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If your PlayStation powers on but the TV says “No Signal,” the console is receiving power but the TV is not getting a usable picture over HDMI. Start with the input and cable, then bypass any soundbar or receiver. If those checks fail, use Safe Mode to reset the video output before considering repair.
Quick checks, in order
- Use the TV remote’s Input, Source, or TV/Video button and select the HDMI port the console is connected to.
- Reseat the HDMI cable at both ends. Confirm it goes from the PlayStation’s HDMI OUT port to the TV’s HDMI input.
- Try a known-good HDMI cable and another TV HDMI port.
- Connect the PlayStation directly to the TV, temporarily removing receivers, soundbars, switches, splitters, capture cards, adapters, and wall plates.
- Fully shut down and power-cycle the console and TV.
- If there is still no picture, try PlayStation Safe Mode and its video-output options.
- Test the console, cable, and TV separately before arranging repair.
A lit power indicator or startup sound confirms that the console has power; it does not confirm that its HDMI output is working or that the TV accepts the current video mode.
1. Check the TV input and HDMI connection
Make sure the TV is on the exact input being used—HDMI 1, HDMI 2, and so on. TVs do not always switch to the console automatically. Unplug and firmly reconnect the cable at both ends, checking that neither connector is bent, loose, or visibly damaged. Sony’s PlayStation picture and sound troubleshooting also recommends checking the connection, testing another HDMI cable or TV port, selecting the correct input, and connecting directly to the screen.
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Do not assume every HDMI port on a TV supports the same features. Some models reserve particular inputs for 4K/120 Hz, VRR, or an enhanced HDMI signal format. The correct port and setting depend on the TV model; check its manual. For example, Sony TV guidance identifies compatible inputs and enhanced-format settings for supported features.
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2. Test the cable, not just its appearance
A cable can be internally damaged or fail only at higher bandwidth, even if its connectors look fine. Test with the cable supplied with the console if you have it, or another cable known to work. A costly cable is not automatically necessary; the cable needs to meet the requirements of the output you want:
- PS4 or ordinary 1080p: a compatible High Speed HDMI cable is generally sufficient.
- 4K/60 Hz with HDR: use a Premium High Speed HDMI cable or another cable certified for the required bandwidth.
- PS5 at 4K/120 Hz: use the supplied cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz.
Sony’s PS5 4K guide recommends the included cable or a suitable Ultra High Speed cable for 4K/120 Hz; its PS4 guidance recommends the included cable or a compatible High Speed/Premium High Speed cable. “HDMI 2.1” printed on a listing alone does not guarantee a working setup: certification, cable length, TV port capability, and every device in the signal path matter.
3. Bypass soundbars, receivers, and other HDMI devices
For a clean test, connect:
PlayStation HDMI OUT → TV HDMI IN
Remove any AV receiver, soundbar HDMI passthrough, HDMI switch or splitter, capture card, extender, converter, or wall plate from the path. If the picture returns, reconnect one device at a time. The device that brings the problem back may not pass the console’s resolution, refresh rate, HDR, VRR, or HDCP mode. Capture devices can also behave differently with protected content.
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For example, Sony notes that some PS4 Pro 4K setups require an AV receiver or home-theater device to support HDCP 2.2. Direct connection to the TV is a useful test when that compatibility is in doubt; see Sony’s PS4 Pro and HDCP guidance.
4. Power-cycle the setup
- Turn off the PlayStation completely—not Rest Mode. If needed, use the console’s power button and wait for it to shut down.
- Turn off the TV.
- Unplug both devices from power for about 60 seconds.
- Disconnect and reconnect the HDMI cable, keeping it directly between console and TV.
- Plug in and turn on the TV first, then select the correct HDMI input.
- Turn on the PlayStation.
This can prompt a fresh HDMI handshake, but it cannot repair a damaged connector or make an incompatible device support a video mode. Avoid cutting power while the console’s storage indicator is active.
5. Use Safe Mode if the screen remains blank
Safe Mode can help when a resolution or HDCP setting prevents normal video output. The entry procedure is the same on PS5 and PS4:
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- Turn the console off by holding its power button for about three seconds.
- Once it is off, press and hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep, about seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable and press the controller’s PS button.
These steps are from Sony’s Safe Mode instructions. If Safe Mode appears, the console can produce a picture; the normal output configuration or signal path may be the problem.
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Choose Change Video Output, then try Change Resolution or Change HDCP Mode. Start with the least disruptive options, such as restarting or changing video output. Do not choose Reset PS5 or Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) as routine no-signal fixes: reset options can erase data.
PS4 and PS4 Pro
On PS4, select Change Resolution; the console restarts at 480p, which can restore a picture if the previous resolution was unsupported. On PS4 Pro, Safe Mode also offers Set HDCP Mode. HDCP 1.40 Only may restore video with an incompatible 4K device, but can limit output to 1080p. Use it as a compatibility test, not an automatic setting for every black screen.
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6. Restore higher-quality settings carefully
Once the picture returns on PS5, open Settings → Screen and Video → Video Output. Set Resolution to Automatic initially and review Current Video Output Signal. If the signal drops only at 4K/120 Hz, temporarily turn off 120 Hz Output or VRR, or try a lower output mode. If 4K flickers or loses signal, Sony’s guide suggests trying Video Transfer Rate -1 or -2.
Re-enable features one at a time so you can identify the trigger. 4K/120 Hz requires a compatible console, game, display, TV input, cable, and any device in between; it is not supported by every TV or HDMI port. Turning off 120 Hz or VRR can reduce the features available, while a lower video transfer rate may affect maximum output capability. An older 4K TV may support 4K/60 Hz but not 4K/120 Hz or VRR.
On the TV, check its HDMI signal format setting—often named Enhanced, Deep Color, or similar—plus firmware and whether the selected port supports the desired mode. Menu names vary by brand and model. If the TV is switching inputs on its own, HDMI-CEC settings may also be relevant. A monitor can have different resolution, HDCP, audio, or input-switching support from a TV, so test modes it specifically accepts.
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7. Use symptoms to narrow down the cause
- “No Signal” on the TV: first check the selected input, cable, port, and connection path.
- Black screen while the TV identifies “PlayStation”: identification means devices are communicating in some way, but does not prove a valid picture; resolution, HDCP, or output compatibility may still be at fault.
- Picture appears briefly, then vanishes: test a different cable and direct connection, especially if the issue occurs at high-bandwidth 4K/120 Hz, HDR, or VRR.
- Audio but no picture: try Safe Mode and check video-output or HDCP compatibility.
- Works on another TV: focus on the original TV’s input, port settings, firmware, or compatibility.
- Works directly but not through a receiver or soundbar: the intermediary or its HDMI settings are implicated.
- Works in Safe Mode but not normal startup: an output setting or handshake is more likely than total video-hardware failure.
8. Cross-test the TV, cable, and console
Change one component at a time. A known-good cable and a second display are more useful than buying equipment based on a guess.
| Test result | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| The PlayStation works on another TV with the same cable. | The original TV input, settings, or firmware are likely involved. |
| The PlayStation works with another cable. | The original cable may be damaged or unsuitable for the selected mode. |
| Other devices also fail on one TV HDMI port. | That TV input may be damaged, disabled, or configured differently. |
| The PlayStation fails on multiple displays with multiple known-good cables. | The console’s HDMI port or internal video hardware becomes more likely. |
| The picture cuts out when the connector moves. | A loose or damaged cable or HDMI socket is likely; stop wiggling it and arrange inspection. |
When to seek repair
Arrange a hardware diagnosis if the console has no picture on multiple displays with known-good cables and direct connections, or if its HDMI socket is visibly damaged, loose, or intermittent. Failure to show Safe Mode makes a simple resolution mismatch less likely, but does not by itself prove the console is defective. Likewise, an orange power light can mean Rest Mode, so fully shut down before drawing conclusions.
Use the PlayStation support and repair flow to check the appropriate next step for your console and region. There is no single reliable repair price without knowing the model, location, warranty status, and diagnosis. Do not buy a new console or TV until the cross-tests point to that component.
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