Toshiba TV Won’t Turn On: One Thing That Fixed It

A few days ago, my friends and I had planned a horror movie night at my place.

Before they arrived, I tried switching on my Toshiba TV to scroll through some movie options to stream.

I waited for some time staring at the black screen as my TV wasn’t turning on at all. 

We were all looking forward to a scary and thrilling night, and I couldn’t afford it to be ruined just because of a TV error!

Without wasting a second, I quickly started reading through several articles and watched relevant videos to find a solution that actually worked. 

Fortunately, I could fix the problem just before my friends arrived, and we enjoyed the movie together.

Here’s how I got my Toshiba TV back on and running again in no time: 

If your Toshiba TV won’t turn on, perform a soft reset on it. Unplug your TV from the power socket and wait for at least 60 seconds. Press and hold the TV’s power button for 30 seconds. Plug your TV back in, and it should work. 

Soft Reset Your Toshiba TV

Performing a soft reset on your TV can help get your TV back on.

This is because a soft reset removes any excess charge that may prevent your TV from turning on.

It also helps fix any technical bugs or glitches.

Moreover, a soft reset will remove any corrupt cache files due to streaming or using other apps that may cause your TV to not turn on at all.

The solution has worked for most Toshiba TV users. 

The process to perform a soft reset is as follows: 

  • Unplug your Toshiba TV from the power source
  • Ensure that you wait for at least 60 seconds 
  • Press and hold the power button on your TV for 30 seconds (Skip this step if you don’t find one)
  • Plug your TV back in, and it should turn on now

If a soft reset didn’t work for you, move on to the next solution.

Examine Your TV Remote

Certain issues with the remote may be the reason why your TV won’t turn on. Check it for any faults:

  • Ensure that the batteries are tightly inserted into the remote
  • Verify if the + sign of the battery is correctly connected to the + sign of the remote
  • In case you’re using a universal remote, make sure that it’s properly configured with your Toshiba TV.
  • To complete the configuration, you may require a compatible Toshiba universal remote code for your TV.  

Remove or Replace Remote Batteries 

Another common issue with the TV remote can be related to its batteries.

Consider removing them completely and quickly performing a soft reset on your remote as well. 

To do this:

  • Remove both batteries from your remote 
  • Press and hold the power button of the remote for up to 30 seconds while the batteries are removed
  • Once done, try to put the batteries back and turn your TV on

You may also want to try using a new set of batteries just in case the existing ones have drained. 

If your TV remote is the problem, you can always try turning on your TV without a remote.

This can be done with your smartphone or video game console if you have one.

Choose the Correct Input Source

An incorrect input source can make your TV appear not to turn on.

It is best to verify and choose the correct input source before trying to turn your TV on. 

Whether you’re using a cable box, DVD  player, or streaming device, it is essential that the TV input source is the same as the HDMI port used. 

If the port and input source match, your TV might turn on.

Now, if you cannot access the channels or content, you may need to select the input source on the TV.    

There are two methods by which you can select the correct input source:

Enable the input source via TV Remote and change the input source without remote

Enable The Input Source Via TV Remote

  • With the TV turned on, press the Source button on your TV remote
  • Select the desired input mode from the available options

Change Input Source Without Remote

  • Once the TV is on, press the Menu button on the side of the TV (For some TV models, the Menu button may be on the bottom side)
  • Navigate to the source option by using the Volume button on the TV
  • Once on the desired input mode, press the Menu button again to select it 

Inspect the Power Cable 

A faulty power cable can also prevent your TV from turning on. 

To rule out this possibility: 

  • Check the power cable for any physical damage
  •  Ensure that it is tightly plugged into the power outlet 
  • Try taking the power cable out and plugging it back in

If you’ve got a similar power cable available, try replacing it with the existing one to make sure that the power cable is not broken from the inside. 

Once you’re sure the connection is tight and the power cable is correctly inserted, your TV should be back on by now.

Try an Alternate Power Outlet

If the power cable is working properly, there’s a chance that the power outlet is not delivering any power to your TV.

In this case, use a different power outlet if available and try turning the TV on. 

You can also try using any other device in the existing power outlet to confirm that it is in working condition. 

Check the TV Backlight For Defects 

There’s a possibility that your Toshiba TV might be on, but it still shows a black screen.

When viewed normally, it would appear that the TV is not turned on at all. This occurs when the backlight of your TV is defective. 

In some cases, the TV screen might show dull blue color or any other type of dull color instead of a black screen.    

Here’s how to check if your TV backlight is defective: 

  • Ensure that your 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 is most likely that your TV backlight is faulty

This issue is one of the major reasons why the Toshiba TV might have sound, but no video appears on the screen. 

The faulty backlight must be fixed by replacing the LED strips on your TV screen.

If you’re willing to spend extra bucks on this, I’d highly recommend hiring an expert. 

If you found no issues with the backlight, consider the next solution.

Connect With Toshiba Support 

Finally, if none of these solutions have helped till now, it’s probably the best time to get in touch with the Toshiba Support Team.

Seeking assistance from authorized professionals can help you get personalized solutions based on your TV model.

You can also contact them via call or email for a repair service if required after your problem is diagnosed. 

Enjoy Watching

If your Toshiba  TV won’t turn on, it may be due to several reasons, such as a technical glitch, faulty power outlet, broken power cable, or faulty backlight.  

The most effective solution to turn your TV back on is to perform a soft reset on it.

This process closes all the running processes and applications safely and reboots the TV fixing minor bugs or temporary glitches. 

Various unidentified issues with your TV remote can also be the culprit of this problem.

Replacing batteries, performing a soft reset on your remote, or going for a universal TV remote can prove to be helpful in such situations. 

An incorrect input source may also cause issues with your TV.

Verify if the TV input source matches the HDMI port used in the case of a streaming device or cable box. 

The power cable of your TV must be checked for any physical or internal damage, as it may cause issues when you try to turn the TV on.

A broken cable won’t provide any power to your TV, so replacing it might help fix your problem. 

Sometimes, power outlets can have issues that may lead to your TV not turning on.

Use a different device in the power outlet of the TV to make sure that it is working properly.

Alternatively, you can opt for any other power outlet to check if the TV turns on again. 

A faulty backlight might be the reason why your TV shows no video on the screen while audio can be heard.

Black or dull blue screen issues are also caused due to defects in the backlight of the TV.

In this case, all you can do is get the LED strips replaced by authorized Toshiba experts to get the problem fixed. 

I’m sure that at least one of the solutions would have worked, and you’re all set to cover your watch list as your Toshiba TV is back up and running again. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is there a reset button on Toshiba TV?

You can perform a soft reset on your Toshiba TV by plugging it out of the power outlet and waiting for at least 60 seconds.

If you’re able to locate the power button on your TV, press and hold it for 30 seconds to drain out any excess power from the TV.

Once done, plug your TV back in. 

Why is my Toshiba TV not turning on even when plugged in?

There may be several reasons why your Toshiba TV won’t turn on.

It may be due to excess charge or corrupt cache files, broken power cables, a faulty power outlet, a defective backlight, TV remote issues, etc. 

How to fix a black screen issue on my Toshiba TV? 

Power cycling your Toshiba TV can help fix the black screen issue.

If it doesn’t work, inspect your TV backlight for any defects by getting it close to the TV.

If there is an extremely faint picture appearing on the screen, it means that it is a backlight issue.

In this case, you may need to get the LED strips replaced. 

How to use a universal remote on my Toshiba TV? 

You need to program your Toshiba TV and provide a compatible universal remote code to use it on your TV. 

Here’s a quick guide on how to configure a universal remote to your TV:

  • Switch on the TV and hold your universal TV remote in front of the TV screen
  • Find the TV option on the remote and press the Setup button 
  • Find the universal remote code that works for your TV
  • Once a tiny light blinks four times, enter the correct code. 
  • Try using the universal remote. It should start working now.

Is there any way to check if my TV’s power outlet is working?

You can try plugging in any other device on the power outlet and verify if it’s working properly.

Additionally, you can use any other power outlet if your TV isn’t turning on. 

About the author

Maria Chan, or MC, as we call her, is the genius girl-boss who gave up on her cushy silicon-valley job to grind it out with us. Her undying pursuit of wanting Zeebox to the best makes it very clear that she has no interest in running a generic tech-site.