BenQ Projector Lamp Light Red? (Don’t Panic! Easy Fix)

Regardless of whether the BenQ projector lamp light red is solid or flashing, this almost certainly means that the lamp is approaching the end of its lifespan.
Before purchasing a new lamp, stay until the end of this guide, as the solution may be much more quick and cost-effective than you thought!
Here’s the short list of everything we’ll do in this guide:
Possible Ways to Fix the BenQ Projector Lamp Light Red
Note: Ensure the projector’s lamp is installed and the power cord is plugged in.
1. Check Lamp Hours in the Options

The original lamp of your BenQ projector lasts for roughly 1,500–2,000 hours before the red light comes on.
Nonetheless, after your lamp’s “hours” run out, you may start noticing changes in the broadcasting patterns and of course, the red light coming on.
1.1 How to Check Lamp Hours on a Newer BenQ?
Newer BenQ projectors typically have an “Information” menu that contains details about most of the hardware components.
Simply use the remote control or press the navigation buttons on the top of the projector to open the menu and view the lamp hours.
1.2 How to Check Lamp Hours On an Older BenQ?
To display the remaining lamp hours of your older BenQ projector, press and hold the “Power” button for ~15–20 seconds.
Then, a message that contains the remaining lamp hours of the projector will appear for a brief moment on the screen.
2. Reset the Projector’s Lamp Timer

If you’ve recently switched up the projector’s lamp but the red lamp light on the BenQ projector is still there, the lamp hours timer might not have been reset.
Well, even if a new lamp has been installed, the projector might still be thinking that the old one is still there, triggering the red light.
Here’s how to reset the timer of your projector lamp:
- Use the projector’s buttons to go to “System Setup.”
- Enter the “Advanced” menu, then “Lamp Settings.”
- Pick “Reset Lamp Timer” with the new lamp installed.
Notice: Only reset the lamp timer of your projector after a new lamp is installed.
3. Drain the BenQ Projector’s Power
Perhaps, your projector’s lamp has gone off due to a temporary issue with the power supply.
An authentic way to address the problem is to unplug your projector’s power cord from the outlet.

- To drain the power of the BenQ projector, unplug the power cable from the outlet and wait for at least 50–60 seconds to pass.
This will refresh the projector’s system and will hopefully prevent any false alerts, whether or not the lamp has been changed.
However, if the issue is still there you will need to continue reading.
Quick Tip: Do not use any third-party equipment (strips, dividers, extenders) in the setup of the BenQ projector.
4. Install the Projector’s Original Lamp
One of the reasons causing the BenQ projector red lamp light flashing you may have not known about is the manufacturer’s strict policy towards keeping the hardware original.
Installing unoriginal parts in your BenQ projector, such as a third-party lamp, might cause the device to defect temporarily until a part with an original serial number is installed.

Here’s how to access BenQ’s lamp compartment:
- Press the projector’s power switch to turn off the unit.
- Wait for the projector to cool down for 10–15 minutes.
- Unplug the power cable from the back of the projector.
- Locate the lamp compartment screws on the panel.
- Remove each of the screws holding the compartment.
- Take off the lamp cover and remove the lamp housing.
- Open the housing and reinstall the old projector lamp.
- Place the housing back in and close the compartment.
Even if the original lamp no longer works, you can use it to determine if the red indicator is caused by the installation of unoriginal parts.
Note: If you haven’t replaced your BenQ projector lamp recently, proceed with the next step!
5. Clean the Projector’s Blower Fan

Apart from indicating a bad bulb, the red light of your BenQ projector could also mean that the device is heating up excessively.
BenQ projectors tend to most often overheat due to an issue with the blower fan that’s designed to keep the lamp housing’s temperatures under control.
5.1 How to Identify the BenQ Projector Blower Fan?
The blower housing is built-in on the top panel of the BenQ projector and has a large fan that ventilates the lamp housing and the other important components.
So, in case of a failure, your projector’s temperatures will immediately rise and the red light will come on as an indication.
5.2 How to Clean BenQ’s Blower Fan?

Instead of replacing it right away, which is a much longer and more expensive solution, you should try cleaning it first.
If possible, use compressed air along with a soft brush to clear out the dust from the fan’s surface, then check if the red lamp is still there.
5.3 Tips to Prevent Projector Overheating
Apart from cleaning the fan, you should also try to:
- Unplug the projector for at least 10–15 minutes.
- Check if nearby heat conductors are the reason.
- Position the BenQ projector in a dust-free place.
- Prevent direct sunlight from flashing on the unit.
Tip: If the projector is still overheating, it’s best to speak with the manufacturer.
6. Reset the Settings of the Projector

Perhaps, a factory reset might positively influence the BenQ projector lamp light red problem that’s been worrying you all along.
Although the red lamp is designed to illuminate only if there’s a bulb-related fault, a full erase of the system settings might be a reliable solution against bugs.
Here’s how to reset the BenQ to default settings:
- Press “Menu” on the top panel of the BenQ projector.
- Head to “System” and then select “Factory Default.”
- Choose “Reset” and confirm BenQ’s reset procedure.
The BenQ projector will power off shortly after the reset starts and remain this way for about 1–2 minutes.
Hence, do not unplug the electrical cable or press any buttons on the BenQ projector.
7. Check for a Ballast Board Fault

The ballast board is what your BenQ projector’s lamp uses to draw from the current and control the levels and intensity of illumination.
In case of a fault with this board, your projector’s lamp is likely to power off or start broadcasting inconsistently, with the red light coming on.
Since replacing this board requires advanced technical expertise, we strongly recommend using your warranty for the repair after getting in touch with the manufacturer.
Where to Find BenQ’s Ballast Board?
In case you’re eager to conduct this repair by yourself, locate the side screws holding the upper housing of the projector, undo them, and remove the entire top panel.
Then, search for the ballast board with multiple wires coming out of it (each in a different color) and track the wire that’s plugged into the housing.
Once all wires are unplugged, remove the ballast board and find an identical replacement purchased from BenQ for the reinstallation.
Alert: Disassembling the BenQ projector by yourself will result in a void of the warranty.

Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.