Let’s look at this:
“I swear my TCL Roku TV has a mind of its own! It keeps restarting every five minutes. It’s like the TV is mocking me with its incessant rebooting. I can’t take it anymore! Fvcking brand, won’t this again!”
Crazy, Right?
I came across this comment while checking a YouTube video’s comment section. Actually, he isn’t the only one experiencing this issue. Thousands of other users are too!
However, this is quite a common issue not just for TCL TV users but also for other top brands like Samsung and Hisense.
In this article, I will break down the reasons for this issue and the steps you need to take to get your TV working again.
Here we go! Let’s dive into it…
What causes a TCL Roku TV to restart continuously?
“Corrupted firmware or issues with the TV’s power board/cord“—these two are the primary culprits for this issue.
Aside from these, it’s possible that your TV is just malfunctioning. The power button of the remote or TV might be stuck in the “on” position, or there may be a problem with the TV’s internal power supply board.
Look at this:
| Reason for this issue | Description |
|---|---|
| Software glitch | The most likely cause is a software glitch. Roku TVs are constantly being updated with new software, and sometimes these updates can introduce bugs. |
| Hardware issue | Hardware issue is another possible cause. If the TV is old, it could be starting to fail. |
| Power surge | If the TV was plugged in during a power surge, it could have been damaged due to a sudden power surge. |
How to troubleshoot a TCL Roku TV that keeps restarting?
Common Solution: To troubleshoot this random restarting issue, disconnect the TV from the power outlet. Then wait for at least 60 seconds. During this time, press and hold the power button of the TV for approximately 30 seconds. Once done, plug it back in.
Step 1: Check the back panel of the TV
Although checking and opening the back requires some extra effort and DIY work, I mentioned this at first.
Do you know why?
Just cleaning dust or ant from around the TV’s power board rocked this issue in almost 76% of cases.
Saravanan Parthasarathy says,
“F**king Ants for me…. Cleaned it . Used some ant chalk powder. Surrounding TV, inside aluminium plate that the motherboard was mounted on. BAM, it worked.. no more random restarts.”
Here’s what you have to do:
- Use a screwdriver to open the back panel of the TV.
- Check for dust near the power supply board.
- Look out for any ants in the area.
- Clean up the dust and ants thoroughly.
Once you’re done, reattach the back panel. Now, start the TV again and check whether the issue has been resolved.
I believe that, without any additional troubleshooting, this random rebooting issue will be resolved.
Step 2: Check the remote if it’s malfunctioning
Remote can be a fickle device, especially when its battery is low or one of its buttons gets stuck.
When this happens, it can start sending out confusing signals that could prompt the television to turn on without any human input.
Nik Johnson had the same problem, but he found a solution. Instead of buying a new remote, Nik simply removed the batteries from his Amazon Fire TV remote, and the automatic restarting stopped.
He said,
“Batteries out of the remote worked for me, it wasn’t the TV remote but the Amazon fire tv remote, once I removed them it stopped restarting. Issue fixed”
Whether you use the TV remote or the Fire TV remote, do the same as Nik did.
Start by checking if any buttons on your remote are stuck. If they’re not, try taking out the batteries and holding down the power button on the remote for about 20 seconds. After that, put the batteries back in and turn on the TV if the problem has been fixed.
Just like Nik Johnson, you might find that this simple solution works wonders.
Step 3: Resolve the corrupted Firmware
Random restarts can sometimes occur when a TV has been hacked or attacked by malware.
But yes, corrupted firmware, no matter how it became corrupted, can directly affect the TV’s performance and even prevent it from turning on or forcing it to display a very dark picture.
However, there are two ways to refresh corrupted firmware: one is by updating and the other is by resetting the firmware.
First, try updating the TV by going to the settings. But, if you can’t do it for this random restart, reset it to the default settings.
Here is the link on how you can reset the TV correctly!
F.A.Q.s
Q: Will resetting my TCL Roku TV erase all my data?
Yes, resetting your TCL Roku TV to its factory settings will erase all your data and settings. It’s essential to back up your data before performing a reset.
Q: How do I update the firmware on my TCL Roku TV?
To update the firmware on your TCL Roku TV, go to Settings > System > System Update > Check Now. If there’s an available update, click on Download and Install to update the firmware.
Q: Can a faulty HDMI cable cause my TCL Roku TV to restart?
Yes, sometimes a faulty HDMI cable can cause your TCL Roku TV to restart. But it’s a rare case!
Abdul Kader, a handy guy and experienced founder of a TV repair shop in Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is mainly an expert in understanding and repairing different types of issues with Smart TVs and providing helpful insights on how to keep them in good working order. Read his Full Story.