7 Ways To Fix An Insignia TV That Won’t Turn On (2023)

Some say I should buy a new TV because my Insignia won’t turn on.

I beg to differ. Why?

Here’s what you should know about me:

I’m cheap and thrifty…

But, most importantly, I’m stubborn.

And I won’t quit until I fix my TV.

Don’t worry. I’ll get to yours too.

Keep reading to discover:

7 easy ways to fix an Insignia TV that won’t turn on.
How to replace dead capacitors on a non-responsive Insignia TV.
Which parts of your TV are most likely broken when your Insignia won’t open.
A beginner-friendly way to fix your broken backlights if it’s not powering your TV.
And so much more…

Why won’t my Insignia TV turn on?

Your Insignia TV won’t turn on because of a faulty power source, a damaged cord, or dead backlights. A broken power board also stops your TV from turning on. The TV could also be dead because of loose or broken ribbon cables.

Insignia TV won’t turn on: 7 ways to fix it

#1: Get a different power source

Have you ever considered that the problem might not be your TV…

But where the TV gets its electricity from?

To answer that, try something for me:

Get something that visibly turns on when plugged into a socket.

Try to plug that in the socket that was connected to your TV.

Did it turn on?

If yes, move on to the next fix. That’s because it means that the damage is on your TV’s part.

And if the device you connected didn’t turn on, the solution to your problem is simple:

Move your TV to a different socket. And make sure that its old socket is taped over as it can short other devices when used.

Note: Do you use a surge protector? If so, that could also be the cause of your problem.

How so?

Let me first explain how surge protectors work.

You see, your socket can sometimes charge plugged-in devices more than it should due to:

Lightning storms.
Repeated blackouts or brownouts.
Issues with your electricity distributor.

That’s why surge protectors are essential. It blocks the excess charge from going into your device.

However, when it breaks, it can do the opposite.

And the most common reason why it breaks? Age.

It would help if you replaced your surge protector often. Doing so prevents this from happening to your TV.

#2: Fix your power cord

Do you live in a house with a lot of pets?

Or, perhaps, are there rodents living in your house?

If so, check your power cord now.

Look for any exposed wires.

Are there any? Yes?

Then you’ll have to deal with that.

How?

Well, you can replace your power cord.

But that’s the easy way.

And let’s talk about the hard but cheaper way to fix a power cord:

By splicing it.

Simply follow these instructions to splice your power cord:

Warning: Ensure you don’t use your TV for a couple of hours before doing this. This will completely discharge your TV. Not doing so may electrocute you.

Locate the damaged part of your power cord.
Measure 1 inch towards the damaged part’s left and right sides.
Unsheath the wire using the 1-inch measurements.
Repeat steps #2 and #3 for the smaller wires inside.
Partner the smaller wires by color over a heat shrink tubing.
Bind the tubing using a heat gun.
Repeat steps #5 and #6 for the main wire.

#3: Change the backlight

Turn your TV on. Is there a red light at the bottom?

There is? Then…

Get a flashlight. Preferably something bright.

Now, point that flashlight towards your TV.

Do you see the faintest outlines of your menu? Like you’re watching a really, really dark movie?

In this case, there’s good news and bad news.

The good news is that we’ve identified your problem. It’s your backlights.

“Backlights?”

It’s the part of your TV responsible for its brightness. Think of it as rows and rows of lights shining toward your screen.

And, when 1 of those lights dies, the rest of the lights either die or will be discolored.

As for the bad news…

Fixing your backlights means that you have to open your TV.

But, don’t worry.

The process of replacing the backlights might seem intimidating…

However, it’s actually quite easy. You just have to do these 3 steps:

Step #1: Open the back of your TV

Note: It’s important to learn this step for any future repairs. Why? Because the back of your TV holds most of its internal parts.

Place the front side of your TV face down on a smooth surface.
Loosen the screws at the back of your TV using a screwdriver.
Remove the cover of your TV using a non-flexible prying blade.
Disconnect all of the ribbon cables at the back.
Unscrew the metal plate at the bottom.

Step #2: Access the backlight

Flip your TV.
Unclip the bezels on the sides.
Gather and tape all the boards at the bottom to the screen for protection.
Remove the screen safely using suction cups.
Lift off all of the panels until you reach the backlight array.

Step #3: Replace the backlight

Note: To buy the perfect replacement, check the side of your backlight array. Manufacturers typically put a model number there.

Simply use that as a reference when searching for a replacement. With that, you can proceed to:

Buy a replacement backlight panel for your TV.
Remove the tape above your current backlight array.
Disconnect the cables at the side of the backlights.
Unclip the old backlight from the chassis.
Place the new backlight where the old ones were.
Clip them in and connect the cables.
Put tape over the new backlights to secure them.

And you’re good to go.

Pro tip: Before putting everything back together, try to turn your TV on while the backlights are in the open. If you’re successful, they should be lighting up.

If they’re not, ensure that the cables are properly plugged in.

And, if you’re still confused about how to replace your backlights, you can watch this video:

#4: Replace the capacitors

Ah yes. The reason why my TVs have power and maybe the reason why it can’t turn on:

Capacitors.

Think of capacitors as little batteries inside your TV.

The only difference is that they’re constantly hoarding electricity from your socket.

Why?

Because you wouldn’t want your TV to receive a lot of charge at the same time, do you?

So manufacturers put capacitors on your power board to temporarily store that energy.

Now, I hear you asking:

“How do I know if I need to replace the capacitors?”

Check if your TV has a red standby light when it’s plugged in. Nothing?

Then, it’s likely that something’s wrong with your power board. And, often, that’s the capacitors.

Moreover, here’s what bad capacitors look like:

Swollen.
Leaking white or green.
Lifting itself off the board.

Don’t fret. I’m here to teach you how to replace your capacitors safely.

Note: You’re handling parts that store electricity. Always use protective gloves. Make sure that they’re voltage insulating so you won’t get shocked.

Now that you’re all set. Here’s the step-by-step process:

Buy replacement capacitors.
Open the back of your TV.
Locate the bad capacitors on your power board.
Unscrew and remove your power board.
Remove the binds of your capacitor with a desoldering kit.
Insert the new capacitors.
Cut the excess lead with pliers.
Solder the new capacitors with a soldering gun and flux paste.
Put everything back together.

#5: Replace the entire power board

Now, what if your red standby light won’t turn on…

But the capacitors are okay?

Then that means that the problem with your TV is the power board itself.

Unfortunately, that also means that you have to replace the entire board.

However, it’s no trouble at all. All you have to do is:

Open the back of your TV.
Unscrew and remove the power board.
Check the model number at the back.
Buy a new power board with the same model number.
Once you have one, place the new board on the chassis.
Screw it into place.

You may also be interested in: Is Insignia A Good TV Brand? 4 Problems & 4 Reasons

#6: Reattach ribbon cables

When you try to open your TV, does it:

Not turn on at all?
Flicker then turn off?
Have 1 side of it completely black before turning off?

If so, the problem must be your ribbon cables.

These cables are responsible for connecting each part of your TV.

And yes. That includes the power board to the mainboard.

That’s why it can cause your TV to malfunction when broken or loose.

To fix it, simply open the back of your TV and check every cable to see if they’re tightly connected.

Did that fix the problem? No?

Then purchase new ribbon cables online and replace the old ones.

#7: Power reset

Lastly, you can also try a power reset.

This is a quick and easy method to ensure that there’s no charge left on your TV.

Sound familiar?

That’s because you may have encountered the process of “power resetting” before. But it might be under a different name.

Like power cycle or cold boot.

Whatever the name is, here’s how you can do a power reset on your Insignia TV:

Unplug the TV from the outlet.
Long press the power button for a minute.
Plug the TV back in.

BONUS: Contact Insignia

There’ll be times when your TV is beyond DIY fixes…

And that’s okay. You know why?

Because there are people who can help you.

In this case, you can contact Insignia to get help from a customer service representative.