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Fix a TV that has HDMI extender that will not work

We'll check power at both units, cable connections, and power-cycle—or tell you when to call a technician.

Troubleshooting · Home electronics
5–15 min
What you'll need
  • TV remote
  • HDMI cables
Step 1 of 7

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Steps

Goal: Confirm the symptom, check power at both units, then rule out cable and handshake issues.

  • Confirm the HDMI extender shows no picture or no signal on the TV.
  • Good: You have confirmed the symptom. Proceed to Check power.
  • Bad: The extender works sometimes—may be loose connection or handshake.

Check power

Goal: Confirm both the HDMI extender sender and receiver have power.

  • Confirm the sender (near the source) has power. Check the power cable and LED if present.
  • Confirm the receiver (near the TV) has power. Both units must be powered for the signal to pass through.
  • Confirm the source device is on and outputting.
  • Good: Both units have power. Proceed to Check cable connections.
  • Bad: One or both units lack power—connect power, then test.

Check cable connections

Goal: Rule out loose or faulty cables at sender, receiver, source, and TV.

  • Check the HDMI cable from the source to the sender input. Reseat firmly.
  • Check the extender cable (Cat5/6 or HDBaseT) between sender and receiver. Reseat at both ends.
  • Check the HDMI cable from the receiver output to the TV. Reseat firmly.
  • Use the TV remote to select the HDMI input where the receiver connects.
  • Good: All cables snug. The signal appears. Done.
  • Bad: Still no signal—proceed to Power-cycle.

Power-cycle

Goal: Reset HDMI handshake between extender, TV, and source.

  • Unplug the sender, receiver, TV, and source from power. Wait 30 seconds.
  • Plug the sender and receiver in first, then the source, then the TV. Turn on the source first, then the TV.
  • Good: Power-cycle fixes it. The signal appears. Done.
  • Bad: Still no signal—the extender units may be faulty. Replace them or call a technician.

When to get help

Call a TV repair technician if:

  • You have checked power at both units, cables, and power-cycle with known-good cables and the extender still does not work. Replace the extender units.

Verification

  • The TV shows a picture from the source through the extender.
  • Both sender and receiver have power (LEDs on if present).
  • All cables are firmly connected at sender, receiver, source, and TV.
  • The correct TV input is selected.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Power at both units Confirm sender and receiver have power.
  2. Cable connections Reseat HDMI and extender cables at sender, receiver, source, and TV.
  3. Power-cycle Unplug sender, receiver, TV, and source for 30 seconds; plug back in.
  4. Call a pro Extender does not work after all checks.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Extender model (sender and receiver)
  • Extender cable type (HDBaseT, Cat5/6, etc.)
  • Source device
  • Steps already tried

Do both sender and receiver have power?

HDMI extenders need power at both ends.

Check power cables at the sender (near source) and receiver (near TV). Both must have power. Both powered: check cables. One or both off: connect power, then test.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Connect power and test

Connect power to sender and receiver. Confirm LEDs light on both. Confirm source is on and TV input is correct. If signal appears, done. If not, reseat cables and power-cycle.

Done

Are all cables firmly connected?

Source to sender, extender cable sender to receiver, receiver to TV.

Check HDMI at sender input and receiver output. Check the extender cable between sender and receiver. Reseat all. Connected: check TV input and power-cycle. Loose: reseat, then test.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Reseat cables and test

Reseat HDMI at sender and receiver. Reseat the extender cable. Confirm TV input is correct. If signal appears, done. If not, power-cycle all devices.

Done

Is the correct TV input selected?

The TV must show the port where the receiver output is plugged in.

Use the TV remote. Select the HDMI input for the receiver. Correct: power-cycle. Wrong: select correct input, then test.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Select correct TV input

Select the HDMI input for the receiver. If signal appears, done. If not, power-cycle sender, receiver, TV, and source.

Done

Power-cycle and test

Power-cycle sender, receiver, TV, and source. If signal appears, done. If not, the extender units may be faulty—replace them or call a technician.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would an HDMI extender not work?
No power to sender or receiver, loose cables, faulty extender cable, or handshake failure. Power at both ends is critical.
Can I fix an HDMI extender that will not work myself?
Yes. Check power at both units, cable connections, and power-cycle. Try different cables if the run is long.
When should I call a technician for an HDMI extender?
If you have checked power, cables, and power-cycle with known-good cables and the extender still does not work. The extender units may be faulty.

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