Why Is My TV Blinking On And Off [Solved]

Here’s a scenario: the day you’ve been waiting for has arrived. 

You snuggle up with a bowl of popcorn but then, out of nowhere, the TV blinks and won’t stop. 

You begin panicking instantly because there are many questions in your head. Why does my TV keep blinking? Does it imply that my television is broken? Is it something I can repair myself?

Take a deep breath; we assure you that there are many others in the same boat as you. 

This is a very common problem and many TV users encounter this issue on a day-to-day basis. 

While there can be many reasons, we will explain some of the basics in this article and assist you in determining why your TV is blinking and how to troubleshoot it.

 

Understanding the Causes of Blinking TVs

However, before moving on to the fixes, let’s first clarify some of the fundamentals of a blinking TV. There is no shortage of the most frequent suspects, let’s start with them.

Cables that are loose or have stress cracks.

A blinking or flickering TV picture can sometimes result from a connection being loose, frayed, or stressed in some other way. 

This can be caused by cables that connect HDMI internal circuits, or even power or coaxial cables, which wear out over time. 

Or if you’ve recently rearranged your television and moved it, one of the wires may have come loose.

Personal Anecdote: 

There was a time when my television started blinking continuously, and to be honest, I thought that I would witness the death of my favorite TV. 

As I was figuring out what the issue might be, I noticed that the HDMI cable was not plugged in all the way. A quick push and the problem was solved!

Power Supply Problems

A power supply that is faulty can result in the blinking of a TV on and off. This could happen because of internal defects with the power supply board or an unstable power supply. 

For instance, If your television set is not receiving steady voltage it will have such behavior, that is, it will off and on every now and then.

Software Bugs

As is the case with any electronic device, a TV is also a software-enabled device and so sometimes it can have software bugs. 

This would then cause a range of problems, such as the flickering of the screen or the TV restarting randomly. 

It is also essential to keep performing the updates as the updates are important for overall performance.

Overheating

Each television has built-in features to minimize the chances of overheating. 

In the case where the television is placed in an area that has poor ventilation, overheating may occur and the television will start flickering on and off to outline a safety feature.

Devices for External Usage

In case you have connected peripherals to your TV, like consoles, streaming devices, sound systems, or the like, the cause of the conflicts could be these peripherals. 

Occasionally, some devices are connected to the TV in their settings could result in the occurrence of blinking problems.

A Defective Remote Control

Believe it or not, a remote control that is out of working has the capacity to mislead the TV into thinking that a signal has been sent. 

If the remote is pressed on a button or even when the batteries are dying, the remote sends haphazard signals to the TV causing it to keep blinking back and forth.

The TV Panel

In some instances, the TV panel can be the reason for the fault. It may include any number of things such as broken parts or broken internal parts. 

This diagnosis is unfortunately the easiest to make but the hardest to repair and the most expensive.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix a Blinking TV

Now that we’ve looked at the advanced hitches that are affecting the functionality of the TV blinking and the possible causes, let us now concentrate on the way forward. 

Here is a troubleshooting guide that will remember from when you first encountered the problem of your TV turning on and off.

Step 1: Check All Cables 

What to Do:

Disconnect the TV from the electric supply.

Make sure that every cable is well connected such as HDMI, power cables, and others.

If you notice that some cords are frayed or torn, replace them.

Additional cords should be added and plugged back in after securely reattaching all wires.

Why This Works: 

When the cable has become loose, it creates a lot of disturbance and cuts off the signal which reminds the receiver of the old tunings. 

By removing the loose cables, you prevent this possible explanation from occurring.

Step 2: Check the Power Supply Step

What to Do:

To check the power outlet, plug in another device, e.g. a lamp to confirm if it is working or not.

Try to connect the TV directly into the wall plug in case you had used a surge protection cable.

Consider the option of getting the power supply board serviced if the TV continues to blink.

Why This Works: The paramount need of this step is to make sure that the TV is getting the required amount of power. 

The outlet of the plug or the power supply could be the reason for the flickering.

Step 3: Upload any Pending Software Update

What to Do:

Navigate to the settings and locate your TV’s menu option.

Search for a function that reads as “Software Update” or “System Update”.

Simply follow a set of instructions that pop up on the screen to complete the software update on your TV.

Why This Works: 

Quite a number of times software will be updated to fix any defects, in this instance blinking on television.

Step 4: Around the Body of the TV For Airflow

What to Do:

Look at the shape of the TV and correct the placing style so that there’s enough space on the sides for potential airflow.

If the TV is situated in a closet and surrounded by other appliances, it might be useful to contribute to a more spacious room.

Wait some time to allow the cooled temperature of the TV to rise before being operated again.

Why This Works: 

Cooling down the temperature provides some time for the TV to allow for some level of blinking and shutdown.

 

Step 5: Eject Everything That Is Not The TV Itself

What to Do:

Remove all the external equipment attached such as gaming consoles, DVD players, streaming devices, etc, from the Television set.

Afterward, try to boot up the television by itself and check whether it still blinks.

If it works fine, you should connect all external devices in turn to see which malfunctioning device causes the malfunction.

Why This Works: 

External devices could be sending dispirited messages to the TV interpreter. 

Hence, disconnecting them assists in resolving the issues.

Step 6: Check the Remote Control

What to Do:

Try to take off the batteries from the remote control and check whether the television continues to blink.

If the blinking does stop, either the batteries should be changed or the remote should be bought new.

Why This Works: 

A defective remote could send random signals while pointing towards the TV which may lead the TV to switch on and off unusually.

Step 7: Get Help From An Expert

What to Do:

If you’ve set your hands on the tasks mentioned above and the issue still exists, an expert technician should be contacted.

He would rule out other probable problems within the Television set including the panel and the power supply board.

Why This Works: Some issues can’t be handled by the general public and require extensive knowledge and tools to get them sorted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does my TV keep blinking on and off but the picture is still there?

Multiple explanations including loose wires software issues, or interfacing with other devices could be the reasons for this. Connect the wires properly and reboot the TV.

Can power surges make my TV blink?

Yes, the abrupt increase of power can create blinking problems. Surge protectors have to be deployed so as to shield the TV from fluctuations in voltages.

How do I know if there is damage to the panel of my TV?

 

The presence of cracks, discoloration, and even when the TV refuses to power on after doing all the right things could be a result of a panel defect. It can be established by a technician.

If the TV is blinking, should it be turned off or is it safe to keep on using?

Generally, if the TV blinks for some time intervals, it is safe to use it for the time being. However, it is recommended to attempt to resolve the problem as it may become worse with time.

Is it necessary to call a technician to fix the TV or should I try to repair the TV myself?

If you think that you do not have any issues in diagnosing the problem and none of the above suggestions worked, it would be better to hire a technician. 

Some of the problems are advanced and require expertise and certain equipment.

What effective measures can I take to prevent future occurrences of blinking on my TV screen?

To prevent future blinking problems, one should make a point of often checking and tightening the cables, checking the ventilation of one’s TV set, and updating the software.

 

Should I solicit the assistance of a technician to repair my TV or decide to repair the TV myself?

 

If that is the case, try to perform the steps on the provided list once again.

 

However, if you are sure you have no issues diagnosing the problem and none of the above suggestions worked, it would be better to hire a technician. 

 

Some of the problems are advanced and require expertise and certain equipment. 

 

How can I ensure that the TV screen will not start blazing again in the future? 

 

In order to avoid having further blinking troubles, one should make it a point to periodically check and retighten the wires, assess the cooling of the television set, and consider improving the current software.