If you hear a sound except for the played content, you may hear a crackling sound. TVs have a combination of metal and plastic materials. These materials are subject to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes.
Occasional creaking, popping, or cracking may be heard. With this in mind, here are a few quick tips on reducing the expansion that can cause this noise. The tips and tricks provided will have your Samsung sound quality back and better than ever.
Why is My Samsung TV Making Crackling Sound
1. It’s Coming From the Show You’re Watching
Sometimes, consumers fail to realize that the issue could be from the program they are watching on their tv. So, a simple fix would be to switch the channels. Once you change the channels on your tv, you will be able to notice a difference.
Fix – Change Channels or Mute the TV
A long press of the center button will turn the TV on and off to change the channels while a single press makes a selection. The up and down button will change the channel, and the left and right buttons will control the volume. A control menu will appear on the TV screen when the center button is pressed, and options for each button will be available.
Once you attempt to change the channel, pay very close attention to see if the crackling sound will disappear. If it does not, proceed to the following method to see if that will resolve the issue.
2. TV is Too Hot
When any device, including a Samsung tv, is played consistently without a given break, the device may tend to overheat. This can cause more issues than you realize. If you let this device run consistently for an extended period of time, the overheating may cause internal problems with the television. So, one quick way to take care of the overheating is to check the ventilation and make sure the ventilation is not blocked.
Fix – Check Ventilation Enclosures Aren’t Blocked
On the back of the ventilation system, six screws must be removed. Once you take the screws off, the back cover will pop right off. You will then carefully remove the circuit board. Keep in mind that there is a fan connected to the circuit board.
When removing the board, be sure to pry it open and carefully from one end to the next by tugging around the edges. After removing the circuit board, you will then see the fan underneath.
From there, unplug the fan and place the circuit board aside. Take the brush and gently swipe across the board if you have access to a small brush (broad bristle paint brush preferably).
Doing this will remove any dust particles or debris on the circuit board. After doing so, go ahead and remove the fan.
There should be a maximum of five screws that are attached to the fan. And to be on the safe side so that you don’t lose your screws, make sure to have a small bowl that holds all the screws and bolts.
After removing the screws, there would be a small black mechanism at the top of the fan that will come off once the screws are removed. Once all of the screws are removed, the fan will lift up.
Once you take the fan out, you will be able to see if any particles or debris in the fan prohibit it from cooling. Most likely, there would not be any debris inside of the fan. Sometimes, it could be because the fan is just dirty or dusty.
Before cleaning off the fan, be sure to lift up the silver slots around the fan’s edges to remove the fan’s cover. You would likely have to use a small screwdriver for popping off the clips to take the cover off the fan.
Once you have removed access to the fan with the cover, take your brush and swipe across the shaft and motor. As you’re swiping, ensure that all dust particles and debris are completely clear on the motor and fan blade.
To get into crevices that may be hard to reach, you may need to use a tool with a very thin pointed head to reach the small crevices. If you have access to a dental instrument, that would be feasible to use as well. So improvise if you have to.
When taking a procedure to clear out the modem and blade of the fan, do not use any tissue or cotton material, for this will leave extra debris behind as you are cleaning.
When cleaning out the motor, you may need to use the pen-pointed tool to reach all circumferences of the motor. If you fail to clean out the motor, once you reconnect the ventilation back to your TV, you may get an error message or continue to experience the crackling sound.
To give a final “sparkle” on the motor, you can either use canned compressed air or give it a gentle blow.
Finally, reconnect all of the screws back into the fan and all of its compartments as they were. Once the fan is back together and connected back with the circuit board, reconnect the ventilation cover.
Once everything is connected back to your TV, one way to ensure the modem is clear is to mute your television and to place your ear by the ventilation system. If you hear a quiet hum of the fan, the ventilation is clear.
Fix 2 – Make Sure There Aren’t Any Heating or Air Conditioning Vents Pointing Directly At the TV.
When setting up a Samsung television, do not install your TV directly below, near, or around an air conditioner or heating system pointing directly at the television.
This can sometimes cause the wall in which the TV is plugged into to become damp. So make sure the wall that the TV is plugged into it’s not damp in any way.
Moist areas attract insects like ants and cockroaches. It is recommended to keep such insects away from the TV.
If you happen to install your television near an air conditioning system, be sure to provide protection above the TV, such as a shelf. This is a proper protocol to take if water accidentally comes from your AC and falls into your television.
There are very high chances of water leakage if the AC temperature is too low and AC PM is not done periodically or as needed. This can cause severe damage to your television.
So, if your television is installed near or around a heating or air conditioning system, try changing the direction of the television in your space and make sure the air or heating sources are not pointing directly at the television.
3. TV is Tilted
Fix – Place the TV Properly on A Flat Surface
Sometimes, when using your Samsung television for an extended period, there are many things that consumers can forget.
Not only do some consumers forget to turn off their TV for their motor to have a break, but some people can forget to make sure their TV is tilting forward or backward. This is mainly for consumers with TVs mounted on a stand instead of wall-mounted.
Some series of Samsung TVs are designed with a tilt backward of 3.5° when installed using the supplies stand.
Unintentional tilting may be the cause of the friction of the sound quality and why you are hearing the crackling noise. So, check your television to ensure it’s tilted upward instead of backward or forward.
4. Issues with Cables
Fix – Check That Cables Are Connected to the Proper Color Coded Inputs
The cables that are provided and utilized with the Samsung TV are essential inputs for the television to operate appropriately. Another thing you can do is to check the cables.
This is something that happens to a lot of people. Sometimes, consumers may have to move the television to grab something from behind it. And during the movement, cables can accidentally be moved.
They may become very loose or fall out of place. Inspect the ports as well as the cables. Keep in mind that it’s possible that you can’t see the difference with the naked eye if the cables are fully plugged.
Therefore, take a good look and, if needed, unplug them. See if they are firmly plugged in or loosened, and check for cuts in the cable. Afterward, plug the cables back in.
This also goes for any external devices connected to the Samsung TV. Some external devices may have multiple ports. This can also be an isolated issue that was creating the crackling sound.
To isolate the issue further, unplug the external devices and see if the crackling sound has dissipated.
Fix 2 – Check HDMI Cable is In Properly
Having faulty cables connected to your Samsung TV can cause a headache. So, it is essential to check for faulty HDMI cables. HDMI is an acronym for high definition multimedia interface.
It is the most commonly used HD signal for transferring both high-definition audio and video through a single cable from one device to another. It is often employed in the commercial AV sectors.
In other words, these cables are essential, like any other connected cables to your television. And since these cables are connected directly to your television, they may be subject to having a shortage or broken electrical current since the top of the cable plugged into the television hangs slightly from the back of the TV.
To check to make sure your HDMI cable is not faulty, disconnect the HDMI cable from the back of the TV and the external device. Then reconnect firmly to the external device first, then connect it to your tv.
If it still doesn’t work, try the cable in a different port. Don’t forget to select the new source once you connect the HDMI cable to a different port. This can be done from your TV settings using your Samsung remote and going to the “Sources” menu.
Fix 3 – Replace Connection Cable
The next option, if you have checked all of your cables connected to your TV and notice that none of them are working properly and the crackling sound still persists, the best bet is to replace all of your connection cables.
If your Samsung TV needs new cables or cords, you can usually purchase new cables at a hardware or electronics store.
Make sure you know exactly which cable you need before you start shopping to ensure it works properly. Once you have the correct power cables, you must plug them in, and your TV should be back up and running without the crackling sound.
Keep in mind that different models of Samsung TVs use other cables. When you are shopping for the correct cables, be sure to match your old ones with the new cables. This will assist you with finding the right cables to fit your exact TV model.
It will be better to do this instead of playing a game of Russian Roulette and hoping you will purchase the correct cords without taking a second look.
If you are having an issue with replacing the old cords with the new cables, and you still need a little help with finding the correct matches, if your TV has come with an owner’s manual check, the manual for the correct match.
As you are checking the manual, be sure to look at the back of the TV. This will ensure that the images you are looking at in the manual match the structure of the cables and input in the back of the tv.
Another alternative you can check online to see what type of power cables your model uses. This will be beneficial if you no longer have the old cord or your owner’s manual on hand and if you have had little luck checking the back of the tv.
You can check online to see what power cables your model uses. You’ll need the exact models of your Samsung TV in order to do this. Samsung’s official website is your best option to check.
For consumers that enjoy using external resources such as Amazon or eBay, you can also check there to see if the cables are available.
If you still have issues with replacing your cables, the next best alternative is to ask in person. In other words, take your cables to a hardware or electronics department for assistance.
Before you go to the store, check your TV to see if it uses two or three-prong power cords. A professional will be able to recommend the best option they have in stock if they are available.
You can check many stores to see if the cables you are looking to replace are available. Some of these hardware and electronic departments to check would be:
*Staples
*Best Buy
*Office Depot
*Ace Hardware, etc.
Once you have replacement cables for your Samsung tv, you must plug them into the television and the wall. Then, the crackling noise would be no more! Now, you can get back to watching your favorite reruns of The Real World WITHOUT interruptions.
5. External Devices Such As A Soundbar or Ps4
Samsung TVs, just like many LED and smart TVs, allow you to connect many devices at once to your tv. This can be beneficial, especially for all of our gamers out there that are owners of many gaming consoles.
Although this can be essential and very convenient, having many devices plugged into your Samsung TV can also be the cause of the issue of hearing the crackling noise.
Fix – Try Connecting A Different External Device and See If Noise Still Occurs
If you have an external device already connected to your Samsung tv, try disconnecting that external device and reconnecting a new external device to your television. This should be able to resolve the crackling noise.
Once you have disconnected the current external device, to connect a new device, you must:
1. Open the home menu on your Samsung TV
2. Select a source
3. Detect the device
4. Wait for the detection to complete
5. Look for the device on your source list
6. And rename the device.
Once you have a new external source connected to your tv, this may be able to resolve the crackling noise issue.
Fix 2 – Disconnect External Device
However, once you have disconnected the previous external device and connected the new external device and there is still no progress, your next best option would be to remove all external devices from the TV.
Removing all external devices from your television will prohibit any interference with the sound quality of the TV as well as the display.
If you disconnect all external devices and sources from the TV and notice a crackling sound has disappeared, now you know the issue is the external sources you are utilizing when your TV is in use.
If you notice this has resulted in an issue, there may be an internal issue with the TV or the external sources that you are using. To troubleshoot this issue further, you can take the TV as well as the external devices to a hardware or electronic store to be examined.
This will allow you to isolate the issue and to officially know if the problem is your television or the external sources you are using.
6. TV Firmware Out of Date
Fix – Update your TV software
Updates are very essential when using a smart tv. Updates can prevent security issues and improve the compatibility and program features of your Samsung tv.
Software updates are necessary to keep a TV running smoothly. And if you have usernames and passwords connected to certain features on your Samsung tv, they may lower security vulnerabilities.
If your device is out of date, just like when using an app, your Samsung TV will not operate properly. There can be an issue such as lagging, an issue with the display, as well as issues with the audio, which can contribute to the crackling noise you are hearing on your television. So, if you are experiencing an irritating crackling noise with your Samsung tv, you may need to update your television’s features.
To update your Samsung tv, you must:
1. Use your TV’s remote and navigate to settings
2. Select support
3. Select software update
4. And finally, select update now if you see there is an update available for your Samsung tv.
New updates will be downloaded and installed to your TV automatically. Updates usually take a few minutes to install, so please do not turn off the TV until the update is complete.
Once the update is complete, please turn off your television and then turn it back on.
Once you have followed these steps, attempt to play an audio or program on your TV to see if the crackling noise will persist.
If you noticed a crackling noise has disappeared, now you know that the issue was that your TV was out of date. However, if you notice the problem is still continuous, you may have to use a different alternative to resolve the issue.
7. Software Issue
Fix – Unplug TV For 60 Seconds, Then Plug Back In
Sometimes, if you are experiencing an issue with the audio and still hearing the crackling noise in your Samsung TV, this bug can be squashed with a simple reset. In other words, you would have to unplug your television and then plug it back in. But be sure to leave the tv off for a maximum of 60 seconds.
To turn off the Samsung tv, you must:
1. Locate the power button on the TV set or the remote control.
2. Press the power button on the TV set or the remote to turn the power off.
3. Once the TV has powered off, turn the TV back on by pressing the button again on either the TV or the remote.
Once the television is powered back on, try playing an audio or program on the TV to see if the issue continues. If the problem has gone away, then a simple reset of the system resolves the issue. If the issue has not disappeared, proceed to the next step below.
Fix 2 – Reset to Factory Settings
If a manual reset has not resolved the issue, you may have to take a different approach to fix it. That different approach would be to factory reset the entire system.
Factory resetting your device should be a final option if all of the other alternatives haven’t resolved the issue. Factory resetting can be tedious since consumers may worry that they will lose the data applied to the device.
To factory reset your tv, you must:
1. Open your Samsung TV settings
2. Then select general
3. Select reset
4. Enter in your pin that was used to set up the TV
5. And then tap the option to reset.
6. To complete the reset, press OK.
7. After pressing OK, your TV will restart automatically.
Performing this step will restore your TV back to its default settings. Once again, you may risk losing all original data that you have applied to your Samsung tv. So keep in mind that your data may be forfeited, and you won’t be able to recover that data.
After restoring your TV back to its default settings, attempt to play an audio or program on your device to see if the crackling noise persists; if the noise has disappeared, the factory reset has resolved the issue. However, if the issue continues, you may have to officially resort to the last and final alternative to fix this problem.
Fix 3 – Contact Samsung
If all else fails, the latter would be to contact Samsung support. There are two alternative ways that you can contact Samsung support, which can be through the website of samsung.com/us. Or through the toll-free number of 1-800-726-7864.
On the Samsung website, navigate to the support tab at the very top of the web page. From there, a list of Support options will be available to you or how you choose to contact Samsung support. You will have the opportunity to order support, select the Product Help tab, and even chat virtually with customer service representatives!
For Samsung to be the developer of high-quality products, you can never go wrong with the customer service provided via Samsung.
So, if all options are exhausted, reach out to support for further inquiry and assistance to resolve the issue at hand.
Final Thoughts
Hearing a crackling sound on your Samsung TV while watching your favorite program can be a major pain in the “you know what”. But, with the methods and alternatives provided to resolve that issue, once you utilize these alternatives, the problem may be resolved faster than you think.
You have the alternatives to attempt the following; change the television channel, check the ventilation, make sure your TV isn’t tilted, check your cables, examine any external devices, and finally, check to make sure your TV system is up to date.
These are all beneficial options to take advantage of if you get the crackling sound of death. Also, these alternatives will provide you with an isolated conclusion on what may have caused the issue.
Some of these fixes are simple resolutions to perform on your own. However, if you have not successfully fixed the issue on your own, it is perfectly OK to reach out to customer support for a bit of guidance.
So, don’t be stubborn. If you have exhausted all manual fixes and still haven’t contacted support because you didn’t want to, you will be stuck alone, angry, and missing your favorite shows because you didn’t reach out when in doubt.
Utilize these options, and your Samsung TV will be back to singing its original tune!