What Causes A Bright Spot On My Samsung TV? (+Fix)

For years, Samsung TVs have led the global smart TV market with various models providing excellent pictures, elegant designs, and outstanding performance. But, it can develop some faults over time, for example, bright spots. 

Several reasons can make bright spots on your Samsung TV, like a loose or fallen reflector, dislodged diffuser LED lenses, dead or stuck pixels and subpixels, HDMI port issues, or outdated firmware. Whatever the cause, it is fixable. Either you can fix it, or best, hire a technician. 

This is the right place if you are a Samsung TV user with the same issue. Here, I will explain the reasons behind the bright spots in your Samsung TV and what you can do to fix them. 

Understanding Bright Spots

The bright spots on a TV are some areas on the display where the illuminance is much brighter than the other areas on the screen. 

These spots are sometimes also called white spots because the illuminance is too much that it looks white from a distance.

These spots will be relatively brighter and whiter compared to the other parts of the TV screen. 

I purchased a Samsung LED-LCD TV a few years back. 

Everything was good until, one day; I saw some bright spots on the screen. 

I tried cold-booting my TV, changing the picture and brightness settings, and even resetting. But nothing helped. 

I hired an expert. 

He arrived, checked everything, and then informed me that he needed to disassemble the TV. 

Then he showed me how the reflectors got detached from their location. 

The solution was easy. 

He took out some glue and attached the reflectors back. 

The reflectors should stick properly and stay aligned. 

After reassembling the TV, I saw that the bright spots disappeared. 

I encountered the same issue with another TV a few months ago and was able to solve it on my own.

So, are you someone who wants to learn about the solutions to bright spots beforehand, or are you already facing the issue and searching for solutions?

In both cases, this article can be of great help to you. 

The next section shares all the possible causes behind a bright spot on a Samsung TV screen and the ways to fix them. 

Common Causes of Bright Spots and Their Fixes 

There could be several reasons behind a bright spot. 

Below I have pointed out some of the common ones:

External Light Sources

This reason is a very expected one and does not require any troubleshooting. 

You see a bright spot on your Samsung TV screen because some external light sources’ reflection is directly falling upon your screen. 

For example, you have a light at a location. 

When you light this up, besides illuminating the entire room of the location, a reflection falls straight up on the TV screen. 

So, it is important to find the bright spot. 

Whenever we see any such spot, our first instinct is to look around and find out whether any external light sources are causing this spot. 

If there is no such thing, you have some other issues. 

Fix: Get rid of the external light sources

There is no fix for this problem. 

Please find out the external light source and remove it. 

Loose or fallen reflectors 

The bright spots on the Samsung TV are mainly because of the loose or fallen reflectors. 

These reflectors can affect the TV screen’s visuality and create bright spots when they become loose inside the TV. 

Usually, the reflectors inside the TV screen spread light instead of emitting it at a single point. 

But when they move to another location, they fail to work efficiently. 

The reflectors either become loose or fall off somewhere inside the TV. 

As a result, all the lights inside the TV will shine at a single point, giving bright spots on the screen. 

Fix: Reattach the loose or fallen reflectors

The solution to this problem involves disassembling the TV and reattaching the reflectors. 

If you have ever done disassembling before, you can go for the DIY steps I am sharing. 

I have done this work before and will share the steps I have taken to fix the problem. 

If you haven’t, please hire an expert to do the job. 

Before starting, gather the supplies you will need while working:

• Screwdriver
• Magnetizers and demagnetizers
• Prying tool
• Toothpick 
• Superglue
• Gloves 

Now, let’s get to the steps:

1. Turn off your TV and unplug it from the outlet. Please wait for a few minutes after turning it off. The capacitor is still hot and needs to cool down to avoid scalding and electric shocks. 
2. Look for the screws at the back of your TV. Hold the perfect size screwdriver and slowly unscrew these screws. You can also use magnetized or demagnetized screwdrivers to make it easier. All the screws will have different sizes; ensure you keep them safe and remember their proper places. 
3. After unscrewing the screws, lift the cover and remove the back cover of the TV screen. It will be more challenging, so you can use a prying tool to create a gap between the TV and the cover. 
4. Flip your TV in a position that its back faces the roof. This will make the process easier. Do not worry about the components; they are lightweight and will prevent damage. 
5. Unscrew the edges of the screen and remove the TV screen. Use a pry tool to lift the screen frame. You will see ribbon cables; disconnect them from the screen. 
6. Lift the backlight or diffuser panel. These diffusers diffuse the light from the reflectors. You need to lift them to see the reflectors. 
7. Before you remove the panel, unsnap the bezels connected to the diffuser, take 3 paper pieces, write over them TOP, RIGHT, AND LEFT, and stick them to the respective sides of the reflector with weaker tapes. The diffuser should stay in the right spot. If the spot is wrong, the TV will have a weird display. 
8. Under the diffuser panel will be the reflectors. You will find some lenses are displaced from their location. This is the reason you are seeing the bright spots. These lenses might get loose or move completely from their place. You have to attach the reflectors in their places. 
9. Before you glue them back, snug the reflectors slightly if they are loose. It will prevent them from falling off again.  
10. There will be 3 post-holes or small circles to guide the reflector’s locations. On each reflector, 3 posts should sit on the holes surrounding the LED. When you put the reflectors on the lights, ensure the lens posts sit correctly on the top holes. It will keep them secure and won’t come off quickly. 
11. To make the process easier, first put the super glue on small paper pieces, dip the tip of a toothpick into the glue, and poke it inside 1 of the post-holes. Do the same for the remaining 2 holes around the LED. 
12. Slightly twist left and right to place the reflectors on the top of the glued posts. The lens should not move when you make it sit and align properly. Repeat the process for each LED light with the loose reflector. Please do not use too much glue, which can destroy the LED and lower its brightness. 
13. Now put the diffuser back on the panel. Remember you labeled the diffuser earlier? Follow the guidelines and insert the table surrounding the diffuser into the hooks around the TV. Press the edges of the diffuser and secure it well. Now remove the labels. 
14. Return and screw back the screen and back cover to the TV back in the same way as you have unscrewed it. First, return and screw the screen, its frame, and then the cover. You can use magnetized and demagnetized screwdrivers to connect the screws tightly. 
15. Now, put your TV back in its position, connect all the wires, and turn it on. Play some channels, shows, or movies. If you have solved the problem correctly, there won’t be any bright spots on the screen. 

Detached LED diffuser lens or panel 

Another reason could be the fuser lens. 

Its purpose is to scatter light emitted by the LED on the display panel.  

The light won’t get scattered when the fuser lens detaches from the LED. 

Instead, it will give light to one point of the screen, creating bright white spots on your TV. 

The bright spot becomes more evident when you view bright content. 

The effect is less when you receive a dark screen. 

Let me clarify more. 

Televisions will have a backlight in the display panel containing white LED lights equally spaced. 

Each light is covered with diffuser lenses to diffuse the light equally in all directions to make a uniform bright light. 

The lenses are attached with an adhesive, which can get weak over time, thus detaching the lens from the LED lights, and that is when you receive bright spots on your TV screen. 

So, you need to disassemble the TV and reconnect these dislodged lenses back in place. 

Fix: Reattaching the diffuser lenses

To fix the diffuser lenses, you must reattach them to the LED lights. 

For that, you have to disassemble the TV. 

1. Please turn off your TV and plug it in. Wait for several minutes to let the capacitor cool down. It will avoid electric shocks because the capacitor will still carry some charge even after you turn it off. So, wait for at least 15 to 30 minutes. 
2. Remove all the screws on the back cover and remove it. Unscrew and remove the attached plates as well. 
3. Unplug the speaker. It will help to reach the diffuser faster. 
4. Unclip the ribbon cables attached to the TV borders. 
5. Lift the screen slowly. Do not bend the screen or put pressure on it, or it will break. You can use suction cups to lift the whole screen uniformly. 
6. Now remove the additional border pieces that hold the screen layer. 
7. Carefully remove the other screen layer; you will see the backlight panel. It is a long rectangular board with multiple LED lights.
8. Check for the bright spots on the LED light panel. These indicate a loose LED diffuser lens. You need to align them properly into the holes over the LED lights. 
9. Take a good superglue, like b7000 or b9000, and pick some glue with your toothpick and apply gently on the lenses. 
10. Examine the lenses very well and see how they fit on the lights. Each lens will have a small clip or tab to align with the corresponding LED slots. 
11. Push the lenses back into place with glue and ensure a secure fit. 
12. Verify the alignment after you have attached all the diffusers. 
13. Now, place back the backlight panel, the screen, and the cover to reassemble the TV. 
14. Plug in the cord and turn on your TV. The bright spot should not be present. 

Backlight Bleeding

The modern LCD TVs will have a backlight that helps illuminate the screen. 

Sometimes this backlight can leak and bleed around the screen edges, causing poor lights and bright spots on your screen, especially when the screen becomes dark. 

Old backlight arrays or LED strips can contribute to backlight bleeding. 

But that’s not the only cause. 

The quality of the display construction or pressure applied to the panel during manufacturing are also some causes. 

While the manufacturing defects or the display construction can be solved by adjusting the brightness levels and picture quality via remote, the backlight array must be replaced. 

Fix: Adjusting brightness and picture quality or replacing the backlight array

Unfortunately, fixing the backlight bleeding can be challenging because it can either be a manufacturing defect or a feature of the display technology. 

You can try fixing it by reducing the TV’s backlight and turning off the auto-brightness for the panel defect. 

Repeat this until the bright spot is no longer visible. 

Or, you can replace the whole backlight array or LED strips. 

Reattaching the LED diffuser lights will only provide a temporary solution if the problem is with the backlight array. 

Also, you will see some brown spots under the lenses, which clearly indicate an old backlight array. 

To replace the backlight array, order an array for your Samsung model and replace it as a whole. 

It is better to hire a technician for this.

I have never had this problem, but one of my friends replaced the backlight array. She hired an expert for this. 

Experts will use the correct type of array and suitable glue and attach it correctly to avoid further issues. 

So please leave it in their hands. 

Poorly seated HDMI cable 

When the HDMI cable is poorly seated, it can create weird noises and display bright white spots on the Samsung TV screen. 

When the cable seats poorly, you might have a:

• Faulty HDMI cable that has broken somewhere. 
• A damaged port that contains broken pins. 
• You have a poor HDMI connection. The cable and connector might not be properly coming in contact with each other. 

Fix: Clean the cable points

To fix the problem:

1. Turn off your TV and remove the HDMI or other cables connected to the appliance. 
2. If there is any compressed air, use it to clean the contacts of the cable and the connector. If you do not have compressed air, blow air with your mouth gently on these points.
3. Firmly push the cables back into the slots and turn on your TV. 

If the problem remains, use a different HDMI input. Most Samsung TVs will have 3-4 HDMI ports. 

If there is one on a different part of the TV, try that once, as it should have a separate connection to your TV’s main board. 

Plug the cable into the new port, note down the number next to it, and select the HDMI input on the TV with the INPUT or SOURCE button or the INPUT or MENU button on the TV. 

Also, try removing the external devices, like those connected by BlueTooth, coaxial, or signal cables. 

It will let the TV have a power cable going into it. 

Dead Pixels and Stuck Subpixels

When the light-emitting pixels of your TV get damaged, your screen will show bright white spots. 

Pixels are very tiny elements that make up the TV screen’s image. 

The LCD TVs will have hundreds and thousands of pixels in the broader TV screens. 

For example, if you have a TV with a display of 1920×1080, there will be 1,920×1,080 = 2,073,600 pixels on the TV. 

There could be several types of defective pixels. 

But for bright spots, you will have a hot pixel, which happens when the pixels’ transistors are stuck or dead. 

It further creates a bright spot that is always on and stands out, surrounding the other pixels. 

If the spot is tiny, you have a fault on the main board. 

Despite being less frequently associated with such cases, the problem could be in the T-Con board.

T-Con board is more associated with the horizontal and vertical line issues across the screen. 

Fix: Remove the hot or defective pixels

A hot or defective pixel can remain constantly on instead of cycling on and off like the other pixel, which is why you see the bright spot. 

Here are 2 proven suggestions to fix the hot or defective pixel:

1. Wait and watch for some time. Sometimes the stuck or hot pixels can disappear on their own. But there is no specific duration for it. 
2. Rub the stuck pixel with a damp cloth or a point-soft item without putting any extra force. Do it when the TV is turned on. If the pixel is stuck, this method might fix the problem. 

While these can help resolve the bright spot issue caused by hot or stuck pixels, there is no guarantee that it will work. 

If you have other issues, you need to inspect and try the solutions accordingly or hire a technician to get them fixed. 

Pressure Damage and Physical Impact

Sometimes, pressure and physical damage can create bright white spots on the TV screen. 

This can happen when the TV is mishandled while shipping or later. 

Maybe some hard physical pressure has somehow damaged the screen, for which you will see bright white spots. 

Another reason could be a manufacturing defect. In this case, you can replace the TV if you still have a warranty period. 

Fix: Try preventing the pressure and hire an expert to repair it

In this problem, you do not need to fix it. 

Call the technician, and he will deal with it. 

The problem will be fixed without payment if you have a warranty period. 

Without the warranty, take the TV to an appliance store for repair. 

You may have to pay for the repair. 

TV’s firmware or software is not updated

Software and firmware updates in Samsung TVs can create issues, and bright spots are one of them. 

With any appliance, it is essential to check the updates regularly and keep it updated. 

Smart Samsung TVs support auto-updates of the firmware, but sometimes they can turn off. 

Fix: Update your Samsung TV’s firmware

Check that auto-update is turned on. 

If not, try the following process to update the firmware and auto-update it to prevent repeated manual updates:

1. Press the MENU or HOME button on the remote and go to SETTINGS.
2. Click on SUPPORT and then SOFTWARE. 
3. Agree to the terms provided on the screen and switch to AUTO-UPDATE. 

For the older TVs, you have to update it through USB:

1. Press the MENU or HOME button on the remote and go to SETTINGS. 
2. Go to SUPPORT.
3. Then go to CONTACT SAMSUNG or ABOUT THIS TV. 
4. Note down the MODEL CODE and SOFTWARE VERSION currently installed. 
5. Go to SAMSUNG’S SUPPORT site and enter the model number. 
6. Select MANUALS & DOWNLOADS to look for the newest version. 
7. If this FIRMWARE VERSION is later than the version you have noted, download it, along with the FIRMWARE UPDATE USER MANUAL. It will give you complete instructions about installation. 

Display Panel Quality and Manufacturing Defects

Defects in the panel quality can also create bright spots on your Samsung TV screen. 

If this is the problem, your TV screen will show bright spots when the TV displays light color images or white graphics.

Some displays will have manufacturing defects that lead to such issues. You can replace the TV if you want. 

Or, if a repair is possible, you can go for it. 

If your TV has a warranty period, your technician will do it for free. 

They will either guide you on the phone or reach your house to fix it. 

Other fixes 

If you cannot fix your TV’s bright spots with the above troubleshooting steps, try the fixes I will share in this section. 

Sometimes, temporary glitches can cause bright spots. 

The following resetting, picture setting, and factory resetting of the TV can solve the issue. 

Cold boot your TV 

Since the technologies have improved, there are chances of temporary glitches. 

So, the bright spots in the Samsung TV can happen when something gets stuck in the TV’s flash memory. 

This can further create issues in the TV. 

Over time, the bright spots will seem like purple spots. 

This happens while you are watching TV.  

Power cycling or cold booting the TV will remove the spot and reset your mainboard without losing the personal settings. 

Here are the steps:

1. Please turn off the TV and unplug it from the electrical outlet. 
2. Hold the physical power button on the TV for at least 15 seconds and leave it. 
3. Wait for 30 minutes for the residual power to drain from the capacitors. The capacitors store the charging for several minutes. 
4. Plug the TV back and turn it on. You will see a red light if the process is successful.

You must wait for a full 30 minutes before plugging in the TV. 

This may seem a basic step but do not overlook this. 

Sometimes, this process can help eliminate the bright spot on your screen. 

Change the picture settings

Most Samsung TVs will have the option to change the color temperature or other features of the picture. 

Navigate to the HOME screen, SETTINGS, and the PICTURE menu with your remote. 

Here you can try various picture modes. 

Try some of them and see if you can remove the bright spot. 

If you cannot do anything here, go to the EXPERT SETTINGS. 

Here you can change the color space of the TV. 

The changes in this option can help you remove the bright spot. 

You can use the COLOR and TINT options, change the GAMMA and WHITE BALANCE, and receive decent picture quality without any spots or tints. 

Factory reset the tv

Choose this option as a last resort. 

Factory resetting your Samsung TV will return your TV settings to the factory settings. 

It will delete all the personalization features, downloaded apps, and connected devices. 

However, it can be worth a try.

To factory reset the Samsung TV:

1. Press the MENU or HOME button on the remote controller and then go to SETTINGS. 
2. Go to GENERAL PRIVACY, and then click on RESET. 
3. Enter the PIN 0000; it is by default for Samsung. 
4. Then select RESET in the popup option. 

If you do not have a remote, go to the same menu items with the physical MENU button. 

It will be under the Samsung TV’s logo, next to the POWER button. 

Press the button and use the VOLUME + & – or CHANNEL + & – buttons.

This should solve the bright spot issue. 

If the spot is still there, it is time to hire a technician for repair. 

Contacting Samsung Support

If the problem is more profound or you lack previous technical knowledge, please get in touch with Samsung support to hire an expert. 

Samsung support will connect you to a representative who will guide you through several troubleshooting steps to fix the problem. 

If the problem gets solved, good. 

Otherwise, the support team will send a technician to your house to fix the problem.

It is better to hire an expert because they have better knowledge than you. 

So they will diagnose and solve the right issue without any damage or extra effort. 

Additionally, you do not have to pay the technician for the repair if you have a warranty. 

If the appliance has a warranty period, and you do something wrong through the DIY troubleshooting steps, it can void the warranty. 

Trying DIYs is fine, but do it once the warranty is over.

Please get in touch with the Samsung support team for help before trying any of the above DIY troubleshooting steps. 

Preventing Bright Spots

Some issues like diffuser lenses, reflectors, or pixel issues cannot be prevented because we do not know what’s happening inside. 

But you can try and prevent other issues. Here are some preventive measures to follow:

• Check all the cables and the HDMI ports to ensure everything is tightly connected. If any cable is damaged, call an electrician to replace it. 
• Try adjusting the backlight settings and brightness to prevent bright spots. 
• Keep your TV firmware updated from time to time. 
• Avoid putting any pressure or physical damage on your TV screen. When the product is shipped, tell the carrier company to carry the product carefully. 
• Remove any external light sources from around your TV. 

Final thoughts

Bright spots on Samsung TV result from various reasons. Though some require an expert’s attention, others can be solved at home.

Loose reflectors, defective pixels, backlight bleeding, and dislodged diffuser lenses are some of the most common reasons. The solution to these problems mostly requires disassembling the TV. 

Though these require an expert’s attention, you can solve them at home if you have previous knowledge and experience.

Others include outdated firmware, HDMI ports not seated, and external light sources. These can be solved at home easily.

Sometimes, temporary glitches can cause the issue. Cold booting, adjusting the brightness levels and picture settings, and factory resetting can solve the problem. 

Some issues are manufacturing defects. To solve these, you need to call a technician for a repair or a replacement.

It is better to hire a technician if you don’t have any technical experience, especially if the appliance has a warranty period. Otherwise, DIYs can void the warranty. 

Reference: Samsung Wikipedia

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