How to Turn On a TCL TV Without a Remote

I've dug for the power button on three TCLs — a 5-Series Roku TV (55S546), a 4-Series Google TV (43S455), and an older 32-inch in the bedroom. 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 frustrating part is the first hunt in the dark, feeling along a bezel for a button that isn't where you expect.

Below are the four real ways to turn a TCL 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 your phone, then voice. Each has exact steps and the honest catch. On a Roku set, the menu paths differ a little — see how to turn on a TCL Roku TV without a remote. Lost the remote for good and want the full picture? See our lost TCL remote guide. And if the set stays dark even from its own power button, that's a power fault, not a remote one — see TCL TV won't turn on.

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 TCLs hide the control in one of them.

1. 1Back lower-right corner: on older and larger TCLs, a labeled power button sits here, often near the ports.
2. 2Center-bottom underside: reach under the front panel behind the TCL logo — most 2020-and-newer 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 the TV itself

This is the one route that works on a dead-off TV with nothing else on hand — no Wi-Fi, no console, no app. Every TCL has a physical power control; you just have to find it. Here's how, step by step.

1. 1Find the power button on the TV. TCL hides it in one of three spots: the back-right corner, the center-bottom underside behind the logo, or a small joystick nub under the panel. Feel along those edges — it's a single recessed button or stick, not a row of buttons.
2. 2Press it once to power on. A short press wakes the TV; the standby light turns on and the picture follows in a few seconds. If nothing happens, hold it for two seconds, then let go — some models need a slightly longer press from full off.
3. 3Use the joystick to navigate, if your model has one. On sets with a stick instead of a button, press it in to turn on, then nudge it up, down, left, or right to change input and volume. A long press opens a basic on-screen menu on many TCL Roku and Google TV models.
4. 4Switch to the input you need. The button or stick can change the source, so you can reach a game console or streaming stick even with no remote. It won't browse apps or type a search, though — for that, pair a phone app or grab a replacement remote.

Catch: the button turns the TV on and switches inputs, but it can't browse apps or type a search. Locations differ by model — our guide to the TCL TV power button maps where it sits on each series, or look up your exact model number on TCL's support site. Not sure which platform your set runs? Our TCL remote finder tool sorts it in a few taps.

Method 2: Turn it on 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, the feature that lets connected gear power the screen and switch to its input automatically.

1. 1Turn on the connected device: press the PlayStation, Xbox, Fire TV, or Chromecast power. If CEC 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 TV remote needed.
3. 3If nothing happens, CEC is off: it has to be enabled on the TV first, which is the catch below.

Catch: HDMI-CEC has to be turned on beforehand — TCL calls it different names by platform (Roku labels it 1-Touch Play under Settings › System; Google TV lists it under HDMI-CEC). If it was never enabled, use the power button once to get in and switch it on for next time.

Method 3: Power it on from your phone

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

1. 1Confirm network standby is on: on a TCL Roku TV it's Fast TV Start (Settings › System › Power); on Google TV it's network standby. A fully-off set drops Wi-Fi without 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: it lists the TV by name over Wi-Fi. Tap the power icon to turn it on, then use the D-pad, keyboard, and volume.

Honest catch: if network standby 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 or, with neither on hand, for controlling a TCL TV without a remote or Wi-Fi. Getting a brand-new set through its first-time wizard? See how to set up a TCL TV without a remote.

Method 4: Use a linked voice assistant

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

1. 1TCL Roku TV: link it in the Google Home or Amazon Alexa app, then say "turn on the TV." Roku's connectivity settings must allow it.
2. 2TCL Google TV: it has Google Assistant built in — with a linked speaker or your phone, say "turn on [TV name]."
3. 3Either platform: voice handles power, volume, and launching apps, but you'll still want the button or an app for menus and typing.

Catch: this needs both prior linking and network standby, 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.

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 — 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 set up network standby and a phone app so you never have to crouch for the button again. If the remote is gone for good, a replacement remote or app is the long-term fix.

Frequently Asked Questions