TV HDMI Port Guide, Troubleshooting

Can TV HDMI Ports Go Bad? (Ultimate Guide)

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As technology advances, our TVs are getting smarter and more powerful. One of the most important elements in a TV is the HDMI port.

HDMI ports allow users to get the best picture and sound quality from their TVs and are essential for any home entertainment setup. But what happens if an HDMI port goes bad?

Can it be fixed or replaced? And what are the alternatives if you don’t want to use an HDMI port on your TV? In this blog, I’ll explain all these questions and more.

Types of HDMI Ports

Before jumping straight to whether an HDMI port can go bad let’s know what are the different types of HDMI ports available.

Although there are three types of HDMI ports available Standard, Mini, and Micro, on TVs only the Standard (full size) HDMI Port is available.

Do All TVs Have Same HDMI Port?

Although physically all HDMI ports on TV are the same, when it comes to functioning, No, all HDMI TV ports are not the same.

Different models of TVs do have different types and numbers of HDMI ports.

Generally, newer TVs do have more advanced ports such as higher resolution support, faster refresh rates, or additional audio options.

On the other hand, older TVs often only have Standard HDMI ports (Old Version) which don’t offer any extra features beyond basic video and sound quality.

Among them, The most common type is Type A (Standard-Full Size), which is found on most modern TVs and other devices that support HDMI connections. This port has 19 pins and supports all types of HDMI video formats including 4K resolution, 3D content, High Dynamic Range (HDR), Audio Return Channel (ARC), Deep Color, and Consumer Electronic Control (CEC).

So if you are wondering whether all HDMI Ports on TV are the same, although the size of the TV ports is same but not the version type, the versions of the HDMI ports are different.

There are several types of HDMI port versions that you can find on TVs:

  1. HDMI 1.4: This is the first version of HDMI that supported 3D video and Audio Return channels (ARC).
  2. HDMI 2.0: This version of HDMI supports 4K resolution at 60 Hz and increased bandwidth for better audio and video quality.
  3. HDMI 2.1: The latest HDMI standard, it allows for 8K resolution, higher refresh rates, and support for Dynamic HDR.
  4. HDMI-ARC: Audio Return Channel allows audio to be sent from the TV to a soundbar or AV receiver.
  5. HDMI-CEC: Consumer Electronics Control, allows for control of multiple devices with one remote control.
  6. HDMI-eARC: Enhanced Audio Return Channel, it’s an upgraded version of ARC that can handle high-quality audio, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Note that some TVs have multiple HDMI ports and support different HDMI versions on different ports.

Causes of Going Bad

There are several factors that can cause an HDMI port to go bad like physical damage to the port itself, poor wiring, wrong cable type, or even high temperatures.

  • Physical damage is one of the most common causes of a bad HDMI port and this can result from accidentally knocking the port or dropping something on it.
  • Poor wiring or using the wrong cable type can also lead to a bad HDMI port as this can cause interference in the connection.
  • High temperatures can also lead to a bad HDMI port as it can cause damage to the components inside the port.

Signs of a Bad HDMI Port

When an HDMI port goes bad, there are several signs that can help you identify it.

Here’s how you can identify a bad HDMI port on your TV:

  1. No picture or sound: If the picture and sound aren’t working when you plug in an HDMI cable, there might be something wrong with the port.
  2. Distorted picture or sound: If the picture or sound is all jumbled up and distorted, the HDMI port could be damaged or not working properly.
  3. Flickering or no signal: If the screen flickers or you get a “no signal” message when you plug in an HDMI cable, there might be a problem with the port.
  4. Cables not connecting: If you’re having trouble getting the HDMI cable to stay connected to the TV, the port may be damaged or not working properly.
  5. Intermittent issues: Sometimes, the signal may work initially, but later on, it may start to flicker or the signal may be lost entirely, this could be due to a damaged HDMI port or a cable issue.

If you notice any of these signs while using an HDMI port on your TV, then it’s likely that the port has gone bad and needs to be replaced, repaired or reset.

How to Know if HDMI Port is Working on Your TV?

To check if an HDMI port is working on your TV, you have to do a couple things.

Here are some things you can try to check if your TV’s HDMI port is working properly:

  1. Try plugging in a different device, like a gaming console or Blu-ray player, to the same HDMI port to see if it works. If it does, the problem might be with the original device and not the TV.
  2. Switch out the HDMI cable you’re using to see if that fixes the problem. Cables can go bad, so it’s worth trying a new one.
  3. Make sure your TV is set to the right input for the HDMI port you’re using. Press the “Input” or “Source” button on your remote until the correct HDMI input is selected.
  4. On some TVs, you can check the output settings to see if the HDMI is set to output the right resolution or not, if not that could cause a problem.
  5. If your TV has multiple HDMI ports, try using a different one to see if the problem still happens.
  6. Check for any available software updates for the TV, it could be a firmware issue, and a simple update may fix the problem.

If none of these steps work then it’s likely that the HDMI port has gone bad and needs to be replaced or reset.

How to Reset an HDMI Port on a TV

  1. Turn Off the TV and Remove the power cable from the wall socket.
  2. Plug the power cable back into the wall socket but do not turn on the TV.
  3. After that remove the HDMI cable from TV’s HDMI port and wait for 1-2 minutes.
  4. Plug the HDMI cable back into TVs HDMI port.
  5. Turn On the TV and that’s it.

How do You Replace HDMI Port on a TV

Replacing an HDMI port on a TV can be a bit tricky and if you do not have electronics knowledge I won’t recommend to proceed, but in general, here’s an idea on how to replace it:

  1. Turn off the TV and unplug it from the power source.
  2. Locate the HDMI port on the TV.
  3. Remove the screws holding the back panel of the TV in place.
  4. Carefully remove the back panel of the TV and locate the HDMI port on the main board.
  5. Carefully disconnect the cable from the HDMI port.
  6. Purchase a replacement HDMI port, which you can find online or at an electronics store.
  7. Plug in the new HDMI port, making sure to properly align it and connect all the cables (Soldering might be required).
  8. Reassemble the TV, putting the back panel back on and screwing it back into place.
  9. Plug the TV back in and turn it on to test your newly installed HDMI port.

Note: Reiterating again, If you’re not familiar with electronic repair and you’re not comfortable with handling electronic parts, I would recommend you to seek the help of a professional or to contact the manufacturer’s customer service.

As replacing the HDMI port is not worth it, let’s see what are the alternatives for it.

Alternatives

If your TV’s HDMI port is not working, you can purchase an HDMI switch, which allows you to connect multiple HDMI devices into one port.

Simply plug the switch into a working HDMI port on your TV and then plug all of your desired inputs (gaming console, Blu-ray player, etc.) into the switch.

This allows all of those devices to be connected to your TV via one single working port.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HDMI ports on a TV can definitely go bad, just like any other electronic component. It can be caused by various reasons like wear and tear, damage, and malfunction.

TVs do have different type (Version) of HDMI ports like HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.1, HDMI-ARC, HDMI-CEC, HDMI-eARC.

To identify a bad HDMI port on TV, you can look out for signs like no picture or sound, distorted picture or sound, flickering or no signal, cables not connecting, or intermittent issues. You can try different cables and devices to narrow down the problem and check the TV’s input and output settings.

Moreover, If your HDMI port on your TV is acting up, you can try switching out cables, testing with different devices, and making sure your TV’s input and output settings are right. You can also check for any software updates that might fix the problem. But if none of that works, you might need to contact the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

Lastly, If you don’t want to mess around with the HDMI port or the TV itself, there are other options you can try. You can use a different type of cable, like component or composite, or use HDMI switch.