Fixes when Sharp TV with Black Screen and Wont Turn On

• Causes include low batteries in the remote, not plugged in correctly, a bad surge protector, bad electronic board, burnt out backlight, and more.
• Fixes include adding new batteries to the remote, checking the standby light, checking the power outlet, resetting the TV, and testing the backlight.

If you have a Sharp TV with a black screen and wont turn on, there are several causes and fixes.

It can no doubt be very frustrating to have a TV blackout with nothing on the screen.

Below are eight common fixes that can often help to get a Sharp TV back up and working again.

Most Sharp TVs sold in the last several years are Roku TVs, with newer models running Google TV, and the fixes below work for both the older Aquos TVs and the newer smart TVs.

If the below fixes do not work, then a repair person will need to be called, or if possible, the TV returned.

Fixes when Sharp TV with Black Screen and Wont Turn On

1. Replace the Remote Control Batteries


If the batteries have gone bad in the remote control, it will not power on the TV.

Often replacing the remote control batteries gets the TV back up and working.

If you do not have any new batteries handy, the button on the TV can also be used to see if the TV will power on.

On most newer Sharp TVs, the power button is on the bottom or back of the TV, usually under the Sharp logo or on the lower right corner.

2. Check the Standby Light

The small standby light on the front of the TV can tell you a lot about what is wrong.

If there is no light at all, the TV is not getting power, and the problem is likely the outlet, power cable, or power board.

If the light is on but the screen is black, the TV is getting power, and the problem is more likely the backlight, main board, or a bad setting.

If the light is blinking, the TV is showing an error code, and the number of blinks can be looked up for your model to see what has failed.

3. Unplug the TV and Wait 60 Seconds


Like all electronic devices, errors can occur, including a TV electronics with a reset often fixing issues.

Unplug the TV from the wall and wait at least 60 seconds before plugging it back in and testing it.

4. Hard Reset the TV


Doing a hard reset will drain any leftover power in the TV and clear out any bad data that may be causing the black screen.

This is done by unplugging the TV and holding the power button for at least 30 seconds.

After holding the button for 30 seconds, plug the TV back in and test it.

5. Use the Reset Button (Sharp Roku TVs)

Sharp Roku TVs have a small pinhole reset button on the back of the TV near the HDMI ports.

With the TV plugged in, use a paperclip to press and hold the reset button for 15 to 20 seconds.

The standby light will blink, and the TV will restart back to factory settings, which can clear a black screen caused by a bad software update or setting.

Keep in mind this will erase all your settings and channels, and the TV will need to be set up again.

6. Use Another Wall Outlet


Try to test the TV on another wall outlet to see if it turns on.

While not common, wall outlets can fail and cause the TV to not get any power.

If the TV is plugged into a surge protector or power strip, plug it directly into the wall instead.

Surge protectors wear out over time and can stop passing power after a storm or power outage, even when the light on them is still on.

7. Check All the Connections


Check all the connections and be sure they are inserted all the way.

This includes the HDMI cable and power cable.

If you have another HDMI cable, it can be swapped out to see if the black screen clears.

There are users in forums who report unplugging unused HDMI cables or using another HDMI port, which helps to solve the issue.

Also be sure the TV is on the correct input, as a black screen with the standby light on is sometimes just the wrong HDMI input selected.

8. Bad Electronic Board or Backlight


If nothing works, the TV may have a bad electronics board or backlight.

Turn the TV on in a dark room and shine a flashlight close to the screen at an angle.

If you can see a faint image or menu on the screen, then the backlight is burnt out, and the TV is otherwise working.

There are two main electronic boards called the power board and the main board.

If there is an issue with one of these boards, the TV will not power on.

Replacement boards for many Sharp models can be found online and swapped out, but on a cheaper TV, the cost of the part is often close to the cost of a new TV.

Summary
When a Sharp TV has a black screen, there are several common causes and fixes.

The first is to be sure the remote control batteries work or use the power button on the TV to see if it powers up.

Next, check the standby light, as no light usually means a power problem, and a light with a black screen usually means a backlight or board problem.

Unplug it for sixty seconds and plug it back in to see if the screen lights back up.

Next is a hard reset, which is done by unplugging the TV and holding the power button for 30 seconds.

Sharp Roku TVs also have a pinhole reset button on the back that can be held for 15 to 20 seconds to factory reset the TV.

Also, reset all the connections, including the HDMI cable and power cable, and bypass any surge protector or power strip.

Using another port for the HDMI cable also works sometimes, as well as removing any unused HDMI cables.

If none of the above works, use a flashlight to check if the backlight has failed, as a bad backlight or electronic board will need to be replaced.