LG TV HDMI Not Working — How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Press the Input or Home button on the remote and select the correct HDMI port (HDMI 1, 2, or 3). Unplug the HDMI cable from both ends, wait 10 seconds, then reconnect firmly. If one HDMI port never shows a signal, try a different port on the TV — the port itself may be faulty.

Affected Models

LG OLED C-series
LG QNED series
LG NanoCell series
LG UHD series
LG webOS TV (all models)

Common Causes

Wrong input source selected on the TV
Loose or damaged HDMI cable
HDCP handshake failure between TV and device
Disabled HDMI port in TV settings (HDMI Deep Colour off)
Faulty HDMI port on the TV or connected device

How to Fix It

Select the correct input

Press the Input button (or Home → Inputs on webOS) and choose the HDMI port your device is plugged into. LG TVs do not auto-switch inputs.
Re-seat the HDMI cable

Unplug the cable from both the TV and the source device. Plug it back in firmly until you feel/hear a click. A cable that is 90% inserted will not make a reliable connection.
Try a different HDMI cable

Cables can fail internally without visible damage. Try a different cable — ideally HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 certified for 4K content.
Enable HDMI Deep Colour

On some LG models, ports default to Standard colour depth which can cause handshake failures with 4K devices. Go to Settings → Picture → Additional Settings → HDMI Deep Colour and set the relevant port to 4K.
Disable Simplink (HDMI-CEC) temporarily

Settings → General → External Device Settings → Simplink → Off. CEC conflicts can prevent a device from being recognised on the HDMI port.

When to Call a Professional

If all HDMI ports on the TV fail with multiple cables and devices, the HDMI controller on the mainboard has failed. This requires a board-level repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

LG TV says No Signal on HDMI — what does that mean?

No Signal means the TV is on the right input but the connected device is not sending a video signal. Check that the device is powered on, not in sleep mode, and that its HDMI output is active.

LG TV HDMI 2 not working but HDMI 1 works — why?

Individual HDMI ports can fail while others remain functional. Try the same cable and device on HDMI 1, then HDMI 2 to isolate whether it is the port or the cable.

4K device shows no picture on LG TV HDMI — how to fix?

LG TVs require HDMI Deep Colour to be enabled for 4K signals on some ports. Go to Settings → Picture → Additional Settings → HDMI Deep Colour and set the port to 4K or Auto.