Black screen

Help and Support
1

Hi all,

I have the Vero V and that’s been working fine. I updated the software a couple of weeks ago (I think I was a couple of months behind) and while initially it seemed fine recently I’ve noticed that quite a few movies don’t work anymore, I just get a black screen. Sound works, subtitles work, but just completely black screen.

Haven’t found a common denominator.

It’s movies that I KNOW have worked before on this same Vero. Not even that long ago. The movies in question work fine when played from the same network location on my PC in VLC.

I assume you will need a debug log? Is the procedure still enable logging, 2 restarts, and then start a problem movie?

2

To get a better understanding of the problem you are experiencing we need more information from you. The best way to get this information is for you to upload logs that demonstrate your problem. You can learn more about how to submit a useful support request here.

Depending on the used skin you have to set the settings-level to standard or higher, in summary:

  • enable debug logging at settings->system->logging

  • reboot the OSMC device twice(!)

  • reproduce the issue

  • upload the log set (all configs and logs!) either using the Log Uploader method within the My OSMC menu in the GUI or the ssh method invoking command grab-logs -A

  • publish the provided URL from the log set upload, here

Thanks for your understanding. We hope that we can help you get up and running again shortly.

OSMC skin screenshot:

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image960×539 41.4 KB

3

I’ll do the logs later. Was messing with it and it seems to be HDR related.

  • I noticed my LG TV never displayed the little HDR popup in the top-right corner anymore, when switching to HDR content.
  • If I disable “Allow hardware acceleration” (Setting → Player → Videos) everything works again but the movies are obviously super choppy and unwatchable.
  • If I set HDR processing to “BT2020SDR” instead of “Auto” all movies work again. I’m not sure if HDR now works or not. Movies look fine.
4

Logs on https://paste.osmc.tv/anozizerem

TV is an LG oled55cx6la.

5

Try change Adjust display refresh rate from Start/Stop to Always.

6

Same problem, screen remains black.

7

It shouldn’t make any difference but please set limited colour range (16-238) and try turning off 422 colour sub-sampling.

8

Same problem. Tried both suggestions together and separately, but same issue with all.

9

Can you provide a sample of that video, please. Say, 1 minute of it. We see this in your log

2025-06-08 22:49:35.964 T:3097     info <general>: ffmpeg[0xb2155490]:   Stream #0:0: Video: hevc (Main 10), yuv420p10le(tv, bt709, progressive), 3840x1606 [SAR 1:1 DAR 1920:803], 24 fps, 24 tbr, 1k tbn (default)
2025-06-08 22:49:35.964 T:3097     info <general>: ffmpeg[0xb2155490]:     Metadata:
2025-06-08 22:49:35.964 T:3097     info <general>: ffmpeg[0xb2155490]:       ENCODER         : Lavc59.48.100 libx265
2025-06-08 22:49:35.964 T:3097     info <general>: ffmpeg[0xb2155490]:       DURATION        : 02:24:40.709000000
2025-06-08 22:49:35.964 T:3097     info <general>: ffmpeg[0xb2155490]:     Side data:
2025-06-08 22:49:35.964 T:3097     info <general>: ffmpeg[0xb2155490]:       DOVI configuration record: version: 1.0, profile: 8, level: 6, rpu flag: 1, el flag: 0, bl flag: 1, compatibility id: 1

FFmpeg is saying it’s SDR (BT709) but the DV metadata says compatibility ID 1 (BT2020/PQ). There must be some problem resolving that conflict.

It’s also a bit odd that it’s 24Hz, not 23.96Hz but that shouldn’t affect playback.

10

I’ll see what I can do, but it’s a problem on a fair amount of the movies in my library. I can get a log from another movie if that might help?

11

If you get the same BT709/P8.1 prints in the log from other videos then that would support my theory. But we can’t fix it without a video with that frankendata.

12

While looking for other examples I noticed that on some movies setting it to “BT2020SDR” instead of “Auto” does not fix it. These are movies I watched within the last month or so and worked perfectly fine.

13

Thanks, but can you confirm all the affected videos are Dolby Vision? That’s the main thing that changed in the last update.

14

Your log reports you updated 5th April. Have you had issues since then (or only in the last two weeks)?

15

I haven’t been using the Vero much; as TV shows seem to work I didn’t notice the movie problem until now.

Movies with Dolby Vision seem to work; I get the pop up from my TV that it’s displaying Dolby Vision at least.

I have no idea what’s going on to be honest. When I tried earlier the movies I referenced in my previous post (the ones I had watched recently) did not work. I enabled the logs. Did the 2 restarts, and now most of them seem to work again.

I’ll have to make some new logs as in these I’m going through a dozen movies. Logs here but only the last movie doesn’t work: https://paste.osmc.tv/faxidubupo. The new Predator movie I watched literally last week and now stays black… The Change-Up worked a couple of weeks ago, didn’t work earlier, but works now. Blade Trinity didn’t work earlier but works now. Your ‘frankenfile’ Planet of the Apes still doesn’t work though.

16

Do you mean Predator - Killer of Killers? That’s 1080p SDR so not stressing the system at all. Can you try another HDMI cable and/or HDMI input on the LG and/or cleaning the HDMI plugs with contact cleaner?

17

I mean Killer of Killers yeah.

It’s now connected with another HDMI cable on another input; switched it over to the PS5 cable & port. PS5 works fine with HDR content.

I’m now back at the point where most movies don’t work anymore. Same issue as earlier today. Tested Blade Trinity and The Change-Up and remain black. Dito for Predator and the Apes.

Will try another reboot.

18

Just for fun I connected my Vero 4K +, which was collecting dust and is still on the August 2023 2023.08-1 software, using the same HDMI cable and same input and everything works perfectly fine. So we can probably rule out the cable and the TV.

19

Connected the Vero V to my non-HDR work monitor. Works. Planet of the Apes too.

20

You and me both. I can’t see any common factor in those videos you are testing. The only one that’s HDR is Apes.

Can you try wiping all your settings? Do this:

systemctl stop mediacenter
mv ~/.kodi ~/kodibak
systemctl start mediacenter

You will have to set up your source for those videos again, but see if it’s any better without messing with any other settings.