--- title: "CCTV Camera Showing No Picture or Black Screen? Quick Checks to Fix It | Qyvea Kenya" url: https://qyvea.co.ke/camera-no-picture-black-screen-kenya description: "CCTV showing no picture, a black screen or 'no video'? Check power, cable, connectors, recorder channel and display in this order, and know when to call a technician." updated: 2026-10-17 --- > Markdown copy of https://qyvea.co.ke/camera-no-picture-black-screen-kenya for AI assistants. Prices and stock change; check the live page. We deliver products across Kenya · same-day dispatch · delivered within 24 hours[CCTV Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv)[Access Control](https://qyvea.co.ke/access-control-systems-kenya)[Biometrics & Attendance](https://qyvea.co.ke/biometrics)[Electric Fencing](https://qyvea.co.ke/electric-fence)[Automatic Gates](https://qyvea.co.ke/automatic-gates)[Fire Alarm Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/fire-alarm-systems)[Security Guards & K9](https://qyvea.co.ke/security-guards)[Solar Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/solar-installation)[Solar & Power Backup](https://qyvea.co.ke/solar-solutions)[Electrical Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/electrical-installation)[Smart Home Automation](https://qyvea.co.ke/smart-home-automation)[Building Management (BMS)](https://qyvea.co.ke/bms)[Networking & Wi-Fi](https://qyvea.co.ke/networking)[IT Support](https://qyvea.co.ke/it-support)[Cyber Security](https://qyvea.co.ke/cybersecurity)[System Integration](https://qyvea.co.ke/system-integration)[Intercom Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom)[PA Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/pa-systems)[POS Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/pos-systems)[Queue Management](https://qyvea.co.ke/queue-management-systems)[Business Supply (B2B)](https://qyvea.co.ke/business-supply-kenya)[Maintenance & Repairs](https://qyvea.co.ke/maintenance) CCTV · Troubleshooting # CCTV Camera Shows No Picture / Black Screen One camera or the whole screen is black. How to tell a camera fault from a cable, power, recorder or monitor problem. The fix is usually simpler than the stress of living with the problem. Read on: it takes a few minutes and could save you a lot more than that. **In this guide you will see:** - One camera black: usually its power, cable or the camera. - All cameras black: usually the recorder, the monitor/HDMI, or power to the whole system. - Black only at night: IR failure or a light problem, not a dead camera. Quick answer A black screen can come from the camera, its power supply, the cable, the recorder channel or just the monitor. The trick is to narrow it down: is it one camera or all of them, day and night or only at night, on the monitor and the phone or only one of them? [Photo: Alan J. Hendry / Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/KNt4zd8HPb0) Why act on it now ## A fault you ignore is a fault that grows. ### If you wait - Working around the fault for another week - A small problem turning into a replacement - Nobody checking the rest of the system ### What you get - The likely cause found fast, with the checks in this guide - A technician who fixes it properly if the checks do not - A system you can rely on again [Hikvision DS-2CD1023G0E-I 2MP Bullet](/products/hikvision-ds-2cd1023g0e-i-2mp-bullet-network-camera-132 "Hikvision DS-2CD1023G0E-I 2MP Bullet Network Camera")[Dahua HDCVI 2MP Dome](/products/dahua-hdcvi-2mp-dome-camera-14357 "Dahua HDCVI 2MP Dome Camera")[Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 16CH 4K](/products/hikvision-ds-7616ni-q2-16ch-4k-nvr-189 "Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 16CH 4K NVR") [Get my free quote on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/254113301244?text=Hi%20Qyvea%2C%20I%20read%20your%20guide%3A%20CCTV%20Camera%20Shows%20No%20Picture%20/%20Black%20Screen.%20I%20want%20CCTV%20sorted.%20Can%20you%20help%3F)Reply usually within 30 minutes. Free site survey in Nairobi and nearby counties. Real products, live prices, in stock now ## Key takeaways - One camera black: usually its power, cable or the camera. - All cameras black: usually the recorder, the monitor/HDMI, or power to the whole system. - Black only at night: IR failure or a light problem, not a dead camera. - Black on the monitor but fine on the phone: display or HDMI issue. ## Narrow it down | What you see | Most likely area | | --- | --- | | One camera shows 'No video' / black | That camera's power, cable or connector | | All cameras black on the monitor, fine on the phone | Monitor, HDMI/VGA cable or display settings | | All cameras black everywhere | Recorder or its power, or shared camera power supply | | Black only at night | IR LEDs, IR cut filter or scene lighting | | Picture rolls, lines or noise (HD/coax) | Poor coax connectors (BNC) or interference | ## Safe checks you can do 1. **Compare monitor and phone**: Does the camera show in the app? 2. **Check the recorder's power and lights**: Is it on? Any alarm beeping? 3. **Check the camera's power supply**: HD cameras often share one power box; is it on? 4. **Restart the recorder**: Power it down properly, then back on 5. **Note when it started**: After a storm, power cut or building work? **Warning**: Don't open camera power supplies or work on mains wiring. Storm and surge damage often affects several components at once and needs proper testing. ## When to call a professional If checks don't restore the picture, cables, connectors and power supplies need testing with instruments. Qyvea's [CCTV repair](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-repair-kenya) service covers cameras, recorders and cabling, including systems another company installed. ## Frequently asked questions Why does my CCTV say 'No video'? The recorder isn't receiving a signal on that channel: usually the camera has no power, or the cable or connector is faulty. Why are all my cameras black after a power cut? Power surges can damage camera power supplies or the recorder. Check the shared power supply and the recorder first. Why is my camera black only at night? The infrared LEDs or the IR cut filter may have failed, or there's no light for a colour camera. ## Why customers choose Qyvea **Genuine brands**: Manufacturer warranty on what we sell, so you are not gambling on the box. **One team, start to finish**: The people who advise you also install and support it. **Fast answers**: WhatsApp replies usually within 30 minutes, and delivery within 24 hours in Nairobi. **Easy to buy**: Pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or card. Free delivery in Nairobi on orders over KES 5,000. **Risk taken off you**: 7-day returns and exchanges on products, and a workmanship warranty on installations. **Customers say so**: Rated 4.6/5 from 57 Google reviews. **Your next step takes one minute:** send us a photo of the place on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it needs. ## Related articles [CCTV · Troubleshooting NVR Not Detecting an IP Camera A new or existing IP camera won't show up on the NVR. Power, cable, IP address, password and compatibility checks, in order. 3 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/nvr-not-detecting-camera-kenya)[CCTV · Troubleshooting CCTV Camera Offline Why a camera drops off the recorder or app, and the safe checks to do before calling a technician. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-camera-offline-kenya)[CCTV · Troubleshooting CCTV Night Vision Problems Dark, washed-out or foggy night images: what causes them and how they're fixed. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-night-vision-problems-kenya) ### Related services [CCTV Repair](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-repair-kenya)[CCTV Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv) ### Related products [CCTV cameras in the shop](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-cameras-kenya) ### Related projects [Real Qyvea case studies](https://qyvea.co.ke/projects#case-studies) [← Previous**CCTV Camera Positioning: Heights, Angles & Blind Spots**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-camera-positioning-blind-spots-kenya)[Next →**: CCTV Camera Types: Dome vs Bullet vs Turret vs PTZ**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-camera-types-explained-kenya) ## Still experiencing the problem? Qyvea can inspect and diagnose the system on site. Chat with us — 30 min response --- **Qyvea Limited** · Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya (delivery only, no walk-in pickup) · serving all 47 counties Phone/WhatsApp: [+254 113 301 244](https://wa.me/254113301244) · Email: info@qyvea.co.ke · Shop: [qyvea.co.ke/products](https://qyvea.co.ke/products) · Facts: [qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts](https://qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts)