You have spent a long day at school or work and are about to catch up with one of your favorite TV shows at home. However, when you switch on your smart TV, you realize that it is acting dumb. You cannot watch your TV show.
This is one of the most annoying things that homeowners have to go through. When this happens, you are left with no option but to wait for a rerun of that particular episode and hope that your TV will behave.
However, a bigger percentage of homeowners do not know that they can fix some common smart TV problems on their own. They do not have to book an appointment with a technician every time their smart TVs are acting dumb.
Here are some common TV problems and how to fix them;
TV Shows Stretched or Squashed Image
Looking at most modern smart TVs, you will realize that they come with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Most video producers look at this aspect ratio when creating content. That notwithstanding, you might experience stretched or squashed images on your TV.
To fix this;
- If you have connected an input device to your TV, start by changing its aspect ratio. This might include things like laptops, streaming sticks, game consoles, Blu-Ray players, and DVD players, among others. Ensure that the aspect ratio has been set to default for it to pick the one set on your TV.
- You can also change the aspect ratio of your TV according to Xtrium’s troubleshooting guides. If, for instance, the content you are watching is formatted for 16:9 TVs, then it should be viewed in a wide picture size or widescreen mode. If you are viewing content created years ago, then set your TV to the older 4:3 aspect ratio. You can also set it to a normal picture setting.
TV Shows Dark Images
Watching a TV with dark images is quite uncomfortable and might drain your eyes. This is because you might not see all the details, especially in dark videos, or might find it difficult to watch in a bright room.
There are different ways of overcoming this problem, including;
- Check if your TV has an Ambient Light Sensor and turn it off. These sensors limit the brightness of TVs depending on the surrounding brightness.
- Look for the energy-saving modes of your TV. You might find things such as Green, Eco, and Energy Star, among others. Ensure that they are all turned off.
- Navigate to the TV’s settings, look for contrast, and set its value at 50% or the middle.
- You can also increase the brightness of your TV. If it is a new TV, it is important to note that most new TVs come with much lower brightness that might show dark images.
- If none of these solutions work, you can factory reset the TV.
No Picture Even Though TV is Turned On
Sometimes, you might turn your TV on but realize that you cannot see any pictures. This problem is caused by several issues. One of them is having the TV on the wrong input. Solving this is easy – all you need to do is press the input button on your remote, select source, and then choose the right source.
If you find that your TV is on the right input, then it means that the problem might be caused by a cable problem. You can fix this problem by ensuring that your satellite or cable receiver is turned on. All connections are also supposed to be secure.
After turning on the cable receiver, you should also reset your TV box. This can be done by disconnecting it from the power supply and then connecting it back. Finally, if none of these solutions work, you can test with another device or contact your service provider.
TV Audio and Video Not Matching
Imagine watching a TV show but then the audio does not match what you are watching. For instance, you hear a person say “smart TV” but then their lips are not in sync with what they are saying.
This is a simple problem that requires you to navigate to your TV settings or those of your cable box and then look for audio delay settings. Change the delay to default and you will be good to go.
TV With Motion Issues
Modern TVs display different types of content at varying frame rates. They also use onboard processors to ensure that there is a smooth motion.
Fixing a TV with motion issues is easy. All you need to do is navigate to the TV’s motion settings and turn off motion clarity. You can also change the settings to ensure that picture motion meets your requirements.
As you can see, you do not have to consult a technician or a professional every time your smart TV is acting dumb. Some of these problems can be solved easily within no time.