Have you ever had a moment when you turn on your TV and all you see is a flashing rainbow of colors?
If you’re experiencing an issue with your Roku TV where the screen is flashing different colors, it can be a frustrating and confusing problem to solve. But don’t worry, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly what happened to a friend’s Roku TV. He pushed the power button on his Roku TV and it turned on, but instead of getting the usual cable or streaming options, it just started flashing different colors. Red, Green, Blue, Yellow.
We couldn’t change any inputs or even get the menu to show up. It was just flashing color on the entire screen for a couple of seconds and then switching to a different color.
I’ll be sharing the journey of figuring out what went wrong and how we fixed it in this blog post, so stay tuned!
Note: This guide works and is compatible with all Roku TVs (ONN, RCA, Westinghouse, TCL, etc.)
Why Is My Roku TV Flashing Different Colors On the Screen?
There are a few main causes for your TV to be flashing colors on the screen.
- Panel Protect Mode: One possibility is that the TV has entered “Panel Protect Mode”, which is a safety feature that automatically turns off the TV if it detects abnormal colors or patterns on the screen. This is usually caused by a problem with the TV’s hardware or software.
- Purity Check Mode: Another possibility is “Purity Check Mode” which is a feature of the TV that checks for any distortion or color issues on the screen. This could be caused by a temporary glitch in the TV’s software or a problem with the cable or input device you are using.
- Temporary Glitch: It’s also possible that the issue is a temporary glitch that will resolve itself.
Next, let’s take a closer look at what are the different ways to solve this problem.
How To Fix Roku TV Flashing Colors Issue?
If you’ve recently turned on your Roku TV and all you see is a flashing rainbow of colors, don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a common issue and can be easily fixed.
Initial Troubleshooting
In most usual cases when it happens It turns out that the TV gets entered into diagnostic color test mode due to a temporary glitch.
To get out of this mode and back to normal viewing, simply follow these steps:
- With the TV powered on, hold the ‘Menu’ and ‘Enter’ buttons together on your remote control.
- While doing that, Press the power button on your TV.
And just like that, your TV should be back to normal and you can resume your viewing.
You can try some of the other initial troubleshooting methods listed below if the root cause is a temporary glitch or if the above steps don’t work.
Method 1: Unplugging and Reset the TV
- The first method to try is to unplug the TV from the wall, wait 60 seconds, and then plug it back in.
- This will reset the TV and may solve the problem.
Method 2: Factory Reset
- If the first method does not work, a factory reset should almost definitely fix the problem.
- Locate the reset hole on the TV and use a paperclip to press the button inside for 15 seconds until the TV restarts.
- Note that this will reset the settings on the TV, but it should solve the problem of the flashing or flickering screen.
Method 3: Check the cables
- Make sure all the cables are plugged in properly and securely.
- Check that the cables are not damaged or frayed
- Sometimes, just unplugging and replugging the cables will help.
But in other cases, the underlying issue can vary and advanced troubleshooting is required, in that case, I am providing more details below.
Advanced Troubleshooting
Roku TVs, like many other TVs, often experience a problem where the screen flashes different colors such as red, green, blue, white, and black in a cyclical pattern due to “Panel Protect Mode”.
In case you’re wondering what “panel protect mode” is and what it does, let me explain.
Panel protect mode is a common problem where the screen flashes different colors such as red, green, blue, white, and black in a cyclical pattern. This occurs when the system on a chip (SoC) stops sending video to the panel and is common in TVs like Roku TV.
Causes of this:
- Software problems
- Hardware issues
- Loose cables due to thermal cycling or rough handling
How to fix Roku TVs flashing color issue is if you’re experiencing this issue and you’re still hearing audio from the TV, such as program audio or UI sounds when the colors are flashing, you may be able to fix it by reseating the cable that connects the panel to the SoC.
- Locate the cable: It is a flat cable that may be taped to the back of the TV, usually located at the top or bottom center of the chassis.
- Reseat the cable: Carefully unplug and plug it back in.
Moreover, when trying to fix the issue, be very careful when opening the TV, and do not touch anything else, especially the large capacitors on the power board.
Here’s the same issue happening on TCL Roku TV, it is flashing different colors which was caused due to sudden power surge which sent the TV into Panel Protect Mode.
In summary, “panel protect mode” on Roku TVs can be caused by a loose cable due to thermal cycling, power surge, or rough handling. If you’re experiencing this issue, you can try reseating the cable that connects the panel to the SoC.
Bonus Troubleshooting
While researching this issue, I also came across another similar issue where the colors were flashing red green yellow, and half-white, and it was due to the “Purity Check Mode” which is present on certain Roku TVs.
So if none of the above methods worked for you, it’s good to give this one a try as it might be helpful.
The “Purity Check Mode” mode is meant to check for any non-active pixels.
- To fix this issue yourself first try pressing the standby button on the TV, waiting 5 seconds before pressing it again, and then when turning it back on press both the menu and source buttons at the same time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a flashing color screen on a Roku TV can be a frustrating and confusing problem to solve, but by following the above troubleshooting methods, you should be able to fix the issue and enjoy a clear, stable picture on your TV.
