HTC Vive Troubleshooting

I pressed the power button, but the device won’t turn on.

If the HTC Vive will not turn on, the power cable for the headset may be disconnected or not fully connected. The power cable is part of the Three-in-One cable, which may be identified by both ends of the cable having HDMI, DCIN, and USB. Check the connections between the Three-in-One cable and the Link Box to make sure that the connections are secure. For steps on how to plug in or replace the headset cables, please see the Strap and Cable Replacement Guide.

If the HTC Vive will not turn on when the power button is pressed and the power cable is connected, the internal power cable for the device may have been disconnected. There are many internal cables which may be disconnected if the headset is dropped or shaken roughly. The internal power cable is located on the midframe of the device. For steps on how to reach the internal power cable, please see the Midframe Replacement Guide.

If the HTC Vive will not turn on when the power button is pressed and the internal power cable is connected, the motherboard in the device may have malfunctioned. The malfunction can be caused by a factory defect or an electrical short. For steps on how to replace the headset’s motherboard, please refer to the Motherboard Replacement Guide.

An image appears on the screens, but a small image section displays in black or strange colorization.

The HTC Vive may not display properly if the Three-in-One is not plugged all the way in. The Three-in-One cable may be identified by both ends of the cable having HDMI, DCIN, and USB. Unplug all three plugs of the Three-in-One cable from the HTC Vive and plug them back in firmly. Unplug and firmly replug the other end of the Three-in-One cable into the Link Box. For steps on how to plug in or replace the headset cables, please see the Strap and Cable Replacement Guide.

If the display is working properly but has dark spots, dust may be blocking the image. Disassembly is not necessary. Moisten the cleaning cloth provided with the device with alcohol or lens cleaner, and wipe the lenses carefully from the center to the outer edges.

If a dot on the device’s screen is a bright color and will not change, the screen may have a stuck pixel. A stuck pixel is different from a dead pixel and can sometimes be fixed. Stuck pixel fix websites, such as JScreenFix, quickly flash bright colors to stimulate the pixel. Also, stuck pixels may simply disappear after some time. However, a stuck pixel can take anywhere from a day to years to disappear on its own, so do not rely on this method.

If the dark spot cannot be fixed by the above solutions, then a pixel may be dead. In a dead pixel, all the sub-pixels are permanently off. To fix this issue, you will need to replace the screen. For steps on how to replace a screen, please see the Screen Replacement Guide.

The device is on, but the screens stay black.

If the HTC Vive is powered on, but the display will not turn on, the HDMI video cable may not be plugged in fully. The HDMI cable is part of the Three-In-One cable located at the top of the device. For steps on how to plug in or replace the headset cables, please see the Strap and Cable Replacement Guide.

If the HTC Vive is powered on and the cables are all properly connected, but the display will not turn on, then the internal connector for the headset’s video may have been disconnected. There are many internal cables which may become disconnected if the headset is dropped or shaken roughly. The video cable is located on the Eyepiece Assembly and plugs into the device’s motherboard. For steps on how to reach the internal video cable, please refer to the Motherboard Replacement Guide.

If the HTC Vive is powered on and all cables are properly connected, the motherboard in the device may have malfunctioned. The malfunction can be caused by a factory defect or as the result of an electrical short. For steps on how to replace the headset’s motherboard, please refer to the Motherboard Replacement Guide.

The display is on, but the video on the screens is blurry.

If the display is blurry, the headset may not be centered on your face. The images produced by the headset will not be focused properly unless your head is positioned in a particular spot. HTC recommends that “the headset’s bottom edge should rest on your cheekbones, while the standard strap should cup the back of your head. You should feel comfortable bending down without the headset slipping off.”

If the display is blurry and the headset is positioned properly, dirt or dust may be blocking the image. Disassembly is not necessary. Moisten the cleaning cloth provided with the device with alcohol or lens cleaner, and wipe the lenses carefully from the center to the outer edges.

If the display does not produce a clear image, a screen may be broken. A broken screen can be caused by dropping the headset or a manufacturer’s defect. To replace a broken screen, please follow the instructions in the Screen Replacement Guide.

The display is on, but the video is choppy or off-color.

If the display’s video is stuttering or discolored, a screen may be broken. A broken screen can be caused by dropping the headset or a manufacturer’s defect. To replace a broken screen, please follow the instructions in the Screen Replacement Guide.

If the display’s video is stuttering or discolored and both screens are intact, the motherboard in the device may have malfunctioned. The malfunction can be caused by a factory defect or an electrical short. For steps on how to replace the headset’s motherboard, please refer to the Motherboard Replacement Guide.