Toshiba TV Won’t Turn On: Try These Fixes

By SmartHomeBit Staff •  Updated: 09/28/22 •  7 min read


 

1. Power Cycle Your Toshiba TV

When you turn your Toshiba TV “off,” it isn’t truly off.

Instead, it enters a low-powered “standby” mode that allows it to start up quickly.

If something goes wrong, your TV can get stuck in standby mode.

Power cycling is a fairly common troubleshooting method that can be used on most devices.

It can help fix your Toshiba TV because after continuously using your TV the internal memory (cache) may be overloaded.

Power cycling will clear this memory and allow your TV to run like it’s brand new.

To wake it up, you’ll have to perform a hard reboot of the TV.

Unplug it from the wall outlet and wait for 30 seconds.

This will give time to clear the cache and allow any residual power to drain from the TV.

Then plug it back in and try to turn it on again.

 

2. Replace the Batteries in Your Remote

If power cycling fails, the next potential culprit is your remote.

Open the battery compartment and ensure that the batteries are fully seated.

Then try pressing the power button again.

If nothing happens, replace the batteries, and try the power button once more.

Hopefully, your TV will turn on.

 

3. Turn Your Toshiba TV on Using the Power Button

Toshiba remotes are pretty durable.

But even the most reliable remotes can break, after prolonged usage.

Walk up to your TV and press and hold the power button on the back or side.

It should power on in a couple of seconds.

If it doesn’t, you’ll need to dig a bit deeper.

 
Why Won’t My Toshiba TV Turn On & How to Fix
 

4. Check Your Toshiba TV’s Cables

The next thing you need to do is check your cables.

Inspect both your HDMI cable and your power cable, and make sure they’re in good condition.

You’ll need a new one if there are any horrendous kinks or missing insulation.

Unplug the cables and plug them back in so you know they’re properly inserted.

Try swapping in a spare cable if that doesn’t fix your problem.

The damage to your cable could be invisible.

In that case, you’d only find out about it by using a different one.

Many Toshiba TV models come with a non-polarized power cord, which can malfunction in standard polarized outlets.

Look at your plug prongs and see if they’re the same size.

If they’re identical, you have a non-polarized cord.

You can order a polarized cord for around 10 dollars, and it should solve your problem.

 

5. Double Check Your Input Source

Another common mistake is using the wrong input source.

First, double-check which port you’ve used for your device.

Note which HDMI port it’s connected to (HDMI1, HDMI2, etc.).

Next press your remote’s Input button.

If the TV is on, it will switch input sources.

Set it to the correct source, and you’ll be all set.

 

6. Test Your Outlet

So far, you’ve tested many features of your TV.

But what if there’s nothing wrong with your television? Your power outlet may have failed.

Unplug your TV from the outlet, and plug in a device that you know is working.

A cell phone charger is good for this.

Connect your phone to the charger, and see if it draws any current.

If it doesn’t, your outlet isn’t delivering any power.

In most cases, outlets stop working because you’ve tripped a circuit breaker.

Check your breaker box, and see if any breakers have tripped.

If one has, reset it.

But keep in mind that circuit breakers trip for a reason.

You’ve probably overloaded the circuit, so you may need to move some devices around.

If the breaker is intact, there’s a more serious problem with your home’s wiring.

At this point, you should call an electrician and have them diagnose the problem.

In the meantime, you can use an extension cord to plug your TV into a working power outlet.

 

7. Check Your Toshiba TV’s Power Indicator Light

Your TV’s power indicator doesn’t just let you know when it’s working.

It also helps you troubleshoot any failures.

Let’s talk about what different light colors mean.

 

Red Light is Blinking

A blinking red light could indicate that there was a problem with a recent firmware update.

Call Toshiba if this happens and make a report.

They’ll no doubt get many of these calls, and push out a quick patch.

But what if there wasn’t any recent firmware update? In that case, see if there’s an issue with your power cord.

Provided the cord is intact, you have an issue somewhere else in the power supply.

You’ll need to have your TV serviced.

 

Green Light is Blinking

Blinking green lights means that your main board is faulty.

This normally means you need to have your board replaced, but it’s still worth trying a hard reset.

 

Yellow Light is Blinking

A blinking yellow light indicates a failed signal board.

As a result, the signal from your power button or remote isn’t reaching your TV.

You’ll have to order a replacement board from Toshiba.

 

White Light is Blinking

When the light is blinking white, it means the TV has gone into protection mode.

Sometimes you can fix this by unplugging the TV for an hour and plugging it back in.

The break will give any overcharged capacitors a chance to discharge.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to replace either a capacitor or the entire power supply board.

 

8. Factory Reset Your Toshiba TV

To factory reset your TV, unplug it from the wall outlet.

Then press and hold the power button, wait a few seconds, and plug the TV back in.

Keep holding the button down while you do this.

When the TV comes back on, you’ll see a recovery menu.

Select the option to factory reset.

On some TVs, this will say “Wipe Data” instead.

Use the volume buttons to scroll and the power button to select.

Follow the prompts, and the TV will reset after about two minutes.

 

9. Contact Toshiba Support and File a Warranty Claim

In some cases, a TV can fail.

Serious damage typically happens after a power surge or a nearby lightning strike.

If one of these events damages your power supply or motherboard, your TV needs repairs.

Toshiba covers their TVs with a 12-month warranty.

You can reach them on their customer support page and file a claim.

Their customer service phone number is (888)-407-0396.

Agents are on staff from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern time Monday through Friday, or 9 AM to 6 PM on weekends.

Another option is to return your TV to wherever you bought it.

Or you could have it repaired by a local shop.

 

In Summary

As you can see, there are many ways to fix a non-responsive Toshiba TV.

The key is not to get discouraged.

Work through the steps in order, and you’ll eventually find a solution.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is there a reset button on my Toshiba TV?

No.

But you can use the power button to reset it by following a special procedure.

 

What to do when your Toshiba TV turns on but the screen is black?

It depends.

You need to try different solutions until something clicks.

Start with step one and work from there!

SmartHomeBit Staff