How to stop the annoying flash when the TV goes into "screensaver" mode?

[KoolAid-Drink]

It may be a little thing, but every time my Apple TV goes to "sleep" (moves to screensaver mode), it does an annoying white flash when doing that. It also does the flash when moving between screensaver scenes.

It's annoying because it kind of startles me, especially in the darkness. Is there a way to turn that off?

I hope that made sense!

 

[pmiles]

Well, I suppose the real issue is that I don't see an annoying flash... I have the default aerial night cityscape of LA. Never seen a flash when it activates.

What screensaver are you using? Which AppleTV model? Which TVOS version? Maybe a simple reset of the device will clear it all up?

 

[priitv8]

Or, it may be a display issue, not the aTV's. I also do not see flashes.

 

[Blowback]

Ditto here but....what model do you have?

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Well, I suppose the real issue is that I don't see an annoying flash... I have the default aerial night cityscape of LA. Never seen a flash when it activates.

What screensaver are you using? Which AppleTV model? Which TVOS version? Maybe a simple reset of the device will clear it all up?

ATV 4K (2017), tvOS 14 (the latest update). Using the aerial/scenery screensaver.

Or, it may be a display issue, not the aTV's. I also do not see flashes.

Could be, hmmm. It's a 2014-era TV (1080p, not 4K), if that helps.

 

[pmiles]

I know this may not be the answer you would want to hear... but have you considered restoring the AppleTV to factory settings?

Reset or restore your Apple TV to its factory settings - Apple Support

Use these steps to erase your Apple TV, restore it to its factory settings, and remove all information on it.

support.apple.com

You could also try disabling some features that technically don't apply to non-4K TVs:

Turn on Match Dynamic Range or Match Frame Rate on your Apple TV - Apple Support

Learn how to turn on frame rate and dynamic range matching.

support.apple.com

Is the AppleTV new to your setup? Meaning, you just acquired the device recently? Trying to determine if this is a device that has been operating fine up until now or this is really a first time usage for you.

 

[priitv8]

Could be, hmmm. It's a 2014-era TV (1080p, not 4K), if that helps.

I would first set its video output mode to what best suits your TV (1080p SDR. 50 or 60Hz). That way it should maintain the HDMI output resolution and not cause the aTV and TV to re-sync on HDMI every time.
Best resolution setting in that context may not be what the TV and aTV negotiate on the Auto settings.

 

[waw74]

same thing here, although a black flash instead of white, I've never seen it between screen savers directly, but always out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was just a change from a really dark to really bright one

do you have match frame rate or dynamic range turned on?
it might be your TV making the flash when it receives a new flavor of video signal.

you could try turning off match rate and range, and see if it stops happening.

In iOS 14, they started running the screen saver at whatever video output is set in the settings app. Meaning if you're playing video, and have it paused, every time your screen saver starts the aTV will change it's output away from matching the playing video, and to the default settings. And then the other way when it stops.

write to apple, I have, and apparently that's the new "expected behaviour"

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

I know this may not be the answer you would want to hear... but have you considered restoring the AppleTV to factory settings?

Reset or restore your Apple TV to its factory settings - Apple Support

Use these steps to erase your Apple TV, restore it to its factory settings, and remove all information on it.

support.apple.com

You could also try disabling some features that technically don't apply to non-4K TVs:

Turn on Match Dynamic Range or Match Frame Rate on your Apple TV - Apple Support

Learn how to turn on frame rate and dynamic range matching.

support.apple.com

Is the AppleTV new to your setup? Meaning, you just acquired the device recently? Trying to determine if this is a device that has been operating fine up until now or this is really a first time usage for you.

It's new, yes. Purchased the TV around two months ago. It's been the default behavior.

I would first set its video output mode to what best suits your TV (1080p SDR. 50 or 60Hz). That way it should maintain the HDMI output resolution and not cause the aTV and TV to re-sync on HDMI every time.
Best resolution setting in that context may not be what the TV and aTV negotiate on the Auto settings.

It's set to 1080p SR, I believe. Tried HDR, and that made the image look super weird, so went back to SDR.

same thing here, although a black flash instead of white, I've never seen it between screen savers directly, but always out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was just a change from a really dark to really bright one

do you have match frame rate or dynamic range turned on?
it might be your TV making the flash when it receives a new flavor of video signal.

you could try turning off match rate and range, and see if it stops happening.

In iOS 14, they started running the screen saver at whatever video output is set in the settings app. Meaning if you're playing video, and have it paused, every time your screen saver starts the aTV will change it's output away from matching the playing video, and to the default settings. And then the other way when it stops.

write to apple, I have, and apparently that's the new "expected behaviour"

Match frame rate and dynamic range both are turned off.