It could happen right out of the box, or even overnight. One of the most common failures reported by PlayStation 5 users is not getting an image on the screen. There are many factors that can cause a black screen when connecting PS5 to TV. Sometimes this glitch occurs after touching the TV or monitor settings, such as resolution. In other cases, the failure may be due to a damaged HDMI cable, which is causing connection problems. And on many occasions, it can also happen that it is a problem with the PS5 video settings. Whatever the error, in this post we will explain step by step what you should do to solve this problem.
Why doesn't my PS5 offer an image?
Your PS5's display might not be working due to many factors. It could be a cable issue, a configuration problem, or even incorrect image settings. Generally, the PS5 experiences this type of issue when the screen or monitor resolution isn't set correctly. It could also be due to a faulty or incompatible cable. And it could even be a software problem. Below, we'll show you the most common issues that cause these problems . However, we don't recommend trying them one by one. If someone—or you yourself—recently used your monitor and changed the resolution, start there. If you changed the HDMI cable, then suspect that the problem might be there. In any case, the problem should be resolved (if there isn't a wiring issue) by performing the settings reset that we'll show you a little later.
wrong resolution
One of the most common problems is selecting the wrong resolution , one that's incompatible with the screen your console is connected to. So, even if the console is working correctly, the screen won't be able to interpret the video signal. In this case, you should find a TV that works properly with your console. Then, go to your PlayStation 5 settings and find the 'Change Video Output' option. Next, go to 'Change Resolution' and lower the resolution to the correct one. If you don't have another TV, at the end of this post you'll learn a trick to reset all the settings, even without changing them.
It may happen that you are connecting your PS5 to a screen that does not support 4K resolution or the HDMI 2.1 standard. This can cause an incompatibility as the TV does not recognize the type of signal that is being sent to it from the console.
Disable image settings
This problem is almost as common as the previous one. It also has to do with settings that can cause a conflict with older televisions or incompatible with the latest technologies offered by the PlayStation 5.
To solve this problem you will have to enter System Options> Screen and Video. Within this menu, you will have to deactivate several sections. Start by turning off Deep Color Temperature and 4K HDR. If the problem persists, you should also try disabling HDCP.
If you see that it is totally impossible to make these changes because you do not have a compatible screen to make these adjustments, you can try the next step that we give you, which is to check the HDMI cable or, directly skip to the end of the post, where we show you what you have to do to reset the video settings of the PlayStation 5 safely.
Check your HDMI cable
Another cause of a black image may be the use of a poor quality cable. If you have a 4K television compatible with 120 Hz, your console will probably recognize it, but if the cable used is not HDMI 2.1, it will not be able to guarantee the sending of the data correctly. For this reason, it is very common to see that the console turns on without problems while the screen ensures that no signal is reaching it.
If this happens to you, unplug everything and check both ends of the HDMI cable. If you see that it is damaged, the solution is obviously to change the cable for a quality one. However, the most common thing is that you are using an old cable and that it is not capable of delivering the signal correctly to the television since it is not of the corresponding standard.
If you have a new cable that is compliant with the HDMI 2.1 standard and also a fully compatible modern TV, make sure you are connecting the cable to the correct port. Even if a TV supports HDMI 2.1, normally only one or two jacks support this system. Therefore, you will have to connect the cable to the correct connector for everything to work well.
Reset video settings
In any case, when you experience these kinds of problems, the best thing to do is reset your video settings . This will force the console to display a very low resolution without HDR or unusual refresh rates enabled. This way, you can rule out any incorrect settings and then determine the ideal resolution for your screen.
To reset the Playstation 5 video settings, you only need to enter the safe mode of the console, and to do so, you only have to follow the following steps:
- Make sure you have the console fully off. Remember that PS5 usually goes to sleep and hibernation, and in this mode the console shows an orange light on its front area. If your console is in this mode, unplug the power cord and wait a minute before plugging it back in.
- Now you should turn it on, but instead of pressing and releasing the power button, press and hold it until you hear a second beep.
- The second beep will appear after a few seconds, and that's when you should release the button and look at the screen.
- The console will have started the safe mode, a mode in which the wireless connection of the controller is not active, so you will have to connect the Dual Sense with a USB cable to your console.
- With the controller connected, press the PlayStation button and you will be able to see the safe mode menu.
- Choose "change video output".
- Choose "Change resolution”. And press the Ok button on the next screen.
The console will automatically reboot and boot back into normal mode displaying the resolution selection screen, showing those resolutions that are not compatible with your screen and allowing you to choose the "Automatic" option so that the console will automatically select the most optimal option.
If for some reason you are still having problems, you could try choosing the resolution manually and find the resolution that is causing you problems. If you can't fix the problem there, check the cable again or borrow one. However, there are still a few extra solutions you can try.
Other solutions
In the previous paragraphs we have mentioned the most common and frequent problems. However, there are others that can have similar effects, although they occur less frequently. If the problem persists, you can try these other options:
update your system
Having your console updated to the latest firmware version that Sony has released is a guarantee for the future. The reason is that with each PlayStation 5 software update, small improvements are made. From one version to another, the usual thing is not to notice any type of significant change. However, the differences may be on the inside.
Sony collects the usage data of all the users of its consoles to keep track of the most common failures and detect in the source code of the system where the failure occurs in order to solve it. Often, we try to solve a problem with our PS5 or any other console without knowing that this problem has already been solved through software. Therefore, if you have come this far and you do not have your console updated, try to do so. It could be the solution you were looking for.
Try another TV
If you don't have another TV at home, try taking the console to a friend or relative's house. If the console still does not give an image, then continue with the following steps that we show you below. However, if you notice that it does give an image there, it begins to suggest that it is due to a problem with your television (usually it is a configuration issue). Keep in mind that today's TVs have a large number of HDMI ports, so make sure you have selected the HDMI the console is plugged into. Don't go through that embarrassing moment, please. Of course, Smart TVs usually warn when they detect a new signal through some of their HDMI to invite you to change the source.
Rebuild the database
This process is very slow and delicate, but it can solve the most complex problems. Your PlayStation 5 is essentially a computer. Like any other machine of its kind, it handles large amounts of information that it stores in complex databases that are usually encrypted to prevent hackers from taking control of the device.
Occasionally, faulty firmware or an error can corrupt some tables in the database. Rebuilding the database is a lengthy and tedious process, but it can resolve complex problems on your PlayStation 5. To do this, you'll need to follow the same steps explained above to enter the console's safe mode, and once in the menu, select option 5, Rebuild Database . Keep in mind that the process is slow, so let the console run and leave it alone for a while.
reset console
The last step before you contact Sony technical support is to try to put the console with its default system. Keep in mind that you will have to make a copy of your data, because during the process, the information on your PS5 will be lost.
In the event that the problem that your console presented was software, it is most likely that putting it in the factory state will solve it. We repeat, you are going to lose all the data, so make a backup of your games, upload them to the cloud and try to save everything you can. Remember that games installed on external hard drives are not deleted.
Call technical service
If this doesn't work, talk to technical support to claim your warranty or request a repair. If your console is still under warranty, Sony will be in charge of solving the problem that your PlayStation 5 presents, as long as it has broken down naturally, and not after some misuse by the user.
If your console is out of warranty, Sony can provide a repair estimate or even offer you a refurbished console as a replacement or for a pre-arranged price. To proceed with the repair, you must complete the form on the official PlayStation website and follow the instructions provided.