How to Turn on a TV With or Without a Remote

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Plus, quick fixes for a TV that just won't power on

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: March 30, 2026 Fact Checked

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With a Remote

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Without a Remote

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Other Ways

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Troubleshooting

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Tips

Doesn't it seem like TVs just keep getting more complicated over time? You can usually power on a TV using a remote, but what if there's more than one remote? And what if none of them seem to work? In this wikiHow guide, we'll teach you how to turn on your TV, even if you've lost the remote or it's not working, or you don't see a power button on the TV itself. If your TV still won't turn on, we'll walk you through some simple troubleshooting steps to get it working again.

Quick Steps to Turn on a TV

If there are multiple remotes and you're not sure which one powers on the TV, start with the one that controls a streaming device like Apple TV, Roku, or Fire TV Stick.
If that doesn't work, try the universal remote, cable remote, and/or the remote with the TV manufacturer's logo.
If the TV won't turn on, press the power button on the TV. Feel around the bottom edge or sides behind or below the bezel to find it.

Section 1 of 4:

Turn on a TV with a Remote

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1
Press the power button on your TV's remote
. If there are multiple remotes and you're not sure which to use, look for one for a streaming device, such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or Roku streaming device. Its remote may have a power button that controls the TV. Otherwise, look for the remote that seems to have the most functions–these are often universal remotes. You may also try the remote that has a cable company's logo or name (e.g., Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox), or the one with a logo that matches the TV's brand (e.g., Samsung, Roku, Vizio). ^{[1]
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- Most TVs display a power light or indicator to show that they're powered on.
If pressing the power button turned on the TV but the screen is blank or not showing the interface you want to see, you may need to power on the cable box, streaming device, or gaming console separately using its own remote or power button.

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Use the TV's remote to switch the input. The TV's remote (or the universal remote that controls the TV) should have a button on it that says "Source" or "Input". When you press this button, it should switch between all the devices connected to the TV's HDMI and coaxial inputs, such as the cable box, connected streaming devices, gaming consoles, and DVD players. You can switch to the device you want to watch by pressing this button.
- If you have a smart TV and want to browse for something to watch, look for a button with a house or the word Home. This should take you back to the main screen.
- If you can't get the TV to turn on with any of these steps, jump to our troubleshooting guide.

Section 2 of 4:

Turn on a TV Without a Remote

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1
Find the power button on your TV. Sometimes the power button is so well hidden it'll seem like the TV doesn't have one. But don't worry–all TVs still have power buttons, even if they're tricky to find. Here are some tips on finding a hidden power button on a TV:^{[2]
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- Feel along the bottom edge of the TV for a power button. Power buttons are often below the TV screen on the left or right side, facing downward. You may need to move your hand behind the screen to feel just along the backside of the TV at the bottom-most edge.
  - Since many TVs are made to be mounted on a wall, the power button is often on the bottom edge so you can still use it without access to the back of the TV.
- Feel along the sides of the TV just behind the screen. If there's no button on the bottom edge, it'll usually be on one of the sides, typically closer to the bottom of the TV.
- Inspect the back of the TV. If there are no power buttons on the bottom or side edges just behind the screen, the power button is likely on the back.
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Press the power button. In most cases, pressing the power button once will turn the TV on. If it doesn't, press and hold the power button for a few seconds to see if that does the trick.
- The TV may have multiple buttons near the power button, such as volume and channel control buttons. If the button you press doesn't do anything, try feeling around for a different button.^{[3]
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Replace or repair your TV remote. If you've lost your remote, you may be unable to perform needed functions on your TV, such as changing the input or switching channels. Fortunately, you can buy a replacement remote from the manufacturer or by searching for your TV model and "replacement remote" online.
- If your remote control isn't working, you may be able to fix it using our helpful remote control repair guide.

Section 3 of 4:

Other Ways to Turn on a TV

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Try your TV's mobile app. If your TV has a mobile app, such as Samsung's SmartThings app, the TCL app, or the Roku app for Roku TVs, you can usually use it to turn on your TV if you don't have a physical remote.
- If you have an Apple TV streaming device connected to your TV, you may be able to use the built-in remote on your iPhone or iPad to turn your TV on and off.^{[4]
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Ask your voice-controlled assistant to turn on the TV. If the TV is connected to a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Siri, try asking Alexa or Siri to turn on the TV.

Section 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting

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The TV doesn't turn on with the remote. If the TV usually turns on with the remote but suddenly it isn't:
- Make sure the remote has fresh batteries or is charged. If the remote is rechargeable, there will usually be a port on the side or bottom into which you can plug in a USB cable to charge it. Give it a charge for an hour or so, then try again.
- Check the power cable. Is the TV plugged in? If so, try plugging something different into the TV's outlet to make sure it's working. If it's plugged into a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is turned on as well.
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The TV turns on, but you don't see a channel or the home screen. If you just see a blue screen, a black screen, the words "no signal", or something else you weren't expecting to see:
- If there's a cable box, make sure it's turned on.
- If there's a streaming device connected, such as an Apple TV or Fire TV Stick, make sure it's properly connected and turned on.
- Press the Source or Input button on the TV remote to switch through the different connected devices until you see what you want to see.
- If it's a smart TV, try pressing the Home button (it might be a house icon) to return to the TV's main menu.
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The TV turns on when I press the power button, but not with the remote. If the remote control won't turn on your TV:
- Insert fresh batteries into the remote. If the remote is rechargeable, try charging it for a while to see if that fixes the problem.
- Check for other remotes. Sometimes there will be more than one remote, but only one remote will turn on the TV.
- Re-pair the remote with the TV. If you've recently replaced your remote control and it's not working to turn on your TV, you may need to pair it with your TV again. The steps are different for each TV type, but you can usually find the right process by searching for "pair a (insert TV brand here) remote". Some pairing guides that can help:

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How can I use my smart phone for a remote control on my TV?

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On your phone download the app Peel Smart TV remote, then from there, turn on the remote. It should ask for your TV code and its make.

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My cable box won't stay on. What should I do?

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Note when your box goes off, and check both your TV and cable box for any timer settings. If you don't have any timers set, then call your cable provider.

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What if it is stuck on black screen?

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Try unplugging your TV and plugging it back in. If that doesn't work, call a technician.

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Keep the manuals for any televisions or electrical appliances that you buy in a safe place so you can refer to them later if you need to.

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