Author: Monique

  • Sony TV Flashes Red: How To Fix A Red Blinking Light On Bravia TV

    Sony TV Flashes Red: How To Fix A Red Blinking Light On Bravia TV

    Sony TVs can experience issues from their screens automatically dimming, to having a red light blinking continuously.

    People have informed us that their Sony TV flashes red, and are looking for answers, if you are one of these people you have come to the right place to find out why your Sony TV is flashing red, and how to fix it.

    Sony TVs will flash a red LED light when it has acknowledged there is an internal hardware problem with the power management system. The number of red blinks will suggest what internal part of the TV has had a malfunction.

    Easyfix is here to guide you in fixing the blinking red light on your Sony TV in 4 easy steps.

    Why does my Sony TV flash red 4 times

    Sony TV flashes red
    Image by a_roesler from Pixabay

    If your Sony TV is blinking 4 times, this may be due to an issue with the main board of the TV.

    If you disconnect the backlight and panel and the blinking red light persists then this will confirm the issue is with the motherboard.

    The issues on your mainboard could be due to the following;

    • The backlight on the power supply board is faulty
    • The LCD board has a backlight that has stopped working
    • The voltage is changing on the power supply board

    Note, if your Sony Bravia TV is blinking red light 8 times, you would need to complete a specific reset method.

    My Sony TV flashes red then shuts off?

    Sony blank TV screen
    possessed-photography-HWhR6lbn5xU-Unsplash

    TVs are generally well equipped with outlets at the back to allow heat to pass through them to prevent the TV from overheating.

    Your Sony TV could be flashing red and switching off due to these outlets being blocked by dirt, trapping the heat, and not bringing in enough air to keep the interior parts cool.

    When your Sony TV temperature rises, it will send an error code, the red blinking light, followed by automatically switching off. This will happen continuously until your Sony TV has cooled down.

    You can prevent your Sony TV from overheating by checking that there is no dust stuck between the vents, and only try switching on your Sony TV once it has had time to cool down.

    Two other potential reasons could be;

    • Your Sony Bravia TVs software needs to be updated
    • There is a break in the internal hardware of the TV

    How do I fix my Sony TV blinking red 4 times?

    Screwdriver and Spanner
    Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

    Fixing your Sony TV from blinking 4 times may not be as daunting as you think. Here are 4 easy fixes to guide you;

    Fix 1. Perform a Hard Reset

    Completing a hard reset erases all built-up errors that may stop your Sony Bravia from functioning properly, and may even assist in the retuning of your Bravia TV.

    Step 1. Switch off your Sony by unplugging everything from it

    Step 2. Remove your TV from the main power source

    Step 3. Wait approximately 3 minutes

    Step 4. Put all plugs back in and switch your Sony on

    Step 5. If you had any devices connected to your Bravia, you can now reconnect them

    The hard reset has now been completed, and you can try switching your Bravia TV back on.

    Fix 2. Plug Sony Bravia directly into the wall

    If your Sony is working through a power board, there may be a problem within the board or the board has active surge protection.

    Step 1. Remove the TV from current power outlets, wait a few minutes

    Step 2. Plug directly into the socket of the wall

    You can now attempt to switch your Sony TV on.

    Fix 3. Complete a Factory Reset

    Performing a factory reset will set your Sony Bravia back to its original settings, getting rid of any built-up errors through using your TV.

    Step 1. Select ‘Home’ on the remote

    Step 2. On your remote, select ‘Settings’ then ‘System Settings’ then ‘Customer Support’

    Step 3. Choose ‘Factory Settings’

    Step 4. Press ‘OK’

    The factory reset has now been completed and you can turn your TV on.

    Note, if you are unable to see the TV screen, complete the hard reset first for the TV (as mentioned before) and follow these steps;

    Step 1. Hold the ‘up’ arrow on the remote

    Step 2. While holding the ‘up’ arrow, push and release the power button on the TV itself

    Step 3. Wait for the TV to turn back on before you let go of the ‘up’ button (you might have to press the power button a second time)

    Now check to see if the red light is still blinking on your Sony Bravia TV.

    Fix 4. Check for a Software Update

    If your Sony Bravia TV is a newer model and can connect to the internet, you can check to see if there is a software update outstanding that you can complete.

    Why is my Sony TV Blinking Orange?

    Sony TV blinking orange
    safety-g096a99d7a_1920

    Your Sony Bravia TV may be flashing amber due to an active timer being set on your TV. This can be easily reset if you do not want a timer to be activated on your TV.

    There are two types of timers you can activate on your Bravia TV;

    Sleep Timer

    • This timer will cause your TV to turn off after a specific amount of time

     On/Off Timer

    • This timer will automatically turn your TV on and off at a certain time during the day

    Note, you can check your timer settings and make any changes by going into the settings on your TV

    Conclusion

    We all expect our TVs to switch on without any disturbance, so when you’ve come to watch your favorite football team play but if you find your Sony TV flashes red and is switching off, it’s no surprise you’ll want answers on how to fix this error as quickly as possible.

    We hope this guide has helped you sort out your Sony Bravia TV flashing red 4 times, as well as switching off, and that you can keep hold of these 4 easy fixes for any future occurrences.

  • Zoom Camera Black Screen: Fixing A Blank Conference Call Screen

    Zoom Camera Black Screen: Fixing A Blank Conference Call Screen

    Are you experiencing a zoom camera Black screen while trying to connect to a meeting on Zoom? 

    If the answer is yes, then you have come to the right place whether the Black screen is on your PC, Laptop or Mobile Device. 

    Because the Zoom app needs to be configured to a webcam connected to your computer or granted access to the built-in camera on your laptop or mobile device, it is essential that your privacy settings are correct and give Zoom permission to access an optimally configured camera.

    Easy fix is here to assist you in fixing the black or blank screen on Zoom for your required device in 6 easy steps.

    Why is my camera showing a Black screen?

    Black Screen
    Zoom camera black screen

    Your Zoom app may be showing a Black or blank screen due to the following reasons

    • There are apps running in the background that have access to your camera, blocking access to the Zoom app.
    • Your privacy settings are set incorrectly
    • There is an error with the graphics card 
    • Camera settings need to be updated
    • Installation issues when installing the Zoom app

    How do I fix a Black screen on Zoom

    Double Spanner

    With multiple causes of a black screen on Zoom, here are the 6 most common fixes;

    Fix 1: Restart your PC

    This is the easiest step and sometimes fixes the issue. Simply restart your computer and access the Zoom app to check if the black screen has disappeared when trying to join a video.

    Fix 2: Turn off your automatic GPU switching 

    The Graphics processing unit is what creates your images and videos.

    When there is more than one graphics card at use this may cause the Black/blank screen as it interrupts the processes on Zoom therefore the automatic switching would need to be turned off.

    Step 1. Search for the control panel in your search bar.

    Step 2. Locate and select your graphics card control panel

    Step 3. Choose ‘Manage 3D Settings’ which should be under the main 3D settings 

    Step 4. Select the ‘Programme Settings’ tab and choose ‘Add’ on the right.

    Step 5. Select ‘Browse’

    Step 6. Choose Cpthoste.exe from the Zoom listing found at (C:/>users>YOURUSERNAME>AppData>Roaming>Zoom>bin)

    Step 7. ‘Select preferred graphics processor’ should have ‘Integrated graphics’ selected below it

    Step 8. Lastly, select ‘Apply’ at the bottom right

    Fix 3: Make sure your ‘graphics driver’ is up to date

    Ensure your graphics driver is up to date as this could cause the driver to stop being compatible, resulting in Zoom experiencing a black/blank screen.

    Step 1. Go onto your manufacturer’s website to check what the latest driver is, and download the one that is compatible with your Windows platform. 

    Note, If you are wary of downloading a new driver on your own, you can make use of ‘Driver Easy’ which is a downloadable app that will be able to identify your current software and tell you the compatible driver for your computer. 

    Fix 4: Stop other running apps

    If there are apps running in the background that require access to your camera, this may stop Zoom from working when you launch it, as the camera will be in use by a different app.

    Step 1. (For Windows) Push down CTRL + ALT + DELETE

    Step 2. Choose the ‘Task Manager’

    Step 3. Select all the apps running that would require access to the camera

    Step 4. Choose ‘End Task’

    Fix 5: Check your privacy settings (Windows & MacOs)

    Zoom may be experiencing a black or blank screen due to the privacy settings blocking Zoom from gaining access to the camera. This can be checked on Windows as well as MacOs

    Windows

    Step 1. In the search bar, type in and select ‘Camera Privacy Settings’

    Step 2. The ‘Allow access to the camera on this device should be set as ‘on’

    Step 3. ‘Allow apps to access your camera’ will have a toggle that should be set as ‘on’

    Step 4. As you scroll down, you’ll come to ‘Allow desktop apps to access your camera’ this should be set to ‘on’ as Zoom is not a Microsoft store app

    MacOs

    Step 1. Click on the Apple on the top left

    Step 2. Select the ‘System Preferences’

    Step 3. Choose ‘Security and Privacy’

    Step 4. Select the ‘Lock’ icon and fill in your credentials to make any edits

    Step 5. Choose ‘camera’ from the sidebar and ensure that your chosen search engine and Zoom are selected

    Fix 6: Reinstall Zoom

    If Zoom is still experiencing a black/blank screen, it may be due to an installation error and may need to be reinstalled.

    Windows 

    Step 1. Press down on the Windows button and the letter R simultaneously

    Step 2. Write in appwiz.cpl and select OK

    Step 3. Find Zoom, right-click on it and choose to uninstall

    Step 4. Redownload and Install Zoom

    MacOs

    Step 1. Open the Zoom up on your Mac

    Step 2. Select the zoom.us option at the top left of the page

    Step 3. Choose ‘Uninstall Zoom’ 

    Step 4. Select OK to confirm 

    Step 5. Redownload the Zoom app onto your Mac

    Zoom Black screen during screen share

    Two screens
    Photo by visuals on Unsplash

    Screen sharing is essential when conducting a Zoom call, so when you see a black screen you must be able to rectify it as soon as possible

    Experiencing a black screen on Zoom while screen sharing could be due to the following reasons

    • The owner of the meeting has not permitted other participants in the meeting to screen share
    • Your internet connection is not solid
    • Your video is already enabled when trying to screen share

    Here’s how to fix this problem in 3 easy fixes

     Fix 1. Check if the host has enabled others to screen share

    The host of your meeting may have unintentionally disabled others to screen share. To check this, you can do the following

     Step 1. Click on the ‘Share Screen’ button. If it pops up with the notification ‘Host disabled participant screen sharing’ it will need to be changed.

    Step 2. If you are not the host of the meeting, you can send them a message via the chatbox to get them to enable the setting. 

    Step 3. If you are the host of the meeting, you can allow screen sharing for other participants under the ‘Screen Share Settings’

    Fix 2. Check your internet connection

    Zoom requires a stable internet connection with adequate internet speed in place for the screen sharing function to operate without any disruption

    Step 1. Disconnect from your Wifi and reconnect 

    Step 2. Reset your Wifi router

    Step 3. You can check your internet speed by using SpeedTest, just click go. 

    Note, for a good video conferencing experience, you’ll need 800kbps to 1mbps for the download and upload speed, and 150kbps for screen sharing.

    Fix 3. Switch off your video before attempting to screen share

    The video function on Zoom takes up a lot of bandwidth when in use and may stop the screen sharing from being able to operate.

    Step 1. Select ‘Stop Video’ at the bottom of the screen 

    Step 2.  Once the video has been stopped, you can now click on ‘share screen’

    Note, if you came into the meeting with your video already operating, this could potentially obstruct the screen sharing function from running. To amend this, leave the meeting and re-join but with your video turned off. 

    Conclusion

    Having a Zoom camera black screen while trying to conduct a meeting or screen share with other participants is the last thing you want to experience.

    We hope this guide has assisted you in getting rid of the black screen, as well as provided you with the necessary steps to ensure you know what to do the next time your Zoom app comes up with a black or blank screen. 

    If you have any other Zoom errors, be sure to check out the Easyfixpro website in the future.

  • Whatsapp Won’t Sync Contacts: Easy Steps To Fix This Permission Issue

    Whatsapp Won’t Sync Contacts: Easy Steps To Fix This Permission Issue

    Quite a few users reported that Whatsapp won’t sync their contacts. The app displays phone numbers instead of contact names. It can be frustrating when something like this happens as you won’t be able to identify and start communicating with a person. In this article, we’ll explain why this issue happens and how can you fix it.

    Whatsapp has changed the communication game by merging your mobile phone contacts with the app data. Now you can send text messages, media files, and initiate voice and video calls over the internet. Therefore, you end up paying less in phone bills.

    Moreover, you don’t need to make a separate contact list as Whatsapp contacts are updated when you save them on your mobile phone SIM card, phone memory, or email account. However, if you are seeing the phone numbers on Whatsapp, it can be difficult to communicate as you can not recall which person is using that particular phone number.

    Why is my WhatsApp not syncing with contacts?

    whatsapp won't sync contacts

    If Whatsapp is not syncing your phonebook contacts, you need to rule out the following possibilities.

    • You have not refreshed your Whatsapp contacts
    • You are using an older version of Whatsapp on your phone
    • There is a temporary glitch in the app
    • You are blocking Whatsapp to access contacts on your mobile device
    • You have not assigned proper permissions to Whatsapp

    How do I allow WhatsApp to sync my contacts?

    How do I allow WhatsApp to sync my contacts?

    To fix the Whatsapp contact syncing issue, the first thing you can do is to check if the app has the necessary permission to access your contacts. To do this on your Android phone:

    • Tap on Settings on your cell phone
    • Scroll and tap on App Management
    • Choose Whatsapp from the app list and then tap on Permissions
    • Make sure that the Contacts are not under the “Deny” option. If so, click on Contact and then tap on “Allow”
    • Assign all other necessary permissions to Whatsapp as well

    You can allow Whatsapp to sync your contacts by another method.

    • Again, tap on Settings and locate Users & Accounts
    • If Whatsapp is already installed on your phone, you’ll see Whatsapp under user accounts
    • Tap on Whatsapp and verify that the box beside the Contacts option is checked
    • Next, tap on the two vertical dots on the top right side and select “Sync now”
    • Now relaunch Whatsapp and see if that fixes the issue

    How to sync your contact with Whatsapp?

    How to sync your contact with Whatsapp?

    If allowing Whatsapp to access your contacts and syncing the app through user accounts did not solve your issue, you can try the following fixes to let the app show contact names instead of numbers.

    Refresh Whatsapp contacts manually

    A lot of times, the problem of Whatsapp not syncing contacts can be fixed by refreshing Whatsapp contacts on your phone. To do this, launch Whatsapp and tap on the New chat green box located at the bottom right side of the screen.

    Afterwards, tap on the three-dotted menu in the upper right corner and select Refresh. Now go back to your chats. You should be able to see the contact names now on Whatsapp.

    Force Stop Whatsapp

    Sometimes, Whatsapp can malfunction due to temporary glitches. To fix this, you may need to force stop the app to reset its settings.

    • Tap on the Settings icon on your mobile phone and scroll to locate Apps Manager
    • Find Whatsapp and tap on it
    • Now select the Force Close option and launch Whatsapp again
    • Verify that you can see Contacts instead of phone numbers on Whatsapp

    Update Whatsapp

    If you are using an older version of Whatsapp, your phone is prone to numerous errors(Interlink here with Whatsapp won’t download photos article when published). Therefore, you need to check if your phone is running the latest version of the app. To check this:

    • Grab your phone and open Google Play Store/App Store
    • Tap on your profile and navigate to Manage apps
    • Next, tap on Updates Available and scroll to locate Whatsapp
    • Hit the update button next to Whatsapp
    • Launch the app to check if the issue is fixed

    How can I update my WhatsApp without the play store?

    How can I update my WhatsApp without the play store?

    If you can not access Google Play Store or App Store due to an error, insufficient disk space, or an incompatible device, you can update Whatsapp through the following method.
    • Backup all your Whatsapp data
    • Open a browser on your mobile phone and go to a website that contains the APK for Whatsapp 
    • Select the latest version from the list and download the APK file on your mobile phone
    • Now run the downloaded APK file on your phone
    • Allow the permission on your mobile to install the APK file from unknown sources
    • Once the Whatsapp APK is installed, you’ll have the latest version of WhatsApp

    Conclusion

    Whatsapp is making life easier for people by letting them communicate and share media under one single platform. However, certain Whatsapp issue makes life harder for the average user, We hope that this guide helped you get your contacts back on Whatsapp.

    You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling Whatsapp from your phone. If the issue persists, contact your phone manufacturer and ask them to provide you with more information about security permissions on your phone.