It is unusual for your TV to have white lines. The lines can be vertical or horizontal and make your viewing experience unbearable.
For example, you will not view any pictures on the screen or see distorted images while watching a video. But having white lines does not mean you have a broken TV.
In most cases, when your Roku TV screen is white or has white stripes, the issue could be the TV’s settings or a hardware issue.
When Roku TV shows a white screen, you must identify and fix the cause. But sometimes, that may not always be straightforward, especially if you are dealing with a hardware issue.
Furthermore, the fix may differ depending on your Roku TV type.
What causes white lines on a TV screen?
White lines on a TV screen can occur because of different reasons, including:
- The T-con board is not working properly
- Loose wiring
- Water damage to the motherboard
- Memory issues
White lines can also occur if your TV has debris on the rear end of the screen.
Luckily, there are different ways of fixing a grey and white TV screen.
How to fix white lines on your Roku TV
You can fix white lines on Roku TV in different ways. They include:
1. Restart your TV
While unconventional, restarting your TV can fix many issues, including white lines on your TV. Here is what you should do:
- Turn off your Roku TV.
- Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
- Wait for two minutes.
- Plug back in the power cord.
- Turn on your TV.
After turning on your TV, determine whether it has fixed the issue.
2. Update the software on your Roku TV
All Roku TV models run on the latest software version. If the software is out-of-date, it may cause an issue with the proper functionality of your TV.
Therefore, consider updating the software and see whether it fixes the problem. Here is how:
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings.
- Go to System.
- Select System update.
- Choose Check Now to check for updates manually.
If the updates are available, wait until they finish installing. You will then have to restart your TV and see whether it has fixed the white lines.
3. Restore your TV to factory default
Resetting your Roku TV will delete all settings and allow you to start afresh. You can use the option to determine whether a particular setting with your TV caused the white lines. Here is how:
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings.
- Go to System.
- Select Advanced system settings.
- Select Factory reset.
Ensure to reset everything and try again.
We recently did a detailed guide about resetting a TCL Roku TV. It covers all methods you can use, even if you don’t have the TV remote controller.
4. Check the connecting cables
A typical TV has many connectors, including HDMI, optical, and antenna. But the cables you should check include component video, composite video, and RCA cables.
The component and composite video cables only receive analog signals, and the RCA cable sends sound. So, if you have an issue with a white screen with sound, try the following:
- Remove the video cables from your Roku TV.
- Also, remove all connected sources from your TV, including consoles and Blu-ray.
- Restart your TV.
- Reconnect the cables.
Ensure you reconnect the cables tightly. Also, check that the wires have no damage or burns. If possible, consider trying new wires.
5. Inspect the HDMI cable
The HDMI cable carries data and delivers audio and video to other connecting devices. So, if you notice issues like a picture freezing sporadically, video irregularities, or white horizontal or vertical lines, try inspecting the HDMI cable.
Ensure you have inserted the cable into the correct port and that the cable is not loose or damaged. Also, try using a different HDMI cable and see whether it fixes the issue.
It is helpful to use quality HDMI cables, especially when setting up HDR or 4K Ultra HD devices with your Roku TV.
6. Inspect the T-con board
The T-Con board should probably be the first thing to inspect (after the soft troubleshooting tips mentioned above) when your TV screen is white.
Its function is to generate horizontal and vertical timing panel signals, provides panel bias, and enhances signals.
When a T-Con board fails, your TV will have several distortions, and you will notice a shift in color levels. The video level also shifts, and you will see a lot of noise in the picture.
So, if there is no video or the TV generates lines and patterns that cover all or a substantial part of the screen, the issue is with the T-Con board.
If you have the right tools, you can inspect the board or even fix it using the steps below.
Otherwise, consult a technician for further assistance.
- Remove all the screws from the back of the TV.
- Trace the cable running from your screen to the video board.
- If the cable is loose, tighten it. Also, consider cleaning the cable and reseating it.
- Return the rear panel and cover the TV.
- Run the TV to see if you have fixed the issue.
If you still experience issues, you must replace the T-Con board. Unfortunately, the steps for replacing a T-Con board differ depending on the device. Therefore, consult a technician for more assistance.
7. Dry out your TV
In rare cases, white vertical stripes can occur on a TV because of water damage through condensation or a spill.
Therefore, you will have to open your TV and use a hairdryer to dry the internal components.
8. Cool your TV
High temperatures on the logic board will cause the TV to form white lines if you have an LCD screen. The logic board’s function is to drive the LCD panel once it overheats.
You can do several things to fix the issue:
- First, clean all vent homes in your TV.
- Ensure you do not have a bloated capacitor on the power supply board.
- Finally, check the LCD panel to ensure it is not defective.
If the LCD panel is defective, you may have to buy a new TV since repairing it can cause even more issues and is costly too.
Conclusion
You can fix a white screen on your Roku TV by determining the cause. The white lines occur because of a software or hardware issue. If it is a software issue, consider restarting your TV, updating the software, or factory reset it.
But if it is a hardware issue, start by inspecting the HDMI cables, tightening any loose video cables, cooling your TV if overheated, or drying out if condensation occurred.
However, white lines on a TV can be because of a damaged T-Con cable that you will have to replace.