LG TV Won’t Turn on—Black Screen/Red light Flashing

“I have been following you since February 2023, but this is the first time I have contacted you. Today, I experienced a strange issue with my LG TV. When I press the power button, the standby light blinks, but the TV screen remains black. I don’t know exactly why my LG TV won’t turn on, and the screen is just black.“ – Jasmine, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Jasmine, an LG TV might not turn on for a variety of reasons. But the sign you informed me of is likely a simple issue that you can easily troubleshoot in minutes.

In many cases, this is just a system glitch that a power reset (not reboot) typically solves. But in other cases, some technical issues could be causing the problem.

Let’s dive into the troubleshooting…

Few more investigations

Whenever an LG TV stops working (won’t turn on), as you mentioned yours, there might be some indication!

Either the standby light might blink or you might hear a beep sound or the entire screen might stay black while you might still hear sound.

Here are some signs:

• Standby light is blinking: If the indicator light is red, TV is in standby mode. In this case, issue is with either the remote control or the TV’s IR receiver.
• TV has sound but screen is black: Chances that the T-con board, display panel, or backlight has been damaged.
• TV has no sound/no standby light and the screen is black: If you don’t see a light at all, then that means your TV isn’t receiving power for some reason.

How to Fix when LG TV won’t Turn on?

If your LG TV isn’t turning but the standby light is flashing, reset the remote’s battery and clean the TV’s IR receiver. But if there is no light flashing, change the power outlet and replace the power cord.

Jasmine, this might be enough to resolve your issue.

But if you want deeper insights, here it is:

Scenario 1: LG TV screen is black but can hear sound

If you can hear sound from your TV but the screen is black, issue is likely with the TV’s system or with the backlight. Do the following two things.

♦ Resolve system issue

System glitches, widely known as a ‘temporary software issues’, very common in a TV. Developers are aware of this, which is why they have included an option called “power reset.”

Remember, I am not talking about reboot, it’s power reset.

After receiving your mail, I went through a number of YouTube videos and their comment sections that dealt with the same issue. One particular comment by Jenuas stood out to me.

“Power resetting rocked it. I was about to give up and was ready to call a repairman to fix this f**king issue! But this simple pesky solution revived my TV.”

Here’s how

• Turn off the TV and disconnect it from the power outlet completely.
• Wait for 50 seconds.
• During this time, press and hold the TV’s power button for about 20 seconds.
• Once done, power the TV back on.

Now check whether you can see the picture on the TV now!

♦ Test the backlight

Backlight is the main component that displays visuals on the screen. If it gets damaged, you know what will happen—the screen will remain black even though the TV works properly.

However, there’s an easy way to check this.

Here’s how:

• Power on the TV and set it to a dark room with no lights on.
• Take a flashlight and shine it at the TV screen at an angle.
• Look for a faint image on the screen.

If you can see an image, but it’s too dim, your TV’s backlight may be damaged. If this is the case, visit your nearest TV repair shop.

Senario 2: LG TV won’t turn on but the standby light is blinking

Since I already mentioned this—If the standby light flashes red or blue but the TV not turning on, problem is with either the remote or with the TV’s IR receiver.

♦ Malfunctioning remote

Even though you think your TV’s remote is brand new, but actually it could stop working at any time without any reasons.

When a TV’s remote stops working, dead batteries, incorrect pairing, or signal interference are typically the main culprits.

So, make sure the remote you are using to turn on your TV is working properly.

If you think it isn’t working, check out my previous guide on what to do when an LG TV remote stops working from this link.

♦ Dust in IR receiver

TV has a special part inside it called IR sensor that receives the signals from the remote control.

But, sometimes this sensor gets covered with dirt or dust, which makes it hard for the TV to understand the signals from the remote control.

Simply check the TV’s IR receiever and wipe it with a soft cloth. If the sensor appears to be broken, replace it with a new one.

Senario 3: TV won’t turn on/no standby light/no sound

In this case, the problem is clear—TV doesn’t getting any power. Either it’s due to faulty power outlet, loose cabe connection or the internal power board has been damaged.

♦ Power outlet & Cable connection

Make sure that the TV is firmly plugged into a working power outlet.

However, You can check this by plugging in another device like a lamp or phone charger to see if it works.

Also check the power cord that connects your TV to the outlet and make sure it is not damaged. If you notice any damage, such as frayed wires or exposed insulation, the solution is simple—buy a new one and replace it.

♦ Internal power board

Jasmine, now you know the issue is with the TV’s power or inverter board. (If nothing worked so far)

Simply contact LG customer care and submit a warranty claim. Of course, your TV must have a valid warranty.

But, if you don’t want to invest any single buck, buy a new one!

---

F.A.Q.s

Q: My TV isn’t Turning On, Just Clicking.

This indicates a power supply problem. If the manufacturer’s warranty covers your TV, get it serviced or replaced.

The vibration could also be caused by the internal cabinet expanding and contracting in response to changing temperatures. The system is most likely malfunctioning if the sound is clicking.

Q: Why is my LG TV screen black?

Several reasons exist why your LG TV screen might be black. This includes a defective backlight, a faulty HDMI cable, issues with the input source, or problems with the TV’s firmware.

Q: How can I tell if it’s time to replace my LG TV instead of repairing it?

If the cost of repairing your LG TV is higher than the cost of buying a new one, or if the TV is several years old and has other signs of wear and tear, it may be time to consider replacing it instead of repairing it.

Or, if you’re looking to upgrade to a newer model with better features or picture quality, it may make more sense to replace the TV.

Have a question about your TV or want to know about an issue that you couldn’t find on our site? Send it to [email protected]. Please include your name, address, and hometown in your message.

— Abdul Kader
@Home_Spoiler