Have you noticed an unusual blue tint on your Philips TV screen? This common issue can often be fixed with some simple troubleshooting steps.
As a long-time technician specialized in TV repair, I’ve helped hundreds of customers resolve annoying blue tinted screens. In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to fix Philips TV blue tint yourself and save up to $300 in technician fees.
Why Does My Philips TV Screen Have a Blue Tint?
Before we jump into the step-by-step guide, it helps to understand what causes the blue tint issue in the first place.
There are 3 primary reasons you may see a blue tint or hue on your Philips TV display:
- LED Backlight Failure: The blue LEDs providing backlight have degraded or burned out while the yellow phosphor coating has remained intact. This allows excess blue light to pass through. This tends to happen as TVs age 2+ years.
- Loose Cable Connection: An improperly connected HDMI or other input cable can cause signal issues that add a blue hue.
- Software Glitch: On rare occasions, corrupted software or a firmware bug introduces a blue tint that a restart can clear up.
Luckily, whatever the exact cause, there are several straightforward troubleshooting steps you can take to remove the annoying blue tint on your Philips TV.
How to Fix Blue Tint on a Philips TV in 7 Easy Steps
Based on my extensive experience repairing modern TVs, here is my proven multi-step process for resolving Philips TV blue tint:
1. Power Cycle the Philips TV
Start by power cycling your Philips TV, which essentially functions as a reboot that often clears up software issues:
- Turn off your TV and unplug it from the power source.
- Keep it unplugged for 2 full minutes to discharge.
- Firmly plug the TV power cord back in and turn it on to see if the blue tint persists.
This simple reset fixes an estimated 40% of blue tint reports so I always recommend it first.
2. Inspect All Connected Cables
Loose HDMI cables are a common culprit behind blue tinted screens:
- Ensure each HDMI and other input cable is firmly pushed into the correct port on the rear of the TV.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting input cables one by one.
- Swap cables between devices or try new cables if available, like those made for YouTube TV remotes.
- Test different HDMI ports if possible to isolate the problem input.
Refraining from bending HDMI cables at sharp angles can reduce future connectivity issues.
3. Adjust Your Picture Settings
If output from a media device itself, such as a streaming stick or game console, appears normally on another TV, you may be able to rectify a blue tint on the Philips TV through picture adjustments:
- Access picture settings via the Settings menu.
- Under Expert Mode reduce Color Temperature closer to Warm.
- Fine tune the RGB spectrum under Whitepoint Alignment > Custom.
- Lower Backlight Contrast to around 80 initially if set at 100.
Be patient in tweaking settings gradually to judge color improvement.
4. Check for Firmware Updates
Outdated firmware can introduce TV display problems:
- Navigate to Settings > Update Software > Search for Updates on newer Philips smart TVs.
- For older models, download firmware updates to a USB drive from the Philips support site based on your model number.
Perform update installation carefully following all prompts.
5. Reset Your Philips TV to Factory Settings
If you’ve ruled out the above fixes, resetting the TV software can clear any corrupted data:
- Access the reset utility via Settings > General Settings > Reinstall TV on your remote.
- Confirm you wish to restore factory default settings when prompted. The TV will restart automatically.
- Run through the initial setup process again, including relinking apps like Disney Plus if it gets stuck during loading.
Remember to reconnect any external media devices afterwards.
6. Inspect the LED Backlights
The next step is getting hands-on to check the condition of the LED backlights which often degrade over time:
- Carefully pry off the back panel of the Philips TV to expose the LED stripsresponsible for backlighting.
- Check each flexible LED strip for damage and to see if any individual LEDs appear darker.
- Purchase and install replacement backlight strips if needed, taking care not to damage any.
Ideally reduce backlight brightness settings after replacement to >=80% maximum.
7. Call Philips Support as a Last Resort
If you have no luck resolving the blue tinted panel with the above steps:
- Contact Philips TV customer support online via chat or by calling (833) 978-3323.
- Discuss whether your TV model warranty covers related repairs.
- Ask about potential goodwill discounts on their latest TV models if yours requires replacement out of warranty.
Philips support might advise you of other things to try or help diagnose the root cause of the issues, such as Samsung green screen problems.
Key Takeaways to Fix Your Philips TV Blue Tint
- Power cycle the TV as step #1 in a process of elimination.
- Ensure all HDMI and other cables have a solid connection.
- Tweak picture settings, especially color temperature and whitepoint alignment.
- Check for firmware updates and perform factory reset if needed.
- Inspect backlights on older TVs and swap dead LED strips.
- Call Philips as a last resort to explore warranty coverage or replacements.
With some dedicated troubleshooting, I’m confident you’ll have your Philips TV looking vibrant again and finally rid of that pesky blue tint.
FAQs Related to Fixing Philips TV Blue Tint
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions around resolving blue tinted Philips TV screens:
How long does it take to fix a Philips TV blue tint?
It could take as little as 2 minutes if a basic reboot of power cycling the TV clears up the software issue causing the blue tint. Attempting the other troubleshooting steps would take 30-60 minutes. Replacement of backlights would take 1-2 hours.
Why are different shades appearing on my Philips TV?
If you notice darker or lighter patches on the screen, this is likely an indication of LED backlight strips starting to fail. Certain LEDs degrade quicker leading to uneven lighting and coloring. New backlight strips typically resolve this issue, but be sure to buy ones compatible with your garage TV placement.
Does Philips have extended warranties for TV picture issues?
Philips provides a standard 1 year limited warranty covering manufacturer defects on parts & labor. Extended warranties are available at additional cost to protect from issues arising from long-term wear and tear.
Is blue tint dangerous for my Philips TV?
While blue tinting itself doesn’t harm the Philips TV, leaving underlying issues unchecked can lead to premature failure. Troubleshooting blue tint sooner rather than later prevents excess strain on old backlights for example.
Why am I getting a black screen with blue tint around the edges?
This suggests an issue with how edge-lit LEDs are behaving – possibly a shortage causing them to rapidly cycle on and off. Inspect the edges for damaged controller boards or leads. Thorough replacement of all edge lighting strips generally resolves.
How much does it cost to fix blue tint on a Philips TV?
If the blue tint is simply an output cable, settings or firmware issue then this DIY fix is free. Backlight replacements would cost $100-200 typically for parts if repaired personally. Expert repair techs may charge $250+ for home service and fixes.
Final Thoughts on Repairing Philips TV Blue Screens
I hope this detailed guide gives you confidence to tackle Philips TV blue tint through methodical troubleshooting and practical tips.
While complex backlight issues should be left to qualified service pros – many software settings and cabling problems can be fixed with basic tools and a software reset.
Don’t live with subpar picture quality if you notice blue hues across the screen of your aging or new Philips television. Follow these guidelines before deciding on whether professional repairs or a replacement TV altogether makes sense for your situation.
As always, reach out in the comments with any other questions!
