Sharp TV Problems: 6 Most-Common Issues (Solved)

Are you having problems with your Sharp TV? This article may be able to help!

Generally, Sharp is a good TV brand, but all brands have issues too.

Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter with your Sharp TV.

1. My Sharp TV won’t connect to the Internet

Problems connecting to the internet are one of the most common issues users of smart TVs run into, regardless of brand. 

There are a few factors that can affect internet connectivity, so how do you identify what’s preventing your TV from connecting to the Internet? 

• The first thing to do when diagnosing your Internet connectivity is to check if other devices can stream the same platform while connected to the same network.
  • • If your smartphone is unable to stream the platform, it’s likely the problem is with the streaming platform or your Internet connection. Try other streaming services to be sure.
• However, if your device can stream, you should check how many devices are connected to the router.
  • • The usual Wi-Fi router that comes with a home subscription has a limit on the number of devices that can connect to it.
    • Try disconnecting a device and see if your TV can connect. If the TV connects after removing a device, it means your Wi-Fi network is congested.
• Restart your router by unplugging it from the power source and turning it on again after a minute.
• If this doesn’t let your TV connect, you should check if other devices occupy the same bandwidth.
  • • Devices that emit radio waves, like baby monitors, use the 2.4 GHz bandwidth that is used for Wi-Fi. They can be a source of conflict or interference for other devices, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
    • Most modern Wi-Fi routers have two bandwidths. Your TV is best connected to the 5 GHz bandwidth, which is wider and was meant for more intensive applications.
• If you are still unable to connect to the Wi-Fi, the problem is likely with the distance between the router and the TV.
  • • Ideally, you should keep your TV and Wi-Fi router, but that’s not always possible.
    • If it’s impractical, you can try running an Ethernet cable, or use the Wi-Fi repeaters to increase the strength of your Wi-Fi signal.

2. My Sharp TV is Flickering

Screen flickering is often a hardware issue, wherein there are loose connections inside the TV or in the peripherals connected to it.  

But before you send the TV to a repairman or attempt some DIY fixes, there is some troubleshooting that you can do. 

Try these steps out first:  

• Try different sources. 
• If the problem is with the cables used, replace them. 
• Check to see if the problems persist with different streaming services. 
• If there’s still a problem, do a reset. 
• If the reset still does not work, consider bringing it to a repairman. 

3. My Sharp TV Pixelates or Stutters

If you notice screen pixelation or stuttering, this issue usually has to do with the quality of your connection or signal.

You won’t be able to stream video at high quality if your Internet connection is poor. That is why many streaming platforms automatically adapt to the speed of your connection.

• If you attempt to change the resolution manually for the best resolution, you will still get pixelation or stuttering on the video if your connection is poor. 
• You’re better off using the automatic resolution, rather than forcing a setting that your Internet connection cannot handle.

In the case of cable, satellite, or free TV, you can experience pixelation due to weak signals being fed to your TV from the network. Unfortunately, even changing settings won’t do much to fix the quality of the signal.

For those using digital antennas, you can change the location of the antenna to see if it improves the signal.

Also, note that the weather can also disrupt the signal of free broadcast and satellite channels on an HDTV. These can also contribute to pixelation or stuttering.

4. My Sharp TV Only Displays a Black Screen

Your TV turns on but the screen is black—a frustrating issue!

This is a common problem, not only with Sharp but also with other brands.

You can try going through other video sources to see if it changes anything. If you get an image with other sources, you likely have a busted HDMI cable, or the streaming service you’re using is down.

With the former, you only need to replace the HDMI cable, while the latter just means you have to wait for it to fix.

But, if the TV is not okay, or you can’t access the menu due to the black screen, unplug your TV and let it rest for a minute then turn it on again.

If the TV is still blank after turning on, consider doing a hard reset. 

To do a hard reset:

• Unplug the TV. 
• Press and hold the Channel Down and Input buttons on the TV screen. 
• Plug the TV in while holding these buttons. You may need someone to assist you with this step.
• Maintain your hold on the buttons as you power on the TV. You might not get it on the first try, so you may need some patience.
• With the remote, go to Service Mode and click on Factory Reset. 
• Select Enter and the TV will shut down and reset to factory setting. 

If you aren’t able to reach the screen for Service Mode because it is still blank, it means your screen is broken and needs to be fixed by a qualified technician. 

The damage may be a bloated capacitor, which an experienced repairman can easily replace.

5. My Sharp TV has No Sound

If you realize that your Sharp TV is not able to play sound, don’t panic just yet.

Like the black screen, this is a problem that happens to many other TVs, not just Sharp TVs.

• The first thing you need to check is if your TV is on mute.
• If the TV is not on mute, and you have plugged in an external device through the HDMI port, make sure that the device is set to output on the TV.
• Try checking other sources, such as other HDMI ports, or the USB port, if audio plays from media plugged into it.
• You may also want to check for any loose connections with your cables, and if there are any wireless headphones paired to the TV.
  • • You can check for wireless devices under the audio settings.
    • Should there be any devices plugged or paired with the TV, unpair them first and check for sound.
• If there is still no sound, the next thing to check is your streaming platforms.
• Try playing another video streaming service, and see if audio plays.
  • • For instance, if you’re having issues with Netflix, you can try other services like Facebook Watch or YouTube to troubleshoot.
    • If there is sound, it means the problem is with the streaming service.
• But if there is still no sound, try rebooting your TV, by unplugging and turning it on again after two minutes.
• If there is still no sound, try using different audio outputs. If you have a soundbar or a pair of headphones, try connecting them.
  • • If you get sound, it’s likely that the built-in speakers are faulty, and may need to be checked.
    • If there is no sound, there’s a good chance that an audio chip in the amplifier is damaged.

To be sure where the problem lies, you should reset the TV.

Resetting a TV helps resolve many problems with smart TVs.

Here’s how you can reset your Sharp TV:

• Press the Menu and go to Setup. 
• Look for Reset and press enter. 
• Input the access code for your TV and confirm. The default code is 1234. 
• Click on Yes when prompted for a restart. 
• The TV will display Now Initializing before it shuts down. 
• It will then restart after a few moments. 

Remember that a reset wipes out all content you have installed and returns the TV to its original state from the factory.

You can do a reset before doing any of the troubleshooting above. But ideally, it should be done as one of the last things.

• Now, if there is still no sound after resetting, it means the damage is in the hardware.
• Go back and try the headphone test. You may use wireless headphones, but wired is just as good. If you get sound, the speakers are likely damaged. Otherwise, the amplifier needs to be checked.

6. My Sharp TV Turns on and off at Random

If your TV turns on and off at random times, here’s how to check where the problem lies. 

The first thing to look at is the remote control. There might be a defective power button that causes the problem.

• Try removing the batteries and see if the TV still turns on and off at random.
• If it stops, your remote is defective.
• You can try having it fixed, or you can buy a replacement remote control.

On the other hand, if the TV still turns on and off at random, try doing a reset to see if it fixes it.

Should the problem persist, it’s most likely that your TV’s power supply is broken and needs to be checked.

You may also like to explore our article that talks about Are Sharp TVs Reliable?

General Pros and Cons of Sharp TVs

Sharp TVs are affordable yet provide good screen quality

In case you haven’t heard, Sharp TVs were recently bought by the same company that owns Hisense TVs. 

If you are familiar with the brand, you know that you’re getting a pretty decent deal, price-wise, as both Hisense and Sharp TVs are reasonably priced. 

They offer smart TVs as low as $100 and can go all the way up to $600, which isn’t bad for the entry-level market. 

Sharp TV use the Roku TV system

Roku is a stable smart TV operating system that many brands use. Since it’s a widely used platform, you can expect support for a lot of apps. 

If you’re looking for an app that has almost everything, then Roku is a great option. 

Disadvantages of Sharp TVs

• They don’t have OLED or QLED TVs.
• They have yet to be certified for 4k streaming by Netflix. 

Final Thoughts

Sharp TVs are a decent choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smart TV. 

It may not have fancy displays, but if you want a reliable workhorse to provide you with home entertainment, Sharp won’t let you down. 

 

Sources:

Sharp TVs: Are they any good? Which are the best deals?

How to Reset a Sharp

8 Most Common Problems With LED TVs (Explained)