Xbox – Why doesn’t the Xbox 360 connect via HDMI

xbox-360

I have just set up my brand new, out of the box Xbox 360 to my TV, o connected it to av so I could get the initial settings done, now I connected a HDMI cable to it from my TV and all I am getting is a black screen, I know it's still working cause when impress A the disk tray opens

As a test, I disconnected my PS3 HDMI cable and used that, not changing the HDMI port it is in in the TV, the PS3 was working just moments before so it should work with the 360, however I still get a black screen

Unlike the PS3 where I had to set the display settings to HDMI while on AV there is no setting like that on the 360, the HDMI Settings is grated out while I am on AV

I have tried

  1. Disconnecting the AV Cables so its just HDMI, nothing
  2. Going into AV, remembering what I need to press to get to The HDMI Setting and looking up where the Recommended settings option is, nothing
  3. Changing to one of the many, many other HDMI Cables I have, all nothing
  4. Googling what I could do, most posts say that your 360 needs to be fixed, mine is brand new

I don't want to play in AV cause I saw Assassins Creed 3 in AV on my dad's TV and boy is it bloody hard to read anything in that game, when I upgraded his to Component HD (his is first generation so it came with those cable with the AV and Component cables as one with a switch to change between them) and its so much easier, this is why I am insistent that I play using my HDMI Cables

So anyone know why I'm not connecting with my HDMI Cables?

Best Answer

According to xbox support, you may need to try a reset of your display settings:

  • Check the connection for the A/V or HDMI cable on your Xbox console.
  • Check the connection for the A/V or HDMI cable on your television.
  • Try plugging your HDMI cable into a different HDMI port on your television.

  • Reset your display settings. To do this:

    1. Remove any discs from the disc tray.
    2. Turn off the console.

    3. Turn on the console.

      Note If you are using an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, turn on the console by using the Guide button on the controller. Make sure that you use the player 1 controller when you do this. The player 1 controller will have the upper-left light illuminated.

    4. As the console starts, on the controller, press and hold Y while pulling the right trigger. The display settings are reset to the default settings, and then the console automatically restarts.

Since you say you've done the first points, the display setting reset is all that you haven't tried so cold boot the console and hold Y+RT.

There is also the possibility that your display is having trouble with the resolution that the 360 is using. It seems to want to default to the highest resolution which not all displays support. The quick test is to try it with a display that you know supports 1080p HDMI in and if it works without changing anything, then that seems to be your problem, but it may still be worth it to try changing the resolution on the 360 anyways:

With an HD AV connector (some connectors have a switch on them for HDTV), ensure that the directions are correct, otherwise you are flying blind. With the current dashboard update:

  1. Home button.
  2. Settings(all the way to the right).
  3. Console Settings(down 3,A).
  4. Display(A).
  5. HDTV settings(A).
  6. Try lower resolutions(up and A selects a lower resolution, but since the menu wraps around, I can't be more precise).
  7. Set it to the lowest resolution.
  8. Power off the console. (if working blind, unnecessary)
  9. Switch to the HDMI cable. (if working blind, unnecessary)
  10. Power on the console. (if working blind, unnecessary)

  11. If that works, go through increasing the resolution setting to find the best resolution that works for your display.

    Note I believe it should keep the setting even though you switch cables after setting it, but if I am wrong, you may have to go back and check if it lost your settings, meaning you'll have to do this blind with the HDMI plugged in. You could do this blind to begin with to avoid this extra concern, but I find mistakes are more likely when you can't see.

Make sure to test it thoroughly before writing off a solution. Sometimes Xbox 360 takes a little bit of time as it starts up before it outputs to the screen.

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