Wondering what the Xfinity streaming box black screen means? Well, keep reading!
Suddenly encountering a black screen on your Xfinity streaming box out of nowhere could be a sign of many issues.
To adequately address and resolve the complication, you must understand all possible causes that could result in the broadcast of the Xfinity streaming box being black.
The Xfinity box black screen is typically a result of a bad or loose HDMI connection to the TV or monitor.
The solution revolves around thoroughly inspecting the video transfer, power equipment/source, and recovery solutions, such as resetting the Xfinity TV box.
Let’s dig deeper into this problem!
Why Does Xfinity Streaming TV Box Black Screen Occur?
There could be multiple reasons resulting in the sudden black screen given by the Xfinity receiver.
This is why it’s best to consider all of the possibilities before troubleshooting:
Xfinity Flex Streaming Box Black Screen?
One big difference between the Xfinity Flex streaming stick and the rest of the receivers is the full support towards 4K.
However, not configuring the resolution setting properly could result in a black screen on your Flex streaming box.
To address a similar issue, ensure that the TV supports at least full HD.
A compatible HDMI-enabled TV must be connected to the HDMI port for the broadcast of the Xfinity Flex box without interruptions.
Xfinity Streaming Box Black Screen – Top 7 Ways to Fix!
Tip: Follow our steps in chronological order!
1. Power Reset the Xfinity Cable Box!
A quick solution to any underlying issues with the Xfinity cable box is to perform a power reset.
Also called “power cycle,” the reset type does not erase sensitive information stored on the TV box while addressing non-lasting hardware and software issues.
Follow these instructions to conduct a power reset on your Xfinity TV box:
- Check if the Xfinity TV box model has a power button.
- Hold the “power” or “WPS” buttons for 5-10 seconds.
- Once the Xfinity box is off, unplug the power adapter.
- Wait for a full 60 seconds before reconnecting the box.
- Once the Xfinity box turns on, test for the black screen.
Note: Unplug the power cable from both ends while power cycling the Xfinity streaming box.
2. Check the Selected TV Source
Another reason why the screen of the Xfinity streaming box remains black is that the TV is set to a different input.
Let’s say the Xfinity box is connected to the “HDMI Input 1” port on your TV, but you’ve accidentally selected “Input 2” or “Input 3”, which will only show a black screen.
To correct the selected TV source on most TV devices, all you have to do is press the “Source” button and highlight “HDMI 1”, “HDMI 2,” or “HDMI SIDE.”
Once you’ve highlighted the correct input, press “OK” and double-check if the Xfinity cable box is plugged in and working.
If the screen display changes into the Xfinity cable box’s broadcast, then you’ve had the incorrect HDMI input selected on your TV or monitor.
Addressing Defective HDMI TV Port!
If you’ve selected the correct cable box Xfinity input but the TV display remains black, there could be an underlying HDMI connector issue.
Tip: To test the TV’s ports, plug the Xfinity box to an alternative HDMI port and change the selected source.
3. Tighten & Secure all Cable Connections!
Another possible reason for the black screen is unsecured cable connections.
Faulty or loose cable connections, especially the HDMI cable of the receiver, could be causing the receiver’s display to turn pitch black or a weird picture.
The following cable connections must be functional in your Xfinity setup:
- The power adapter of the Xfinity TV box.
- The HDMI cable connects to the TV.
- The service coaxial cable of the box.
Replace Xfinity Streaming Box HDMI Cable!
The best way to identify if the HDMI cable causes the issue is to install an alternative line to test with.
Unplug the Xfinity streaming box’s current HDMI cable, install a functional and tested one, and determine whether the problem comes from the video transmission.
Tip: You can discover and purchase HDMI cables as per your requirements online!
4. Refresh the Xfinity Resolution Setting
All Xfinity receivers have an in-built button combination that sets the default resolution to “720p”.
If anything were to go wrong with the picture settings of the TV box or if the broadcast is not compatible with your TV screen, you have to refresh the resolution setting.
To refresh the resolution Xfinity TV box, press Exit > Exit > Exit > 7-2-0!
That should immediately reset the resolution to “720p” and hopefully resolve the back screen.
How to Set Other Resolutions on Xfinity?
Typically, you can type any supported resolution value after pressing the “Exit” button three times.
If your TV supports 1080p, go with 1-0-8-0 or 7-2-0 and test whether the black screen will disappear.
Remember that to alter the resolution setting of the Xfinity streaming box drastically, it must be to a resolution value supported by both of the devices.
The non-supported default resolution setting could be the reason for the black screen.
Tip: Test multiple different resolution values before ruling out the picture issue!
5. Connect the Box to a Different Outlet
If the streaming box still seems to shut down and there is no output from the streaming device, it could be an underlying power issue.
If the electrical supply from the wall outlet is interrupted or power fluctuations are in action, the TV box will turn off, only showing a pitch-black screen.
Hence, relocate the Xfinity equipment next to another power outlet and connect the adapter directly to the power outlet.
Once the power adapter is connected on both ends, wait for the TV box to load up and check if the display will pitch black again.
Note: Avoid plugging the Xfinity TV box into smart plugs, strips, or dividers!
6. Temporarily Unplug Third-Party Devices!
Even if rarely, third-party devices can interfere with the functionality of the Xfinity streaming box, causing a never-ending black screen.
A malfunctioning external device connected to the TV might be causing picture issues, especially when connected to the video input ports of the TV.
To verify that the black screen issue has nothing to do with an influence from a third-party unit, the next step is to unplug all other devices from the TV and the cable box!
You need to ensure that the only device connected to the back of the TV is the Xfinity cable box and re-select the input source.
Then you should check the output of the Xfinity streaming box.
Black Screen from the TV?
Have you checked whether the black screen is not from your TV?
Well, to do so, also unplug your Xfinity receiver from the TV and test the raw picture of your TV or monitor to determine the origin of the issue.
Note: Also, try connecting a functional HDMI device to test the input ports of your TV.
7. Factory Reset the Xfinity Cable Box
If the screen isn’t returning to normal, you should attempt to access the Xfinity “Disaster Recovery.”
By holding the physical “WPS” button on the TV box while reconnecting the device from power, you can access the factory reset settings and wipe all information on the TV box.
Here’s how to conduct a factory reset on an Xfinity TV box:
- Unplug the power cable of the TV box and the outlet.
- Hold the “WPS” button and reconnect the Xfinity box.
- Then, wait until the display of the cable box lights up.
- Next, select “Factory Reset” if you’re on “Recovery.”
- Lastly, follow the on-screen instructions to finalize.
Losing Information By Factory Reset?
Remember that all stored recordings, saved channels and shows, and all software settings will be erased due to the factory reset.
Moreover, you must set up the Xfinity TV box from scratch at the “Initial Setup” screen once the reset process is complete.
Info: The initial setup involves all essential settings, such as language and preferences!
Quick Recap:
Hence, the solution to the Xfinity streaming box black screen is to power cycle the Xfinity box first and refresh the resolution setting of the device.
If the issue persists, disconnect all third-party devices and perform the factory reset process on your Xfinity receiver box.
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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.