits
If the previous method didn’t work and your Samsung TV keeps flashing, try checking connected devices for grounding issues. The cause of flickering can simply be a bad ground in an external device.
To find out, unplug any other device plugged into the same outlet as the TV and see if that makes the flickering go away. You have to unplug CD/DVD/Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and the like. Disconnect them from your TV and from the socket. Then, try playing a video from an internal source such as Netflix [1].
Fix #3: Plug it Straight to the Wall
Another simple fix is to cut a jumper. But, it’s not so easy for everyone to get their hands dirty. Plus, you’ll probably forfeit your warranty if you fiddle around with the circuit boards yourself.
If you’re worried about that, here’s a “less invasive” but just as simple approach. Plug your Samsung TV straight into the wall. For some reason, plugging Samsung TVs into a surge protector seems to cause the flashing in other units and the solution is just that easy.
Fix #4: Check for Firmware Updates
Another possible problem is with your software. Before going for the kill or a factory reset, make sure first your Samsung TV’s firmware is up-to-date. You can find the software version under the About This TV section in the Support tab of your Settings. You can update your software online or offline.
It’s easier if your TV’s already connected to the internet. If not, you have to find the exact software version on Samsung’s download center. Download it and transfer onto a flash drive. Then plug into your TV. While you’re at it, you can also check if your Samsung TV apps are also up-to-date.
Conclusion
There are plenty of factors why your Samsung TV keeps flashing. If your DIY solutions aren’t helping, it’s safer to just bring it to the nearest service center, especially if your TV’s fairly new. Even if your mainboard ends up needing to be replaced, the warranty might still cover it.
But, make sure to go through the most common fixes and causes our team introduced here, as one of them might just do the trick.
Having troubles with your Samsung TVs? You can try these fixes below:
