Samsung TV Lines on Screen: Horizontal or Vertical Lines Fix
Lines on a Samsung TV screen come either from the signal (the input, the cable or the connected device) or from the TV itself. Samsung's own troubleshooting separates the two: see whether the lines move, reconnect the cable, check the TV menu and run the Picture Test.
Quick answer
Lines on a Samsung TV screen come from the incoming signal or from the TV itself. Check whether the lines move or stay fixed, reconnect the HDMI or video cable, then run the built-in Picture Test. Lines during the Picture Test mean the TV needs service. A clean test points to the cable or the connected device.
- 1.If the lines sway or move, check the input source you are on, then disconnect and reconnect the HDMI or video cable.
- 2.Run the Picture Test. On 2023-2025 models: Settings → All Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test (paths for other years are below).
What it means
Samsung describes a few different ways lines or missing pixels can show up on a TV screen, horizontal or vertical. Its troubleshooting is built to answer one question first: is this a software or signal problem, or a hardware fault in the TV? That answer decides whether you can fix it at home or need a repair.
The Picture Test is the deciding step. It shows Samsung's test pictures on the screen. If they look clean, Samsung's guidance is that the TV is working fine and the lines come from the cable or the external device. If lines appear during the test, or the test does not appear at all, Samsung asks you to contact support for service.
Whether the lines move also matters. Samsung's first check is to see if they are moving or permanent: lines that sway send you to the input source and the cable connection before anything else. If you want to understand which internal part is behind fixed vertical lines, see our guide on vertical lines on a TV (T-Con board, ribbon or dead panel).
Common causes
- Loose or faulty cable. Samsung's fix for swaying lines starts with the video cable or HDMI connection. If the Picture Test is clean, Samsung's next step is replacing the cable of the external device that shows lines.
- Input source or connection problem. Samsung asks you to check the input source (HDMI 1, Video, PC and so on) and whether it is properly connected when the lines move.
- Problem in the connected device. If the lines remain after a cable swap and the Picture Test is clean, Samsung points to the external device (cable box, console, computer) as the source.
- Hardware fault in the TV. Lines that also appear during the Picture Test, or a Picture Test that does not appear, mean the TV itself needs service.
- Cracked screen. Samsung notes that lines, especially black ones, can in some cases be caused by a cracked screen. Physical damage is not covered by the warranty.
Before you start
- Watch the lines for a moment and note whether they move or sway, or stay fixed in the same place. This is Samsung's first troubleshooting step.
- Open the TV menu and check whether the lines are still there over it.
- Note which input you are watching (HDMI 1, Video, PC and so on) and which device is connected to it.
- Look at the screen surface for cracks or impact marks, especially if the lines are black.
Fixes, from safest to last resort
Check the input source and reconnect the cable
No data loss- 1Confirm the TV is set to the input your device is connected to (HDMI 1, Video, PC and so on).
- 2Disconnect the HDMI or video cable, then reconnect it firmly.
- 3Check whether the lines are gone.
Samsung gives this step for lines that sway or move.
Run the Picture Test for your model year
No data loss- 12026 models: Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test.
- 22023-2025 models: Settings → All Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test.
- 32022 models: Menu → Settings → All Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test.
- 42020-2021 models: Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test.
- 52016-2019 models: Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Start Picture Test.
- 62015 models: Menu → Support → Self Diagnosis → Picture Test.
- 7Watch the test pictures for lines. On recent models you can answer Yes if the picture looks normal, No if there is a problem, or Show again to repeat the test.
These paths come from Samsung Australia, which notes that menus and settings vary by region. If lines appear during the test, or the test does not appear, skip to the support section below.
Test the HDMI cable with the built-in test
No data loss- 12022 and later models: All Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → HDMI Troubleshooting, then pick the HDMI connection to test and follow the instructions.
- 2Earlier models: keep the TV on the HDMI source you want to test, then go to Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Signal Information → HDMI Cable Test → Start Test.
- 3If the test reports a problem with the cable, replace the cable.
Samsung says the test is designed for HDMI cables under 2 m and may not give good results on longer ones. Some models only get it after a software update and older models may not have it; if yours doesn't, swap in another cable instead.
If the Picture Test is clean, replace the cable and check the device
No data loss- 1Replace the cable of the external device that is showing lines.
- 2If the lines still appear with a new cable, troubleshoot the external device.
- 3To rule the device out, connect a different device or use a different Source port, as Samsung suggests in its related picture troubleshooting.
A clean Picture Test means, in Samsung's words, that the TV is working fine.
If a menu doesn't match your TV
- Samsung's US page lists the Picture Test for 2022 and later models under All Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis, and for earlier models under Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis. If the path for your year doesn't match, try the other one.
- If the Picture Test option does not appear at all, Samsung treats it like a failed test: contact Samsung support.
- The built-in HDMI cable test is missing on some models. Swapping in another cable gives you the same answer.
When to contact support
Contact Samsung support to request service if lines appear during the Picture Test, if the Picture Test does not appear, or if the lines are still there after every step above. At that point the fault is inside the TV: don't open the back cover yourself, since opening a TV carries an electrical risk.
- Have the TV's model code, software version and serial number ready; Samsung US asks for them when you call.
- Tell them the Picture Test result and which cables and devices you already swapped.
- If the screen is cracked, Samsung notes that physical damage is not covered by the warranty and that buying a new TV may cost less than paying for repairs and a new screen.
Sources
- Official source: Samsung Support (Australia): Lines on Samsung TV screen · www.samsung.com
- Official source: Samsung Support (US): Problems with the picture on Samsung TV or projector · www.samsung.com
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Samsung TV have vertical lines on the screen?+
The lines come from the signal (cable, input or connected device) or from the TV itself. Samsung's Picture Test tells the two apart: if the test pictures are clean, the TV is fine and the cable or device is the cause. If lines show up in the test, the TV needs service.
Is there a Samsung TV vertical lines fix I can do myself?+
Yes, when the problem is in the signal. Check the input source, disconnect and reconnect the cable, replace the cable if needed and test the connected device. If the lines also appear during the Picture Test, there is no home fix in Samsung's guidance: the TV needs service.
TV vertical lines appear and disappear: is it the cable or the TV?+
Lines that move or sway are the case where Samsung sends you first to the input source and the cable connection. Reconnect the cable, then run the Picture Test. If the test is clean, replace the cable of the external device and check the device itself.
What does a single vertical line on a Samsung TV screen mean?+
Run the Picture Test and look for the line in the test pictures. If it is there, Samsung asks you to request service. If the test is clean, the line comes from the cable or the external device, so swap the cable first.
Can a TV have lines on screen because the panel is cracked?+
Yes. Samsung notes that lines, especially black ones, can in some cases be caused by a cracked screen. A repair still needs service, and because physical damage is not covered by the warranty, Samsung says a new TV may be more economical.
What about the TV vertical lines repair cost and warranty?+
We don't list repair prices. Samsung states that physical damage such as a cracked screen is not covered by the warranty. For lines that appear in the Picture Test, request service through Samsung support with the model code, software version and serial number at hand.
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