How to Fix Sound and Picture on an Element Smart TV

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Some of the most common issues we experience with our televisions these days all relate to what we are seeing on the screen. If you are experiencing your Element Smart TV's picture cutting out, appearing blurry, or even losing audio at the same time, this guide will take you through steps to help resolve these types of issues.

Element TV is blurry image

The following guide will contain steps for both TV programming sources and External sources.

  • TV Programming sources include: Over-the-air antenna, Cable or Satellite TV provider content.
  • External sources include: DVD player, Blu-ray player, Video Game Console, etc.

2. Additional Information

To better assist you, please answer this question.

3. Test Another Channel or Source

If You Are Watching TV

If you are trying to watch TV (whether it be over-the-air or via your cable / satellite provider), switch to another channel. The channel you are tuned into may be having broadcast difficulties.

Remote with Channel Lighted. Illustration

If You Are Using an External Source

If you are watching a DVD or Blu-ray, try another disc. If you don't have access to another disc, try a different external source connected to your TV, such as a cable box or video game console.

  • To switch your TV to a different external source, press the SOURCE button on your remote.
Remote with Source button highlighted. Illustration

4. Check Coaxial Cable

  1. Make sure that the coaxial cable is firmly attached at the back of the TV and that there are no broken wires.
Coaxial cable and TV connector on rear highlighted.
  1. If the TV is connected to a cable or satellite box, ensure that the box is turned on and the cables are firmly connected from the box to the TV, and to the wall or outside source. Try changing the cables, if necessary.
Wall coaxial connector, cable box and TV connection diagram.

5. Adjust Antenna

If the TV is connected to an indoor antenna, try to adjust or re-position the antenna until you get stronger signal strength.

Rabbit Ears antenna

6. What's next?

7. Check Coaxial Cable

  1. Make sure that the coaxial cable is firmly attached at the back of the TV and that there are no broken wires.
Coaxial cable and TV connector on rear highlighted.
  1. If the TV is connected to a cable or satellite box, ensure that the box is turned on and the cables are firmly connected from the box to the TV, and to the wall or outside source. Try changing the cables, if necessary.
Wall coaxial connector, cable box and TV connection diagram.

8. Adjust Antenna

If the TV is connected to an indoor antenna, try to adjust or re-position the antenna until you get stronger signal strength.

Rabbit Ears antenna

9. What's next?

10. Remove Antenna Channels

The menu systems depicted here may vary depending on the model of Element Smart TV you are working with. The process for removing channels should still be the same.

  1. Press the Menu button on your remote.
Element Remote with Menu highlighted. Illustration
  1. Go to Settings.
Home menu with Settings highlighted. Illustration
  1. Go to TV inputs.
Settings menu with TV inputs highlighted. Illustration
  1. Go to Antenna TV.
Antenna TV icon
  1. Go to Edit channel lineup.
  2. Your TV's currently programmed channels will be listed.
  3. Using your remote control's arrow keys, highlight the channel you wish to hide/remove, and then press OK to hide the channel.

11. Power cycle

If you haven't already, please try power cycling the device you're working with. To do so, simply turn it off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on again.

12. Check Cabling

Identifying what kind of cable connects the box you wish to be seeing on the screen (cable box, DVD player, etc.) of your TV is very important. This will help make absolutely sure that the correct input settings are being used and that there is not a loose or bad connection with the cables being used. The kinds of cables being used and where they are connected will be different in every home theater setup.

The most common types of cables you may encounter when looking at your Home Theater equipment:

  • HDMI
Common HDMI cable.
  • Component Video - make sure each cable is in the correct spot.
Common analog component video cable.
  • Composite Video - make sure each cable is in the correct spot.
Common analog composite video cable.
  1. Start with the box you're attempting to get the picture from, like your Cable box or DVD/Blu-ray player.
Standard cable TV and DVD player.
  1. On the back of the box, check to see what kind of cables are connected and trace them to see what and where they are plugged into. While checking, make sure each cable is securely connected and pushed in firmly all the way.
Connecting an HDMI cable to the rear of a video component.
  1. In this example, the HDMI cable that comes from the cable box is connected to the HDMI 2 input on the TV. This means the TV would need to be set to HDMI 2 to see the picture from this cable box.
Connecting an HDMI cable to the rear of a TV set.
  1. Check that all cables are securely connected and take note of the names of the ports that those cables are plugged into so those specific inputs can be tested.

13. Test Another Channel or Source

If You Are Watching TV

If you are trying to watch TV (whether it be over-the-air or via your cable / satellite provider), switch to another channel. The channel you are tuned into may be having broadcast difficulties.

Remote with Channel Lighted. Illustration

If You Are Using an External Source

If you are watching a DVD or Blu-ray, try another disc. If you don't have access to another disc, try a different external source connected to your TV, such as a cable box or video game console.

  • To switch your TV to a different external source, press the SOURCE button on your remote.
Remote with Source button highlighted. Illustration

14. Interference Check

Sometimes image quality can be affected by local interference, such as an electrical appliance or power tools. Appliances like microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, or power tools like drills and saws can cause interference even while not running.

Interference caused by power tools. Illustration


  1. Turn off temporarily any of the above devices and check if the issue persists.
  2. If that fixes it, try and move that device further from the TV.

15. What's next?

16. Defective Source or Media

Based on our results, it is possible that the video source you are using is malfunctioning, or the media or disc you are using could be damaged or defective.

Physical Media

  1. Eject the disc and make sure it is not dirty, scratched or damaged.
  2. Ensure you are using the correct disc for the device.
Scratched disc

USB Device

  1. If USB device doesn't show up, device might be defective.
  2. If content on USB device doesn't show up or shows up incorrectly, content is either corrupt or incompatible.
Broken USB drive

If the physical media or device you are attempting to use with your external source does not appear to be damaged, the external source itself may actually be malfunctioning.