If your TV refuses to turn on and instead makes annoying clicking sounds or does nothing at all, it could’ve run into some serious hardware issues. But before you ditch the box or take it for professional repair, you could apply some quick fixes yourself. So, why won’t your TV turn on, and how can you solve the problem?
Your TV won’t turn on due to hardware problems like a bad motherboard, power distribution board, backlight, or faulty remote. Also, your power connections and input cables may be loose. To fix it, ensure proper connections, reset the remote, factory reset the TV, or have it repaired.
Applying some of these workarounds will likely save some good bucks. But even if you can’t get the TV working by yourself, a qualified technician could quickly diagnose the problem and get your TV up and running. Let’s get started so you figure out everything in detail.
Why Won’t Your TV Turn On?
If your TV doesn’t turn on and the power LED doesn’t show any response, the problem could be anything from a faulty remote or bad power cable to a damaged motherboard. Here’s more detail into why your TV may not turn on:
Damaged Backlight and Screen
If your TV uses an LCD screen, it also has a backlight system to illuminate the pictures on the screen and make them visible. But if the backlight is faulty, you won’t see anything on the screen, making it appear like your TV won’t turn on.
Moreover, any problem in the T-Con (timing controller) board can make your screen black; the panel won’t turn on. That’s because the T-Con processes oncoming video signals and controls how images get displayed on the screen.
Technicians usually report that the most common reasons for damaged screens are power surges and mechanical impact when the TV falls.
Usually, physical damage to your TV screen can occur during factory packaging or shipping. However, other hardware problems that directly affect the screen can also occur. For example, if a component on the power distribution board is fried, your screen will likely go black.
An easy way to determine if your backlight and screen are still working is to power on your TV and shine a flashlight on the screen. Then, examine the screen closely and see if you can see any image on the screen, however faint it may turn out.
If you see a faint picture, your backlight is spoiled and needs replacement.
Loose or Faulty Power Cord
The main power cord could’ve been disconnected from the back of your TV. This may happen if someone displaced the TV from its position, especially if you have it on a cabinet rather than mounted on a wall.
If you find the cord is loose or detached, you have to reconnect it and secure it snugly. Next, ensure the TV is correctly connected to the power source.
Remote Control Problems
If your TV doesn’t turn on when you press the remote, it could be that the remote itself is faulty or its batteries are dead. We don’t usually replace our TV remote batteries often, so be sure to check if they’re still working. If not, you’ll need to replace them.
And if you do need new batteries, we recommend spending a little extra up front to solve this problem permanently with a reasonably priced rechargeable battery kit like this one from Energizer (on Amazon).
Damaged Motherboard
A power surge can damage the components on your TV’s motherboard, for example, after a storm. It often turns out that one or more capacitors are fried.
Unfortunately, the only sure way to know if the motherboard is damaged is by unscrewing and taking off the back panel of your TV. You’ll find that the power board is on the right while the motherboard is to the left, but the two are connected.
So if you detach the connector joining the motherboard to the power board, then plug your TV and turn it on, the power LED can still light up. If that’s the case, it means your power board is working well, and the problem lies with the motherboard. Fortunately, you can still find a motherboard replacement.
If you’re unsure what you’re doing, please don’t open the back of your TV. Leave this for a qualified technician. Also, don’t touch any component with the TV plugged in. A good rule of thumb is to switch off the power supply before opening the back of your TV.
Damaged Circuit Breaker, Surge Protector, or Power Extension
You might want to check if your circuit breaker or surge protector is still working if the TV won’t turn on. Sometimes it’s the power cable giving you a problem or the wall outlet you’re using.
Securing the surge protector more firmly and ensuring the power extension could be of much help. You can connect the power cord directly to your wall outlet to see if the TV turns on.
What To Do If Your TV Won’t Turn On?
There are many troubleshooting techniques for a TV that won’t turn on. Here are some of them:
Check Your Connections
If your TV is connected to a power source but won’t turn on, check the power cable for apparent signs of damage. And if you have a similar cable lying around, you can hook it to your TV and see if it works.
You should also examine the connector pins on your TV to see if they’re spoiled. If that’s the case, they won’t feed power into your TV’s distribution board. You’ll, therefore, need the services of a professional electronics technician.
External devices such as gaming consoles and Blu-ray players can also interfere with your power transmission. Simply unplug them and power on your TV afresh to see if it solves the problem.
Reset Your Remote
Since your TV may not turn on if you’re using the remote, it could be that the remote itself has a problem. Luckily, we can do a soft reset to get it working correctly. Here’s how to do it:
- Take off the plastic cover of the battery holder at the back of your remote.
- Long press the power button for 5 seconds.
- Replace the batteries and return the cover of the battery holder.
- Now, test the remote control with your TV to see if it powers on.
Factory Reset the TV
You must leave your TV plugged in as you perform this step, even if you won’t see a thing on the screen. Moreover, you won’t be using your remote control, but you need to locate the reset button on your TV.
To locate the reset button on your TV, check the sides, back, or bottom of your device. It’s usually a tiny push button that protrudes nonetheless. In some TV models, it’s located inside a small hole, and you’ll have to push it with a paper clip or a similar object.
Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds. Your TV settings will be restored to default, and then it will reboot within a minute. In some TV brands and models, you must long-press the power button for 10 to 15 seconds to do a factory reset.
If you’re unsure where to find it, check your TV user manual or your manufacturer’s website for technical specs.
Note: The factory reset will restore your TV to its default settings. Unfortunately, you’ll lose all configurations, WiFi passwords, etc.
Select the Correct Input Source
At times the TV doesn’t turn on because the signal or video source is connected the wrong way. Double-check whether you’re using a streaming device, an AVR, a DVD player, Blu-ray, cable box, or whatnot to ensure the input matches the HDMI port you should be using.
Check if the TV Has Entered Sleep Mode
At times the TV has just entered sleep mode, and you could’ve been mistaken that it doesn’t want to turn on. Someone likely activated the Sleep mode or Power Saver mode without your knowledge.
But you could have also initiated it by accident or through some other parental control setting. To disable Sleep mode, go through the following steps:
- Press the Menu button on your remote to open the system menu. The screen could light up, surprisingly.
- Navigate to the tab labeled Sleep, Sleep Timer, or Power Saver.
- Toggle off the sleep timer setting.
Check the Infrared (IR) Transmitter On Your Remote
Apart from drained remote batteries, it’s also possible that a component on the remote is damaged. This usually goes for the infrared (IR) transmitter at the tip of the remote.
It shines a beam of invisible light (infrared) that carries command signals to the TV. But the IR remote can only operate within the line of sight of the TV, so remove any obstructions between the remote and the TV receiver.
A quick way to troubleshoot if the IR transmitter is all good is by pressing and holding any button on your remote and looking at the transmitter through your phone’s camera since you can’t see infrared light with bare eyes.
If you see the light through your camera, it means the remote is working all good. But if you find out the remote is faulty, it’s a good time to order a replacement.
It could also turn out that the IR receiver on your TV is faulty and will need replacement. To be sure, try powering on the TV by pressing its power button.
Inspect the External Devices
If you’ve connected your TV to other external devices, check that all individual connections from these devices are okay. Also, confirm if all the devices are receiving power.
If they do, then there’s a high probability the problem is with the power transmission to your TV or the internal components having a glitch.
Take Your TV For Repair
Your TV may have run into a severe hardware problem, like burnt-out capacitors, a damaged power board, or a blown-out fuse.
In this case, your best bet is to take your TV to a professional electronics technician for servicing. They will quickly diagnose the problem, remove the faulty hardware components and install new replacements. While this could turn out costly, you’ll undoubtedly have your TV up and running like before.
Repair Your TV Yourself
Alternatively, if you have some electronics knowledge up your sleeve, you can repair the TV yourself, especially if it needs a few component replacements.
Do not attempt to figure out the problem or repair your TV unless you’re very sure of what you’re doing. But if you’re confident with your skills, grab a screwdriver, soldering gun, some solder wire, desoldering flux, and a cleaning agent for circuit boards.
Open the plastic panel behind your TV with the screwdriver. The TV should be unplugged from the power source.
Faulty Capacitor
In general, capacitors on the power board are usually the main culprits behind your TV failing to turn on. Here’s how to identify a faulty capacitor:
- Check for leaking electrolytic fluid
- Look out for bulging at the capacitor vent.
- Check for blackened metal leads.
You can also identify a burnt fuse from its cracked side or charred metal lead. Once you’ve identified the faulty components, desolder their leads using the soldering gun and suck up the waste solder using the flux wire.
Replace the components with exact ones by matching the component ID numbers and electrical values. Next, screw the plastic cover back, plug in your TV, and power it on to see if it works.
Contact Your TV Manufacturer
If the steps we’ve discussed don’t resolve the issue, contact your TV manufacturer’s Customer Support for more professional assistance. For example, they could have a technician guide you through repairs, pick up the TV for servicing, or replace it under the warranty terms.
Even if you bought your TV through a retail store, you could reach out to them for after-sales repair services.