Xbox 360: The display is unclear when you use the Xbox 360 with a television display (911151)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Xbox Video Game System
  • Microsoft Xbox 360

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Xbox 360 with a television display, you may experience one of the following symptoms:
  • The display is not clear.
  • The screen flickers.
  • The screen fades to black.
  • The screen strobes or displays polygons.
  • Incorrect colors are displayed.

CAUSE

This issue may occur for several reasons. The issue is most likely related to a setting on your television, or to the connection between the Xbox 360 and the television.

Note If the symptom only occurs during game play, the issue could be a feature of the game.

THINGS TO TRY

  1. Check if the symptom only occurs with specific games. Try other games to make sure that this issue does not occur because of a problem with the game or with a feature of the game. Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base to determine whether the particular game has any known issues. If this issue is not a problem with the game or with a feature of the game, continue to the next step.
  2. Make sure that the AV cable is connected correctly to the Xbox 360 console. Additionally, make sure that you have the correct cable for your TV.
  3. Disconnect the AV cable, and then reconnect the AV cable. For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    906144 Xbox 360: How to connect the Xbox 360 console by using the Xbox 360 Composite AV Cable

    906303 Xbox 360: How to connect an Xbox 360 console to a TV by using the Component HD AV Cable

    906202 Xbox 360: How to connect the Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable

    906203 Xbox 360: How to connect the Xbox 360 S-Video AV Cable

    Note If you are using composite cables do not try to set any HDTV settings. If you try to set HDTV setting, you may lose the picture. Even though you may be able to set HDTV settings on the console, this will not work with composite cables. You must have either the Xbox 360 VGA HD AV cable or the Xbox 360 Component HD AV cable to correctly view HDTV content from the console.
  4. If the AV cable is connected correctly, check your TV settings. See the owner's manual for your TV for more information.
    1. Verify that the TV is set to the same video broadcast system as your console (PAL or NTSC). For example, if you have an NTSC console, make sure that your TV supports NTSC.
    2. If your console is a PAL console, set your PAL settings to PAL 60. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

      917304 Xbox 360: Your Xbox 360 console is set to PAL 50 Hz and you cannot play an Xbox 360 game on your console

    3. If your TV has some kind of picture compensation enabled, disable it. Examples of picture compensation include the following:
      • Dynamic contrast
      • Automatic compensation
      • Contrast detection
      • Light detector
      • Others
      There may be different names for these features depending on the make and model of your TV.
  5. If you have another TV available, test your console on another TV.
  6. If the issue is still not resolved, reset your display settings. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    911059 Xbox 360: How to reset your display settings

Note Do not take your Xbox 360 console or its accessories to your retailer for repair or for service unless an Xbox Customer Support representative instructs you to do this.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/20/2006
Keywords:kbxboxext kbXboxConsole kbXbox360PacRimPortal kbXbox360EuropePortal kbXbox360AmericasPortal kbPubTypeKC kbtshoot KB911151
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