# My tv won't turn on with the remote control **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933 "2025-10-13T15:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/1 "2025-10-13T15:42:45Z")
I was gifted a big Toshiba tv about 3 years ago, it is hooked up to basic cable. The cable box lights up, the internet on my laptop is working, but the tv won’t turn on with the remote control. I have tried everything. It is all plugged in, I put new batteries in, I turned it all off and then on. I don’t know what to do. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/2 "2025-10-13T16:02:22Z")
Most/all have mechanical power button to get it booted up without a remote. See if that works, maybe the tv is shot. Then, see if other controls in the clicker work. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/3 "2025-10-13T16:13:44Z")
Fair warning: buying a generic clicker from Worst Buy or Amessazon may not solve your issue. I got one several years ago, it even had my TV’s model code in its manual, put in the code-and it still didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/4 "2025-10-13T16:18:59Z")
Are you using the cable company remote to operate everything? They do need to be programmed for each TV brand. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/5 "2025-10-13T16:28:00Z")
Did the TV _ever_ turn on using the remote or is this a new problem? Is there _anything_ blocking the front of the TV (where the sensor is that picks up the signal from the remote)? And I recommend spending ten bucks or so at Amazon for a generic, third-party remote. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/6 "2025-10-13T16:29:56Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > but the tv won’t turn on with the remote control Do you mean it turns on fine with _something other than the remote control_ (i.e., it works with another remote, or a power button on the TV itself, or if you turn on your cable box)? Or do you mean it won’t turn on AT ALL (and the remote control is the only way you have of turning it on)? Check the TV for any sort of on-device power button or controls. Sometimes it’s along the bottom or right edge, sometimes it’s behind the TV as a little joystick, sometimes they don’t have one at all… What model is your TV? It’s usually in the manual. Does it have any sort of power indicator light, and does that change at all when you push the remote on switch? If it does have such a light, and the TV appears to be on but you don’t see anything, try shining your phone’s flashlight against the screen and see if you can see an image “inside” the TV screen. Sometimes the backlight can break. But if it’s not a broken remote, you probably have to get the thing serviced — not always an easy thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/7 "2025-10-13T16:52:45Z")
If you have a smartphone, you could try this: most smartphones today have an IR interface and an onboard app to function as a universal remote. Look under a folder like “Tools” for an app like “Remote” on your phone, launch the app and follow the instructions to set up a connection with your TV. If the connection is set up and the TV still doesn’t turn on, you’ll know that not the remote, but the TV is broken. If it works, you can use the smartphone as a remote for some time and go shopping for an universal remote. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/8 "2025-10-13T16:59:46Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > most smartphones today have an IR interface I don’t think this has been true for a very long time now (decades), at least in the US. You’d have to go out of your way to find a phone with a built-in IR transmitter these days, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/9 "2025-10-13T17:01:59Z")
Really? Am I so out of touch with modern gear? Granted, my Xiaomi phone is almost four years old, but it still has IR and I can control my TV with it, as I have done when my last remote failed. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/10 "2025-10-13T18:11:51Z")
No, I think it may be a cultural / regional difference. East Asian and Indian phones typically have different features than US ones (not just IR but things like FM antenna and tuners, maybe SD card slots and such). But in the US, as far as I know, it would be quite rare to find a mainline phone with IR. (And Xiaomi isn’t a big player here) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/11 "2025-10-13T18:55:57Z")
It was gifted to me a couple years ago by my cousin. No instruction manual. They brought it over, humped it up to the 3rd floor, set it up, connected it to basic cable (Spectrum). I have one remote control. The cable box lights up, the TV remains black as the pit of hell. nothing. no lights. ….. I left Sunday morning, turned the tv off. Came back later, pushed the button - nothing. I called Spectrum, he said he thought my TV was dead and couldnt help….in a couple of days someone from some tech place is going to come and take a look, he said he worked for Toshiba at one time…..I know this must happen elsewhere. But I don’t know who to call or what to do. I am a senior citizen and I NEED my goddam TV because I have nothing else. I can’t just sit here all winter in a dead quiet apartment, I want - no, I NEED my tv. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/12 "2025-10-13T19:03:23Z")
ME NO HAVE TV PICTURE ON. BLACK BLACK BLACK, NO GO. the cable box lights up. If there’s a power button on this piece of shit tv, I haven’t found it yet. I’ve looked, they say “The power button is either on the top, the bottom, either side, or on the back.” If it is, where the F is it? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/13 "2025-10-13T19:11:46Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/14 "2025-10-13T19:15:08Z")
You can make sure the remote is working by using the camera on your phone to see if the IR bulb turns on. Point the remote at your phone’s camera, press the buttons, and see if you can see flashes of light. The camera can pick up the IR light. If you don’t see flashes, it could be the remote is busted. Typically, there will be a button on the back, sides, or bottom of the TV to turn it on. If you tell us the model number, we can look up where the button is. The model number should be listed somewhere on the back of the TV. But you should be able to look and feel around the case of the TV to see where the button is. There’s always the possibility that the power supply or some component in the TV is busted, in which case the TV is really dead. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/15 "2025-10-13T19:17:54Z")
In addition to what @filmore says it might be just as easy to use your phone to take a couple of pictures of any labels on the sides bottom or back of the TV to help us determine the exact mode. Of course that’s dependent on you being able to share said images which may or may not be the case. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/16 "2025-10-13T19:26:19Z")
This probably won’t work, but you might try unplugging the TV for 5 minutes and plugging it back in. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/17 "2025-10-13T19:30:20Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > ME NO HAVE TV PICTURE ON. BLACK BLACK BLACK, NO GO. Gotcha. If you have the patience, try to get us the model number and we can try to figure it out with you… maybe. If you can afford it, I’d just go to Target/Best Buy/Costco and get yourself a new TV… they can be had for $100-$200 these days, if that’s within your budget. Probably cheaper than a repair, unless this tech guy coming to visit isn’t charging you. Also worth checking on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for used TVs, though ask a tech-savvy friend or family member for help with this if you’ve never done it before (to make sure you don’t get scammed). Thrift stores and Goodwills will sometimes have them too. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/18 "2025-10-13T21:33:58Z")
In addition to the TV model number, it would be good to know what the remote control is. Is it a Toshiba remote, a cable remote, a third-party programmable remote, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/19 "2025-10-13T22:21:21Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > This probably won’t work, but you might try unplugging the TV for 5 minutes and plugging it back in. This reminds me of a problem my TV has. About one time in five or so that I turn the TV on, using the cable remote, it does not connect to the cable box. It also cannot be turned off by using the cable remote, the original remote, or even the actual on/off switch on the TV. The only thing that works is pulling the plug, waiting 10 seconds and starting over. ---
**Author:** ![sb1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@sb1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sb1953)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/20 "2025-10-13T23:26:21Z")
There may be an object blocking the port in the front of the ztv that prevents your signal from your remote reaching the TV. REmove any objects on the shelf the tV rests on [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933.md?page=2)