Table of Contents
Introduction
Samsung is not only the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile phones, but it also exceeds its counterparts in terms of other electronics, particularly its smart televisions.
The Samsung Smart TV range is constantly evolving and known in the industry for its high quality and cutting-edge technology. A Samsung TV is always considered a safe bet as you can rely on the brand for high-quality audio and visual outputs.
However, at the end of the day, it is the viewing experience that determines user satisfaction. In some cases, users may encounter issues with the Samsung TV screen brightness and may find it too dark. If you are also facing such a problem, you are not alone, as it is a common issue that can occur at any time.
There are a number of reasons that can affect the brightness of a Samsung Smart TV. Luckily, you can try a few quick fixes to improve the screen’s brightness.
If you, too, are facing such an issue, this article is for you. Read on as we offer a few reasons as to why is your Samsung TV too dark and what you can do in this regard to have the best viewing experience.
Why is my Samsung TV so dark- Tips to improve screen’s brightness
Samsung Smart TVs are equipped with various advanced features to enhance the viewer’s experience. One such example is an in-built feature for regulating brightness and minimizing energy consumption. It is why during the day time you may notice that the TV screen is brighter and, in other instances, it is darker.
However, at times the Samsung TV’s screen may appear too dark. The major reason for this could be the ambient light detection function. If enabled, ambient light detection can be the cause of the dark TV screen. In a later section, we have provided instructions for resolving this issue.
Besides this, there can be other factors attributing to the unsatisfactory brightness settings. One of the most obvious reasons is the improper contrast or brightness level settings. Other factors include inadequate TV placement, energy saving mode being activated, or issues with the Samsung TV backlight, etc.
If your TV is placed in a spot that is too bright, its screen may appear dark in comparison to the surroundings. In such a case, merely changing the TV placement or reducing the brightness of the surroundings may help. However, if that is not the case, you need to look for alternative solutions.
This comprehensive guide will provide helpful instructions on how to fix your dark TV screen so you can enjoy watching your favorite content on your Samsung Smart TV.
Restart the TV
Before trying anything else, try restarting the TV to see if the dark screen issue is resolved. Unplug your Samsung Smart TV from the wall socket and wait for at least a minute before turning it on.
Meanwhile, hold the power button on the TV for around thirty seconds to ensure all the residual power is removed from the system. Once sixty seconds have lapsed, plug the Samsung television back in and turn it on to see if the dark screen issue is resolved.
If you still find the Samsung tv too dark, it is time to explore other options.
Adjust the Ambient Light Detection function
As suggested earlier, Samsung Smart TVs are equipped with various features to enhance user experience. One of these is an in-built light sensor that assesses the room’s light intensity and adjusts the brightness level according to the ambient light level.
Due to this Ambient Light Detection feature, previously known as the eco sensor, you may notice the screen being more bright during the day as it is more bright in the day, and the extra brightness provides more visual clarity.
On the other hand, the in-built feature will alter the TV screen brightness at night time or when you switch off the lights. The screen’s brightness will decrease for optimized resolution and minimum power consumption. However, not all Samsung TV models have this function.
That said, if your TV model has this function, here is how you can adjust the Ambient light detection settings.
Use your TV remote control to open the Smart Hub via the home button.
Once the Smart Hub is open, press the left button to search and enter the settings.
This will open the main menu, from where you must go to the general menu. Press enter to open the general settings menu.
Select Eco solution from the menu and select Ambient light detection.
You can disable the Ambient Light Detection feature to adjust the brightness at your behest. However, if you want to keep this function enabled, you can set the brightness settings to a minimum level so that the TV screen will appear only as dim as you want it to be.
Adjust the Contrast or Brightness Level
The inaccurate display settings are one of the obvious reasons why you find your Samsung TV so dark. Fortunately, adjusting the brightness does not get any easier. Here is what you need to do.
Open the Smart Hub by pressing the Home button on your TV remote control.
Once the Smart Hub is open, select and enter the settings.
This will take you to the main menu, where you must select the picture settings or expert settings menu.
Now select brightness from the menu and alter the levels using the up and down buttons on the remote.
You can alter the contrast settings from the same menu. Once you are done adjusting the brightness, press enter and scroll to contrast settings.
It is pertinent to note that when you adjust brightness, this adjusts the overall brightness of the visual output.
It is also important to note that the contrast settings on the Samsung TV adjusts the display of light and dark elements on the screen. If you overdo contrast, it will only give a shady effect as the black and white will be mixed together.
Check the Picture Mode on the TV
Sometimes, the picture settings in Samsung TVs may be the reason for a dark screen. If the TV came with a preset standard picture mode, you could reset picture mode to Dynamic contrast, provided your TV is equipped with the feature.
To activate the dynamic mode, go to the settings of your Samsung Smart TV, select picture menu, and open picture mode. Click on the Dynamic mode for more clarity and brightness.
When you select the dynamic contrast, it will try to make a greater distinction between light and dark colors. As a result, the brighter colors will appear even more brilliant, while the dark colors will appear to be even darker than before.
You may also want to check out other modes to evaluate your options for the best possible output according to your preferences.
Besides the standard and dynamic, there is a natural and movie mode. This can be an important consideration, particularly if you are adjusting the Smart TV screen settings for children.
You would want settings that are not so bright that they put a strain on the eyes or are too dark, which can, again, be harmful to kids. If you are vying for a comfortable viewing experience that does not put too much strain on the eyes, the natural mode is the most suitable option.
Disable the power saving mode
In some instances, the energy saving mode, when enabled, can be the cause of a dim screen in Samsung TVs. The energy saving mode of Samsung Tvs makes them more eco-friendly and helps reduce power consumption.
You can enable or disable the energy saving mode from the same menu where you enable or disable the Ambiant Light Detection function. If you feel that the Samsung TV screen is too dark due to the energy saving mode being enabled, here is what you need to do.
Open the Smart Hub by pressing the Home button on your remote control.
Once the Smart Hub is open, go to the settings and press enter to open.
Now open the general menu and select eco solution or eco sensor mode.
This will direct you to the Energy saving mode. You can now enable or disable the power saving mode as you like.
Adjust the PWM settings
PWM or Pulse Width Modulation in smart TVs refers to settings when the brightness of the TV’s screen automatically adjusts according to the output. Often, these settings may be causing the screen to be too dark.
To change the PWM settings to improve the Samsung TV’s brightness, you need to access the Service mode of the TV. Turn off your TV and use your remote to press mute, 1, 8, and 2, and then press the power button.
When you turn on the TV, you will see that the service menu appears. Before you begin, take a picture of the settings in front of you for later reference. Once the settings are changed, you may be unable to reset them, so it is better to be safe.
From the service menu, select SVC and click on Other Settings. Now select CAL Data Restore and press OK. Now press Return on the remote to go back to the initial menu and select Advanced. Press the digit 0 four times to open additional menu options.
Set all the PWM settings to 100 so that your TV screen’s brightness remains at one level and does not change according to the scene.
Check the minimum backlight settings
If any of the tips mentioned above does not improve the Samsung TV brightness, you may want to check the minimum backlight setting of the TV. The backlight feature is intended to adjust the TV screen’s lighting source intensity. All TV models are equipped with this feature except for OLED TVs.
At times, a faulty backlight may be the reason your TV’s screen appears dim and may need to be adjusted to rectify the problem. So if you want to modify the minimum backlight on your Samsung TV, here is what you need to do.
Open the settings by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote control.
Go to the general settings and open Eco solution to select minimum backlight.
Now adjust the light scale to see if the screen’s darkness improves.
Repair the Backlight
If the backlight settings are not the problem and the screen is still dark, it could mean that the Samsung TV’s backlight is probably damaged and needs to be repaired. In some cases, certain portions of the screen may appear dark, while in others, the whole screen may appear dark or dim.
You can run a small test to check if this is the problem. Turn on the TV, take a flashlight, and shine it close to the TV’s screen. You can also use your phone’s flashlight for the purpose. You may want to turn off all the lights so it is easier to check.
You may see a very dim image on the screen. If that is the case, it means that the screen is working. Now use your remote to check if the TV responds to the remote control instructions. You can try turning up the volume or changing a channel.
If you see a faint image when you shine the flashlight on the screen or hear audio, it means that the TV is working fine and the LED backlights are the problem.Â
If that is the case, you may not be able to resolve the issue on your own and will need to contact Samsung Support for assistance. It is recommended not to try to disassemble the TV on your own as it may void the warranty if your TV is still under one.
Update Samsung TV OS
Finally, an outdated software could be the reason why the TV screen may be acting up. Usually, the firmware updates happen automatically, but if missed, you can perform the function as well.
Select settings and open Support to go to the Software Update section. Select Software Update to allow the TV to update automatically. The process may take a few minutes.
FAQs
Does a dark screen affect Samsung TV’s performance?
In most instances, a dark screen is the result of some error in settings and does not have any bearing on the TV’s performance. However, if any of the quick fixes, including a change in settings, do not resolve the issue, there may be a mechanical problem with the TV, and it requires professional assistance.
How can I adjust the picture mode on the Samsung TV?
Samsung Smart TVs have four modes, standard, dynamic, movie, and natural. To change picture settings, use your remote to open the settings and select picture mode. Choose the desired mode by scrolling up or down.
Can I perform a factory reset on my Samsung TV?
If you have exhausted all options to restore the screen’s brightness, you can try a full factory reset. Click the home button on your TV’s remote and go to Reset from the General settings. You may need to enter your security PIN. The TV will turn off and then on again to display the screen with the initial setup. Your TV is now restored to its original settings.
Conclusion- Why is Samsung TV so Dark
Having a smart TV can be very gratifying as it offers a very exciting viewer experience. However, a dark screen can be quite frustrating and makes for an unsatisfactory user experience. You wake up one fine morning only to find your Samsung TV screen dark.
That said, we hope one of the suggestions mentioned above helps get you out of your predicament. There are several things you can try, from simply unplugging the TV to factory reset; there is a myriad of options to try and restore your Samsung TV’s brightness.
Which method worked for you? Let us know in the comments.