Got a TCL TV? Change these 16 settings ASAP – here’s why

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Your TCL TV will not be optimized for dwelling proper out of the field.
• Just a few fast adjustments can dramatically enhance your expertise.
• You can even cut back pointless information assortment when you watch.

TCL is understood for its price range TVs, however lately, it has delivered some jaw-dropping fashions and constantly rolled out glorious {hardware} that always rivals far dearer units. My problem, nonetheless, is that almost all TCL TVs ship with default settings that don’t provide the finest image, efficiency, or privateness protections at dwelling. Fortunately, the repair is easy.

Your TCL TV has over a dozen completely different settings that offer you fine-tuned management over how your TV processes movement, coloration, brightness, and even how a lot information it collects about you. Altering them is simple and might radically enhance your expertise.

Beneath are the TCL TV settings value altering instantly, why every one issues, and precisely the best way to alter it.

1. Change the image mode: Film or Filmmaker

Most good TVs now embrace a number of image modes, together with TCL fashions, which regularly default to Normal, Vivid, or Sports activities. These modes use overly cool colours, extreme brightness, and synthetic distinction. They’re meant to face out on showroom flooring, however at dwelling, the impact is usually too aggressive. As an alternative, it would be best to use Film or Filmmaker mode, which is tuned for accuracy.

These modes use a hotter coloration temperature, extra real looking distinction, and fewer processing total. Filmmaker mode goes a step additional by mechanically disabling movement smoothing and utilizing stricter requirements for body charge, coloration, and facet ratio so content material is displayed because the director supposed. While you change to both mode, the picture might look yellow or heat at first, however that’s regular.

Your eyes are simply adjusting from the overly blue default.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Image Preset or Image Mode.
4. Select Film or Filmmaker (on 2025 and newer fashions).

Be aware: In case you have an older Roku-powered TCL TV, press the * (asterisk) button on the Roku TV distant, then go to Image settings > Image Mode. You will notice HDR Darkish, HDR Normal, and HDR Vibrant choices. HDR Darkish is designed for dim rooms and affords probably the most correct coloration and shadow element. HDR Normal balances brightness for on a regular basis viewing, whereas HDR Vibrant will increase brightness for well-lit rooms. I choose HDR Darkish since I have a tendency to look at films at evening.

2. Flip off Movement Readability (or movement smoothing)

Ever hear of the dreaded “cleaning soap opera” impact on TVs? Its technical title is movement smoothing, though TCL calls it Movement Readability on TCL Google TVs. No matter you wish to name it, it does the identical factor: It inserts synthetic frames to make movement seem smoother. Genuinely, films and reveals find yourself wanting low-cost and unnatural, particularly throughout fast-paced motion scenes.

Some folks like movement smoothing for dwell sports activities, however for many content material, it’s not superb. I like to recommend turning it off.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Open Superior Image Settings.
4. Select Movement.
5. Flip Movement Readability off.

3. Flip off Dynamic Distinction

Newer TCL Google TVs embrace a Dynamic Distinction function that auto-boosts brightness and distinction based mostly on every scene within the film or TV present you’re watching. I discover, nonetheless, that it typically causes highlights to blow out and shadow element to vanish throughout plenty of content material. I choose to show it off to maintain brightness and distinction constant from scene to scene and to protect tremendous element.

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Flip Dynamic Distinction off.

Be aware: In case you have an older Roku-powered TCL TV, press the * (asterisk) button on the Roku TV distant, then go to Image settings > Customise image > Professional settings > Dynamic distinction to show it off.

4. Flip off Dynamic Coloration

Newer TCL Google TVs have one other dynamic function that mechanically adjusts what you see, however as a substitute of toying with distinction, it performs with coloration. Known as Dynamic Coloration, it exaggerates saturation to make colours actually pop in your show. It appears nice on a showroom flooring, however at dwelling, it could actually make pores and skin tones look orange or unnatural and trigger colours to shift relying on what’s taking part in.

In order for you extra correct, real looking colours quite than dramatic ones, flip it off.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Flip Dynamic Coloration off.

5. Flip off Adaptive Coloration Temperature

Right here is one other newer TCL Google TV function you may disable: Adaptive Coloration Temperature. It auto-adjusts white steadiness based mostly in your room lighting or the content material. Whereas that sounds useful, it causes seen coloration shifts mid-scene. Desire consistency? Flip it off.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Flip Adaptive Coloration Temperature off.

6. Flip off Black Stretch

You aren’t completed shutting issues off simply but. Newer TCL TVs embrace a Black Stretch function that adjusts shadow element by deepening or lifting blacks. If you’re noticing a sample right here, I’m not a fan of most automated tweaks. On this case, it could actually crush element in darkish scenes or make shadows look grey. Turning it off preserves the unique distinction of the content material. I all the time select authentic over synthetic.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Flip Black Stretch off.

7. Flip off Adaptive Brightness

Newer TCL TVs use a light-weight sensor to auto-adjust display screen brightness based mostly in your room. This function known as Adaptive Brightness, and in my expertise, it could actually trigger noticeable brightness fluctuations that appear to be flickering, particularly through the day. Flip it off.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to Show and Sound.
3. Choose Clever Settings.
4. Select Clever Image.
5. Flip Adaptive Brightness off.

Be aware: This setting can also seem underneath Eye Well being.

8. Change the Black Degree (brightness)

Allow us to get into some guide tweaks you are able to do now that you’ve got disabled lots of the automated options in your TCL TV. First up is brightness, which is perhaps labeled Black Degree on some Google TV fashions. This setting controls how darkish the darkest components of the picture seem. Whether it is set too low, shadow element disappears. Whether it is set too excessive, blacks look washed out.

There is no such thing as a excellent suggestion right here. All of it is determined by your choice and your room lighting, so mess around with it.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Settings or Brightness Settings.
4. Alter Black Degree or brightness utilizing darkish scenes.

Be aware: On older Roku-powered TCL TVs, press the * (asterisk) button on the Roku TV distant, then go to Image settings > Show brightness. You will notice Darker, Darkish, Regular, and Vibrant choices based mostly in your room’s ambient mild. Use Darker or Darkish for dim rooms or nighttime viewing, Vibrant for well-lit rooms, and Regular for on a regular basis viewing. I sometimes use Darkish for watching films at evening.

9. Change the distinction

If you happen to disabled Dynamic Distinction however nonetheless wish to management the depth of the brilliant highlights you’re seeing, you may manually alter your TV’s distinction. I discover that, whether it is set too excessive, brilliant areas can lose element and develop into featureless. That stated, I personal a few TCL TVs, and each have been very near appropriate out of the field. Nonetheless, it’s value checking and altering yours if wanted.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Settings.
4. Alter Distinction utilizing brilliant scenes.

Be aware: In case you have an older Roku-powered TCL TV, press the * (asterisk) button on the Roku TV distant, then go to Image settings > Customise image to regulate the distinction manually.

10. Decrease the sharpness

Here’s a setting I’ve not talked about but: Sharpness. Sadly, it doesn’t add actual element. As an alternative, it applies one thing referred to as synthetic edge enhancement, creating halos and visual noise. Decreasing the sharpness offers you a extra pure image and texture.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Discover Sharpness.
4. Decrease it till edges look clear.

Be aware: In case you have an older Roku-powered TCL TV, press the * (asterisk) button on the Roku TV distant, then go to Image settings > Customise image to regulate the sharpness manually.

11. Flip off Noise Discount

So that you thought I used to be completed with the automated stuff? Suppose once more. TCL features a Noise Discount function that tries to easy out noise grain and compression, nevertheless it typically removes element within the course of. Except you’re watching very low-quality content material, flip it off.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Flip Noise Discount.
5. You may additionally a Digital Noise Discount choice, which you may also alter or disable.

Be aware: In case you have an older Roku-powered TCL TV, press the * (asterisk) button on the Roku TV distant, then go to Image settings > Customise image > Professional settings > Noise discount to show it off.

12. Strive Gradation Clear

Gradation Clear is a more recent, automated function chances are you’ll not want, however I truly don’t thoughts it and have discovered it helpful. It reduces coloration banding, also called posterization, leading to smoother, extra refined coloration gradients. Noticeable in scenes with sunsets, smoke, or underwater pictures, I just lately tried it whereas watching La La Land and The Princess Bride and thought it seemed good.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Allow Gradation Clear, if wanted.

13. Strive LED Movement Clear

Not all newer, automated options are dangerous, and a few might even be value attempting, like LED Movement Clear on Google TVs.

It inserts black frames to darken the picture, sharpen movement, and enhance readability. I attempted it whereas watching Midsommar, a horror movie that intentionally makes use of relentless, high-key daylight, and located that it added shadows and helped heighten the uneasy temper. This setting is non-obligatory and fully preference-based, however it may be enjoyable to experiment with on completely different films and reveals.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Image or Image settings.
3. Choose Superior Image Settings.
4. Toggle LED Movement Clear.

14. Flip off ‘Use Information from TV Inputs’ and ACR

OK, I’m completed with image settings, however there are just a few privateness settings I wish to cowl subsequent. For instance, in the event you personal a wise TCL TV, both Roku or Google TV, do you know it could actually observe what you watch via cable packing containers or sport consoles? This function known as “Use Information from TV Inputs,” and I like to recommend turning it off to restrict pointless information assortment about your viewing habits.

TCL TVs additionally use ACR, or automated content material recognition, a data-tracking expertise that identifies what you’re watching throughout streaming apps, cable, and HDMI-connected gadgets to measure viewing habits and serve focused advertisements. Disable this setting, too.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose Privateness.
3. Select Sensible TV Expertise.
4. Flip off Use Information from TV Inputs.
5. Flip off ACR.

15. Flip off personalised advertisements

Right here is one other one for these of you with a wise TCL TV, equivalent to Roku or Google TV. By default, it makes use of your viewing information to personalize advertisements, however you may cut back this with out breaking something. By disabling “Customized advertisements” in settings, you may stop advertisements from being focused or overly tailor-made to you. Some fashions can also have a “Restrict advert monitoring” function. Allow that, in that case.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Privateness.
3. Choose Promoting.
4. Flip off Customized advertisements.
5. Allow Restrict advert monitoring, if accessible.

16. Assessment microphone entry and permissions

Final however not least, in case your TCL TV or distant features a microphone, streaming apps you will have put in might request entry to it. You would possibly already know that, however did you additionally know you may evaluation and prohibit this entry at any time? Right here is how.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Privateness.
3. Choose Voice or Microphone.
4. Alter microphone entry and permissions.