The Virgin Media Amazon Prime black screen issue finally appeared for you too?
No problem!
This common problem on Virgin Media (Prime) has impacted a large proportion of the users and has been solved effectively.
In this guide, we’ll uncover what’s causing the black screen and provide you with multiple solutions to attempt.
Let’s get started…
To fix the black screen on Virgin Media Amazon Prime, reboot the TV box and reconnect the HDMI cable. Have the software of the cable box updated and clear the TV box’s cache data. As a last resort, we’ll learn how to perform a Factory Reset.
Let’s next learn what’s causing the black screen issue in the first place!
Amazon Prime Have a Black Screen On Virgin Media?
With the evasive and innovative actions of Virgin Media, Amazon Prime has become an official channel on most Virgin TV boxes.
You could now enjoy Prime content on Amazon if equipped with a TiVo, V6, or Virgin 360 TV box.
Sometimes, certain issues or rather interruptions could occur with the stream that is causing the frustrating black screen. There are, however, multiple causes!
Here’s why you could be getting the black screen on Virgin Media Amazon Prime:
- There’s a Connection Issue between your Cable Box and TV
- Your TV Box has been disconnected from the internet
- There’s a temporal Amazon Server Outage!
- You’re running an Outdated Version of your Virgin Media TV box
- Software-related problem with the TV Box
Regardless of the streaming equipment or TV you’re using, this issue is by far easy to troubleshoot.
Keep reading the guide below to resolve the black screen in minutes!
Virgin Media Amazon Prime Black Screen – Solved!
After reviewing what could possibly impact your TV box’s functionality internally and externally, it’s time to troubleshoot!
We will go over the best community-contributed troubleshooting guide that will definitely solve the black screen problem with Amazon Prime!
Let’s jump right in with the fix!
Solution #1 Restart your TV & Cable Box
Before proceeding with any of the complex solutions, you should first attempt to simply restart your cable box along with the TV.
If there’s a connection/signal issue with the Amazon Prime TV channel, a reboot would perhaps solve the issue.
Turn OFF your Cable Box and the TV, using the power buttons on their panels!
Once both devices are shut down, make sure to wait for at least 5 minutes.
In addition to that, you should also unplug the power cord of the TV and the cable box if you want to discharge the devices.
The process is called “power circulation” and the longer you keep the devices unplugged, the better will the discharge work. This also helps the devices cool down and refresh!
In case the black screen continues to appear, jump to the next solution!
Solution #2 Test Different Channels!
To identify the true source of the Virgin Media Amazon Prime black screen, you should browse through different broadcasts on your box.
In case the issue impacts ALL of the available channels on your TV box, then we’re speaking of something entirely different.
Cycle through the channels by pressing the Channel Up/Down remote buttons!
Go through at least 3-4 channels and determine if they all have a black screen or if they’re functional.
Some channels may take longer to load, but be patient and note how many of your Virgin Media channels work.
- Based on your findings proceed with the troubleshooting respectively!
Note: In case ALL channels are black, jump to Solution #6 and proceed further!
Solution #3 Reconnect/Replace the HDMI Cable
If there’s a problem with the HDMI cable of your Virgin Media cable box, the Amazon Prime channel will remain on a black screen.
This is easy to fix by reconnecting the HDMI cable from your TV and potentially replacing the unit if the signal keeps failing.
- Simply disconnect the HDMI cable on both sides!
Then re-attach the HDMI cable to your TV first and then on the back of the TV box as well. When you’re ready, test the Virgin Media Amazon Prime channel.
If the Amazon channel still seems to be failing to work, it’s recommended to test with a replacement HDMI cable!
Tip: Find a replacement HDMI cable that will get the job done at the bottom of the guide!
Solution #4 Use a Different TV HDMI Input
One of the reasons for the black screen on your TV is if the cable box is improperly connected to the TV or into a non-functional port.
What you could do is disconnect your cable box from its current input and connect it to an alternative one, to refresh the signal.
Before attempting to broadcast on the alternative HDMI port, make sure to also switch up the sources selected on your TV. Based on where you’ve plugged your HDMI now!
For that purpose, use your TV’s remote and press the “Source” button.
After that, select the source matching the input where your Virgin Media TV box is connected and the output should appear on the screen. Now jump into Amazon Prime and test.
Tip: Smart TVs have at least 4 HDMI inputs, so feel free to test all of them!
Solution #5 Reconnect Box with the WiFi/Ethernet
If there are certain WiFi or cable connection issues with your Virgin Media TV box, the Amazon Prime channel will definitely stop working.
What you should do at this point is identify whether the box is connected or not and potentially pair it with the internet again.
Here’s how to reconnect your Virgin Media box to both WiFi and Ethernet!
How to Connect Virgin Media Box to WiFi?
- On your cable box, go to Settings.
- Head to WiFi.
- Select your network from the list.
- Enter the password for the WiFi.
- Press the “Connect” button.
How to Connect Virgin Media Box to Ethernet?
- Place your cable box or router near each other.
- Get an Ethernet cable to use for the connection.
- Plug the Ethernet cable into your box’s Ethernet input.
- The other end goes in one of the Yellow Router Ports.
- Wait for the box to establish the connection.
Note: You will be notified once your box successfully connects with the WiFi.
Solution #6 Clear Cable Box Cache
In the “reset” menu, you will also get an option that is to clear, rather than factory erase your Virgin Media cable box.
It’s a great thing you should attempt before you cleanly reinstall the entire operating system.
Since each app creates a cache, the back screen could be related.
Here’s how to clear your cable box’s cache in easy-to-follow steps:
- Get your cable box’s remote.
- From the home screen, press the Help and Settings buttons.
- On the next page, navigate to Clear or Reset TiVo Box.
- Press “Clear” at the following selection tab.
- Confirm that you want to “clear” your cable box.
- Follow any additional on-screen instructions.
The next several pages will get you familiar with what the Clear function means and does to your cable box.
If something isn’t familiar this far, there you will learn all about the option.
Alert: Do not unplug or shut down your cable box while it is still clearing!
Solution #7 Reset the Cable Box
If nothing worked out so far, then you should perform a Factory Reset on your cable box.
This is the solution with the most efficiency across all of the community.
However, keep in mind that a factory reset is going to erase ALL settings, features, and configurations on the TV box.
Here’s how to factory reset your Virgin Media cable box in easy steps:
- On your Virgin Media remote, press the “Menu” button.
- Navigate to “Settings”.
- Head to “Advanced Settings”.
- Press the “OK” button on your remote control.
- Navigate to “Virgin TV BOX”.
- Select the “OK” button again.
- Choose “Factory Reset”.
- Confirm that you want to reset your cable box.
Note: Follow any of the remaining on-screen instructions to finalize the reset on your box!
Quick Recap:
Thus, the solution to the black screen problem is to Power Cycle the Virgin Media TV Box and clear the device’s cache data. The next step is to Update the TV Box and reconnect to the WiFi/Ethernet. In case nothing helps, start fresh by resetting the TV Box!
Wrapping Up:
We hope that you’ve learned all about the Virgin Media Amazon Prime black screen problem and how to appropriately troubleshoot the issue.
Keep in mind that after all, this problem could be due to a temporal outage or maintenance, so be patient before drawing conclusions!
Read Next: How to Fix Virgin Media Error Code C501?
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.