Solved: How to Fix the Apple Tv Black Screen

On a close friend’s advice, I invested in Cryptocurrency. I was sceptical but God was kind! I earned unbelievable returns on my investment and I was brimming with joy looking at my account statement. The first thing I did after my account flattered me with the dollars – I blew all my money on the Apple TV. 

It had been on my dream-buy list ever since I visited the Apple Store. I did all sorts of odd jobs to earn this one but couldn’t save enough. But, now, God was gracious and my pockets were full. Finally, I welcomed the giant Apple TV into my life with a bottle of Champagne. 

Good things don’t last forever, I had heard but got the taste of it last evening. I invited my friends over to actually flaunt my new Apple TV and flatter myself but guess what !!!

My Apple TV glared at me with an all black face. The logo appeared and that’s it. No screen, no apps, nothing moved a bit at all. I was aghast ! or say, offended and broken-hearted. 

But, as I always say, glitches on the devices cannot make me love them any less. I didn’t assume that my TV was a faulty one. I comforted myself that I was going to learn something new. This wasn’t totally a new bug that had left me flabbergasted.  I had fixed such issues on Samsung when it popped up an all green screen and on Roku with a similar dead black screen. 

I knew this bug on Apple was going to get better of me and I jumped straight into researching the causes of this issue. 

From my hour-long analysis and the in-depth research of this issue of this Apple TV black screen , I will disclose the best troubleshooting methods to fix such an issue which will prove very handy if in future, your Apple TV behaves this way. 

Acting diligently on the advice which will now pour in, the Apple TV will get rid of the dogged black screen and you’ll never be in a crazy situation which I faced. A total embarrassment, I tell you.

So, without any delay, hop in and learn with me to fix the scary black screen on Apple TV. Also, do not be troubled if your Apple TV keeps going black. Using the methods mentioned here on, you will easily be able to troubleshoot the Apple TV blank screen even if the issue erupts again after the troubleshooting.

Best 8 Ways to Fix Apple TV Black Screen

The troubleshooting techniques mentioned below are precise and simple to use. Based on my extensive research and practical knowledge, I have shortlisted eight best methods to fix the issue of Apple Tv flickering black screen. 

Apple offers the users a screen experience like no other. There are other very popular TV giants in the market like Roku, Samsung etc but it is a different experience altogether when you watch content on an Apple TV.

I have come across users who have faced similar issues with high-performance oriented TV brands like Roku. In the past, I have offered troubleshooting advice when Netflix is not working on Roku or Airplay not loading on LG. 

Even the Samsung owners have faced identical issues. So, there is no reason why you should feel your ship is sinking. Such issues are common and easy are the ways to kill such bugs.

So, without any lag, give the fixes a shot and see if they work efficiently to fix your Apple Tv black screen.

1. Check if your Apple TV is powered On
2. Charge the Apple TV remote
3. Restart the Apple TV
4. Check the HDMI Power Cable and Power Code
5. Change the Video Resolution
6. Restore the Apple Tv to factory settings
7. Update the OS ( Operating System) 
8. Restore the OS ( Operating System) 

Try each method one after another and see which one works for you.

1. Check if Your Apple TV is Powered On

The first thing you should be checking for fixing this issue on your TV is whether your TV is powered on or not. 

When the Menu or the Home button is pressed, it should wake up the Apple Tv and the status light will light up in the front part of the unit. It means that the TV is ‘on’.

If the light doesn’t turn up, it means the Apple TV is still ‘off’. If that is the case, check if the power cable is properly plugged in or not. You can also try connecting the TV to a different power outlet. 

Unplug the TV for about 30 seconds and thereafter, plug it back. The status light should be ‘on’ for the TV to be turned on. 

2. Charge the Apple TV Remote

What if you have been trying all day to control the Apple TV with the remote but the remote is lifeless! The battery on the Apple Tv can still survive a long time but the Apple TV remote needs to be charged regularly. It will run totally out-of-power if it hasn’t been charged lately. It can make turning the Apple Tv on really difficult. 

For a Siri Apple Remote, a lighting-to-USB cable can be used to charge it. To charge it faster, connect the cable to a power adaptor with a USB Port. Keep the remote on charge for a minimum of 30 minutes before you grab it again to use it.

If you own an old remote with removable CR2032 or BR2032 batteries , then you’ll have to take the dead batteries out and replace them with the new ones. 

Trust me on this, a remote control is a very essential part of the entire setting up of the TV. If there is some glitch on the remote which you are unaware of, then you have been trying to roast it endlessly on the TV and thus, no results are yielded.

Apple doesn’t lose its credibility only for a situation if the remote isn’t charged up or, in worse case, can’t be located. 

I know, your main cause of worry is with your Apple Tv at the moment, not the Roku. An Apple TV can also be connected to Wi-fi if the remote is lost or not working. 

The issue at hand where the screen has gone all-black, also requires a check-up on the Apple TV remote. 

Use the simple techniques mentioned above in both cases of a Siri remote or an older Apple Remote. Using them, they’ll be fixed up and then, try using them on the Apple TV.

The issue at hand where the screen has gone all-black, also requires a check-up on the Apple TV remote. 

Use the simple techniques mentioned above in both cases of a Siri remote or an older Apple Remote. Using them, they’ll be fixed up and then, try using them on the Apple TV.

3. Restart the Apple TV

A restart is always the first method I recommend to fix any issue with the TV screen. It is entirely possible that there has been some interruption in the power connectivity or the internet has been unstable. 

A quick restart softly resets the TV system and should be able to assist you when the Apple TV keeps going black. 

Step 1: Switch ‘on’ the Apple TV and grab the remote.

Step 2: From the Menu, look for the ‘down’ button.

Step 3: Now, look carefully at the picture and hold these two buttons together for about 5 to 10 seconds.

Step 4: The indicator light on the TV will start blinking. When it does, release the buttons.

Step 5: Now, take the power cord out from the TV. Wait for a while and now, plug it again. 

You should be able to see the pictures now on your Apple TV. But if this one didn’t change the status of your Tv from Apple Tv no picture to a clear and vibrant picture on the screen, check out the next method. 

4: HDMI Power Cable and Power Code Check

An HDMI Cable is an extremely important part for connecting the TV with either the Power supply or the internet network. A firm and tightly inserted HDMI Cable will keep the TV system and the power supply or the network connection well in-sync with each other. 

Since you are dealing with an Apple TV intermittent black screen here, I would strongly advise you to check whether the HDMI connection and the Power Cord are well- connected or not. 

The HDMI Cable and the Power Cord should not have any breakage in between and should fit in properly to the exact size of the HDMI Port and the Power supply Port.

How to check? Read further – 

Step 1: Run two quick checks at first.

1. Is your Apple TV plugged into the power?
2. Is the status light ‘on’?

Step 2: Now, grab the TV remote and switch ‘on’ the TV.

Step 3:  Take the power cord out of the Apple Tv. Wait and then, re-plug it now.

Step 4: Now, plug the power cord in a different power outlet and check.

Step 5: If you are using a ‘Power Strip’ for your Apple Tv, it should be ‘on’. 

Step 6: Check whether the HDMI Cable connection for the status light. It should be ‘on’.

After you have properly checked the above mentioned essentials, restart your Apple TV using Method – 1 explained above. 

After the TV restarts, you should be able to see the picture on your Apple TV. But, if the Apple Tv turns on but no picture, the status is the same. Try the next method now. 

5. Change the Video Resolution

After you have successfully ensured that the HDMI connection and the Power Cord Connection is intact, it’s your turn to change the video resolution now. 

The video resolution on Apple TV can be changed easily. Follow the steps below to incorporate the changes in video resolution settings on your Apple Tv.

Step 1: If your Apple Tv is a 4th generation TV, you need to press the ‘Menu’ and the ‘Volume Down’ button on the remote together. Wait for about 5 seconds and then release.

Step 2: If your Apple Tv is a 2nd or 3rd generation TV, you will have to press the ‘Menu’ and the ‘Volume Up’ button together. In the same manner, wait a bit and then release.

Step 3: On doing so, the video resolutions will begin to switch on the Apple Tv in every 20 seconds.

Step 4 : On a different resolution this time, click ‘OK’. This step will change the pre-set video resolution on your Apple TV.

Changing the video resolution on the Apple Tv should fix the issue with black screen and the new resolution settings should be able to wake the TV screen up. 

Unfortunately , still if the Apple Tv keeps blacking out, I have two more methods waiting to be tried. They’ll be able to fix the stubborn Apple TV black screen for sure.

6. Restore the Apple Tv to Factory Settings

If modifying the video resolution and switching to a new one hasn’t fixed the issue yet, it’s best to restore the Apple TV back to its factory settings. See how this can be done.

Step 1: Begin by unplugging the power cord and the HDMI cables from the Apple TV.

Step 2: You must have the latest version of iTunes on your TV. If it’s an outdated one, download and install the latest one.

Step 3 : Now, on your Laptop or computer, launch the iTunes app.

Step 4 : After launching the iTunes app on the computer, connect your Apple Tv to the computer.

Step 5: Now, on the iTunes app, select your Apple Tv.

Step 6 : You’ll find an option as ‘ Restore Apple Tv’. Click on it.

Now, the time taken to restore the factory settings depends on the speed of the internet connection to which the Apple Tv is connected. Once it’s done, the TV will shut down.

Use the remote to switch it ‘on’ now. I seriously hope the black screen has vanished and you have the vibrant pictures in front of you.

If it’s still not resolved, try the last method explained below. This will ensure that the Apple TV screen comes back to life again.

7. Update the OS (Operating System)

It’s highly possible that there is a lag in the OS ( Operating System) of your Apple Tv which can be the reason behind your Apple Tv black screen.

To fix this issue, a new Operating System should be installed and launched on the Apple Tv. It will generate new system patches which will remove any such bugs from the system.

To update the OS, check out the steps given below : 

Step 1: Reach the Settings menu and click on System.

Step 2: Click on Software Updates when it appears under the Settings menu.

This is possible only if the TV screen is working fine. To update this setting, you’ll have to wait till the screen shows up without any glitch. 

In your case when the TV screen is all black, you will have to restore the Operating System instead.

8. Restore the Operating System

If you own an Apple Tv 4k, you’ll need Apple Support for restoring the Operating System. If you have any other Apple TV model, say the HD model, you can do it yourself easily using the steps laid out below : 

Step 1 : Unplug all the HDMI Cables from the Apple TV’s backside.

Step 2 : As done previously, connect your Apple TV to your computer. Use a USB-C or Micro-USB Cable for it.

Step 3: If you are using an Apple TV HD or 3rd Gen Apple Tv, connect your TV to the power supply now.

Step 4: Open iTunes on your computer now. ( If you don’t have it launched already, download and install it from the playstore.)

Step 5 : Select Apple TV from the devices and click on ‘Restore Apple TV’.

Step 6 : Once the process is complete, disconnect the TV now.

The Apple TV will restart and should possibly be ‘on’ with a screen that isn’t black or blank. 

I have shared all the best eight troubleshooting techniques which are easy to implement and are very practical. I hope using them must have brought your Apple TV back to life.

The Apple TV screen’s glitches do not end here. You have just dealt with an issue where all you had was a dead, black screen which was unresponsive. I have recently heard from users where they have faced issues with Apple TV black screen with sound. 

Sounds surprising, isn’t it ! Imagine you cannot see anything on the screen, but you can hear the sounds from the TV when you press any button or the TV turns on or off. 

Worry not ! In the next part of this article, I have laid out the effective techniques to fix an Apple TV with a black screen but also the sound. 

How to Fix the Apple TV Black Screen with Sound

If you have dealt with an issue when the entire screen on Apple TV went black, you won’t find dealing with this one any herculean task. When there is a glitch with either the Operating system of the TV or the hardware, you can hear the Apple TV sound but no picture. 

There are times when the screen is visible but sound can’t be heard. It can be resolved, worry not.  

Most of the techniques which I am going to tell you have been implemented earlier while fixing the dead screen of your TV. 

Let me list them out for you to fix the sound issue with the Apple TV black screen.

1. Check the Airplay connection on the TV.
2. Check the network connection.
3. Restart the TV using the remote.
4. Restart by unplugging all the cables.
5. Restart your router. 

Let me break them down for you here to fix this issue–

1. Check the Airplay Connection on the TV

AirPlay lets you play videos, audios, podcasts, music, mirror your Mac or iOS screen from your iOS or IPadOS on your Apple TV. It’s one of the reasons why Apple TVs are most sought after. If the AirPlay connection is interrupted on the Apple TV, it can be one reason why you can hear only the audio but the screen is still dead. 

To check the AirPlay connection on your Apple TV, follow these steps :

1. Since the Apple TV screen is still black, use the connected set up in between your Apple Tv and the computer to open Settings on your Apple TV.

2. When you see the option AirPlay, click on it.

3. Turn it ‘on’ if it’s ‘off’. 

4. The settings should be allowed as ‘accessible’ to the Apple TV. Click on ‘Allow’ if it wasn’t.

5. To refresh the connection of AirPlay, turn it ‘off’ once again and then, turn it ‘on’ again. 

This simple technique will refresh the AirPlay connection on your Apple TV and once the screen is alive, the audio will be in-sync with the videos played on the Apple TV. 

2. Check the Network Connection.

If the network connection on which the Apple TV is connected is unstable or, say, interrupted, it can send the audio out-of-sync and such issues erupt.

To ensure a proper and stable connection on the Apple TV, the first important thing is that the Wi-fi connection should have good downloading speed and the connection should be stable. 

Also, if too many devices are connected on the same network, it will interrupt with the speed which the Apple TV requires to stream content. 

To check the network settings on your Apple TV-

1. Click on Settings > System.

2. From the menu options on the screen click on Network.

3. You’ll be able to see the Wi-fi connection at your place to which the TV is connected. To refresh it, I advise you to disconnect and then, connect again. 

4. Select your connection and connect again with it. Also, disconnect all the extra devices connected to the same network. 

This will refresh the connection on the Apple TV and will fix any lag if it’s due to a poor connection or unstable one. 

3. Restart the TV using the Remote.

This has been an essential step while fixing the black screen as well on your Apple TV. A restart is of two types – using the remote and by unplugging all the cables. 

This is different from ‘resetting’ the Apple TV back to its factory settings which also has been duly explained above in the article. 

To restart your Apple TV  using the remote–

1. Unplug your Apple TV from the power connection and wait a bit.

2. Now, plug it again and switch it on using the remote.

3. Now, click on Menu on the remote.

4. You’ll reach the Settings. Click on System from the options displayed.

5. At the bottom, you’ll find an option Restart.

6. Click on it and the Apple TV will restart now.

After the Apple TV restarts, the Apple Tv will turn on and the system will be refreshed. It should fix the out-of-sync audio.

4. Restart by Unplugging all the Cables.

This is another very effective way to kill any lag in the system which causes such out-of-sync issues. Establishing a new connection with the cables refreshes the settings on the system and the TV is refreshed from any interrupted commands. 

To restart Apple TV after it’s unplugged, follow these steps : 

1. Unplug all the cables from the TV, including the power cable and the HDMI cables.

2. Wait for a while and now, plug the HDMI cables first. The connection should be firm and well-fitted in.

3. Now, plug the Power cable in and switch the TV on.

When the TV turns on, it will be refreshed with the settings on it and will fix any bugs on it, if any.

5. Restart the Router

To boost the internet speed and to maintain a stable connection, you should restart the router/ modem occasionally. It resets the router’s system and establishes a fresh, strong connection on the TV. 

1. The router should not be placed too far from the Apple TV. it will create lag in sending and receiving the signals. 

2. If you cannot move the router any closer, use an Wi-fi Range extender to ensure a strong connection.

3. To restart the router, unplug all the cables from it and unplug it from the power cord.

4. Now, wait a bit and noe, plug all the cables back.

5. One antennae of the Wifi should be vertical and the other one horizontal.

 Now, switch your TV off and turn it on again. The newly refreshed Wifi connection will load in the TV now and should fix any issue pertaining to an unstable or weak internet connection. 

The above methods will be instrumental in fixing the audio bug in the system. It will be in-sync eventually after you have tried all the above methods on the Apple TV. 

How to Fix the Spotify Apple TV Black Screen

I love Spotify and prefer it over all other music apps for the range of music genres it contains on the app. It’s very easy to use and can easily be connected  to my iOS, Mac and the Apple Tv.

But often, apps can run into some glitches due to data-loading issues or if the server is down. Even a streaming giant like Netflix has also been reported for being unresponsive on Roku TVs. 

The users have complained that when they open the Spotify app on their Apple TV, the logo appears for a moment and then, the screen goes all black. 

It will take only a few minutes to fix Spotify’s app glitch on the Apple Tv screen. Although, it can be slightly tricky if the screen is dead and black.

Nevertheless, bear with me and let me guide you all the way to fix the Spotify app on the Apple TV’s blck screen.

1. Reinstall the Spotify App

A quick re-installation should fix such errors on the app. To run this step on the app-

1. Scroll down to the apps and locate Spotify.
2. On the Spotify app, now press Play/Pause.
3. Select ‘Delete the app’ from the option.

Once you delete the app and now will reinstall it, you can still access all your saved preferences by logging-in with your account on the Spotify app. 
Now, open the playstore on the Apple TV and search for the Spotify app. On locating, download and install it again.

Log-in the Spotify’s account with your credentials and you can use the Spotify app again on your Apple TV.

2. Reset your Apple TV

You must have tried this one while fixing the black screen bug on your Apple TV. A reset on the Apple TV will reset the apps and will refresh the content on them.

For resetting the TV-

a) Go to the Settings on your Apple Tv and click on System.

b) Now, click on Reset.

c) Follow the instructions on-screen to reset or update the Apple TV’s system. 

You’ll require a strong internet connection to implement this one. Once the Tv is reset, restart it and the app should load now. 

3. Update the Spotify App

If the app hasn’t been updated recently, it can cause a lag in loading the app and thus, has given you a black screen on it which doesn;t respond.

To update the app from the play store –

a) Go to the Apple Tv’s play store and click on the Spotify app.

b) You’ll see the option ‘Update’ if any update has been launched and you have missed it.

c) Click on it and the app will begin to update. 

d) Close the app and now, open it again from the Apps’ list.

The updated app will be all ready to load on your Apple TV now. 

I hope you are listening to your playlist right now after trying all the steps above. If nothing works out, try restarting your Apple TV also or in worse case, contact the app developer.

I have given best of my researched knowledge and practically tried techniques in this article to help to best of my information. I seriously hope the Apple Tv screen is all live again and you can hear and watch your favourite content on the Tv. 

FAQs

Q1. Why can’t I see anything on my Apple Tv?

Answer – If you just cannot see anything on your Apple Tv, you can first try watching your content on a different device using the same Wi-Fi connection which you are using on your Apple Tv. If it works, it concludes that there is no issue with the internet connectivity but with the Tv. For fixing the issue with the Apple Tv, refer to my article above. For fixing issues with the internet connectivity, either reboot your modem, or disconnect a few extra devices connected. You should also try contacting the Service Provider for the same. 

Q2. I can hear my Apple Tv but cannot see anything. Why?

Answer – If you can hear sound from your Apple Tv but cannot see any picture, a quick restart may help fix this bug. On the Apple Tv, go to the Settings>General> Restart.  Remove all the connected cables on the TV and then, restart it. It will soft reset the system and should fix this issue.

Q3. Why is my Apple Tv empty?

Answer – Apple TV saved preferences may have disappeared which might be showing your Apple Tv empty. To fix this, first sign out of your account from the iTunes and the App Store. Now, sign-in again. You can also try force-quitting the app which is particularly misbehaving and then launching it again. Also, force-quit the device and restart the Tv. This should bring back the saved preferences back and show the content once again on your Apple Tv. 

Q4. How do I bring my Apple TV out of the dark mode?

Answer – For disabling the dark mode on your Apple TV, first launch the Settings app on your Apple TV. Now, click on ‘General’ and then, select ‘Appearance’. From the options of Light, Dark, Automatic, select Light. If you select Automatic, the TV will turn Light in the daytime and Dark at night time.    

The Concluding Words

It is duly accepted that even if Apple is renowned for bringing forth the best of the devices, a few issues can erupt on them over time. They are not arduous issues which should make you worry.

In this article, you must have learnt the simplest and the best methods to troubleshoot this kind of issue with your Apple TV. Any one of the techniques mentioned above will surely bring your Apple TV back to life and a smile on your face. 

If any method other than these worked for you, do let me know in the comments section. Take care and catch up on all the shows you missed.