Black bars appear on the top, bottom, and sides of the TV picture
IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.
This information is provided to help when the picture is cut-off, stretched, zoomed, or doesn't fit the screen due to the type of signal the input source sent to your TV.
Items to check before changing settings:
- Check the TV menu and home screen.
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- If the picture looks stretched or distorted on the TV menu, the TV may require repair.
- Try a different input source (cable, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc™ player).
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- If the issue only occurs on a specific input, check the settings of the connected device.
- Check the aspect ratio of the program or movie that you're watching.
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- Some programs aren't in full screen when produced. Some movies are in a 21:9 cinema format which will show black bars on the top and bottom when you view them on a widescreen (16:9) TV.
- Check for Closed Captioning (CC) or Extended Data Services (XDS).
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- If you turn on the Closed Caption feature, it may make the picture look stretched, distorted or cut-off. Turn off the Close Captioning or Extended Data Services to resolve the issue.
- The issue may be with the program such as news or sports broadcast.
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- These programs may have banners or tickers that are part of the broadcast that you can't remove or change.
- Some TVs and other devices don't have the capability to change the aspect ratio of a picture when they receive 720p or 1080i/1080p signals.
Note: If the information above does not address your concerns, check the Picture and Display settings, Depending on the broadcast or program you are watching, changing the TV settings may not solve the issue.
Check the Picture and Display settings
Check the settings of the device connected to the TV.