Unable to display a picture from a computer connected to the HDMI input of my TV

This article provides information for troubleshooting an issue where your computer is connected to your TV using an HDMI® cable and there's no display.

Before you start

• Check the article Connect a computer to a TV for use as a monitor using an HDMI, VGA, or DVI cable if you're looking for information on how to connect your computer to your TV to use as a monitor.
• The computer settings and information used in this article are examples, if you're not familiar with making changes to your computer display settings, you may need to check the information provided with your computer or refer to your computer manufacturer for support.

This issue may be caused by several conditions, follow the steps as needed to help identify and resolve the issue:

How to connect a computer to your TV with an HDMI cable

1. Check your computer’s video output settings

Before connecting, make sure your computer is set to output video correctly.

Tip: Sometimes the issue can be solved by turning both the TV and computer off and on again, or by disconnecting and reconnecting the HDMI cable.

• Select a resolution supported by your TV.
  If the resolution on your computer is not supported, the image may appear distorted or not appear at all.
  
  • Check your TV’s instruction manual for supported resolutions.
  • Note down your current resolution before changing it. (It is necessary when you restore the original setting.)
  • If available, try using “Duplicate” mode with 1080i resolution.
  • Some computers or graphics cards can’t output HDMI or HD signals in certain video modes.
  • For how to check/change the computer screen resolution, refer to the computer's help or instruction manual.

2. Connect your TV and computer

1. Turn off both the TV and the computer.

2. Connect the computer’s HDMI input to the TV’s HDMI input using a High-Speed HDMI cable (with the HDMI logo).
   
   • A: TV
   • B: Computer
   • C: HDMI cable (not supplied)
3. Turn on the TV first, then turn on the computer.
   Note: If the computer starts while the TV is off or in standby, the image may not display correctly.

4. Press the Input button on the TV remote and select the HDMI port your computer is connected to.
   
   Note: The location of the Input button and input names may vary depending on your TV model.

If there’s no picture or the image looks incorrect

If the steps on the Connect your TV and computer section don’t solve the problem, try the following s

1. Change the computer’s display output mode

For details on how to change it, refer to the help or instruction manual of your computer. The following are examples for Windows®.

Keyboard shortcuts by manufacturer

• Windows laptops: Press Fn + one of the function keys (F3, F5, F7, F10), depending on your brand. For VAIO® computers, use Fn + F7.
• Mac: Press F7 to switch between display modes.

Note: Some video playback software (such as DVD or Blu-ray™ players) may not support output to both the computer and the TV simultaneously. In that case, select display on one device only.

2. Adjust or test hardware connections

1. Try setting your computer's screen resolution to a lower value.
2. Test another HDMI port on the TV and repeat the setup steps above.
3. Try using a different HDMI cable. If this solves the problem, the original cable may be faulty.
4. Reset your TV.
   For Android TV™ or Google TV™, see How to restart (reset) an Android TV/Google TV?
   For other models, see How to perform a power reset on a Sony television.
5. Reset the computer by removing the AC adapter, power cable, battery, and any connected devices, then wait a few minutes before reconnecting.
   Tip: This clears any residual electrical charge that may prevent proper HDMI detection.

Final checks

• Turn on the TV first, then the computer.
• Select the correct HDMI input on the TV.
• Confirm that the TV supports the computer’s display mode and resolution.