When content isn't displaying correctly on the screen, in the vast majority of cases it is because the content has been made to an incorrect spec or the player has been incorrectly configured.
Occasionally screens themselves (especially older ones) will fault, which requires a repair or replacement to resolve.
1. Content Issues and Player Configuration Issues
The most common cause for an incorrect display are problems with the content.
Ensure that the width and height of the content matches the width and height of the screen.
Even if the aspect ratio of the content matches, scaling can cause issues with the way the content appears.
Some common features of content issues are:
- Most content looks okay, except for one or two pictures/videos
- The content looks stretched
- The content looks pixelated
- There is a border between the content and the edge of the screen
Where you see the above issues with content that has been made correctly, it indicates that the player has been incorrectly configured.
Another sign that the player has been incorrectly configured is if the content is on its side, or upside down.
2. Screen hardware issues
We have found that screen hardware failures tend to be the one of the least common causes of problems, though it can happen.
If you suspect an issue with the screen, it is worth powering the screen down for 10 seconds, then back up again.
Some common features of screen hardware faults are:
- The screen power LEDs are on, but nothing displays on the screen (including screen menus)
- The screen comes on, an image comes up but then the screen turns itself off after 5-15 seconds
- Static, blank spots or other display faults not covered above that persist over multiple images/videos