How to Block Glare From an LCD TV

By Erica Kasper

LCD TV glare can be reduced or eliminated with some simple tips.
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An LCD TV is a great choice for watching the shows and movies you love, but the mirror-like screen can often cause glare and reflections that reduce your picture quality. Even if your screen is a matte finish, light can still spread across the surface and negatively impact your viewing experience. Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can block the glare from an LCD TV and go back to enjoying your entertainment as it was meant to be seen.

Move Things Around Until the Glare is Gone

If you have a lot of windows, consider shades or curtains to reduce glare.
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Take a good look at the space where your TV is located. Are there windows directly across from the screen that are reflecting on its surface? How about lamps in different areas of the room that could be causing a glare from where you’re sitting? Consider moving your furniture, lamps or even the TV itself so that there are no light sources reflecting off the screen. You may wish to mount the TV on a pivoting stand so that you can turn or adjust the screen’s position as needed to compensate for lighting. If you have the means to change the setup of your lights, soft or indirect light that’s located beside or behind the TV can help reduce or remove glare from just about any seat in the room. If windows are a problem but you don’t have the option of moving your TV, you may wish to purchase some dark curtains or shades that can keep light out.

Adjust Your LCD TV’s Backlight Control to Enjoy Shows in Total Darkness

Turning down your TV's backlight settings can allow you to watch your shows in the dark without eye strain.
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Watching TV in a completely dark room will eliminate glare, but it can tire your eyes. To reduce eye strain, you can change the backlight control on your LCD TV so that it isn’t as bright or harsh to look at. Almost all LCD TVs have a backlight control built in; to find it, visit the TV’s on-screen user menu or check the manual. Once you have accessed the backlight control (which is probably preset to be at or near the maximum level), turn it down to a moderate level to give your eyes a break and still enjoy the same images and contrast ratios as before.

Try an Anti-Glare TV Protector

A device that reduces glare and protects your screen from impact is a good choice if you have enthusiastic TV watchers on hand.
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If glare and safety are both issues for you, you may wish to invest in a specialized anti-glare TV protector. These protectors mount in front of your LCD TV screen and prevent fingerprints, scratches and other damage to the screen’s glass, and they also help to reduce glare on glossy screens with anti-glare, anti-reflective technology. They are made of acrylic and come in assorted sizes to fit just about any flatscreen TV. The downsides of these protectors are that they can be pricey (up to $100 or more) and that they don’t eliminate glare completely. But if you are concerned about securing your screen and reducing the reflection of light from it, an anti-glare protector may be the best choice.

Invest in a TV with Light Sensor Technology

TVs that adjust themselves to compensate for light are a high-tech option to reduce glare.
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Some LCD TVs today come with technology that measures the light in the room and then adjusts the brightness of the screen to compensate. These sensors are intended, in part, to control power usage, but in a well-lit room, a TV that can adjust its own brightness settings can often mask a lot of the reflection or glare that can affect your viewing enjoyment. Brands like Samsung, Toshiba, Panasonic, LG and Sharp have sensors like these built into their TVs; some of them also offer glare-reducing filters that are applied directly to the screen to reduce or remove all light reflection.

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