Why won’t my Samsung TV turn on? A question that has perplexed many users when they spend hundreds of dollars on a TV, and yet they still face this problem!
Generally speaking, the issue is usually down to simple reasons like loose wired connections or faulty remote controllers.
You’ll be happy to learn that it's relatively easy to fix a Samsung TV that won’t turn on. In this article, we will be showing you different ways to resolve this particular issue.
Why Won't My Samsung TV Turn On?
There are many possible reasons why your Samsung TV is refusing to turn on. These issues vary from power-related glitches to faulty hardware. Sometimes, due to software glitches, the TV tends to freeze and/or perform poorly.
Reasons Why My Samsung TV Won't Turn On
When a Samsung TV is unable to turn on, it is usually due to either one of these two main factors: faults in the hardware and the software.
The list below includes some of the most common errors and what causes them.
Connected to external devices: This is something many users fail to realize especially if they are not aware of it. Oftentimes you may switch off an external device, such as gaming consoles, set-top boxes, smart TV sticks, and more, without changing the input source on the TV. When this happens, the TV will turn on without displaying anything.
Power failure due to an electrical fault: Despite taking precautions to prevent power surges, there will come a time when at least one of the connected devices might fail. This may result in irreparable damage being done to the TV’s power supply.
Faulty remote: This is normally due to dead batteries or the remote being broken. Whatever the case may be, you can use a universal remote or an app as a replacement.
Diagnosing the Problem
In the section below, we have listed the most common causes of the issue at hand and how to diagnose them.
Faulty remote: Check if the batteries on the remote are dead by swapping them out for new ones. If this does not seem to affect the remote, try switching the TV on by pressing the power button on the TV. This way, you can bypass the remote and confirm if it is faulty.
Status indicator light: The red status indicator light turns on when the TV is switched off and vice versa. If the same red light is blinking/flashing, it could mean that there’s an issue with the power supply that is connected to your TV. This may indicate that the voltage produced by the surge protector is too low, or perhaps there is a defect in the outlet, cable, or power supply circuit of your TV.
Connected devices/accessories: As mentioned previously, the issue might be caused by an external device that is connected to your TV. Try unplugging these non-essential devices from their HDMI ports – this way, it is easier to identify which device is the culprit.
Firmware error/software glitch: If the hardware shows no signs of defects, it is most likely glitches related to the software. If a software update does not seem to fix the problem, you can perform a factory reset on the TV which will restore it back to its default state.
How to Perform a Reset on Your Samsung TV
There are two types of resets you can perform on a Samsung TV. There’s the quick reset, which we will show you how to do in this guide, and there’s the factory reset which restores the TV back to its default state.
Unfortunately, we cannot perform a factory reset when the TV isn’t switched on as we need to access the factory reset option in the TV’s settings. Therefore, our only option is to perform a quick reset and see if that would solve the issue.
In this section, we will show you how to perform a quick reset on your Samsung TV.
- First, switch the TV off by disconnecting the power cord.
- Next, look for the power button on your TV. It is usually located on the side panels of the TV.
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds or so.
- After that, let go of the power button and wait several minutes.
- Now, plug the power cord back into the wall socket.
- Finally, turn the TV on using either the remote or the power button. Check if the issue has been resolved.
Checking the Remote Control
As mentioned previously, it is possible that the root of the problem lies in the remote control. It is the last thing anyone would expect and nobody suspects it the first time.
To minimize the hassle, always remember to keep a spare set of batteries around.
On top of that, make sure there are no third-party remotes that could potentially be causing interference between the TV and the remote.
If all else fails, you can also perform a quick reset on the remote. This guide will show you how to do that.
- First, check the remote for any physical damages or broken buttons. If there aren’t any defects present, proceed with the next step.
- Remove the batteries from the remote – make sure to take both of them out.
- Then, press down the remote’s power button for exactly 30 seconds.
- Reinstall the batteries in the remote or put in new ones.
- Now, try switching the TV on using the remote and see if it works.
How to Fix Power Supply Issues
Power supply issues can vary from loose wired connections to exposed cords in your home’s electrical wiring. Fortunately, when it comes to issues related to the power supply, it is relatively easy to identify the problem and even solve it.
The section below shows you how to fix power supply issues.
- First, look for the red status indicator light on the TV. The small dot that lights up in red whenever the TV is on standby and switches off when the TV is up and running.
- Check if this standby light is blinking. If it is blinking, you can confirm that there’s an issue with the power supply of your TV.
- Now, try switching the TV on without the remote, using the power button on the TV.
- If that doesn’t work, disconnect the power cord from the wall and check the cable for any external damages.
- If there doesn’t seem to be any external damages, reinsert the cables. However, try plugging it into a different wall socket.
Diagnosing Hardware Failures
Diagnosing hardware issues on your own can be quite difficult, especially if you have no idea what to look for. Fortunately, hardware devices that are more prone to failure can be easily diagnosed and fixed, if the user knows what to look for. In this section, we will be discussing some of the most common hardware issues that users have experienced in the past.
Power supply: The electrical wiring in your home is designed to prevent any harm being done to humans and devices, however, they fail sometimes, especially when it comes to protecting devices that are connected to the wall sockets.
During bad weather conditions, lightning bolts may strike your TV’s antenna or your home’s electrical wiring. Although rare and very unlikely, when these strikes happen, they can heavily damage the power supply unit of your TV and could cost you hundreds of dollars. It’s not always practical to do so, but we recommend disconnecting the TV from the wall outlet whenever there’s lightning.
HDMI glitch: A faulty HDMI port can also lead to hardware issues on your Samsung TV. One thing we recommend when you are troubleshooting is to always disconnect external devices from the TV. You can try plugging them back in one by one to figure out which one of these devices is causing the issue.
Broken surge protectors: Surge protectors add an extra layer of security for your devices. However, even these devices are not insusceptible to defects.
The Verdict
In conclusion, you certainly do not have to take extra measures when figuring out why your Samsung TV won’t turn on. Using this guide, you can now thoroughly analyze what could possibly be causing this issue and how to fix it without calling in a technician.
As long as you can find the root of the problem, you will most likely be able to fix the issue and never be left wondering why your Samsung TV is unable to turn on ever again.