If your PS5 turns on but the TV says “No Signal” or remains black, start with the reversible checks: select the correct HDMI input, reseat the cable, try another HDMI port, and connect the console directly to the TV. Disconnect sound bars, AV receivers, and capture devices while testing. If the picture does not return, fully power-cycle both devices, then use Safe Mode’s Change Resolution or Change HDCP Mode. Reserve any reset option for last because some Safe Mode commands erase data.
Follow this order first
Work through these steps in sequence. Stop when the picture returns; changing several variables at once makes it harder to identify the cause.
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- Select the correct TV input. Use the television remote to choose the HDMI input where the PS5 is connected.
- Reseat both HDMI plugs. Turn the PS5 and TV off, remove the cable at both ends, then push each connector firmly back in.
- Try another TV HDMI port. Note which port you used so you can switch the TV to the matching input.
- Test another HDMI cable if available. Borrow one before buying anything. The cable supplied with the PS5 is the preferred starting point, although older HDMI cables can also work for many outputs. PlayStation Support’s picture-and-sound guide recommends trying another cable when the connection is suspect.
- Remove intermediary equipment. Connect the PS5 straight to the TV, temporarily bypassing a sound bar, home-theater receiver, switch, splitter, or capture device.
- Power-cycle both devices completely. Shut down the TV and PS5, unplug their power cables, wait 20 minutes, reconnect them, and test again.
- Try Safe Mode. If the normal startup image is still missing, use Safe Mode to change the video output.
- Escalate through PlayStation Repairs. If the console still produces no picture after these checks, use the official diagnostic path rather than guessing which internal part failed.
Check the HDMI signal path
Confirm the TV’s active input
A working PS5 can appear dead when the television is viewing the wrong HDMI channel. Press the remote’s Input, Source, or similarly named button and select the exact port used by the console. If the TV has several HDMI inputs, test each one that is practical. A port label such as “HDMI 2” must match the input selected on screen.
Do not rely only on an automatic input switch. Some televisions do not change inputs when a console wakes, and an AV receiver or sound bar may be sending the TV to a different source.
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Inspect and reseat the cable
With both devices off, check the HDMI cable for crushed sections, bent connector shells, or a plug that feels loose in the socket. Reinsert it straight, without twisting. Make sure the connector is fully seated in the PS5’s HDMI OUT port and the TV’s HDMI input. A partially inserted plug can carry power or intermittent data without producing a stable image.
The PS5’s included HDMI 2.1 cable is the best baseline for the console’s high-performance features. Sony also states that older HDMI cables may be used, so an older cable is not automatically defective. If a second cable immediately restores the image, keep the replacement as a diagnostic result and inspect or retire the original; do not assume a new cable is required when changing the input or bypassing an intermediary fixes the problem.
Test a different HDMI port
Move the cable from the current TV input to another known-working HDMI input, then select that input with the remote. Some televisions reserve particular ports for enhanced formats, while others have one port with different capabilities. A picture on one port but not another points to the TV-side port or its settings, not necessarily the PS5.
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Bypass receivers, sound bars, and capture hardware
Connect the PS5 directly to the TV for diagnosis. Temporarily remove every device between them, including an AV receiver, sound bar with HDMI pass-through, HDMI switch, splitter, or game-capture unit. Leave the PS5’s HDMI cable as the only video connection to the display.
If direct connection restores the image, reconnect the intermediary devices one at a time. Test the PS5 through the receiver or sound bar after each addition. The device that reintroduces the blank screen is the point to investigate: check its selected input, pass-through setting, firmware, and supported resolution. PlayStation’s official troubleshooting instructions specifically recommend this direct-connection isolation step. See the official signal-path guidance.
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Keep the direct connection in place while troubleshooting. It prevents an intermediary from masking whether the console itself can produce a video signal.
Perform the complete 20-minute power cycle
A short standby restart is not the same as the full procedure Sony specifies for a no-image problem.
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- Turn the TV off completely.
- Turn the PS5 off. If it is running, hold the console’s power button for about three seconds until it shuts down.
- Disconnect the TV’s power cable from the wall or power strip.
- Disconnect the PS5’s power cable.
- Leave both devices disconnected for 20 minutes.
- Reconnect power to the TV and PS5.
- Turn on the TV first, select the correct HDMI input, and then start the PS5.
This removes residual power and forces both devices to renegotiate the HDMI connection. If the picture returns only after this procedure, continue using the direct connection for a few starts to see whether the symptom was a one-time handshake failure or returns consistently.
Update the TV and check its input settings
PlayStation Support advises installing the television’s current firmware and consulting the TV manufacturer’s manual for settings that accept high-resolution signals. Firmware menus differ by make and model, so use the TV’s own support instructions rather than a generic button sequence.
Look for settings associated with enhanced HDMI, deep color, UHD, or high-bandwidth input. Enable the enhanced mode only on a port that supports it, and test again if changing that setting causes the screen to go blank. If the TV has a compatibility or HDMI mode selector, record the original value before changing it so you can restore it.
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Do not change multiple picture settings while the screen is blank. First establish whether the TV displays the PS5 when connected directly at a basic output. Then adjust high-resolution options one at a time.
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Safe Mode starts the PS5 with a limited set of functions so you can alter video-output settings when a normal startup signal is incompatible with the TV.
Enter Safe Mode correctly
- Turn the PS5 off by holding the power button for three seconds. Wait until the console is fully off.
- Press and hold the power button again.
- Keep holding it until you hear the second beep, approximately seven seconds after the first beep, then release.
- Connect the controller to the PS5 with a USB cable. A wireless connection is not used at this stage.
- Press the controller’s PS button when Safe Mode appears.
If you hear only one beep and the console starts normally, shut it down and repeat the sequence. Use a USB cable that carries data; a charge-only cable may not let the controller communicate in Safe Mode.
Choose the non-destructive video options
In Safe Mode, select Change Video Output. Sony lists two relevant controls:
- Change Resolution changes the output resolution so the TV can display a signal it supports.
- Change HDCP Mode changes the copy-protection handshake mode, which can help when the display chain rejects the normal HDCP negotiation.
Apply one option, allow the PS5 to restart, and check the picture. If the screen remains blank, return to Safe Mode and try the other video-output option rather than selecting a data-reset command. The available screens and prompts are described in Sony’s Safe Mode instructions.
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Know which Safe Mode choices can erase data
Do not select a reset merely because the display is blank. Reset PS5 and Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) delete user data. Restore Default Settings does not delete content stored on the console, but it does return settings to their defaults. These choices address broader software problems, not the first-line video diagnosis. Back up data and follow the official instructions only if the diagnostic path specifically leads there.
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A TV that displays the PS5 at an ordinary setting but goes blank when 4K/120 Hz is expected has a narrower compatibility problem. Check every part of that mode’s signal path.
Verify the TV and its HDMI 2.1 port
Confirm that the exact TV model supports 4K at 120 Hz. The television may support 4K but not 120 Hz, or only one of its HDMI inputs may provide the required bandwidth. Connect directly to the appropriate HDMI 2.1 input and enable any TV-side setting required for high-bandwidth or enhanced HDMI operation.
Use an appropriate cable
Use the PS5’s included cable or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz. A cable that works at lower resolution or refresh rate may fail when the bandwidth increases. Borrow a correctly rated cable for the test before purchasing one.
Check PS5 output settings
From the PS5’s video settings, inspect the selected resolution and video-transfer-rate settings. If you cannot see the normal interface, use Safe Mode’s Change Resolution first to regain a picture, then adjust the high-refresh settings after the console is visible.
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Sony notes that HDMI 2.1 support can require a setting on the TV and that 4K/120 Hz may have compatibility issues. Its checklist is available in the PS5 4K-resolution guide. Treat this branch as relevant only when the blank screen is tied to the high-refresh or 4K mode; it is not a reason to change those settings when the console produces no image at any output.
Use the result of each test to narrow the fault
| What you observe | What it suggests | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Picture appears after selecting another TV input | The TV was viewing the wrong HDMI channel. | Leave the PS5 and TV mapped to the confirmed port and input. |
| Picture appears on a different TV HDMI port | The original port or its configuration is suspect. | Use the working port and consult the TV manual for the failed port. |
| Picture appears with another HDMI cable | The original cable may be damaged or unable to carry the selected signal. | Use the known-good cable; for 4K/120 Hz, verify its Ultra High-Speed rating. |
| Picture appears only when connected directly to the TV | An intermediary device or its pass-through settings are interrupting the signal. | Reconnect equipment one at a time and check the device that brings the failure back. |
| Picture returns after the 20-minute power cycle | The HDMI handshake or device state was temporarily stuck. | Observe whether the issue recurs before changing additional settings. |
| Safe Mode is visible but normal startup is not | The console can output video, but its saved resolution or HDCP mode may not suit the display chain. | Use Change Resolution or Change HDCP Mode; avoid reset commands. |
| No picture appears even in Safe Mode | The problem remains in the physical signal path or may require service. | Recheck direct connection, cable, TV input, and then use PlayStation Repairs. |
| Only 4K/120 Hz causes the blank screen | TV capability, HDMI 2.1 port settings, cable bandwidth, or PS5 transfer settings may be incompatible. | Follow the dedicated 4K/120 Hz checklist. |
When replacing the HDMI cable makes sense
A replacement is justified as a diagnostic step when the existing cable shows visible damage, fits loosely, fails while a borrowed cable works, or cannot meet the bandwidth required for the output you are testing. For ordinary output, an older HDMI cable may still function. For 4K/120 Hz, use the included PS5 cable or an Ultra High-Speed cable rated for that mode.
Do not treat a cable purchase as the default cure. A wrong TV input, a failed TV port, an intermediary device, an incorrect resolution, or an HDCP handshake can produce the same symptom. Borrowing a known-good cable gives you useful evidence without spending money on an unrelated fix.
When to stop troubleshooting and request service
Use the official PlayStation Repairs diagnostic if the PS5 remains without a picture after you have:
- selected the correct TV input;
- reseated the cable and tried another HDMI port;
- tested another suitable cable;
- connected the PS5 directly to the TV;
- completed the 20-minute power disconnection;
- checked the TV’s firmware and relevant HDMI settings; and
- tried Safe Mode’s video-output controls.
Start the repair process at PlayStation Support’s picture-and-sound troubleshooting page or the repair option linked from the Safe Mode guidance. Service availability, warranty treatment, cost, and turnaround depend on your country and the console’s current status, so verify those details in the diagnostic flow instead of assuming coverage.
Describe the result of each test when prompted: which TV input and cable worked, whether direct connection changed anything, whether Safe Mode was visible, and whether the failure occurred only at 4K/120 Hz. Those observations help distinguish a display-chain problem from a console that needs inspection.
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