Hisense TV Won’t Turn On – Here’s the Fix

1. Power Cycle Your Hisense TV

When you turn your Hisense 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 Hisense 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 didn’t work, 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 Hisense TV on Using the Power Button

Hisense 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.

4. Check Your Hisense 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 Hisense 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 where your device is plugged in.

Make note of 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 your problem will be solved.

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 Hisense TV’s Power Indicator Light

While some issues with a Hisense TV seem frustrating, you may be able to solve them yourself with a little effort.

The red LED status light that your Hisense TV has on it will function as communication regarding the type of error that is happening.

Just watch the light when you try to operate your TV, and it should give you some insight into what is going on.

Hisense Red Light Flashing/Blinking

If your Hisense TV is in standby mode and the red LED status light is blinking or flashing at you, it is trying to communicate to you the nature of the problem.

The number of blinks, either 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, or 10 times, will give you a place to begin your troubleshooting efforts.

• 2 Blinks – Two blinks indicate there is an issue with the TV hardware or circuit boards.
• 3 Blinks – Direct damage to an internal board.
• 5 Blinks – Potential HDMI cable or connection fault.
• 6 Blinks – System error due to blocked vents, old software, or circuit damage.
• 7 Blinks – Likely faulty backlight or inverter board.
• 10 Blinks – Incorrect voltage, potentially due to a bad power outlet or power board.

Hisense Solid Red Light On

If the red light is on steadily, it indicates there may be a more serious short with your Hisense TV.

Hisense Blue Light On

When the blue LED status light is on, it indicates that the TV is on and should be functioning as expected.

8. Factory Reset Your Hisense TV

If your Hisense TV has an issue, particularly if it was caused by a component, setup, or update failure, once you get it back on you should take a few minutes to do a factory reset.

You can use the remote to do a factory reset once the TV is back on, by going to Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset > PIN or 0000 for default.

If you don’t have the remote or the Hisense TV won’t turn on, most have a reset button in the back that can be pressed with a paper clip or toothpick.

You’ll need to hold the button for 20 seconds and the TV should restart.

9. Contact Hisense Support and File a Warranty Claim

Sometimes, events like severe weather can create an environment where your Hisense TV can be damaged by lightning or similar events.

In situations like these, where the damage is no fault of yours, you may be able to have Hisense cover the damage and repair it under the warranty.

Every Hisense TV has a warranty of one year from the date of purchase to claim covered repairs under the warranty.

If you are unsure if your Hisense TV still has warranty coverage or for warranty specifics, you can contact Hisense support.

They are also able to be contacted via phone at 1-888-935-8880.

If warranty service isn’t an option, but you recently bought the TV, the point of sale may allow an exchange for a working model.

Before buying any large electronics purchase, know if returns are allowed and what the stipulations are.

As a last resort, you may be able to find a local TV repair service that can get the unit fixed for a reasonable amount.

In Summary

Sometimes a Hisense TV will behave in a way that we don’t expect, but with a little patience, you can often get it back in line and working perfectly in minutes.

Pay close attention to the number of flashes that the red LED status light gives you, and you should be well on your way to determining if the problem is a simple, minor fix like a cabling issue, or if you may be looking at a more expensive hardware fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a reset button on Hisense TV?

Most Hisense TV models will have a factory reset button on the back of the TV, which will allow the user to reset the TV without using the remote.

You will need a paper clip or toothpick to be able to reach the recessed button, but when you find it you’ll press and hold the button for about 20 seconds, after which the TV should restart.

Why won’t my TV turn on but the red light is on Hisense?

The red light is the status light, and if your Hisense TV won’t turn on but the red light is on, it should be flashing a code to you.

The number of flashes that the light will do will correspond to a potential fault.

Address that fault and you should be ready to use your TV.

SmartHomeBit Staff