Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services with worldwide reach today. Still, it is not exempted from potential problems and issues that can disrupt your streaming experience. You may be looking forward to a night where you can binge-watch your favorite TV series or Netflix original movie. But then, Netflix hinders your escapade with a black screen video error.
There are two scenarios when you get the black screen issue of Netflix. One is when you have a black screen but with audio or sound, and the other is without any sound at all. It may seem similar, but sometimes, the reasons behind these issues are different. Still, you can deal with them using several troubleshooting tips that we have gathered below.
How to Troubleshoot & Fix Netflix Black Screen Video Error with Sound or No Sound on Android Phone or Smart TV
The Netflix black screen video problem is typically experienced by people watching content using an Android phone or iPhone, Xbox One console, or smart TV device.
Before anything else, you need to check if the Netflix server is down. If it is, it may be the reason why you see the black screen. Try to wait for Netflix to resolve and fix the issue on their own turf before relaunching the app. However, if the server is fine and there’s no outage reported, you can follow the solutions below.
Also, please note that if you are using streaming devices with power cords or HDMI cables, you might need to check if there are loose connections or problems. Hardware physical issues can also be the reason why you experience the black screen on your Netflix app.
Power Cycle your Devices
- Exit the Netflix app and turn off your device.
- Unplug your router, modem, and streaming device, if needed.
- Wait for at least 3 minutes before plugging them back in.
- Now, turn on your device and relaunch Netflix.
Sign Out of your Netflix Account
If you can see the Settings menu on the app or website, you can sign out of your Netflix account and sign back in again. However, if you cannot see anything, there is a sequence you can follow using your smart TV remote control. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Up, Up, Up, Up. A menu option will appear. Select Sign out and try to sign back in to Netflix.
Clear Netflix Cookies
On your browser, go to netflix.com and sign in to your account. Now, change the address on your address bar with netflix.com/clearcookies to sign out of your account. Now, try signing back in.
Clear Browser or App Cache
Whether you are streaming Netflix on your browser or via the Netflix app, it helps to clear the cache.
- To clear browser cache, navigate to the History menu of your browser. For Firefox, go to Privacy & Security.
- Go to Clear Browsing Data or Clear History.
- Set the Time Range to All time.
- Check the boxes next to cache, cookies, and browsing history.
- Click the Clear Data button.
- For Android devices, go to the Settings menu.
- Select Apps and choose Netflix.
- Navigate to Storage.
- Tap Clear Data and Clear Cache.
Update your Web Browser or Netflix App
Updating your web browser or Netflix streaming app to the latest available version sometimes fixes all sorts of errors on the platform. As for Netflix, there may be bug fixes added to the latest software version that will resolve the black screen error.
Reinstall the Netflix App
If none of the solutions above work, you may be using a faulty version of the Netflix app. Try to uninstall the Netflix app and reinstall it from the app store. Check if the new version of the app works for you.
That’s it! If nothing worked, you might also want to contact the Netflix customer support team by visiting this page https://help.netflix.com/en/contactus. You can call them or start a live chat to talk to a customer service representative.
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Which of the methods above helped you fix your Netflix black screen video error? You can share them with us in the comment section below.
