[SOLVED] How to Fix Vertical Green Lines on TV Screen

Are there vertical green lines on your TV screen? Maybe there’s one or two lines and they’re at the top or bottom so they aren’t really in the way, or maybe there’s tons of green lines that are making your TV unwatchable. In either way, vertical green lines on TV screen can be a major distraction.

This is a fairly common issue. Not common enough that it happens to every TV, but it’s common enough that we’re able to help you understand exactly what’s wrong with your TV and what the steps would be to fix it.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always a super quick fix like some of the other issues we’ve covered on this website (for example, when a Vizio TV keeps turning off), but having said that, it’s still possible to fix this and in some lucky cases this can be a very easy repair that you can do yourself. In some cases, it only takes a moment or two to fix, so let’s start off with the easiest solutions for fixing vertical green lines on your TV screen.

We always like to start with the easiest fixes because it can save you a lot of time and effort. Then, if they don’t work, we’ll move on to some of the more involved solutions that may take a bit more effort.

In any case, it’s worth it to troubleshoot and to try everything you can before giving up on your TV since the vertical green lines glitch can be fixed in many cases – and sometimes it’s even easy (and won’t cost you a single penny).

Troubleshooting 101: Fix Vertical Green Lines on TV Screen

fix green lines on tv

The first step is to check if the issue is with your TV itself, or if it’s with something that’s connected to your TV (or a cable).

So, the way that you’ll test this is by plugging all of the cables that are connecting to your TV except the power cable.

If you have a cable box connected to the TV, a satellite dish, a gaming console, a DVD/BluRay/VHS player, a Roku, or any similar devices then unplug those from your television.

Unplug everything from your TV, except the power cable, and then turn on your TV.

Now, this is the moment of truth…

Do you still see the green lines across your TV screen when you’ve unplugged any connected devices/inputs/outputs?

If you still see the green lines, then there’s an issue with your TV itself which we’ll discuss further in just a moment.

If the vertical green lines are gone when there’s nothing connected to your TV, then it’s likely one of the devices, cables, or input ports are what is causing the lines so let’s troubleshoot that now…

Do THIS If The Lines Disappear After Unplugging All Inputs/Outputs

If the lines disappeared from your TV screen after you tried unplugging all of the various devices that are connected to your TV, the next step is to determine which of these devices was causing the issue.

Also, bare in mind that it might not be the device itself causing the issue. It could be the cable that the device uses to connect to your TV. Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of it. The good news is that there probably isn’t a serious hardware issue with your TV (However, it’s possible that the actual plug on your TV is damage, but we’ll get to that).

So, the next thing you want to do is take ONE device and connect it back to your TV, and see if you’re getting the lines or not. Do this for everything that you previously unplugged from your TV, until the green lines return.

Let’s say you re-connected your cable TV box and the green lines weren’t back yet, then you reconnected your BluRay and the lines returned. It’s safe to assume that your BluRay player is causing the issue. Next, try using a different cable to connect your BluRay to your TV. It’s probably using an HDMI cable, so grab a spare HDMI and try that. If you try a new cable and the lines are gone – congrats – you’re all set!

However, if the device is still causing green lines to appear on your TV, here are your next moves:

  • Another tip on how to fix green line on TV screen: Try the device on a different TV and see if there are any issues.
  • Try plugging the device into a different port on your TV. If the port that your device connects to is damaged, the device should work fine on a different TV.
  • Note: Sometimes there will be multiple lines, sometimes it will just be a single vertical line on TV screen.
  • When it comes to green lines on TV HDMI can be the cause, so make sure you try a different cable.
  • If you only notice green lines on TV when streaming, it could be the streaming device that’s causing the problem.

You can have the input port repaired at an electronics repair shop, or you may be able to fix it yourself if you’re handy – but don’t try to open up your TV unless you understand all of the safety protocols to take when dealing with high-power electronics.

What Causes Vertical Green Lines on TV Screen

There are a handful of different things that can cause this issue.

There’s a flat cable that connects your TV monitor to the circuit board inside your television. This cable transmits the video data from the circuit board to the monitor. If this cable is damaged, it can cause green lines to appear on the screen. This is best repaired by a professional.

  • You can find a replacement ribbon cable for your TV on eBay, or other sites that sell niche electronic parts. Make sure you’re ordering the correct ribbon cable for your specific TV, you can cause some serious issues if you try to use the wrong one. Find the model of your TV and make sure the ribbon you’re ordering is compatible.
  • Vertical green lines can also be caused by a cable/connector on your TV. A faulty cable that connects your TV to an attached device, or the connector port itself can cause green lines. Replacing the cable or using a different connector is the easiest fix for this.
  • In some cases, it’s the actual broadcast signals coming from the broadcast company itself that is causing this issue. It could be a compatibility issue where your TV can’t properly transcribe the signals, however this is less common in recent years. In some areas, the TV signals aren’t digital, and can cause various visual artifacts to appear on the screen.
  • If your TV shares a breaker with other electronics or appliances that require a lot of power, there have been reports of this causing green lines to appear on the screen. Your TV is getting enough electricity to power itself on and display an image, but not enough to display the image perfectly.

These issues can happen with any brand of TV. Samsung TV screen green lines are just as common as finding this issue on a Sony TV, a Toshiba, and so on. In fact, many different brands of TV’s will use the same panels or parts from other brands of television companies (Samsung, again, makes screens for a lot of different brands of televisions).

As such, we haven’t done specific articles for each brand of TV. A guide about how to fix vertical green lines on a Sony TV would be very similar to how to fix Samsung TV screen green lines, so regardless of which brand of TV you have, these resources should be just as helpful. If we discover that there are different methods for different brands, we’ll be sure to update this page.

Summary of How To Fix Vertical Green Lines on TV Screen

Green Lines on TV Screen

Sometimes, your TV just needs to be turned off, unplugged, and given several moments to “rest” in order to fix the green line across your TV screen. This sound wild, but it actually fixes the problem sometimes. Believe it or not, sometimes a smack to the back of your TV can also fix this – at least temporarily.

The way to fix vertical green lines that are interrupting your viewing experience will depend on what the cause is. Since there are numerous causes, there are also numerous possible fixes, so try to narrow things down.

The first thing you should try is a soft-reset of your television. To do this, simply turn off your TV and unplug it from the power source. Press the power button a few times to discharge any leftover current in the capacitors inside your TV, and wait. Wait a few minutes, or a bit longer if you aren’t in a hurry, and then plug your TV back in and turn it on. Sometimes, this is all it takes!

If a soft-reset doesn’t do the job, then you’ll need to troubleshoot the various causes of a green line across TV screen that have been discussed throughout this article…

  1. Unplug all of the devices that are connected to your TV.
  2. One by one, plug them back in until you can determine if one of these devices is causing the issues.
  3. Try connected that device to a different port on your TV.
  4. Try using a different cable to connect the device to your TV.
  5. Try using the device on a different television in your home.
  6. If none of this works, you may need to replace the ribbon cable at the back of your television. It’s not the most difficult fix, but you should still know what you’re doing or take some time to research exactly how to do this and the precautions that you need to take.

Don’t Let a Green Line on TV Screen Ruin Your Day

It’s an annoying problem, especially as the lines get worse and prohibit you from being able to enjoy your television at all. One line off to the side is something that most people can live with, but several lines all the way across the TV screen are enough to drive someone crazy.

We’ve heard from people who threw their TV’s in the trash after some vertical green lines started to appear on their television screens. Don’t do that! Before you toss your TV and replace it with a new one, try to fix vertical green lines on TV screen by following the instructions outlined above. If all else fails, call some local TV repair shops to get a quote – sometimes it’s well worth it to get a TV fixed instead of tossing it.

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About the Author

Ken Jayes is a lifelong tech enthusiast. He's the guy who family and friends call when their tech isn't working. With his role as the main contributor to RSSCloud.org, Ken is now your tech guy, too.