Just recently, I notice that my Insignia TV won't turn on from time to time.
It still boots up after a few hours or maybe the next day. Annoyed at this inconvenience, I put on my research cap and went online to fix the issue.
I compiled all possible fixes into this comprehensive guide so that you can fix your Insignia TV if it is not turning on.
If your Insignia TV won't turn on, check the hardware for visible wear and tear or unusually high temperatures. Perform a proper power cycle for both the TV and the remote controller. As a last resort, execute a factory reset of the Insignia TV. If the issue still persists, it may indicate faulty hardware.
Check TV Cables
When dealing with similarly sized ports such as HDMI and USB, connections can get really confusing and annoying, especially in cramped corners.
The specifications and wear of your cables, especially the power cord, can significantly impact the optimal working of your Insignia TV.
Make sure your cables fit perfectly and do not have any loose connections at both the plugged ends, especially if you have multiple external devices (like a streaming device or a cable box) connected.
Also, make sure to connect the cables to the correct input source.
Black screens on other TVs, such as Shield TV are usually caused due to poor HDMI cable quality and faulty power cord connections.
Also, check for physical tears on all your cables. An exposed wire can lead to a lot of signal issues thanks to caked dust that settles in through the cladding.
Change the cables if there are any noticeable red flags. It's best to buy official cables from Insignia if available or go to a reputed seller on Amazon.
Check the TV Temperature
If you are using an Insignia Smart TV, there are chances for performance throttling and eventually shutdowns when the temperature gets too high.
Touch the body of the TV and see if it is too hot. If so, turn it off and let it cool naturally.
Always make sure the TV is in a well-ventilated area for maximum heat dissipation and cool air intake.
Do not try to rapidly cool any electronic device using a cooler or a freezer unit.
The instant drop in internal temperatures will cause the formation of water drops inside the device and even the freezing of internal components.
Check Your TV Model Number and the Age of the TV
TVs are meant to last a very long time and thus they are replaced only after several years.
But TV technology keeps advancing at a very rapid pace.
In just one year, the TVs you get will be radically different from what you got the previous year.
Changes can be in the display hardware used to even the TV user interface.
Hence, it's key to note your model number and the year of TV release so you can get a much clearer understanding of the required guidelines.
This is especially important for aged TVs as they tend to not have UI changes that show the relevant details directly from the TV settings.
The best way to do this is to refer to the owner's manual that came with the TV. If you don't have access to this, you can check the Insignia TV's packaging box for basic details.
You can also try to search the internet for the specific model's user manual as most user manuals are usually archived somewhere on Insignia's website.
Check for Port Failure
The input ports are feeble parts that can get easily damaged with an unintentional act of applying force while connecting or with time.
If your Insignia TV isn't detecting your inputs, then chances are the port hardware is damaged and needs replacement.
The best solution is to replace the required port with an authorized service center of Insignia.
Perform a Proper Power Cycle
A power cycle is a technique used to completely reset the residual power of capacitors and related electronic components, which can lead to software glitches.
Think of this method as a restart or a soft reset for the internal components inside the Insignia TV.
To properly perform a power cycle on your Insignia TV, follow the following steps:
- Unplug the power cable of your Insignia TV from the wall socket and wait for a full minute
- Press and hold the power button on the TV for 15-20 seconds.
- Plug the power cable back into the power source, and press the power button to turn on your Insignia TV.
- Wait for another minute after turning it on.
This will restart the internal components of your Insignia TV.
To properly perform a power cycle on your Insignia TV's remote controller, follow the following steps:
- Remove the Remote batteries and wait for a full minute.
- Press and hold the power button on the remote controller for 15-20 seconds.
- Put the Remote batteries back inside. (If the batteries have run out, replace them with fresh batteries)
- Wait for another minute and then turn on the TV with the remote control by pressing the power button.
This will restart the internal components of your Insignia TV's remote control. This will also work with a Fire TV controller if you are using an Insignia Fire TV or even a universal remote.
Doing this will solve the issue of Insignia TV not switching on for most users.
If you still face issues, try plugging the TV into a different wall outlet or try changing the Remote control batteries.
Perform a Factory Reset
This is the last resort step that completely resets your Insignia Fire TV back to its factory settings.
Do note that you will lose all your data from the Insignia TV, so make sure you make necessary backups if you are using the smart TV or Fire TV variant.
To factory reset (power reset) your Insignia TV, follow the following steps:
- Press the Home button.
- Click on Settings.
- Choose the Device and Software setting.
- Tap on Reset to factory.
To factory reset your Insignia TV running an older smart TV OS, simply follow the following steps:
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Click on System.
- Tap on Advanced System Settings.
- Select the Factory Reset option and choose the Factory Reset Everything option on the resultant screen.
To power reset your Insignia TV running FireOS, follow the following steps:
- Press and hold the Home button and access the Fire TV menu.
- Select the Settings option and click on Device.
- Click on Reset to Factory Defaults and choose Reset.
A power reset might typically take anywhere from a few minutes to maybe half an hour, but once done it will also wipe any issue that might have caused the problems, and reset all configs to the original settings.
Now, press the Power button to turn ON the TV and check if the blank screen pops up.
Possible Reasons Why You Still Face Issues
Doing all the above-mentioned steps would solve the issue for 95% of the users of Insignia TVs.
If you still face issues, it's safe to say that this is caused by a hardware issue or a manufacturing defect that went unnoticed.
Here are some hardware factors that could be causing the issues:
Bad Capacitors
This is a very common issue amongst many cheap and good-value TVs at this price range.
Every electronic device has capacitors inside that store and relay charge to the circuit. A single capacitor gone bad can completely halt the circuit operations.
This can also cause black screen issues over time. so it's best to treat the issue at the earliest.
The safest way is to pay a visit to an authorized service center to get the internal components checked.
But if you are dangerous enough, you can remove the back panel and check for yourself whether the capacitors are dead. Bulged or leaking ones are a red flag.
Faulty Power Supply and Motherboard
This is yet another common issue amongst the cheap and good value TVs at this price range.
A faulty power supply can lead to the TV not getting enough power to run the TV and relaying no charge across the motherboard, hence dying out on you.
Again the safest way to tackle power issues is to visit an authorized service center.
You may also try and switch the power outlet (wall socket) to which your TV is connected. Faulty power outlets can also render the TV useless.
Many TV users simply dump their TVs over a minor issue like a faulty power board or capacitor, and this has resulted in a market for users looking into buying these seemingly dead TVs for dirt cheap and just replacing the required parts.
Final Thoughts
Even though there are minor scuffs, Insignia is still a brand that I would recommend to anyone who is in the market for a value-for-money TV.
My Mum's TV got fixed after a power cycle and she didn't face issues since. The fact that a 2-minute method was all it took for her annoyance to go away still baffles her.
It is quite unfortunate such an issue exists on Insignia TV, but with these troubleshooting methods, I hope your TV not turning on issues have been fixed.
Have a good day!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I get my Insignia TV replaced if I have the issue of the TV not turning on?
Although Insignia TVs come with a limited one-year warranty across all their TV products, it doesn't cover accidental damage or internal component damage with time.
One can still try to get the TV replaced within the warranty and hope the TV doesn't have any internal component malfunction so that it can be safely replaced with a new unit.
How do I know if the capacitors inside my Insignia TV are faulty?
A faulty capacitor will usually be broken on the outside with a brownish fluid coming out of it. A bulged capacitor is also a sign of a damaged capacitor on the Insignia TV's power board.
Can an Insignia Fire TV catch a virus from a sideloaded app that can cause the issue of the TV not turning on?
There have been reports of crypto viruses infecting Fire TV devices, that enter when sideloading apps downloaded from malicious websites.
But none of the viruses reported have a function of intentionally keeping the Insignia Fire TV turned off, so the chances of such a virus are next to nil.
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