Did you find a light in the back of your TV that you don't know what it is (and how it affects the picture on your TV)?
The fact is, the backlight has a huge impact on the image quality of your TV. But you don't want to risk to mess around and give a permanent damage to your TV, do you?
What is backlight (on TV)
Most modern Tvs include a feature called backlight that contributes to an image that is more vivid and realistic. By lighting the pixels on the screen from underneath, it does this and enables them to show a larger spectrum of hues and tones. A TV's picture would seem flat and drab without illumination.
Keep reading to find out more about this vital aspect of television technology:
- Types of backlighting technology
- How to change the backlight on your TV
- How to solve typical backlighting problems
But first, let me continue explaining what is backlight and how important it is in modern TVs.
It's important because it helps make the pictures we see on the screen.
Without that light behind the TV, your screen would be completely dark, and we wouldn't be able to see any images.
Or perhaps it would be like those old gameboy consoles and calculators that we couldn't use at night.
And not all lights are created equal. These are real life examples of Tvs with backlight:
https://go.blog.notechriddles.com/l/tvs.html
Different types of backlight are used to get different levels of performance and picture quality, so it's important to choose the right type for your needs.
Types of backlight (LED screen)
LCDs and LED Tvs cannot produce their own light, that's why they need backlight.
So what kind of backlight does an LED screen have? Well, here are the 3 technologies:
- Edge-lit backlight: In an edge-lit LED screen, the LEDs are along the edges of the screen, and a set of light guides and reflectors spread the light evenly across the screen. This kind of backlight is thin and uses less energy, but it may not give off as much light as other kinds.
- Full-array backlight: In a full-array LED screen, the LEDs are spread out evenly across the back of the screen. This type of backlight has more even lighting and better contrast than edge-lit backlights, but it is also thicker and uses more energy.
- Direct-lit backlight: In a direct-lit LED screen, the LEDs are right behind the screen and shine through a series of holes or openings in the screen. This type of backlight works about the same as a full-array backlight, but it uses less electricity.
Note: CCFL are now considered obsolete (LED backlight is the most common type in modern Tvs).
https://www.lg.com/us/experience-tvs/edge-lit-vs-full-array
Note: QLEDs and OLEDs are different.
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays don't use any kind of backlight. Instead, each pixel in an OLED display can make its own light, so the display can show deep blacks and high contrast ratios. But making OLED displays can cost more than making LED displays.
How to change the backlight on your TV
First of all, let's not confuse the brightness settings with the backlight settings. They are two different settings.
Dynamic BackLight
Second to that, some Tvs have a feature called "dynamic backlight" that changes the brightness of the backlight in real time based on what is being shown on the screen. The idea behind dynamic backlight is to adjust the level of backlight so that the scene or frame being shown gets the best picture quality possible.
For example, if there are a lot of dark spots in a scene, the dynamic backlight feature may lower the intensity of the backlight to increase contrast and make the dark spots easier to see. On the other hand, if most of the areas in a scene are bright, the dynamic backlight may make the backlight stronger to make the bright areas stand out more.
Dynamic backlight can be a useful way to improve the overall picture quality of your TV, especially if you watch a lot of content with a wide range of lighting conditions. But not all Tvs have this feature, and some people may prefer to change the backlight manually based on how they like it and how bright the room is.
Manually setting the backlight on your TV
So, if you are one of the people that like (or need) to change this option manually, this is how you do it:
You can usually find the backlight setting in the TV's picture settings menu. Try the "settings" menu in your TV's remote or on-screen menus. A more step by step guide:
- To get to the main menu, press the "Menu" button on the remote or use the buttons on the TV.
- Go to the menu called "Picture Settings" or "Display Settings." This option might be in the "System" or "Settings" menu.
- Find the "Backlight" or "Brightness" setting, and then use the arrows on the remote or the buttons on the TV to change it to the level you want.
- If your TV has a "Contrast" setting, you may also want to change this to get the best picture quality.
- Once you're happy with how the backlight and contrast are set, press the "Save" or "OK" button to make the changes take effect and leave the menu.
Note that the steps to change the backlight setting may be different depending on the model of your TV and the menu options it has. If you can't find the backlight setting, you might want to look in the TV's manual or on the manufacturer's website for more information.
Video (how to adjust backlight on samsung tv)
Tip: Turn on the caption button if you need it. Choose “automatic translation” in the settings button, if you are not familiar to the english language. You may need to click on the language of the video first before your favorite language becomes available for translation.
LG Tvs should be similar.
What setting should I use for the back light?
The backlight setting on a TV determines how bright the whole screen is. It's important to set the backlight to a level that works well for your viewing environment.
If it's too high or too low, it can affect the picture quality and viewing experience as a whole.
Maximum backlight myth
Some people claim that using the backlight at the maximum level may damage your TV in the long run.
That claim has never been proven, but it may have side effects (Like light leaking from the sides of your TV).
Reducing the backlight also decreases the quality and details of the image. You may not notice, but it is there for those who can.
It is especially noticeable with HDR content, as the content doesn't achieve the minimum contrast needed.
Recommended settings for backlight
I find it best to start with the manufacturer's default settings and then adjust it up or down as needed.
You should consider the following variables:
Brightness in the room
Adjust the backlight based on how bright your room is.
For example, if you are watching TV in a room with a lot of light, you may want to turn up the backlight to make the picture on the screen easier to see.
On the other hand, if you're watching TV in a dark room, you might want to turn down the backlight to cut down on glare and make the picture clearer.
Try different settings
Try out different settings for the backlight to see what works best for you:
Some people like the picture to be brighter, while others like it to look more natural. Try changing the setting for the backlight up and down to see what you like best.
If you turn the backlight up, the picture on the screen will be brighter. If you turn it down, the picture will be darker.
What are you watching?
Think about what you are watching:
Different backlight settings may make different kinds of content look better.
For example, a bright backlight setting might work well for sports or action movies, while a lower setting might be better for more subtle or dramatic content.
General guide to changing your TV settings
Troubleshooting
Yes, your TV's backlight may be fixed. But first, you need to identify what the problem is.
Common problems
Assuming your Tvs does turn on and shows picture and sound, these are the common problems:
- Uneven lighting
- Flickering
Uneven lighting
Uneven lighting: If the backlight on your TV looks uneven or patchy, it could be because of a problem with the backlight or the display panel.
One way to figure out what's wrong is to see if the problem still happens when the TV is in a different mode, like when it's showing a different source or when it's off.
If the uneven lighting stays the same in different modes, it could be a problem with the backlight or the display panel, and you may need to get help from the manufacturer.
Flickering
If your TV's backlight flickers, it could be because of a problem with the power supply or with the backlight itself.
One way to figure out what's wrong is to see if the problem still happens when the TV is in a different mode, like when it's showing a different source or when it's off.
If the flickering keeps happening in all modes, there may be a problem with the power supply or the backlight.
How to check the backlit LED
If you have one of the problems listed above, it is time to find where the defective part is.
Check the screen for any obvious flaws, such as:
- Dark spots
- Uneven brightness
- Colors that don't look right
These could be signs that the LED backlight or another part of the TV is broken. There are a few ways to tell it is broken:
No picture at all
If the TV doesn't show any picture at all, it could mean that the backlight or another part of the TV is broken.
If the picture on your TV looks dark or unevenly lit, it could be a sign that the backlight isn't working right.
Picture that flickers or flashes
If the picture on the TV flickers or flashes, it could mean that the backlight or other parts of the TV are broken.
If the colors on the TV look off or washed out, it could be a sign that the backlight or other parts of the TV aren't working right.
Practical ways to check for it
1) Changing the backlight level.
You can change the backlight setting in the TV's picture settings menu to check the backlight level.
Start with the backlight setting at a medium level, and then turn it up or down to see how it affects the brightness of the picture.
If you can't change the backlight level or if the picture is too dark or too bright even at the highest or lowest setting, it could mean that the LED backlight is broken.
2) Use a diagnostic tool or service menu.
Some Tvs have a diagnostic tool or service menu that lets you test the LED backlight and other parts of the TV. Check the TV's user guide or call the company that made it to find out how to use these features.
How to fix a TV's backlight
In general, you should find where the defective part is and replace it. Ask a technician to do it for you if you don't know how.
In any case, you should check for this before actually replacing anything.
Check the setting for the back light
Make sure the setting for the backlight is not too low. In the TV's picture settings menu, you can change how bright the backlight is.
Check the HDMI connection (If applicable)
Make sure the HDMI cable connecting the TV to the source device (like a cable box or streaming device) is securely plugged in and working properly.
Restart the TV
You can try to restart the TV by unplugging it from the wall, waiting a few minutes, and then plugging it back in. This can sometimes fix problems with how the TV works.
Remember that, in some cases, it may be cheaper to buy a new TV than to try to fix the one you have.
How to fix it (Video guide)
