TV that has trouble turning on, what to do?

In a world where technology is increasingly on the cutting edge, combining speed, performance, design and practicality, there is nothing more annoying than a TV that has trouble starting up. And yet, this is what happens to you. But then, for what reason? And what to do to make your TV which is having trouble turning on regain its full speed? Several solutions, more or less accessible to all, can help you achieve this. So, without further ado, discover them in this article.

Why is your TV having trouble starting?

When your TV is having trouble turning on, the problem may be a software or hardware malfunction. More precisely, the responsible causes can be :

  • outdated software
  • a saturation or a software bug
  • a tired capacitor
  • a faulty power supply or electronic card

If your TV that takes a long time to start up comes with dysfunctions (light flashing, strange noise, etc.), unfortunately the problem most certainly comes from a defective component. However, since several factors can cause the problem, you will first need to diagnose which touches your TV. To do this, we invite you to follow the troubleshooting guide below which goes from the easiest to the most technical solution.

First of all, if you have an Android TV, tryactivate the "Instant start" mode of the TV to make sure that the problem of TV slow to turn on is not simply due to a bad setting. For it :

  1. Press the key Home on the remote control (“House” icon)
  2. Click on Settings at the top of the screen
  3. In the menu that opens, select Device Preferences
  4. Select Switch on switch off
  5. REACH Instant start

You can exit the Menu, turn off the TV and try to turn it back on. If you notice that the TV does not start up faster, then the problem is indeed software or hardware and you will therefore have to go to more advanced manipulations to try to solve the problem.

What to do when your TV takes a long time to turn on?

When your TV takes a long time to turn on, you will understand, this can come from a software or hardware failure. Proceed to operations in order to attempt to identify and resolve the fault on your own.

The manipulations apply to all TV brands (LG, Sony, Toshiba, TCL, Philips, Samsung, Continental Edison etc.). However, specifics may apply to certain models. If you are unable to carry out a manipulation, do not persist because it may not be possible on your model. In this case, go straight to the next one.

TV that has trouble turning on, what to do?

Update TV slow to start

If you have a Smart TV, updates are regularly offered. If you do not do them regularly, the software may become obsolete and cause the functions of your TV to slow down, including the startup function. So first try to update your tv. The procedure depends on your model. You can find it on the TV's user manual (paper format or online on the manufacturer's website), but generally the update procedure consists of:

  1. Go to the Menu TV
  2. Go to Settings, System ou Settings
  3. Select Support
  4. Click on Update software
  5. If an update is pending, launch it
  6. Restart the TV to complete the update

If your TV is still having trouble turning on, then try a power reset.

Read also: TV heating up, what to do? 

Electrically reset the TV

It is possible that your TV takes a long time to turn on due to an electronic bug minor of its software. In this case, a electrical reset restarts the entire TV system and its electronic components to resolve the malfunction. For it :

  1. Turn off the TV
  2. Unplug the power cable from the TV from the mains socket
  3. Unplug all external devices connected to TV
  4. Wait about 5 minutes. If your TV has on-screen buttons, press and hold the ON button for 20 seconds. This ensures that the components are completely unloaded.
  5. Reconnect the power cord from the TV to power it up again

Then try turning your TV back on. If it turns on normally, reconnect the devices one at a time, each time trying to turn the TV back on. In case one of them causes the startup to slow down, then it is to blame. If the TV still has trouble starting after the reset without even having reconnected the peripherals, unfortunately the problem stems either from a more important software malfunction or from a failure of a component.

Factory reset the TV that is having trouble turning on

When your TV has trouble starting up, the problem may also be caused by a saturation of its software or major bug in his system. In this case, a simple electrical reset will not be enough to solve the problem. You will then need reset the TV to factory settings. In this case, all your personal data will be deleted (password, registered account etc).

How to factory reset your TV will depend on the model. We invite you to consult the instructions for use of your television to find it. If you no longer have it on paper, you can certainly find it on the manufacturer's website by typing the reference of your model. Generally, it will proceed as follows:

  1. Open the Menu of your television
  2. Go to Settings, System ou Settings
  3. Go to Device Preferences, General Settings, Support, or Self-Diagnosis
  4. Click on Reset, Restore Initial Settings ou Restore factory settings.

Wait for the reset time and try to turn your TV back on. Whether your TV is always slow to turn on, then the problem certainly comes from a hardware failure.

Test and replace a capacitor

If your TV no longer turns on but you observe the flashing red light as if it is about to start, or you hear one or more “ CLICK when you try to turn it on but nothing happens or justit takes a long time to start, then the problem most certainly stems from one or more capacitors worn out.

In this case, you need test capacitors or capacitor (depending on your TV model) located on the power board. Capacitors are cylindrical shaped components.

You have been warned! : - Risk of electric shock and irreversible damage to the device. Always switch off the power to the television before an intervention. - If you are not competent to carry out the following manipulations, we advise you to call on someone in your entourage with authorizations or on a professional. Then ask if the latter agrees to replace only the capacitors. Indeed, most repairers only offer the replacement of the power supply board as a whole, which will cost you much more. - If your TV is under warranty, contact the retailer's or manufacturer's after-sales service now. Attention, the manipulations which follow can make you lose your rights. 

The power supply board where the capacitors are located is located at the back of your TV. To access it, you will need to remove its back panel. Obviously, this step is extremely delicate and requires meticulousness and patience. Once the TV is open, here how to test the capacitor(s) of your long to turn on tv :

  1. Discharge the capacitor(s) present on the electronic board. To do this, make a short-circuit with a screwdriver with an insulated handle by placing it on the two terminals (rods) of the capacitor.
  2. Check visually if one of the capacitors seems swollen, bulging on the top, or if you notice a small crack on its "cap". This means that it is most definitely faulty.
  3. Desolder the capacitor which seems suspicious to you to be able to electrically test. If all the capacitors look normal to you, then you will need to unsolder them all to test them. Indeed, a capacitor can be tired but not completely out of order and therefore not be swollen even though it is indeed faulty. This explains why your TV is having trouble turning on but still succeeds. To test a capacitor, use a multimeter. Note: Capacitors must be desoldered before testing to disconnect them from the circuit and prevent another component on the board from interfering with the measurement.
  4. Put your multimeter on the setting of ohmmeter. Put the red test probe of the multimeter on the + terminal of the capacitor and the black test probe on the - terminal. If you read very low or no resistance (OL) the capacitor is not functional and will need to be replaced.
  5. Replace the failed capacitor with an equivalent (mention indicated on the capacitor in " uF should be similar on the replacement capacitor), then re-solder it on the board.

Don't hesitate to watch video tutorials by typing "how to test a capacitor" or "how to change a capacitor on a television" to help you with the manipulation.

Test the other components or contact a professional

TV slow to start, what to do?

If the capacitors aren't responsible for the malfunction, another electronic component may be worn out and preventing your TV from turning on properly. In this case you can test the power supply connectors or the supply voltage of the two decks (power board and motherboard) and replace the faulty one or contact a professional for a more in-depth diagnosis. Do not hesitate to contact several of them to obtain different quotes and make an informed choice.

Don't forget to check if your TV that is having trouble turning on is still eligible for warranty. This would allow you to obtain a repair at no cost!

Read also: 13 Common TV Problems and Their Solutions

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