A Hisense A7N with a black screen and sound, or with no picture at all, may be showing the wrong input, may have a standby fault or a failed backlight, and the quickest way to tell is to look closely. Shine a flashlight at the screen at an angle; if you see a very faint picture, the backlight has failed and the TV needs service. If the screen shows nothing at all and there is no sound, check the power: the standby light should be lit, and a TV that is dead needs its power cable, the outlet and any surge strip checked.
The checks in more detail
Plug the TV directly into a wall outlet, and unplug it for a minute and plug it back in. Hold the power button on the TV for fifteen seconds to drain residual charge. If the TV powers on and sounds work but the screen stays black, change the input with the remote to see whether it is on the wrong one. Press the input or source button and cycle through them, since a device left on another input can look like a dead TV.
Disconnect the HDMI leads and the external boxes, then add them back one at a time, because a faulty device or cable can stop the picture on that input. Try another HDMI port and another cable. Check the picture settings: some TVs have a power saving or screen off feature that turns the screen black while sound continues, so press a button to wake it and look at the settings. Update the TV's software if you can see the menu on another device, and run a factory reset from the menu if you can reach it.
If you hear sound but the screen is dark in every input, the backlight or the main board may have failed. An LED backlight failure is a repair that costs a good part of the price of this TV, so ask Hisense for a quote and compare it with the cost of a new set. If the TV is in warranty, contact Hisense with the model number and serial number from the back. Do not open the TV, since the board holds high voltages.
Differential
Likely causes of “Hisense A7N 4K TV has sound but no picture”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong input selected
What separates it Black screen with sound
How to confirm Cycle through the inputs
- 2
A device or cable on that input
What separates it No picture on one input
How to confirm Disconnect devices and try another port and cable
- 3
A residual-charge or standby fault
What separates it No lights or response
How to confirm Unplug for a minute and hold power for fifteen seconds
- 4
A power saving feature
What separates it Black screen with sound
How to confirm Press a button to wake and check the settings
- 5
A failed backlight or board
What separates it A faint picture under a flashlight
How to confirm Contact Hisense for a repair quote
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether there is sound
- Whether a faint picture shows under a flashlight
- The input and device
- The model and serial number
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck the standby light
ReversibleAnd the power outlet.
Unplug for a minute
ReversibleHold power for fifteen seconds.
Cycle the inputs
ReversibleWith the remote.
Disconnect devices
ReversibleAnd try another cable.
Shine a flashlight
ReversibleLook for a faint picture.
Contact Hisense
ReversibleWith the model number.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Flashlight test
- A faint picture means the backlight failed.
- Inputs
- Cycle them before assuming a fault.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a faint picture shows under a flashlight, the backlight has failed; contact Hisense
- !If the TV is in warranty, contact Hisense with the serial number
- !Do not open the TV
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Hisense screen black but I hear sound?+
The wrong input, a power-saving mode or a failed backlight.
How do I check the backlight?+
Shine a flashlight at the screen at an angle.
Does a power reset help?+
It can clear a stuck standby.
Is a backlight repair worth it?+
Often it costs a large part of the price.