How to Turn On a TCL Roku TV Without a Remote

I've hunted for the power button on three TCL Roku TVs — a 5-Series (55S546), a 4-Series (43S446), and an older 32-inch 3-Series in the kids' room. My honest take: once you know TCL almost always puts it center-bottom or as a little joystick under the front, it takes two seconds. The maddening part is that first hunt in the dark, feeling along a bezel for a control that isn't where you expect it.

Below are the four real ways to turn a TCL Roku TV on with no remote, ordered by what actually works on a fully-off set right now — the power button first, then a connected device, then the Roku app, then voice. Each has exact steps and the honest catch. If the remote is gone for good, our TCL Roku TV remote guide covers pairing and replacements.

The 30-second test

Before you try anything clever, find the button. It's faster than any app and it always works. Run your fingers along these three spots in order — most TCL Roku sets hide the control in one of them.

1. 1Back lower-right corner: on older and larger TCL Roku TVs, a labeled power button sits here, often near the HDMI ports.
2. 2Center-bottom underside: reach under the front panel behind the TCL logo — most 2020-and-newer Roku sets put a single button or joystick here.
3. 3Left or right underside nub: some slim models use a tiny joystick you press in to turn on and nudge to navigate.

Method 1: The power button on your TCL Roku TV

This is the one route that works on a dead-off Roku TV with nothing else on hand — no Wi-Fi, no console, no app. Every TCL Roku TV has a physical power control; you just have to find it. Here's how, step by step — or see the full TCL Roku TV power button guide for what it can and can't do.

1. 1Find the power control on the TV. TCL Roku sets hide it in one of three spots: the back lower-right corner, the center-bottom underside behind the logo, or a small joystick nub under the front panel. Feel along those edges for a single recessed button or stick — not a row of keys.
2. 2Press it once to power on. A short press wakes the TV; the white standby light turns on and the purple Roku home screen loads in a few seconds. If nothing happens from full off, hold the button for two seconds, then let go — some models need the longer press.
3. 3Use the joystick to move around, if your model has one. On slim TCL Roku TVs with a stick instead of a button, press it in to turn on. Nudge it up, down, left, or right to change input or volume. A long press opens a small on-screen menu on many of these models.
4. 4Switch to the input you need. The button or stick can change the source, so you can reach a console or streaming stick with no remote. It can't open Roku channels or type a search, though — for that, pair the Roku app or grab a replacement remote.

Catch: the button turns the TV on and switches inputs, but it can't open Roku channels or type a search. Locations differ by model, so if you can't find it, look up your exact model number on TCL's support site. Not sure your set even runs Roku? Our TCL remote finder tool sorts it in a few taps, and the Roku remote identifier names your exact remote and its size if you're replacing it.

Method 2: Wake it with a connected device

If a game console, streaming stick, or soundbar is plugged into an HDMI port, turning that device on can wake the TV. It works through HDMI-CEC — Roku calls its version 1-Touch Play — which lets connected gear power the screen on and switch to its input automatically.

1. 1Turn on the connected device: press the PlayStation, Xbox, Fire TV, or Chromecast power. If 1-Touch Play is on, the TV wakes to that input on its own.
2. 2Give it a few seconds: the TV powers up and jumps to the HDMI port the device sits on — no Roku remote needed.
3. 3If nothing happens, CEC is off: it has to be enabled on the TV first, which is the catch below.

Catch: 1-Touch Play has to be turned on beforehand, under Settings › System › Control other devices (CEC). If it was never enabled, use the power button once to get in and switch it on for next time. Also confirm your console or stick has its own CEC setting turned on.

Method 3: Power it on with the Roku app

Your phone can power the TV on over Wi-Fi — but only if Fast TV Start was left on while you still had a remote. When it is, the official Roku app or a universal remote app like Smart TV Remote wakes the set and gives you the full button layout, no plastic clicker required.

1. 1Confirm Fast TV Start is on: Settings › System › Power › Fast TV Start. A fully-off Roku TV drops its Wi-Fi without it, so no app can reach it.
2. 2Install a remote app and join the same Wi-Fi: put your phone on the exact network the TV uses, not a guest or 5 GHz-only band.
3. 3Open the app and tap your TCL Roku TV: it lists the set by name over Wi-Fi. Tap the power icon to turn it on, then use the D-pad, keyboard, and volume.

Honest catch: if Fast TV Start was off when the TV powered down, no app can wake it — the Wi-Fi radio is asleep. Turn it on once with the button, flip the setting, and the app works from then on. The full walkthrough is in our control a TCL TV with your phone guide, and there's a version for using a remote app without Wi-Fi. If the set powers on but can't reach the network, see how to connect a TCL Roku TV to Wi-Fi without a remote.

Method 4: Turn it on by voice

If your TCL Roku TV is linked to Alexa or Google Home and Fast TV Start is on, you can turn it on hands-free. It's the easiest route when a smart speaker or your phone is nearby, though it shares the same standby requirement as the Roku app.

1. 1Link the TV first: add the Roku channel or skill in the Google Home or Amazon Alexa app while you still have a working remote.
2. 2Say the command: "Alexa, turn on the TV" or "Hey Google, turn on [TV name]" powers the set on if it's linked and Fast TV Start is on.
3. 3Voice handles the basics: power, volume, and launching channels work by voice, but you'll still want the button or an app for menus and typing.

Catch: this needs both prior linking and Fast TV Start, so it's not a rescue for a TV that was fully powered down with those off. Set it up while you have a working remote and it's the fastest option after that. For the official steps, see Roku's support site.

Which method to use

Not every route works in every situation. Here's how the four compare on the two things that matter when you're standing in front of a dark TCL Roku TV — whether it wakes a fully-off set and whether it needs any prior setup.

My advice: use the power button to get the TV on this second, then turn on Fast TV Start and set up the Roku app so you never have to crouch for the button again. Once it's on, our guide to controlling a TCL Roku TV with no remote covers full control, not just power. Want the platform-agnostic version that also covers Google TV sets? See how to turn on any TCL TV without a remote.

Frequently Asked Questions