If you own a TV, you know how annoying it is when the TV suddenly starts to behave strangely. You might see issues with ghosting or lines across the display, which can make it impossible to use the TV for specific purposes. Some of these issues might also get worse over time and grow into big problems from small, only slightly annoying distractions.
If you are seeing vertical lines and ghosting on your Samsung TV, you will need to look at a variety of different possible causes for this problem before deciding that your TV cannot be fixed. The screen itself might not be the reason for this issue. There are other things that can cause these effects on your Samsung device.
Troubleshooting for Vertical Lines and Ghosting
- See if the Lines Move
If the lines are moving and are not permanent, it is more likely that an input issue is a reason for the lines and ghosting. Lines that are permanent and seem not to move around are more likely to be due to a defect in the screen.
- Do the Lines Sway?
If the lines sway, you should check the input source for the display. Options like HDMI 1, Video, PC, etc, need to be used for the matching display devices. When you use the wrong input type, you might find that your display does not show up right. You should also be sure that your cables and connections are solid. You might just be dealing with a disconnected or loose cable.
- Select the Menu Screen
Sometimes just taking a moment to change the screen to the menu can resolve the problem. If your TV has a streaming device or a display device connected to it and the screen is fine when the device is not selected, you will know that the device is the issue.
- Picture Test
This is a test that you can do to check your screen. In most cases, you will just need to head into the settings screen and select support. You should see a device care option. You will want to select this and let the option run a scan. A self-diagnosis dialogue will show up, offering a screen and picture test. You can let this run and see what the results are.
Technicians will do this to see why the screen is not working, and you will know a lot more about why your screen is not working if the picture test turns something up. This can be helpful if you are thinking about calling out a tech and want to be able to point to something specific that is wrong with your TV.
Sometimes There is Nothing Wrong With the TV
In most cases, there is nothing wrong with your Samsung TV, and the ghosting and lines are just due to a connection issue or a mismatch of input device settings. Make sure that you rule out all of these various options before you assume that your TV needs to be replaced. You can also call a tech out to look at the issue to let you know if the TV is broken.
This article was last updated on May 5, 2023 .
