First make sure the console is actually on. Then try a different HDMI cable, a different input on the TV and, if you can, a different TV, with nothing like a soundbar or receiver in between. On a PS5, start it in safe mode and choose Change Video Output, then Change Resolution; an Xbox has a similar low-resolution mode. If you still get no picture, shine a light into the console's HDMI port. A bent, cracked or loose port is a common fault, and it needs replacing. Our HDMI port repairs start at $99.
1. Make sure the console is on
Check the power light, listen for the fan, and press the button on your controller to see if it connects. A PS5's light pulses blue as it starts, then turns solid white. An Xbox's power button stays lit while it's on.
If a PS5's light is orange, it's in rest mode. Press the PS button on the controller to wake it. If there's no light and no fan at all, it's a power problem rather than a picture problem, which is a different repair.
2. Rule out the cable, the TV and anything in between
- Make sure the TV is on the right HDMI input, then try a different input.
- Try another HDMI cable. The one that came with the console is the best test, since it's rated for what the console sends.
- Plug the console straight into the TV. Take any soundbar, AV receiver, switch, splitter or capture card out of the chain while you test.
- Turn off the console and the TV, unplug both from the wall for a minute, then try again.
- If you can, try a different TV or monitor.
If you get a picture at any point, the console's port is working. The problem is the cable, the TV input, or something in between.
3. Check the TV's HDMI settings
Many TVs have an enhanced or high-bandwidth setting for each HDMI input, usually needed for 4K HDR or 120Hz, and some only offer it on certain inputs. If the console is sending a signal the input can't handle, you can get a black screen or a picture that drops in and out. Try another input, or switch the enhanced setting on or off for the input you're using.
4. Reset the video output
A console set to a resolution or refresh rate the TV can't show will display nothing, even though everything else works. Both PlayStation and Xbox can start in a low-resolution mode to get you back in.
- PS5: turn it off fully by holding the power button until it beeps and the light goes out. Then press and hold the power button again and release it after the second beep, about seven seconds later. Connect the controller with a USB cable and press the PS button. In the safe mode menu, choose Change Video Output, then Change Resolution. The PS5 restarts at a low resolution.
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One: turn it off by holding the Xbox button on the front for about 10 seconds. Then press and hold the Xbox button and the Eject button together until you hear a second beep, about 10 seconds later. The console starts at a low resolution, and you can change the display settings from there. Consoles without a disc drive use a different button combination, so check Xbox Support for yours.
If low-resolution mode still shows nothing on a TV and cable you know work, the fault is very likely in the console's video output: the HDMI port, or the chip behind it.
5. Try Remote Play
If you set up remote play before the picture went (PS Remote Play for PS5, or remote play in the Xbox app), try connecting from a phone or computer. If you can see and play your console that way, the console itself is working, and the problem lies between its video output and the TV. That points strongly at the HDMI port.
6. Look for a damaged port
Unplug the console and shine a flashlight into its HDMI port. It helps to compare it with the port on your TV.
- The plastic tongue in the middle should be straight and centered, not pushed up, down or to one side.
- The metal contacts on the tongue should lie flat and evenly spaced, with none bent, missing or pushed back.
- The metal shell of the port shouldn't be bent, cracked or loose.
- A cable shouldn't wiggle or feel loose once it's plugged in.
Don't try to straighten anything with a pin or a screwdriver. The contacts are tiny and break easily, and a bent contact touching its neighbor can cause more damage when the console is powered on.
Why HDMI ports get damaged
The port is soldered to the main board, so it takes the strain whenever a cable is pulled. Most damage happens when the console is moved, knocked or carried with the cable still plugged in, when the cable is yanked out at an angle, or when a heavy, stiff cable hangs off the back.
Signs that point to the port rather than the cable include a picture that flickers or drops out when the cable is touched, a picture only at a certain angle, a cable that feels loose, and visible damage inside the port.
What the repair involves
- The console is opened and the main board is removed.
- The damaged port is desoldered. It has many small contacts plus large mounting tabs, so it's done with proper rework equipment to avoid lifting pads off the board.
- The pads are cleaned and checked, and a new port is soldered in.
- The chip behind the port that drives the HDMI signal is checked. A hard knock, or bent contacts shorting together, can damage it too. If it needs replacing, we'll tell you and quote it before going further.
- The console is reassembled and tested on a display at different resolutions.
Your games and saves stay on the console's storage, which the repair doesn't touch.
Prevent it happening again
- Unplug the HDMI cable before moving the console, even a short distance.
- Leave some slack, so the cable isn't pulled tight or hanging from the port.
- Pull the plug out straight by its connector, never at an angle or by the cable.
- Route the cable where it can't be caught by feet, pets or a vacuum cleaner.
Get it fixed
The diagnosis is free, so you'll know whether it's the port, the chip behind it or something else before any work. Pick your console on our booking page to see your price, then choose a store near you or mail it in. See all game console repairs.
Frequently asked questions
My console makes sound through the TV but the screen is black. Is it the port?
Not necessarily. If sound is coming through the TV, the HDMI connection is at least partly working, and a resolution, HDR or HDCP setting is a more likely cause. Reset the video output in safe mode or low-resolution mode first.
Can a bad HDMI cable cause no signal?
Yes. Cables fail, especially near the connectors, and older or cheaper cables may not handle 4K at 120Hz. Always test with a different cable, ideally the one that came with the console, before assuming the port is damaged.
Will an HDMI port repair erase my games?
No. The repair is on the board's video connector, not the storage, so your games, saves and settings stay where they are.
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