A few weeks after getting my brand new Samsung Smart TV, I got a Premium subscription to Netflix to enjoy the best streaming experience on the big screen.
Last evening, I was not sure what to watch on my Samsung TV, so I thought of browsing some exclusive movie titles on Netflix.
But, to my surprise, the TV wasn’t turning on. I tried switching it off and on again but had no luck in getting it to start working.
My first instinct was to go through discussion threads online to check if other people may have faced a similar issue.
I’ve had to deal with my LG TV not turning on in the past, so the fact that it happened again on my new Samsung TV was annoying.
I spent hours reading several comments on forums and watched a few videos as well.
Here’s how to fix your Samsung TV not turning on, and why it won’t turn on even after the standby light blinks for some time:
If Samsung TV isn’t turning on, perform a soft reset on it. Unplug the TV from the power socket and wait for at least 60 seconds. Press and hold the power button on the TV for 30 seconds. Plug the TV back in and it should turn on.
Soft Reset Your Samsung TV

One of the most common yet effective ways to get your Samsung TV working again is by soft resetting it.
This method allows the TV to close all background processes and running applications before restarting.
This helps the TV get rid of any existing bugs or glitches that won’t let the TV turn on.
Follow these simple steps to soft reset your Samsung TV:
- Unplug your Samsung TV from the power outlet
- Wait for at least 60 seconds to pass
- Meanwhile, press and hold the power button on your TV for 30 seconds
- Finally, plug the TV back in and it should turn on now
Inspect the Samsung TV Remote

Before troubleshooting your Samsung TV further, try checking the remote for any issues.
Problems with the remote can prevent your Samsung TV from turning on.
Follow these instructions to diagnose the TV remote:
- Make sure that the batteries are tightly inserted into the battery compartment of remote
- Check if the + sign of the battery is connected to the + sign of the remote and vice versa
- In case you’re using a universal TV remote, verify if it’s configured properly with Samsung TV.
- You may also need a universal remote code for your Samsung TV for the remote to work perfectly
Remove and Replace Remote Batteries

It’s likely for drained remote batteries to go unnoticed by many people.
If the Samsung TV standby light is on but the TV won’t turn on, I’d suggest removing both batteries and also performing a quick soft reset on your remote.
Here’s how:
- Once the batteries are removed, press and hold the power button of the remote for 30 seconds
- Now put the batteries back in and check if the remote is working
- Try turning the TV on again
If the soft reset didn’t work, try replacing both batteries with new ones.
Ensure that the batteries are inserted correctly. New batteries might get your remote working again and help turn the TV on.
If this fix doesn’t work for some reason, you can always try turning on your TV without remote, using your smartphone.
Switch the Input On the TV

It’s possible your Samsung TV has a black screen because of an incorrect input source – It still works, but you can’t watch anything.
In this case, you’ll need to verify that the TV input source matches the HDMI port number into which your device is plugged.
Whether you’re using a cable box, DVD player, streaming device, or gaming console, you’ll have to choose the correct input for the TV to work properly.
There are two ways in which you can switch the input on your Samsung TV– Through the TV remote or without remote
Switch TV Input Via TV Remote:
- Press the Source button on the TV remote
- Select the desired input you want to switch to
Switch TV Input Without TV Remote:
- Locate the buttons on your Samsung Smart TV (check both sides and the bottom area)
- Press the Menu button to check if the Menu option appears on the screen
- Navigate through the Volume buttons and go to the input source list
- Once on the desired source, press Menu button again to select it
Stuck on Input Source: Here’s Why Your Samsung TV Won’t Turn On
As mentioned in the introduction, there may be a situation in which the standby light of your Samsung TV would turn on for some time but the TV won’t start.
This is because the TV is still stuck on the previous input source.
For example, consider you have a PlayStation plugged into HDMI port 2 of your Samsung TV.
After playing, you turned off both devices directly without switching to the primary input source of your TV (cable box or streaming device).
It’s possible that the next time you turn on the TV, it would try to start in the HDMI port 2 input source again.
Hence, your TV would show a black screen until you switch the input source or unplug that device.
If your Samsung TV standby light blinks for some time and a black screen appears with no sound, here’s how to fix it:
- Unplug the external device connected to your TV from its HDMI port (Gaming console, DVD player, etc.)
- Now turn on the TV to check if it starts working
- If the TV has turned on, plug the device back into a different HDMI port
- Finally, switch to your desired input source by following the above method
Check the Power Cable & Power Outlet

If your Samsung TV doesn’t turn on at all, it may be due to a faulty power cable or power outlet.
Perform the following manual checks on the power cable:
- Check the power cable of your TV for any noticeable physical damage
- Ensure that the power cable is tightly inserted on both ends
- Try ejecting it from the TV and plugging it back in
- If nothing works, you can also try replacing the power cable and check if the TV turns on properly
An alternative fix is to reseat the power cable of your Samsung TV. Follow these steps:
- Unplug the power cable from the back of your TV
- Leave it unplugged and wait for at least 60 seconds
- Plug the power cable back in and try turning on your Samsung TV
A faulty power outlet can also cause your TV to not turn on.
Try using a different electronic device in the power outlet of your TV to confirm if it’s working properly.
Additionally, opt for a different power outlet if available and try turning the TV on again.
Inspect all Cable Connections
Faulty HDMI or other cables may also prevent your Samsung TV from turning on.
Checking and reconnecting all cables on your TV can fix issues due to loose connections or faulty cables.
- Remove all HDMI cables and other connections from the Samsung TV
- Inspect them for physical defects, if any of the cables are broken or damaged
- Try plugging the HDMI cable into an alternative port (if available)
- Replace the HDMI cable if you have a new one
- Reconnect all cables (HDMI, RCA, coaxial cables) and ensure that each cable is firmly inserted in its respective port
Replace Surge Protectors

If the Samsung TV standby light keeps flashing, it’s most likely that the issue is due to a faulty surge protector if you’re using one.
This is because the TV may not be receiving enough voltage required for it to work properly.
An alternative reason may be an issue with the internal components of your TV.
In this case, requesting an authorized repair service is the best option.
Check Your Samsung TV Backlight for Defects
Your Samsung TV might be on but you still won’t be able to see any picture on it if the backlight is defective.
Your screen could be black, or you might find your Samsung TV flickering.
You’ll need to perform a flashlight test on your Samsung TV to check if the backlight is defective:
- Ensure that your Samsung TV is plugged in properly and the power button is turned on
- Now closely point a flashlight at your TV screen
- If you notice dull images appearing on the screen, it indicates that your TV backlight is faulty
Note that if the TV backlight is in working condition, all you would see is your own reflection on the TV screen during the flashlight test.
Once you’ve verified that the backlight of your Samsung TV is defective, you’ll need to go for an LED backlight strip replacement.
I’d suggest hiring an expert for the job to ensure that the new LED strips are perfectly replaced without causing any damage to your TV.
The main reason is that the LED backlight strip replacement is complicated and involves the risk of causing damage to the glass panel of your Samsung TV.
Glass panel damage during disassembling bezels can cost you very high repair charges.
Hence, in my opinion, it’s better to spend some extra dollars to ensure safe replacement and ideal repair service.
However, if you still decide to replace the LED backlight strip yourself, here’s a step-by-step guide for the replacement:
- Ensure that the TV is unplugged
- Make sure that all cables are disconnected from the TV including ethernet and HDMI cables
- Unscrew the back cover and remove it
- Disconnect the ribbon cables from the scan drive boards
- Now unscrew the bottom of the TV that holds the bezel in place
- Disconnect and remove the speakers to ensure that they do not fall when the TV is flipped
- Flip the TV over and remove the bezel carefully
- Release the scan drive boards from the tabs
- Carefully flip up the scan drive boards and tape them to the panel
- Using suction cups, remove the TV panel
- Slowly release and remove the four pieces of the panel frame
- Tape all of the layers of diffusion on the corners to keep them together
- Remove the layers of diffusion and the clear plastic clips on top of the reflector sheet
- Remove the reflector sheet
- Now using small pliers, remove the small rivets that hold the strips to the chassis
- Remove the LED strips from the chassis
- It is recommended to use double-sided tape on the back of the strips when you are replacing them, instead of tape on the top of them
- Unplug the strips from the power supply cable so they can also be disconnected from each other. Push down on the tabs to release them
- The new strips mostly come with adhesive on the back of them to secure them to the chassis
- If the adhesive is not present, you can use double-sided tape and attach it to each strip
- Align the replacement strips properly and connect them with each other and to the power cable as well
- Finally, reinstall and fix all the parts of the TV carefully and plug in all the cable connections
- Your Samsung TV should work perfectly now
Connect With Samsung Support
If none of the above solutions have helped get your TV back on, you may want to get in touch with the Samsung Support Team regarding your issue.
The Samsung experts would diagnose your problem based on the description and try to provide you with the best possible assistance.
When my Samsung TV was not connecting to Wi-Fi, they narrowed it down to a few possible reasons and helped me fix it by walking me step-by-step through their troubleshooting guidelines.
Additionally, in case of hardware issues, you can request a repair service from authorized Samsung technicians with a 90-day repair warranty.
Start Watching, Right Away
The Samsung TV not turning on can be due to issues with power, incorrect input source, minor bugs, or faulty cable connections.
It’s important to check the red standby light status to determine the ideal solution that’s most likely to fix your issue.
If you notice the standby light to be off and the TV won’t turn on, try soft resetting the TV.
Check if the power cable and other connections are firmly inserted and the power outlet is working properly.
Also, have a look at the cables for any physical defects that may prevent your TV from turning on.
Using a different power outlet or replacing the power cable can also help get your TV back on.
If the standby light is on but the TV won’t turn on, the issue may be related to your TV remote.
Try replacing the batteries of your remote and performing a soft reset on it.
It’s possible that the TV would show a black screen with a standby light on if you’re on the wrong input source.
Try switching the input source via remote.
If you’re using a gaming console or other external device, your TV might get stuck on the previously used input source and lead to a black screen with no sound issue.
Try unplugging that device and checking if the TV starts working again.
You can choose to unplug the external device (gaming console, streaming device, or DVD player) and check if the TV turns on.
If the problem is fixed, plug the device back into another port.
If the standby light on your Samsung TV keeps flashing, then it may be because of power issues or a faulty surge protector.
Try replacing the surge protector if you’re using one and if not, any internal component of your TV might be damaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to soft reset my Samsung TV if it won’t turn on?
A soft reset will clear all background processes and close running applications before restarting your Samsung TV.
This is an effective method to solve issues such as frozen apps, app crashing, TV won’t turn on, etc.
Here’s how to soft reset your Samsung TV:
- Unplug your TV from the power outlet
- Wait for at least 60 seconds
- Meanwhile, press and hold the power button on your TV for 30 seconds
- Finally, plug the TV back in and it should turn on now
What causes Samsung TV to not turn on?
Your Samsung TV won’t turn on due to several issues such as technical glitches, faulty cables, a faulty power outlet, incorrect input, TV remote issues, or even due to a defective backlight.
There are mainly three situations linked with the standby light when your Samsung TV won’t turn on:
- Standby light is turned on
- Standby light is turned off
- Standby light is flashing
Solutions to fix the issue may vary based on the state of the standby light on your Samsung TV.
Why is my Samsung TV not turning on and red light keeps blinking?
Power interruptions are the major cause of the red standby light on your Samsung TV that keeps blinking.
Check if the TV is receiving enough voltage to work properly.
If you’re using a surge protector, verify if it’s working properly as a faulty surge protector also leads to red light blinking.
If you don’t use a surge protector, it’s most likely that the issue is related to an internal component on your Samsung TV.
In that case, request a repair service from the official Samsung Customer Support page.
What causes the Samsung TV Black Screen of Death?
The black screen of death refers to a condition in which the Samsung TV shows a black and unresponsive screen even though the TV lights are on.
There may be several reasons for this including hardware issues, faulty cables, software problems, or issues with HDMI connections.
Is there any way to reset Samsung TV without a remote?
Follow these simple steps to reset your Samsung TV using the outer TV buttons if the remote is misplaced or not working:
Start with unplugging your Samsung TV from the power outlet.
Now search for the TV buttons at both the sides, back, or bottom of your TV. Now find the Power and Volume Down button.
Press and hold both buttons simultaneously. Now ask someone else to plug the Samsung TV back into the power outlet.
You should see a reset screen appear on your TV.
Using the volume buttons, follow the on-screen instructions to factory reset your TV.