Few things are more frustrating than having a brand new tv and it causes problems almost immediately. Recently, my new LG TV had a blinking red light, and I just couldn’t figure out what was going on…
Apparently, it’s a fairly common problem with LG TVs and easily fixed. Here is everything you have to check next time your TV’s light blinks for no apparent reason…
How To Fix An LG TV Blinking Red Light
If your LG TV has a blinking red light, this is most likely an issue with the power supply or display. To fix, check both the power outlet and the power cord. If they appear to be working properly, unplug the TV from the wall and plug it back in after 20 minutes. This will reset the electronic components that are likely causing the red light to flash.
If unplugging the TV didn’t fix the issue, check your source input settings next. Make sure all your source input settings are correct and check that any cables going to your TV haven’t been changed recently.
Perform A Hard Reset
A hard reset is a quick and effective way to clear minor errors that could be present in your LG TV.
This type of reset will not delete your saved preferences or downloaded content like a factory reset would.
In order to perform a hard reset on a LG TV, follow these steps:
Step 1: Turn your TV off and unplug it from the outlet and other devices.
Step 2: Press the TV’s power button and hold for 30 seconds (on the physical TV, not the remote control)
Step 3: Wait 10-15 minutes
Step 4: Turn on your LG TV
Step 5: Reconnect all the connected devices and see if the tv still has a blinking red light.
This is likely to fix your LG Smart TV, but if it doesn’t there are other options..
If that doesn’t work, and you can see the screen, you can try a factory reset.
Perform A Factory Reset
Unlike a hard reset, a factory reset will erase all downloaded content and anything saved on your LG TV. Only do this as a backup option, like if you suspect the problem is a hardware issue.
Follow these steps to perform a factory reset:
Step 1: Press the ‘Home’ button on your LG TV
Step 2: Go to Settings, then General, then Initial Setting Reset
Step 3: It will ask for a code. ‘1234’ or ‘0000’ are the default reset codes
Step 4: Confirm Factory Reset
Step 5: Reboot your LG TV and see if it still has a blinking red light
Step 6: Follow the on-screen steps to complete the reset setup
It’s important to remember that performing a factory reset will help fix a blinking red light but it may not address other potential causes of this problem such as faulty wiring or build-up debris within the inner layers of your TV’s hardware components.
If you performed a factory reset and it does not fix the blinking red light after repeated attempts, you may want to contact an experienced repair service for further assistance with diagnosing and repairing your device.
If even a factory reset doesn’t fix the problem, we have more solutions for you..
Observe The Blinking Pattern
If your LG TV has a blinking red light, noticing the blinking pattern can also help in further narrowing down on the issue.
Usually, either the red light will blink 3 or 4 times or keep blinking continuously. If the TV blinks four times, it can either convey an overheating issue or an outdated firmware.
If this is the case, and if you have been watching the TV for a prolonged period of time, try switching off the tv for a couple of hours before turning it back on.
You can also update the system firmware after turning on the TV if the problem persists.
If the LG TV is blinking 3 times or continuously, it could indicate a problem with the system hardware, more commonly, an issue with the power supply unit or the backlight LED strips of the TV.
Check Components And Power
There are a number of reasons behind your LG TV blinking red light; some of these can include the power supply unit within the TV and other wires connecting to the TV.
Problem With The HDMI
The HDMI cable is responsible for providing the visual input into the TV. A faulty or loose HDMI cable can keep switching the input settings on the TV and the red light will remain blinking as a result.
To find out if this is the issue, switch off the TV and disconnect the HDMI cable from the TV and from its other peripheral source. Check if the wire has been damaged in any way, either the pins will be broken or the wire might be worn due to age.
Check the HDMI port of the TV itself to check for any damage. Similarly, check the port of the peripheral as well. Connect all the wires back and make sure they are secured properly. Switch on the TV to check if the problem persists.
You can also use the other HDMI ports on the TV if one is damaged. Make sure the input source on the TV is the same in which the cable has been connected.
Check If The Remote Is Working
This might not seem important and sounds obvious but a lot of times, the TV remote starts malfunctioning over a period of time and people never realize it. Either the remote itself can be broken or the battery might have run out.
The two most types of TV remotes out there are RF and IR. If you have the latter, you can check if the remote is working by pointing your phone camera towards the sensor and pressing buttons on the remote at the same time.
Keep in mind that some phone models might not be able to detect the sensor.
If you are using an RF remote, make sure it is connected to the same network as the TV.
Proper Voltage
Another reason for your LG TV blinking red light could be a problem with the power supply of the socket itself rather than the TV. Unplug the TV from the socket and remove any smart switches connected to the socket.
Use a tester to check if there is current in the socket or you can also connect another appliance that you know works into the socket and check if it still works.
If it doesn’t work, you will have to either get the socket replaced or call an electrician to get your household power supply checked.
If the socket works, then the problem could be with the power cord itself. Disconnect the power cord from the TV and check if it has been damaged in any way.
The wire may have worn out or the connector might be broken. If there is no damage, connect the power cord back and switch the TV on to check if it works.
TV’s Internal Malfunction
Mother Board/ Power Board Failure
A very possible cause of the blinking light are faulty power boards (or mother boards.)
To check the mother board or the power board, you will have to disconnect the back panel of your LG TV to gain access to the components.
It should be noted that tampering with the internals by yourself can void the warranty of the product.
Once you have opened the back panel using a small screwdriver, check if the board has been damaged in any way.
Look for any deformity, melting, burning, or scratches on the board.
You can also get a multimeter and check if proper voltage is flowing through the motherboard or not. If the board has failed, you will have to get it entirely replaced.
LG did acknowledge that some of their TV Models can face issues with their circuit boards and in case any buyer faces such a problem, they can get a free circuit board replacement.
These models were released between 2016 and 2019:
2016: oled65e6, oled65g6, oled77g6
2017: oled65b7, oled65c7, oled65e7, oled65g7, oled65w7, oled77g7, oled77w7
2018: oled65g8, oled65w8, oled77c8, oled77w8
Up to sept 2019: oled65w9, oled77b9, oled77c9, oled77w9
In case of a power surge, even the invertor board or the T-con board can be damaged. Both of these components are responsible for controlling the screen of the TV.
While the former supplies power to the screen, the latter controls the pixel timings.
Check The Capacitors
The capacitors in a TV are responsible for a steady flow of voltage to the TV so that it operates normally. A red light flashing and the TV not turning on is one of the results of a failed capacitor.
You can check if the capacitor had failed by looking for any swellings on the capacitor. You can also use a multimeter to check if current is flowing through it.
Disconnect The Peripherals
There are a number of peripherals that are usually connected to a TV, for example, a gaming console. A blinking light might indicate an issue with any of these peripherals.
You can isolate this problem by disconnecting all the peripherals from the TV and then start plugging them in one at a time, until your LG TV shows a problem.
Perform a Soft Reset
One of the most common reasons behind a blinking red light on an LG TV is a sudden power surge. The fluctuating voltage can sometimes lead to power glitches in the power circuit. To fix this issue, you can try a soft reset on the LG TV.
- Switch off the TV and unplug it from the electrical socket.
- Press the power button for about 2 minutes
- While pressing the power button, plug the TV back into the socket and switch it on.
- Wait for 1-2 minutes before trying to turn on the TV using the remote.
LG TV Blinking Green Light
A blinking green light on an LG TV usually indicates that the TV has power and it is switched on, but in some models, a green light can also be a replacement for red light.
If your TV is facing some problems, then go through the solutions in this article for a blinking red light.
Use A Hair Dryer To Turn On Your LG TV
This might sound a little out there but in some cases you can turn on your LG TV using a hairdryer. One of the most common issues behind a flashing red light is some problem with the internal components.
And within the internal components, one of the most common culprits is the capacitor.
Capacitors need to get to a certain temperature for them to operate normally, and in some cases, they are not able to do so by themselves. In this situation, you can use a hairdryer to help the capacitors heat up.
Follow the steps below to safely use a hairdryer to start your TV:
- Plug the hairdryer into a socket near the TV
- Keep the TV switched off and turn the blower towards the air vents of the TV
- Hold this position for 1-2 minutes before trying to turn the TV on.
- If this doesn’t work, keep pressing the power button for a few more minutes while the hairdryer is running.
If even after 5 minutes the TV doesn’t turn on, stop using the hairdryer as it can damage the internal components if used for a long time.
One thing to note is that this method is not a full proof solution and can only provide a temporary fix.
TV’s Overheating
If an LG TV is overheated, some of the signs shown by the TV are quite similar to any of the internal components failing, for example, a circuit board failure.
The TV will shut down with flashing lights, this is done by the TV to protect itself from overheating.
You can perform a hard reset and wait for a couple of hours for the TV to naturally cool down before turning it back on again.
Update Or Factory Reset Your LG TV
If you have been using your LG TV for some time, it is possible that the company released some firmware updates along the way.
Just like any other phone, a TV also gets software updates and if the installed software is too old, the TV will start having problems.
Luckily, it is very easy to install or update your TV, just follow the steps below and you are good to go:
- Open the settings on your LG TV
- Go to “General”
- Select “About this TV”
- There you will see the current software version the TV is running and if it requires any update.
- If there is an update option, click on it and agree to the terms and conditions.
And that’s it, this will make sure your LG TV is running the latest software versions.
LG TV Blinking White Light
In some of the newer LG TV models, the green light is substituted by white light and in some cases, even the red light has been removed.
In this case the white flashing light might be indicating any of the problems which were previously indicated by a red light.
What To Do When Your LG TV Turns On, But The Screen Is Black?
If your LG TV is turning on but there is nothing being displayed, there can be a number of reasons behind this.
Ranging from loose HDMI cables with other peripherals or a loss of network connection, outdated firmware, wrong picture and backlight settings or hardware issues like damaged LED screen or circuit board.
To make sure there is no problem with your settings, you can perform a hard reset on the TV to bring it back to its original settings.
Try turning the TV on and off after waiting for a few minutes to remove any bugs from the system and to take care of any overheating issues.
Most importantly, make sure the input and output cables are not damaged or loose.
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