TCL TV Not Turning On Light Blinking? (Quick Fix Guide)

TCL TV not turning on light blinking, and you’re wondering why? Stay with us in this guide!

If your TCL TV suddenly stops turning on and the only indication of functionality is the white blinking light, the device is probably stuck in Standby Mode.

This is a common software glitch, which in most cases, can be easily fixed. However, we’ve prepared a complete solution guide.

Here is a quick list of everything you should try:

That’s it. Let’s walk you through all these solutions…

TCL TV Not Turning On Light Blinking – 8 Instant Solutions!

Note: If there was a recent power outage, wait 15 minutes after renewal and then test the TV.

1. Power Cycle the TCL TV

If your TCL TV is not turning on, but the LED light indication is blinking, this primarily suggests that the TV is stuck in Standby Mode.

To resolve the glitch, we recommend power cycling your TCL TV by unplugging the device from the electrical outlet for at least 60 seconds continuously.

This will discharge the residual power, refresh the operating system, and provide you with a cold boot, resolving startup errors on a software level.

Tip: While the TCL TV is unplugged, hold the built-in (panel) Power button for 30 seconds!

2. Use the TV Power Button

If your TV is connected to power and the light is blinking but not powering on, perhaps you must bypass the remote and try the built-in Power button. 

So, locate and press the Power button on the panel of the TCL TV once and check whether the television will turn on. If yes, then it’s a remote issue.

Quick Note: If you can’t turn on your TCL TV via the built-in Power button, jump to solution #4.

3. Soft-Reset Your Remote

If your TCL TV is turning on with the built-in power button, but not with the remote, then it’s clear that the remote is causing the problem. 

There is a quick way to soft reset the remote control and hopefully, the problem will disappear in a matter of seconds, so it’s worth trying.

Here’s how to soft-reset your TCL TV remote control:

1. Open the battery compartment of the remote.
2. Eject the batteries and keep the remote open.
3. Press ALL buttons on the remote control twice.
4. Hold the Power button for about ~45 seconds.
5. Then, insert the batteries into the compartment.
6. Close the remote and try to turn the TCL TV on.

Battery Replacement:

Well, if the batteries are dead, the only solution might be replacing the 2 x AAA batteries with a fresh pair.

It’s also important to verify that the polarity springs are not missing, bent, or defective. 

4. Disconnect HDMI Inputs

If your TCL TV not turning on white light blinking, perhaps you’re viewing the video output from a connected device.

To justify whether that’s the problem, just press the Sources or Options button on the remote control to see whether a menu prompt will appear on your TCL TV screen.

If you see a menu or options, well the TV is working!

If not, try to disconnect ALL devices connected to your TV including HDMI, AUX, and RCA.

This includes gaming consoles, computers or laptops, speakers, soundbars, and other connections.

Note: Leave only the power adapter connected to your TCL TV and try turning it on!

5. Remove Outlet Extenders

If your TCL TV is not turning on and the white light is blinking, remove any outlet extenders and connect the television directly to the outlet. 

Such third-party outlet devices include:

• Power extenders
• Smart plugs
• Power dividers

If your TCL TV turns on only when being connected directly to the outlet, this clearly shows that the problem comes from your power equipment.

So, one of them is causing power insufficiency.

Quick Warning: We recommend avoiding using outlet connectors that have proven to be faulty!

6. Plug TV to a Tested Outlet

When the continuous blinking light and the inability of your TCL TV to power on could be due to the wall outlet itself.

That’s why the next best step would be to relocate your TCL TV just to test via a proven power outlet and see whether this would work.

If your TCL TV powers on without a problem, well reason was the previous outlet.

The only thing to do here is to test the old outlet via a low-voltage device to justify whether the socket works.

Note: Have you checked whether the TCL TV power adapter and cable are intact?

7. Factory Reset the TCL TV

If nothing helps, you may need to perform a factory reset on your TCL TV, through the menus or via the built-in reset button.

This method will permanently erase ALL content on your TCL TV, so we recommend applying this solution only if none of the previous steps from the guide helped.

7.1 Factory Reset via Pinhole:

If you take a look at the back side of your TCL TV, near the HDMI inputs, you will find a pinhole labeled “RESET”.

So, to reset your TCL TV, you need to insert a sharp and pointy tool such as a toothpick or needle and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.

Reminder: Your TCL TV must be plugged into the power supply!

7.2 Factory Reset via Settings:

If your TCL TV is able to turn on, but the white light is blinking, you can reset it from the settings:

1. On your TCL TV go to Settings.
2. In the tab, go to More Settings.
3. Choose “Device Preferences.”
4. Then, select the “Reset” option.
5. Choose “Factory Data Reset.”

Note: The factory reset on a TCL TV takes approximately 2–3 minutes!

8. Check for TV Overheating

Well, if your TCL TV not turning on light blinking, the television may be overheating.

You could be observing the TV’s defense mechanism, which automatically powers off the TV when the hardware temperature is high, to preserve the components from the heat.

• If overheating is the case, you won’t be able to turn on TCL TV until the internal temperature gets lower.

You can check for overheating by gently touching the back panel of your TCL TV.

If you identify overheating, there are a few things you can do:

• Prevent direct sunlight onto the TCL TV.
• Keep the TV away from heat conductors.
• Ventilate the room and the environment.
• Clean your TCL TV ventilation openings.

Note: If your TV does not turn on, even after waiting 10–15 minutes, it’s time to contact the local merchant and try to claim your warranty.