A-Hackers-Guide
PlayStation 3

Black screen

Black Screen / No Display

The power light is on and the fan spins, but the television stays completely black with no logo and no menu. Display Boot

Likely Causes

  • The console booted at a video resolution your TV cannot display.
  • A loose, damaged, or non-handshaking HDMI cable.
  • The TV is set to the wrong input source.
  • A stalled boot caused by a failed update or corrupt system file.

Fixes

  1. Reset the video output. Power off, then hold the power button until you hear a second beep. The console restarts at a safe 480p signal that nearly any display accepts.
  2. Reseat the HDMI cable at both ends, or swap in a known-good cable to rule out a bad connector.
  3. Cycle through every input on the TV. The console may be on a port you have not selected.
  4. If the screen is black even on a safe resolution, enter Safe Mode and run a database rebuild.

Quick Isolation Test

Connect the console to a different television. If the second display works, the problem is your original TV's input or cable, not the console itself.

If you hear the triple beep and see a flashing red light instead, this is a hardware failure, not a display issue. See the YLOD guide.