HDMI No Signal means the TV is not receiving usable video data from the selected input. The cause is usually the wrong input, a loose cable, a sleeping device, a failed HDMI cable, a stuck handshake, or an unsupported output setting.
These steps apply to any TV with HDMI inputs connected to a cable box, console, streaming device, Blu-ray player, receiver, or computer.
Does this affect you?
Use this if the TV shows No Signal, No Input, or a black screen with the HDMI input name even though the connected device appears to be powered on.
Confirm the input and reseat the cable
- Press Source or Input on the TV remote.
- Choose the exact HDMI port where the device is plugged in, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.
- Unplug the HDMI cable from the TV.
- Unplug the other end from the connected device.
- Reconnect both ends firmly.
- Confirm the source device is truly on, not in sleep or standby.
- Wait 5 to 10 seconds for the HDMI handshake to finish.
Wrong input selection and cables that look connected but are not fully seated account for a large share of No Signal cases.
Try another HDMI port and cable
- Move the cable to a different HDMI port on the TV.
- Switch the TV input to match the new port.
- Swap in a spare HDMI cable if one is available.
- If the source has more than one HDMI output, test another output port.
- Compare a standard HDMI port with an ARC or eARC port if the device behaves differently.
HDMI cables fail more often than people expect, especially after being bent sharply, pinched behind furniture, or run through a wall.
Power-cycle both ends
- Unplug the source device from power for 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in and let it fully restart.
- Unplug the TV from the wall for 60 seconds.
- Plug the TV back in and turn it on.
- Select the correct HDMI input again.
This clears a stuck HDMI handshake, which can happen after firmware updates, outages, power flickers, or switching devices between displays.
Resolution, CEC, and hardware checks
If a computer or console is outputting a resolution or refresh rate the TV does not support, the TV may show No Signal instead of a helpful error. Connect the device to another display or boot into safe mode to reset it to a standard resolution.
HDMI-CEC can sometimes send confusing power or input commands. Disable CEC temporarily on the TV and source device. Brand names include Anynet+ on Samsung, SimpLink on LG, and similar device-control settings on other TVs.
If a known-good cable and source work on another TV, but every tested device fails on the same HDMI port after a full restart, that port may need service. If all ports fail, the TV’s HDMI board or main board may be the issue.
Sources
- Samsung Support – TV Shows No Signal Message (2025)
- LG Support – HDMI No Signal Troubleshooting (2025)
- Vizio Support – HDMI Connection and No Signal Issues (2025)