Sling TV black screen: fixes in order
Quick answer: Change to another channel first. If every channel is black, check your internet speed, try another network, restart your streaming device, then try another app and another device to see whether the problem is Sling, your connection or the device.
Video not loading? Open the video on YouTube. It may not match your exact model; check the written guidance and device scope before following it.
The fixes, in order
These follow Sling's own steps for a completely black screen. Each one rules out a different cause, so work through them in order and stop when the picture comes back.
1Change channels
Switch to a different channel. If other channels play, the problem is with that one channel, often temporary. Come back to it later.
2Check your internet speed
Run a speed test on the device you watch on, or on a phone on the same Wi-Fi. Live TV needs a steady connection. If the speed is low, move the router closer, switch to a wired connection if you can, or pause downloads on other devices.
3Try another network
If you can, connect the device to a different network, such as a phone hotspot, and try again. If Sling plays there, the problem is your home network: restart the router and modem by unplugging them for a minute.
4Restart your device
Turn the streaming device, smart TV or phone fully off, unplug TVs and streaming sticks for a minute, then start them again and reopen Sling.
5Try another app
Open another streaming app on the same device. If that is black too, the problem is the device or its connection to the TV, not Sling. Check the HDMI cable and try a different HDMI port.
6Try another device
Sign in to Sling on a phone, computer or another TV. If it works there, the first device is the problem: update its software and the Sling app, or reinstall Sling.
Still black everywhere?
If Sling shows a black screen on every device and network while other apps work, check Sling's help site for an outage notice and contact Sling support with the device you use and any error code shown.
What to tell support
Keep a short record of your exact device model, software or app version, the symptom or error text, and which steps you tried. Note what changed after each step. You can print this page for reference.
Do not include passwords, recovery codes or private account details in public comments.
Sources
Video by FixIt Mobile on YouTube. See the linked sources for current manufacturer guidance. Menu names and available features can vary by model and software version. How we check fixes.