Why Are the Colours on My TV Distorted or Weird? — Complete Fix Guide

Need help fast? Call or WhatsApp 0704843613 for expert TV repair assistance.


⚡ Quick Fixes at a Glance

SymptomMost Likely CauseQuick Fix
Everything looks too red/blue/greenColour settings offReset picture settings to default
Washed-out or faded coloursBrightness/contrast too highLower brightness, raise contrast
Yellow or purple tint on screenLoose HDMI/AV cableReseat or replace the cable
Colours fine on one input onlyFaulty input source/cableTest with another cable or device
Patchy discolouration on screenBurn-in or backlight faultRun a pixel refresh or call a technician
Green/pink streaks or linesPanel or board damageProfessional repair needed
Colours look wrong after moving the TVMagnetic interferenceReposition the TV; run degauss if available

Still stuck? 📞 Call or WhatsApp 0704843613 — we diagnose and fix TV colour problems fast.


📋 Table of Contents

  1. Common Causes of Distorted TV Colours
  2. Step 1 — Restart and Reset Your TV
  3. Step 2 — Check and Reset Picture Settings
  4. Step 3 — Inspect All Cables and Connections
  5. Step 4 — Test Different Input Sources
  6. Step 5 — Update Your TV Firmware
  7. Step 6 — Fix Magnetic or Environmental Interference
  8. Step 7 — Run a Built-In Diagnostic or Pixel Refresh
  9. When to Call a Professional
  10. Contact Us

🔍 Common Causes of Distorted TV Colours

TV colour problems can range from a simple settings tweak to a hardware fault. Here are the most frequent culprits:

  • Incorrect picture/colour settings — Someone (or an automatic mode) changed the hue, saturation, or colour temperature.
  • Faulty or loose HDMI/AV cables — A partially connected cable sends corrupted colour signals.
  • Bad input source — The problem may be with the streaming device, decoder, or DVD player — not the TV itself.
  • Outdated firmware — Older software can cause display bugs including colour shifts.
  • Burn-in (OLED/Plasma) — Static images left on screen too long cause permanent colour staining.
  • Backlight issues (LED TVs) — Uneven backlighting creates colour patches or a yellow/blue tint.
  • T-Con or main board failure — Internal circuit board faults cause lines, tints, or total colour loss.
  • Magnetic interference — Speakers, phones, or other electronics placed too close can distort colours (more common in older CRT-style sets).
  • Physical damage — A knock or fall can damage the display panel internally.

Step 1 — Restart and Reset Your TV

Why This Works

A simple restart clears temporary software glitches that can affect colour processing.

How To Do It

  1. Turn off the TV using the remote control — do not use standby.
  2. Unplug the TV from the wall socket completely.
  3. Wait 60 seconds — this drains residual power and resets internal processors.
  4. Plug back in and power on.
  5. Check if the colour issue is resolved.

If the problem disappears after a restart, it was a temporary software glitch. If it keeps coming back, move to the next steps.


Step 2 — Check and Reset Picture Settings

Why This Works

Picture presets, colour temperature, and hue settings are the most common cause of “weird” colours — and the easiest to fix.

How To Do It

  1. Press the Menu or Settings button on your remote.
  2. Navigate to Picture or Display Settings.
  3. Look for these specific settings and check them:
    SettingRecommended Value
    Picture ModeStandard or Cinema (avoid “Vivid” — it over-saturates colours)
    Brightness45–55
    Contrast80–90
    Colour / Saturation50 (default midpoint)
    Hue / Tint0 or centre
    Colour TemperatureWarm or Normal (not “Cool” — this adds blue)
    Sharpness30–50
  4. If you are unsure of the values, select Reset Picture Settings or Restore Defaults — this returns everything to factory values.
  5. Turn off any Auto Picture or Ambient Light Sensing modes temporarily to rule them out.

Tip: “Vivid” or “Dynamic” picture modes are designed for bright showrooms — they over-saturate colours dramatically. Switch to Standard or Cinema for accurate colours at home.


Step 3 — Inspect All Cables and Connections

Why This Works

A loose, damaged, or low-quality cable is one of the top causes of colour tints, faded colours, or colour lines on your TV.

How To Do It

  1. Turn off both the TV and the connected device (decoder, laptop, streaming box, etc.).
  2. Unplug the HDMI, AV, or component cable from both ends.
  3. Inspect the cable for:
    • Bent or broken pins
    • Frayed or kinked wiring
    • Corrosion on the connectors
  4. Plug the cable back in firmly — you should feel/hear a click on HDMI cables.
  5. Try a different cable if you have one available.
  6. Try a different HDMI port on your TV — ports can fail individually.
  7. Power everything back on and check the colour.

Note for component (red/green/blue) cables: If one of the three colour cables is loose or plugged into the wrong port, you will see a colour tint. Double-check each cable matches its colour-coded port.


Step 4 — Test Different Input Sources

Why This Works

The problem may not be your TV at all — it could be the device connected to it. Testing isolates where the fault lies.

How To Do It

  1. Press the Source or Input button on your remote.
  2. Switch to a completely different input (e.g., from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2, or to the built-in smart TV apps).
  3. If the colour is fine on another input — the problem is with the original connected device or its cable, not your TV.
  4. If the colour is wrong on ALL inputs — the problem is with the TV itself. Continue to the next steps.
  5. Also test:
    • The TV’s built-in apps (Netflix, YouTube) — these bypass external devices entirely.
    • A different device (e.g., plug in a laptop via HDMI instead of your decoder).

Step 5 — Update Your TV Firmware

Why This Works

TV manufacturers release firmware updates that fix software bugs — including display and colour processing errors.

How To Do It (Smart TVs)

  1. Connect your TV to Wi-Fi or plug in an Ethernet cable.
  2. Go to Settings → Support → Software Update → Update Now
    (The exact menu name varies by brand — see below.)
  3. Allow the TV to download and install any available update.
  4. The TV will restart automatically — do not turn it off during this process.

Brand-Specific Paths

BrandUpdate Path
SamsungSettings → Support → Software Update
LGSettings → All Settings → Support → Software Update
SonySettings → Device Preferences → About → System Update
HisenseSettings → Device Preferences → About → System Update
TCLSettings → More Settings → Device Preferences → About → Update

No internet? Download the firmware from your TV brand’s official website onto a USB flash drive and install it manually via the TV’s USB port.


Step 6 — Fix Magnetic or Environmental Interference

Why This Works

Electronics and magnets placed too close to a TV — especially older models — can distort the colour display by interfering with the screen’s colour signals.

How To Do It

  1. Move any speakers, subwoofers, or large electronics at least 50 cm away from the sides of your TV.
  2. Remove any magnets (decorative or otherwise) near the TV.
  3. Check if other appliances (microwaves, fans, air conditioners) are on the same wall or immediately behind the TV.
  4. Restart the TV after repositioning everything.
  5. For older TVs with a degauss function: Go to Settings and look for a Degauss or Screen Demagnetise option and run it.

Step 7 — Run a Built-In Diagnostic or Pixel Refresh

Why This Works

Most modern TVs include self-diagnostic tools and screen refresh functions that can detect and partially correct colour issues, especially burn-in.

How To Do It

Run a Self-Diagnosis

  1. Go to Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test
  2. The TV displays a test image — if the test image looks correct, the problem is with the source/cable, not the screen.
  3. If the test image also shows distorted colour, the screen or internal board has a fault.

Run a Pixel Refresh (OLED TVs)

  1. Go to Settings → Support → OLED Panel Care → Pixel Refresh (LG)
    Or Settings → Device Preferences → Picture → Panel Refresh (Sony OLED)
  2. This process takes 1–2 hours and should only be run when the TV won’t be in use.
  3. Do not turn off the TV during the refresh.

Pixel Refresh only works on OLED TVs. LED/LCD TVs do not have this feature.


 When to Call a Professional

Some colour problems cannot be fixed at home and require a qualified TV technician. Contact us immediately if you see any of the following:

  • ❌ Coloured vertical or horizontal lines across the screen
  • Large patches of discolouration that don’t respond to settings changes
  • ❌ Colours are completely wrong (e.g., everything is green or pink)
  • ❌ The screen flickers alongside the colour distortion
  • ❌ The TV was dropped or knocked before the colour problem started
  • ❌ The problem appeared after a power surge or electricity fluctuation
  • None of the above steps resolved the issue

These symptoms typically indicate a fault with the T-Con board, main board, panel ribbon cables, or the display panel itself — all of which require professional diagnosis and repair.


📞 Contact Us for TV Repair

Don’t let a colour problem ruin your viewing experience. Our experienced TV repair technicians can diagnose and fix distorted colour issues quickly and affordably — for all major brands including Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, TCL, Skyworth, and more.

📱 Call or WhatsApp: 0704843613

We offer:

  • ✅ Free diagnosis consultation over WhatsApp
  • ✅ Same-day or next-day repair service
  • ✅ Genuine spare parts
  • ✅ Repair warranty included
  • ✅ Home visit service available

WhatsApp us a photo or video of your TV’s colour problem and we’ll advise you instantly.

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