To fix an HDMI connection that is not working, turn on the source device, select the matching HDMI input on your display, and reconnect both ends of the cable. Then try another cable or input before changing display settings. Choose the next fix based on whether you have no picture, flickering video, or a picture without sound.
The short version
- Start with the input: Match the display’s selected HDMI input to the port your cable uses.
- Isolate the connection: Try another cable and connect the source directly to the display.
- Check computer output: Enable the external display and check adapter compatibility.
- Match the video mode: Use a resolution and refresh rate supported by the source, cable, and display.
- Treat sound separately: Select the HDMI device as the audio output when the picture already works.
| Fix | When to try it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Check power and input | No signal or blank screen | Turn on the source and select its HDMI input |
| Test cables and ports | The selected input remains blank | Change one connection component at a time |
| Bypass extra equipment | A dock or receiver sits between devices | Connect directly to the display |
| Enable computer output | An external monitor is missing | Use display detection or projection controls |
| Adjust video mode | Flickering or high refresh rate problems | Lower the mode or check input compatibility |
| Recover the source device | A console or streamer stays blank | Follow its restart or video recovery steps |
| Select HDMI audio | Picture works without sound | Choose the display or receiver as output |
| Update software | Connection checks have failed | Install compatible drivers or device updates |
Check the source and selected input
Turn on the device sending the picture, such as your computer or console. Connect its HDMI output to the display’s HDMI input, then select that input on the display. On a Sony TV, press the remote’s Input button until the connected HDMI input appears.
For a Samsung TV with a black screen, press Home or Menu, depending on your remote. If the TV menu appears, focus on the selected source and connected equipment. If the menu does not appear, check the TV’s power or request service.
Reseat the cable and simplify the connection
Reconnect both ends of the HDMI cable firmly. On a Samsung TV setup, substitute another HDMI cable, then another HDMI input, then another source device, changing one component at a time. Replace a visibly damaged cable.
For a PS5 or comparable HDMI setup, disconnect any receiver, switch, soundbar, or capture device between the source and display. Connect the source directly to the display’s HDMI input and check the picture again. For a Windows PC or Mac using a dock, bypass the dock and try a direct video connection.
If your Samsung TV has a One Connect Box or Invisible Cable, check that connection too. Disconnect and firmly reconnect the One Connect cable at both ends. Replace it if it is damaged.
Some Samsung TVs offer an HDMI cable diagnostic designed for cables shorter than 6 feet, or shorter than 2 meters on TVs with a One Connect Box. Select the affected input, then open Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Signal Information > HDMI Cable Test and start the test. Some models need a software update for this diagnostic; if you cannot find it, continue with the cable and input substitutions.
Enable the external display on your computer
On Windows 11 or Windows 10, press Windows + P and select Extend to enable external-display output. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Display, expand Multiple displays, and select Detect. If the connection still fails, press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver, a shortcut supported on both versions.
On a Mac, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Displays, hold Option, and click Detect Displays. On older macOS releases, open the Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays, then hold Option and click Detect Displays. You can also disconnect the display from the Mac and power, then reconnect it, or put the Mac to sleep and wake it.
For a Mac connection through USB-C or Thunderbolt, use a video-capable adapter that supports the requested display mode. Check your Mac model’s supported display count, resolution, and refresh rate. If an accessory approval prompt appears on an Apple-silicon Mac laptop, unlock the Mac, reconnect the accessory, and click Allow.
If your Apple-silicon Mac laptop is supervised and its accessory connections are restricted, ask your administrator to review the accessory-connection setting. For a Mac laptop used with its lid closed, connect power and use an external keyboard and mouse. Also increase the external display’s brightness using its physical controls to rule out minimum brightness.
On a Chromebook, select the time, then open Settings > Device > Displays. Select Mirror Built-in Display to show the built-in screen’s contents on the monitor. That option appears after the monitor is connected, so return to the physical connection checks if it is missing.
Match the resolution and refresh rate
For PS5 output at 4K and 120 Hz, use the included PS5 cable or a suitable Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. The TV input and display must also support that mode. If affected games have output problems, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and turn off 120 Hz Output; for flickering, try Video Transfer Rate at -1 or -2.
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Select the affected monitor, then use Choose a refresh rate to select a supported lower rate. On a Chromebook, open Settings > Device > Displays, select the external monitor, and adjust Resolution or the refresh rate.
On compatible Sony Android TV and Google TV models, open Settings > External inputs > HDMI signal format or HDMI signal format/VRR. Select the enhanced format appropriate to your TV and source, such as Enhanced format, Enhanced Format (Dolby Vision), or Enhanced Format (VRR). Available formats and navigation vary by model.
On Samsung 8K TVs with Input Signal Plus, press Home and open Settings > All Settings > Connection > External Device Manager > Input Signal Plus. Select the connected port and set it to On for a compatible source. Samsung advises disabling this feature for incompatible lower-resolution sources.
Recover a console that still has no picture
For a PS5 that remains blank, completely turn off the console and display. PlayStation says to disconnect both power cables for 20 minutes, reconnect them, and turn both devices on. This waiting period applies to PS5 picture troubleshooting.
If that fails, turn off the PS5 and hold its Power button until the second beep, approximately seven seconds later. Connect the controller by USB, press PS, and select Change Video Output in Safe Mode. Choose Change Resolution or Change HDCP Mode to troubleshoot blank output.
For Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED, disconnect the dock cables and unplug the AC adapter at both ends for 30 seconds. Use the HAC-002 adapter with a HAC-007 or HEG-007 dock. Hold POWER for three seconds, then select Power Options > Restart.
For Switch 2, use its own dock, NGN-01 adapter, and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Turn off the TV, disconnect the dock cables, and unplug the adapter at both ends for 30 seconds, then test the undocked console using wall power. The original Switch adapter does not support Switch 2 TV mode.
Restart a streaming device or resolve an HDCP error
For a Roku player showing an HDCP error or purple screen, disconnect HDMI at both ends and unplug the Roku and connected TV, receiver, or soundbar from power. Reconnect HDMI securely, restore power, and retry playback. If the error remains, try a direct TV connection, another compatible screen, or another mode under Settings > Display type. Check HDCP compatibility throughout the connection chain; Roku 4K/HDR playback requires HDCP 2.2.
On Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, disconnect the power cable for 30 seconds and reconnect it. If necessary, try another outlet or compatible power cable. For Google TV Streamer or Chromecast, use the supplied power equipment connected to an outlet, unplug the device’s power cable for one minute, then reconnect it. Removing HDMI alone does not restart the Google device.
On Fire TV, open Settings > Display & Audio > HDMI-CEC Device Control. Turn the setting off, then on again.
Choose the HDMI sound output
When the picture works but sound does not, check the selected audio destination. On Windows 11, search for and open Sound settings, select your HDMI audio-capable display or receiver under Output, and unmute the master volume. If other applications already play through HDMI, right-click the taskbar speaker icon, select Open volume mixer, and raise the affected application’s volume under Apps.
On a Mac with HDMI audio output, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output and select the HDMI device. On Mac mini, disconnect equipment from the headphone jack if HDMI audio remains absent. For PS5, open Settings > Sound > Audio Output, choose the HDMI destination under Output Device, and select the appropriate HDMI Device Type.
For a Samsung TV connected to ARC-compatible audio equipment, open Settings > General > External Device Manager and enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) if your TV uses this menu layout. On a third-party soundbar or home theater system, switch the speaker’s input to HDMI ARC; on a Samsung soundbar, change the source to D.IN. On the TV, open Settings > Sound > Sound Output and select Receiver (HDMI) from the list. If the soundbar or receiver has limited format support, open Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > Digital Output Audio Format and select Auto.
Update drivers and device software
After connection and display checks, find and update your graphics driver on a Windows PC. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. Select the applicable graphics or audio driver update, choose Download and install, and restart afterward.
On a compatible Samsung smart TV or smart monitor, open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now. Leave the TV powered on until installation finishes. On current macOS, open the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update and install the compatible update offered.
For PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software. If the console still fails after trying another cable, another source, and a direct connection, use PlayStation Repairs and select the matching picture or HDMI symptom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Apple TV briefly go black when a video starts?
Apple TV can briefly show a blank or flickering screen when it switches playback formats. Open Settings > Video and Audio > Match Content and check Match Dynamic Range and Match Frame Rate, since enabled matching can cause this behavior when playback starts or stops.
Can an HDMI splitter give a Windows PC two independent displays?
An HDMI splitter duplicates one signal. For independent displays, use a supported dock or an additional video-output adapter, within your computer’s hardware limits.
Can Nintendo Switch Lite connect to a TV over HDMI?
Nintendo Switch Lite does not support TV mode. The dock and power troubleshooting steps for Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED do not apply to it.
Can changing the HDMI detection delay help a Samsung TV?
On Samsung TVs offering the controls, you can adjust the signal-detection delay. Open Settings > Support > Device Care > Self-Diagnosis > Signal Information > Signal History, then set HDMI Delay to Slow 1 or Slow 2. Input switching will also take longer.
Why does PS5 sound fail only during disc playback?
Some PS5 applications override the system audio settings, so check the disc player’s own audio settings when only disc playback fails. You can also open Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Audio Format (Priority) and choose a format supported by the connected equipment.