Samsung TV Won’t Turn On (9 Fixes)


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How often does this happen to you? Your Samsung TV won’t turn on. The red light blinks incessantly. What should you do?

It happens to us all. Sometimes our TVs just stop working. And when they do, it could be because of a problem with the power supply. In other words, the electricity isn’t flowing through the wires properly. Or there could be other issues with the battery or maybe your wall outlet. 

Let’s look at various reasons and fixes if your Samsung TV won’t turn on. 

Samsung TV Not Turning On

1. Change the Input Source to the TV

This may seem like an obvious fix, but sometimes we forget that we can change the input source in the settings menu.

If the Samsung TV shows that it’s “on” but there’s nothing on the screen, the TV could be on the wrong input source. So that’s why the Samsung TV looks to be off and not turning on. 

To change the TV’s input source with the remote control: 

  • Press the Source button on the Samsung remote control.
  • Choose the correct input source.

To change the TV’s input source without the remote control: 

  • Press the physical Menu button that’s on the bottom or side of your TV.
  • Select the correct input source by using the volume buttons to navigate.
  • Choose the input source by pressing the Menu button. 

Some TV models may alternatively have a specific input source button on the bottom, side, or back of the TV. Check for that as well. 

2. Loose Power Cord on the Back of Samsung TV

Check the power cord in the back of the Samsung TV and to the power outlet in case the power cord is loose. 

Make sure to tighten both connections, so they’re not loose. 

What you can also do is to unplug the power cord on the TV and plug it back in tightly. 

Press the Power button on the Samsung TV itself and see if the power comes on. 

3. Try a Different Power Outlet

Another possible issue is the power outlet that the Samsung TV is connected to. There might be a blown fuse or another issue.

Check the power outlet to see if electricity is coming out of the wall socket by plugging your phone charger into it. If your phone is charging, that means there’s power coming out of the wall socket and the Samsung TV has an issue.

If there’s no power coming out of the power outlet, try to plug the TV into a different power outlet to make sure the TV also hasn’t shorted out or had any other issue. 

4. Try a Soft Reset of Samsung TV

A soft reset can help reset any issues with the TV if your Samsung TV won’t turn on.

  • Unplug the Samsung TV from the power outlet.
  • Wait 60 seconds.
  • With the TV unplugged, Press and Hold the Power button for 30 seconds.
  • After 60 seconds, Plug the TV into the power outlet.

See if this fixes the issue and the TV turns on again. This should fix the issue for 3 out of 4 cases. If it doesn’t, try the other solutions below. 

5. Replace the Samsung Remote Control Batteries

It could be that the Samsung TV remote is out of power, so the TV won’t turn on. Changing the batteries and putting in a fresh set will help with the issue. 

A soft reset of the remote will also help. 

  • Take both batteries out of the Samsung remote.
  • While the batteries are out, Press and Hold the Power button on the remote for 30 seconds.
  • After 30 seconds, put fresh batteries into the remote.
  • Try to turn the TV on.

If either of the solutions fix the TV temporarily, but then it continues to happen again, a factory reset might be needed to make it more of a permanent fix.  

6. Factory Reset the Samsung TV

A factory reset of the Samsung TV will reset the TV back to its original, factory settings like when you first purchased and turned on the TV. 

While the Samsung TV is on: 

  • Go to Settings
  • Select General
  • Select Reset
  • Enter in your Security PIN (default is “0000”)
  • The TV will now turn off and on again by itself.
  • Go through the initial setup process.

7. Factory Reset the Samsung TV Without a Remote

If you can’t find your remote, don’t worry. You can still perform a factory reset on your Samsung TV without a remote control. 

Here’s how to do a factory reset without a remote on a Samsung TV: 

  • While the TV is on, go to the Samsung TV’s Menu by Pressing the Menu button
  • Go to Settings
  • Select General
  • Select Reset

If the TV is positioned in a way that you can’t access the buttons or they’re not working, there are other options to access the menu options. 

Keyboard – Plug in a USB keyboard into a USB port on the Samsung TV and use it to navigate the TV settings to perform the reset. 

Samsung SmartThings App – Download the SmartThings app to your phone or tablet. 

Universal Remote – If you have a universal remote that can connect to multiple devices, you can enter the Samsung TV’s code to use it as your TV remote. Check the universal remote’s instructions manual for the correct codes. 

8. Backlight is Broken on the TV

A broken backlight on the Samsung TV is a possibility if you’ve tried the above fixes. 

Here’s how to test if your TV’s backlight is broken: 

  • Turn on your Samsung TV
  • Turn on a flashlight and point it at the TV screen. Bring it as close as you can. 
  • See if you can see an image on the TV screen with the flashlight. 
  • If you see any images on the screen, that means the TV’s backlight is broken and needs to be replaced.  

9. Fried Motherboard in the TV

Much like a computer, a Samsung smart TV has a motherboard to control many of its features and functions. 

If the motherboard has any issues, it would lead to the Samsung TV not turning on. 

Motherboards are inexpensive and can be replaced by yourself. But with something like this, unless you’ve done something similar to this on a computer, it’s best to take it back to the store or call in tech support.  

If you do feel like doing it yourself, you can try to find it online at places like Amazon. 

Here’s a good video on how to replace the main board yourself:

How to Repair a Main Board at No Cost for a Samsung and LG TV - Part 2: A DIY Guide

Samsung TV Won’t Turn On Final Thoughts

These are some of the most common reasons why a TV won’t turn on. Hopefully, I was able to help you get your TV turned on with this guide! 

You can always contact Samsung’s support about issues you’re having. They also have a good number of instruction manuals that you can download for your specific model.

Other articles on Samsung and smart TVs:

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Written by:

Greg Randall
Greg Randall is deeply immersed in Smart Home Technology, with years of experience in home automation, from smart displays to TVs. He enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with like-minded enthusiasts. Beyond smart homes, Greg loves snowboarding and exploring new culinary scenes with friends, bringing a zest for adventure and fine dining to his tech-savvy lifestyle.