TCL TV won’t turn on – possible causes and how to fix

Before heading into more technical solutions, make sure your remote is functional. You can do this by simply turning on the TV using the power button on the TV itself. If the TV turns on, your remote is probably broken, or its batteries may be out of charge. 

This, however, is an inexpensive as replacing the TV remote or it’s batteries shouldn’t cost a lot.

Power cycling is like giving your TV a fresh start by turning it off completely and draining all its existing power. It does not harm the TV in any way. It is a helpful trick that can clear any bugs or glitches preventing the TV from turning on. Here’s how you can power cycle your TCL TV:

• First, power on the TV and press the power button.
• After that, remove the power cable directly.
• Hold the power button for 10 seconds.
• Plug in the power cord again.
• Try to turn on the TV with the power button.

This should remove all the electricity from the TV. and hopefully it’ll turn on. However, if this method doesn’t work, you can try the next method.

Another reason why your TCL TV may not turn on is if the cables or connections are broken/loose. To check them out, first, unplug all the cables (including the power cord and HDMI) and thoroughly inspect them for any damage. If you find any cuts or sharp bends on any cable, you’ll have to replace them. This should set you back by a lot as HDMI and other cables are relatively cheap. 

After that, ensure the cables are correctly seated in their respective ports. Any loose connections can also affect your TV’s ability to turn on.

If the cables and connections are good to go, the power outlet is next to inspect. If your power outlet is not functioning, it will not power the TV. To test the power outlet, follow these steps:

• Unplug the TV from the socket.
• Connect a different device (you can connect your phone’s charger).
• If the other device is also not working, you likely need a new power outlet.

On the other hand, if the other device works but your TV does not turn on, you can try the next method.

TVs, in general, are expensive and fragile. That’s why it is recommended that you use a surge protector for them. These devices shield your TV from unexpected voltage spikes and are handy and affordable.

However, if your surge protector fails, it might not deliver power to your TV, which could prevent it from turning on. Try plugging your TV directly into a wall socket to test if the surge protector is the problem. If it turns on, it may be time to get a new surge protector. If not, the issue is elsewhere.

Your TCL TV can take input from multiple sources. However, you must also select the proper source from the settings to make it work. Otherwise, the TV will be stuck with a No Input/No Signal error. Here’s how you can choose the correct source:

• Press the Source button on the TCL TV’s remote.
• If there is no Source button, press the Settings/Menu button and navigate to the Source tab.
• From there, cycle through the different sources until one of them works.

If the issue was with an incorrect source, this will fix it. You can also check the following method if your TV is still not turning on.

Like most electronics, TCL TVs can have their software crash or run into bugs/glitches. While a power cycle is a great way to eliminate most of these errors, some don’t go away unless you reset the TV. This does not damage the TV, but it erases all of your settings, returning it to its default configuration.

• Power on your TCL TV.
• Look for the Reset button at the back. It should be a small hole.
• Insert a paperclip or a toothpick in this hole and hold it for around 20 to 30 seconds.
• Take the pin out and try to turn on the TV.

If there were any bugs that were causing your TV to be unresponsive, the reset should fix them.

If your TCL TV suddenly shuts off after being on for a while, it might have overheated. Gently touch it to see if it feels unusually hot.

In case of overheating, you should turn on a fan to cool it down and clean the vents with a cloth to ensure proper air circulation. It is also recommended to change its location if it’s mounted near a window where direct sunlight can hit it. 

A common issue with unresponsive TVs is a broken backlight. If the backlight fails, the TV might turn on without displaying anything because the backlight is what lights up the screen to show images. You can check if the backlight is working by following these steps:

• Turn on your TCL TV and then turn off all the lights in the room to make it completely dark.
• Use a flashlight, like your phone’s, and shine it on the TV screen.
• If you see a faint image or text, that means that the backlight in broken and need to be replaced.
• If you can’t see any images or logos, then your backlight is most likely fine, and the issue is with something else. 

If none of these methods has worked for you, your TCL TV likely has a hardware problem. It can be the backlight, main board, power supply, or something else. Either way, check whether the TV is still covered under warranty and contact TCL support for assistance.