LG's no-picture articles start with a two-second test. Turn the TV on, press a volume button on the remote and see whether the volume bar appears: if it does, the TV is processing and the fault is the external device or cable connections; if it does not, the TV itself may have an issue. For sound but no picture, check the input: press the Input button and select the source the device is on, make sure the external device is on, and disconnect the HDMI cable for three seconds and reconnect it.
The checks in more detail
LG says to use an HDMI cable version 2.0 or later and to run HDMI Check in Quick Help under the TV's Settings to diagnose the condition of the cable. Run the Screen Self-Diagnosis: on webOS TVs from 2021 it is All Settings, Support, Screen Self-Diagnosis; on 2020 it is All Settings, Support, Additional Settings, Picture Test; and on OLED TVs from 2021 to 2023 it is All Settings, General, OLED Care, Device Self-Care, Screen Self-Diagnosis.
LG notes the test checks whether the TV can display picture and sound, but does not test the broadcast signal, so if the test is fine the fault is upstream. If the screen is red or black and white, LG has articles on grayscale being switched on in accessibility. Check Energy Saving, which can dim the screen, and AI Brightness. Reset the picture, update the software and unplug the TV for a minute.
If the menu appears only as sound and the picture never does, contact LG. Keep the Screen Self-Diagnosis result in mind when you call LG: a clear test image tells support the panel is fine, while a blank one proves the fault is inside the TV, and either answer speeds the call. Press the Home button on the remote. If the launcher appears, the panel works and the fault is an input or source setting rather than the display.
Differential
Likely causes of “LG TV line (OLED evo, QNED and UHD) has sound but no picture”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong input
What separates it The screen is black but there is sound because the wrong input is selected
How to confirm Select the right input on the TV, and check that the picture returns
- 2
A device that is off
What separates it There is no picture from that input because the device is switched off
How to confirm Turn the device on, and wake it from sleep, then check the input again
- 3
A bad HDMI cable
What separates it The screen is blank on HDMI because the cable is bad
How to confirm Use an HDMI 2.0 or later cable, and retest the picture with it
- 4
Grayscale on
What separates it The picture is in black and white because grayscale is switched on
How to confirm Turn grayscale off in the accessibility settings, and check the colors return
- 5
A panel or board fault
What separates it The Self-Diagnosis screen is blank too, which points to a panel or board fault
How to confirm Contact LG service, since a blank test screen means the fault is inside the TV
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the volume bar appears on the screen when you press volume
- Whether the Self-Diagnosis test shows a picture
- Whether the screen is black, red or gray
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedPress volume
ReversiblePress the volume button, and see whether the volume bar appears on the screen, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Select the right input
ReversibleSelect the right input, and make sure that the device is turned on and awake.
Reseat HDMI for three seconds
ReversibleReseat the HDMI cable, holding it unplugged for three seconds, and then reconnect it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Run Screen Self-Diagnosis
ReversibleRun Screen Self-Diagnosis, to see whether the TV itself is able to display a picture.
Check grayscale and energy saving
ReversibleCheck grayscale and energy saving in the settings, since both can change the picture, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact LG
ReversibleContact LG if the Self-Diagnosis test is blank, since that means the TV needs service.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- OLED Care
- 2021 to 2023 OLED models put Screen Self-Diagnosis under OLED Care.
- Older TVs
- 2020 and earlier TVs use Picture Test under Support.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models B3, B4, B5, C2, C3, C5, CX OLED TV, G3, G4, G5, M4, QNED85T, QNED90T, UR9000.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the volume bar never appears, contact LG
- !If Self-Diagnosis is blank, the panel or board is at fault
- !If the TV is under warranty, ask LG for a repair
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Sound but no picture.
Volume bar test and external device checks.
Screen and Sound Self-Diagnosis by model year.
Grayscale in accessibility.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I know if it is the TV or the device?+
Press the volume button, and if the volume bar appears, the TV is working and the source is at fault.
What is Screen Self-Diagnosis?+
A test that shows whether the TV can display.
Which HDMI cable?+
Use an HDMI cable of version 2.0 or later, which can carry a 4K signal.
What is HDMI Check?+
A Quick Help tool that tests the cable.
Why is my picture black and white?+
Your picture may be black and white because grayscale is switched on in the settings.
Can Energy Saving dim it?+
Yes, Energy Saving can dim the picture a lot, so turn it off to test the screen.
Does the test check the broadcast?+
No, the test does not check the broadcast, so a good test means the TV is fine.
Should I reseat HDMI?+
Yes, hold the HDMI cable unplugged for three seconds, and then reconnect it.
Can an update help?+
Sometimes, an update helps, so update the software and then check the picture again.
What is Sound Self-Diagnosis?+
It is a test that plays a sound through the TV's own speakers, to check that they work.
What is OLED Care?+
OLED Care is a group of settings that protect an OLED panel, such as pixel refresh and screen shift.
What is Game Optimizer?+
Game Optimizer is a game mode menu that lowers latency and shows the settings that matter for gaming.
What is ALLM?+
ALLM is Auto Low Latency Mode, which switches the TV to its game settings automatically when a console starts.