PS5 On But Not Showing On TV? (Don’t Panic—Do This!)
Here at ZontSound, we know how confusing it may be when your PS5 on but not showing on TV, even when everything is connected and should be working.
Well, more things could go wrong than you might’ve thought, even with a straightforward setup such as this one.
This 5-minute guide contains all the steps and instructions you would need to bring back the PS5 picture on your TV in a matter of minutes.
PS5 On But Not Showing on TV – Fixed in 8 Easy Methods!
Note: Have you tried power cycling both your TV and PS5?
1. Select the Correct HDMI Input
Your PS5 connects to the TV via an HDMI cable, meaning that one end of the HDMI cable is plugged into one of the available HDMI inputs on your TV.
So, based on which HDMI input is currently in use, you must select the corresponding TV source in order to see the image from your PlayStation 5.
On most, if not all, TV remotes, you should have a “Source” or “Inputs” button that opens up the TV input menu, allowing you to cycle through them.
If you’re unsure where exactly the PS5 is connected, just go through all the HDMI sources (e.g, HDMI 1, 2, 3…) until the image appears.
⚠️Important: It’s crucial to ensure that the PS5 is not connected to the HDMI (ARC) TV port, which is meant for audio devices such as soundbars.
2. Inspect your HDMI Connection
The HDMI connection between your PlayStation 5 and TV is the fundamental link between both devices, and without it, you’ll see no picture or sound.
Therefore, before proceeding further, you must thoroughly inspect whether the HDMI cable is firmly connected on both sides (TV & PS5).
We recommend disconnecting it and reconnecting it securely.
Switch the HDMI Cable Ends
Sometimes, switching the HDMI cable’s sides might help. Switch the ends that go into your PS5 and TV and test whether the image will appear.
3. Switch to a Different HDMI Port
If you are like me and have tried many different methods but are still wondering why my PS5 is on but not showing on TV, change the TV HDMI port.
The typical smart TV has ~4 HDMI input ports–one on the side and several on the back near the other ports.
Hence, if you haven’t tried already, connect the HDMI cable coming from the PS5 to another HDMI input (just not HDMI ARC).
You can test with HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3, since the ports are typically labeled, so you can easily navigate them.
One thing to note here is the side HDMI port. Used most frequently, this side HDMI port is often loose or defective, which sometimes affects the picture of connected devices.
So, the general recommendation here is to go with one of the back TV HDMI ports, even if you have to move your TV to reach behind it.
4. Disconnect ALL Video Devices
If you have other video devices connected to the TV, such as computers, consoles, or anything else, this may be the reason why your PS5 is not showing up on the TV screen.
The best advice here would be to disconnect absolutely everything, except the PS5 and the TV power cable.
You should disconnect the following connections from your TV:
Then cycle through all HDMI inputs as explained previously in the guide, and hopefully, the PS5 picture will appear on one of them.
Tip: If disconnecting everything worked, start connecting all your devices one by one to identify where the problem comes from.
5. Use Proven-To-Work HDMI Cable
If your PS5 is on but not showing on TV despite everything you’ve tried already, all odds lead to a defective HDMI cable.
Hence, if you have no replacement HDMI cable to test now, feel free to continue with the next solutions, but if you do, we strongly recommend testing via replacement.
Well, even if you have to disconnect an HDMI cable from a different setup (which is even better, as it’s proven to work), test now to narrow down the possibilities.
If you want to transfer a 4K signal through your HDMI cable, the cable must be shorter than 10 feet; otherwise, you’ll not see any output.
Note: Check the HDMI cable connectors closely as they are sometimes bent, corroded, or some of the internal pins may be missing.
6. Try via Different TV Resolutions
Sometimes, the output from your PS5 may not appear on the TV screen because your TV is set to an incompatible resolution.
This typically happens with older TV modes, so a quick way to fix this would be by changing the TV resolution through the settings.
It’s recommended to go with popular resolutions such as 1080p (FULL HD).
We understand that each TV is different, so here is a navigational table, which should help you!
| How to Change TV Resolution: | |
| Samsung | Settings → All Settings → Picture → Picture Size Settings. |
| LG | All Settings → Picture → Aspect Ratio → User Selection. |
| Sony | Settings → Display & Sound → Screen → Screen Resolution. |
| TCL | Home → Settings → TV Picture Settings. |
| Vizio | All Settings → Picture → Picture Mode. |
Note: If you don’t see your TV brand here, check the user manual for the precise instructions!
7. Turn on the PS5 in “Safe Mode”
If you have confirmed that you’re using the correct TV input source with a proven-to-work HDMI cable, the evidence is leading to a software-related issue.
It’s still unclear whether the problem comes from your TV or PS5, so it’s time to try and turn on the PS5 in the so-called “Safe Mode”.
The “Safe Mode” on PS5 is designed for cases like this, when you don’t know where the issue comes from.
This mode turns on the console with minimal services (only the ones that are 100% essential), allowing you to change video output, update, rebuild the database, or factory reset.
Here’s how to turn on PlayStation 5 in Safe Mode:
- Press and hold the Power button until the PS5 turns off.
- Hold the Power button again while the PlayStation is off.
- Don’t release until you hear 2 beeps–then you can let go.
- Connect your DualSense controller to the PS5 with a USB.
If you can see the Safe Mode of your PS5, this means that the PS5 and TV are communicating over HDMI, and the problem is with the PlayStation.
Here are things you should try from the Safe Mode:
- Change Video Output – If using 4K, try 1080p or 720p.
- Update System Software – Try to update your console.
- Restore Default Settings – Reverts all settings to default.
If you don’t see a PS5 picture even through Safe Mode, go to the next step!
8. Reset PlayStation Without Image
If your PS5 is on but not showing on TV, there is a quick and easy method to reset the console through the Safe Menu–even if you can’t see anything.
It’s called the “blind” reset method, and we’re going to walk you through it.
#1 Enter the “Safe Mode”
First, you need to enter the Safe Menu by turning off the PlayStation 5 and holding the Power button until you hear the two beeps.
Then you need to connect your controller via a USB cable.
Note: Your controller color must change to “Teal”, which means that you are now in Safe Mode.
#2 Start the Factory Reset
You need to move down exactly 6 times using your controller and press “X” to select, but don’t worry–you can always restart the PS5 and try again.
⚠️Warning: This will permanently erase ALL settings, content, and user data on your PS5.
#3 Continue with the Reset
After selecting the “Reset PS5” option, a prompt will appear that you must confirm.
By default, the “No” option on the left will be highlighted, which means that you need to move right once and press “X” to select the “Yes” option.
That’s it. If your PlayStation 5 is factory reset and still won’t appear on the TV screen, go ahead and try using a different TV monitor.
Maybe the issue is with your TV settings, so you must test.
Note: If you can’t identify where the issue comes from, go to the PlayStation®5 Support page for more assistance.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.
