# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/21 "2025-10-13T23:57:30Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > I have one remote control. Did this remote come with the TV, or did it come with the cable box? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/22 "2025-10-14T00:10:05Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > 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. It sounds like you’re not turning the TV off, because it wasn’t on in the first place. A television will have a physical power button located on it somewhere. It may be very awkward to get to, but it will exist. Usually on the side or bottom edge. As someone else suggested, giving the make and model of the TV will help. A manual or online photo will probably show where that button is located. If it’s plugged into power, and you can identify the button and press it, there are only 3 potential explanations. 1. The outlet it is plugged into isn’t providing power (which is easy to check; plug something else into it). 2. The power cord is either not functioning, or not plugged in fully or at all on either end. (A cord that goes bad with no external damage to it is extremely unusual though; it’s possible if it was bent too much a wire could break inside, or it could have had some kind of surge to damage it internally, but this again is incredibly unlikely.) 3. The television does not work. There is some damage to it somewhere. And these days, televisions are replaced, not repaired. That’s the era we live in. But if the television won’t power on **without** the remote (you’ll see _something_ on the screen, even if it’s a message that it has no signal), then there’s no point in trying to turn it on **with** the remote. Because it’s not happening and it’s not the fault of the remote. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/23 "2025-10-14T01:45:54Z")
Thank you all for the answers. I have a guy coming from some kind of tech company who said he worked once for Toshiba, to come and look at it. I would gladly buy a new tv if this one is shot. I know nothing about these things, I am pretty much alone in the world and my friends are no help. The tv is a Toshiba 50ish inch, it was gifted to me, no instructions or manuals or anything. I can’t turn it around to look for a model number without help……I don’t know why this is so difficult, there must be millions of old bats like me waiting out our final days with these big old tvs, they must have helpful family, friends, smart grandchildren and helpful in-laws. I got nothin’. ---
**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 14, 2025, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/24 "2025-10-14T02:52:39Z")
Eh, it’s probably not you. Something probably broke. Hopefully you’ll get some answers from the guy. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/25 "2025-10-14T04:39:28Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > guy coming from some kind of tech company Did you try anything we recommended at all? What were you hoping for? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/26 "2025-10-14T14:33:42Z")
Yes. Yes. I tried all the usual obvious things. Nothing has worked. I was hoping someone would maybe tell me who I can call to fix the tv so it will turn on, with the remote control, as it had been doing for the last couple of years. They don’t have tv repairmen any more. I sit here with a dead 50” tv and no idea what to do. (Someone in the Next Door app suggested calling this tech guy - a glimmer of hope it’s something that can be remedied.) Maybe Best Buy will be next. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/27 "2025-10-14T14:43:04Z")
Did you try wiping your remote and pairing it again with your TV? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/28 "2025-10-14T14:46:07Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > (Someone in the Next Door app suggested calling this tech guy - a glimmer of hope it’s something that can be remedied.) Maybe Best Buy will be next. It’s probably not worth calling a repairman. The money you’d spend would be better spent on a new TV. Since you have cable, you may be able to watch on on your laptop. Many cable providers have streaming capability. For instance, if you have Xfinity, you can use your laptop to watch TV from here: > **[Watch TV Online, Stream Episodes and Movies | Xfinity Stream](https://www.xfinity.com/stream/)** > > Watch TV series and top rated movies live and on demand with Xfinity Stream. Stream your favorite shows and movies anytime, anywhere! There are also many online streaming options for TV watching. For instance: > **[Pluto TV: Watch Free Movies, TV Shows & Live TV Online](https://pluto.tv/us/hub/home)** > > Watch 1000s of free movies and TV shows on demand & 100s of live TV channels for free. PlutoTV is a free, cable-like interface to many streaming channels. It won’t exactly be like cable TV. Most of the channels will be things like news, reruns, old movies, etc. ---
**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 14, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/29 "2025-10-14T14:58:47Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > I was hoping someone would maybe tell me who I can call to fix the tv so it will turn on, with the remote control, as it had been doing for the last couple of years Probably nobody. They don’t really repair TVs anymore, as you said. Maybe whoever this guy is will run through the usual diagnostics just to double check it’s well and truly dead, but I’d be surprised if he opened it up and tried to fix anything. If you’re lucky it might just be a dead remote. Otherwise, hey, it’s an excuse to upgrade to a new model! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/30 "2025-10-14T15:07:19Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > You can make sure the remote is working by using the camera on your phone to see if the IR bulb turns on. Remotes aren’t universally IR these days and don’t need to be pointed at the tv to work. ---
**Author:** ![Carolxi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carolxi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carolxi)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/31 "2025-10-14T15:07:25Z")
It took me 3 years to discover that the on/off button on my TV was along the bottom in the middle. How did I learn this? While visiting a young friend’s place, her baby scooted over to the TV in his rolling chair , reached under and pushed the button! I went home and sure enough, that’s where the buttton is placed! That one button also lets you do things that 4 or more buttons once did. Google the TV and see if you can find anything. Also, while this sounds like an eye-roll answer, but try unplugging the TV and cable connection. Wait about 10 minutes, then reattach the cable and plug. ---
**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 14, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/32 "2025-10-14T15:13:30Z")
> [@Carolxi](#): > > Google the TV and see if you can find anything. Yeah, this whole thread would be a lot less speculatory if the OP could find the model number, but apparently it’s on the back of the TV and inaccessible without help. OP, don’t suppose you could reach your phone back behind the TV and take a picture of the label? Sometimes that works if there’s enough of a gap. Oh, sometimes you can also look up the remote model number and see which TVs it’s compatible with. If you’re lucky, it might just be the 2 or 3 sizes of that particular model, which would let you narrow it down. If you’re not, that same remote might work with dozens of models. Worth a shot though. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/33 "2025-10-15T03:46:13Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > OP, don’t suppose you could reach your phone back behind the TV and take a picture of the label? Sometimes that works if there’s enough of a gap. This is my best and only use for a selfie stick - taking pictures/videos of things out of reach. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/34 "2025-10-15T13:56:01Z")
We have a Sony. When we got it, Xfinity had to instruct me how to make it work with their remote control. It does work, except for one thing. Turning on the power with the Xfinity remote brings up some sort of menu. (I don’t remember what’s on it, only that there doesn’t seem to be a way to choose something so we can watch TV.) So we have to power up the TV and cable box with the Sony control before we can use the Xfinity one for everything else. One of these days I should call Xfinity’s support line to sort it out, but it’s not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/35 "2025-10-15T14:18:16Z")
One nice thing with cutting the cord is no boxes, just the tv. I used to have a cable box, vcr, dvd player, dvr. It was like a Tetris under the tv. Even if I uncut the cord some day I’d get YouTube Tv or something that would be an app. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/36 "2025-10-15T14:33:44Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > It’s probably not worth calling a repairman. The money you’d spend would be better spent on a new TV. This, very much this. Lots of 50 inch tvs for sale starting at $170. A Best Buy Toshiba is $209, free delivery. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/37 "2025-10-16T13:55:12Z")
Well, the tech guy never showed up, and wouldn’t you know it, my PHONE decided to stop working, apparently in solidarity with the tv. So I guess I will just buy a new one. I will have to have this enormous thing carted out of here by Junk King or something. New one brought in and set up. Thanks for the answers I knew this is what I will have to do eventually. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/38 "2025-10-16T14:28:51Z")
You might not have to pay to have the TV hauled away. Check if your city has bulk trash service. Put it at the curb and they’ll come get it. Even though the TV is large, it’s probably not too heavy ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/39 "2025-10-16T14:40:27Z")
If you’re paying to have a new one delivered and set up, they’ll typically haul away the old one for free. ---
**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 16, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933/40 "2025-10-16T15:09:23Z")
It’s a vendor by vendor thing, but yeah, many do. If you get it from Costco they’ll usually deliver and install the new one and haul away the old one, and also provide a few years of free tech support. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tv-wont-turn-on-with-the-remote-control/1023933.md?page=3)