TV guides
Straight answers to the things people actually ask about their TVs: The faults worth worrying about, the settings that matter, and how to buy well. Every guide points to the free test that settles the question.
All guides
Picture faults and problems
Why your new TV looks cheap
The soap opera effect, and the exact setting to switch it off on every brand.
GuideWhy is my TV so dark?
Eco modes, backlight, black level and dim HDR, every one of them fixable.
GuideWhite clouds on a black screen
What backlight clouding is, why cheap LED TVs get it, and how to reduce it.
GuideWhy is my TV flickering?
Loose cables, eco settings, VRR and a failing backlight, worked through in order.
GuideDead pixel vs stuck pixel
How to tell them apart, which one you can fix, and the warranty rules.
GuideHow many dead pixels are acceptable?
The real tolerance numbers, and why the return window beats the warranty.
GuideCan you fix OLED burn-in?
Temporary retention versus permanent burn-in, and what actually helps.
GuideWhat is color banding?
The steps in a sky, why it is mostly the stream, and what 10-bit really fixes.
GuideLines on your TV screen?
A two-minute color test tells a cheap cable fault from a dead panel.
GuideTV says No Signal?
The input, the source, the HDMI cable and a power-cycle, in order.
GuideWhy is my TV blurry or soft?
The source resolution, the sharpness trap, and the slow-stream cause.
GuideTV remote not working?
Batteries, the phone camera check, and pairing again on Samsung, LG and Sony.
GuideTV won't turn on?
What the standby light tells you, and each maker's power reset.
GuideTV turns off by itself?
The 4-hour timer, the box that switches it off, and when it is a fault.
GuideTV frozen or slow?
The real restart for each brand, and how to clear the memory and cache.
GuideHow to update your TV
The update menu for each brand, auto update, and the USB method.
GuideHow to reset a TV
Factory reset by brand and year, the PIN, and resetting without a remote.
Sound and audio
No sound on your TV?
The output setting, the source, the soundbar handshake and the format trap.
GuideTV audio out of sync?
Which way the delay goes, and the lip sync setting that lines it back up.
GuideHDMI ARC vs eARC
What the two do, and why eARC is the one that carries Dolby Atmos.
GuideWhat is Dolby Atmos?
Sound from above, what it needs to work, and when the badge is empty.
GuideCan't hear the dialogue?
Clear-voice, night mode and the surround trap, then a soundbar if needed.
GuideHow to connect a soundbar
HDMI ARC or optical, turning off the TV speakers, and the no-sound fix.
Settings and setup
How to test your TV
The complete ten-minute check: Built-in self-tests, then every browser test in order.
GuideCalibrate your TV by eye
Seven settings and a few patterns for a far better picture, no equipment.
GuideThe 6 settings to change first
Quick wins for a better picture on a new TV, in about two minutes.
GuideBest TV settings for gaming
Game Mode, ALLM, VRR and 4K 120Hz, in the order that cuts input lag most.
GuideBest TV settings for PS5
4K, 120Hz, HDR and VRR, the right HDMI port, and Game Mode for low lag.
GuideBlack bars and aspect ratio
When the bars are correct and should stay, and when a setting is cropping you.
Buying a TV
Is my TV really 4K?
Check the panel, and why a 4K set may still not be showing you 4K.
Guide4K vs 8K: Is 8K worth it?
The honest answer: Almost no content, and a difference you cannot see.
GuideOLED vs QLED vs LED
The one difference that matters, and which panel suits your room and budget.
GuideWhat is HDR, and do you need it?
The formats that matter, and how to tell real HDR from a cheap badge.
GuideRefresh rate: 60Hz vs 120Hz
What it changes, who needs 120Hz, and the fake refresh numbers to ignore.
GuideHow far to sit from your TV
A size-to-distance chart, and why 4K lets you go bigger and sit closer.
ToolWhat size TV should you buy?
Turn your seat distance into a size, and see if 4K or 8K is even visible.
GuideWhich Smart TV platform is best?
Tizen, webOS, Google TV, Fire TV, Roku, and the cheap way to fix any of them.
GuideSamsung TV model numbers explained
Decode the panel type, region, tier and year letter, plus Samsung's Chromium table.
GuideLG TV model numbers explained
Decode the panel family, series and year code, plus LG's webOS Chromium table.
GuideSony TV model numbers explained
Read the year letter and the range, and find out whether the set can add apps.
GuideWhy apps disappeared from your Sony TV
Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and more: which Sony TVs lost them, and when.
Connection and streaming
Internet speed for 4K streaming
How many Mbps 4K needs, and why a fast plan can still buffer.
GuideWhy does my TV keep buffering?
The resets, the real speed at the set, and the wired cure.
GuideNetflix keeps buffering?
The connection, the app cache, and the plan tier that caps 4K.
GuideYouTube not working on your TV?
Reinstall, fix the clock, test the speed, and the fix for older sets.
GuideHow to connect your TV to Wi-Fi
The steps for every brand, the fixes when it will not connect, and a cable.
GuideWhy does my TV keep dropping Wi-Fi?
The resets to try, the 2.4 vs 5GHz trap, and when to switch to Ethernet.
GuideWhat HDMI cable do I need?
Which cable matches 4K, HDR and 120Hz, and why the pricey ones are a waste.
GuideScreen mirroring to a TV
AirPlay, Google Cast or Miracast: which one your TV takes, by brand and year.
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