Press the physical power button (usually under the center of the bottom edge or on the back), or use a phone app over Wi-Fi. A phone can only wake the TV if its network standby option is on, such as Samsung “Power On with Mobile”, LG “Mobile TV On” or Roku “Fast TV Start”.
The remote is gone, the batteries are dead or the dog got to it first. Good news: you almost never need the remote to turn a TV on. There are six reliable ways to do it, and at least one of them works on every modern TV.
1. Use the physical power button on the TV
Nearly every TV has a power button, but manufacturers hide it to keep the front clean. Run your fingers along the bottom edge and the back panel. These are the usual spots:
| Brand | Where the button usually is |
|---|---|
| Samsung | A single button or small joystick under the center of the bottom edge (below the logo), or on the back, lower right |
| LG | A joystick-style button under the center logo, on the underside of the bezel |
| TCL | Under the bottom center, or on the back near the inputs |
| Roku TV (TCL, Hisense, Philips and others) | Under the bottom center or on the back, often next to the status light |
| Sony | On the back, left side, or along the right edge |
| Hisense | Under the bottom center or on the back, right side |
| Vizio | On the back, lower left or lower right |
On single-button TVs, a short press usually turns the TV on and a long press opens a small menu to change volume, channel or input. On joystick models, push the stick in to turn the TV on.
2. Use your phone over Wi-Fi
A smart TV can be controlled from a phone on the same Wi-Fi network. You can use the manufacturer’s app (SmartThings for Samsung, LG ThinQ for LG, the Google TV app for Google TV, the Roku app for Roku) or a universal app like RemotApp, which finds Samsung, LG, Roku and Google TV sets automatically.
The catch: to turn the TV on, the TV has to keep its network connection alive while it is in standby. That is off by default on some models. Turn it on once, while you still have a way to reach the menu:
- Samsung: Settings › General › Network › Expert Settings › Power On with Mobile.
- LG (webOS): Settings › General › Devices › Mobile TV On › Turn on via Wi-Fi (on older models: Settings › Connection › Mobile TV On).
- Roku TV: Settings › System › Power › Fast TV Start.
- Google TV / Android TV: most models keep the network on in standby. Some Sony models have Settings › Network & Internet › Remote Start.
Menu names change between model years, so look for words like “mobile”, “network standby”, “Wake on LAN” or “remote start”.
3. Let HDMI-CEC do it for you
HDMI-CEC lets devices connected by HDMI control each other. When it is on, turning on a game console or streaming box also wakes the TV and switches it to that input. Each brand gives CEC a different name:
- Samsung: Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
- LG: SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)
- Sony: BRAVIA Sync
- Roku TV: Settings › System › Control other devices (CEC)
- TCL and Hisense: often just “HDMI-CEC” or “T-Link”
On the device side, enable “HDMI Device Link” on PlayStation 5, “HDMI-CEC” under TV & display options on Xbox, and “Match TV power state” on Nintendo Switch.
4. Ask a voice assistant
If you already linked your TV to Google Home, Alexa or SmartThings, a voice command like “turn on the living room TV” works with the remote nowhere in sight. This only helps if the link was set up before the remote disappeared, and it depends on the same network standby setting from step 2.
5. Use a phone with an infrared blaster
Some Android phones, mainly from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, still have an infrared emitter on the top edge. With an IR remote app they behave exactly like the original remote, which means they work even with older TVs that have no Wi-Fi. iPhones have never had infrared. Read our guide to phones with an IR blaster to check yours.
6. Get a replacement or universal remote
If none of the above fits your setup, an inexpensive universal remote or the official replacement (the model number is printed on the original remote and in the TV’s manual) solves it for good. We compare both options in universal remote vs phone app.
What doesn’t work
- Waking a TV that is unplugged or switched off at the wall. No app can reach a TV with no power.
- Turning on a non-smart TV over Wi-Fi. If the TV has no network connection, only infrared or the physical button will work.
- Using a phone on a guest network or VPN. The phone and the TV must be on the same local network.
Quick checklist
- Find the physical button and turn the TV on.
- Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi as the TV.
- Enable the network standby option for your brand.
- Install a remote app and pair it once. From then on, the phone can turn the TV on and off.
Brand-specific steps are in our guides for Samsung, LG, Roku and TCL.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn on my TV with my phone if it has no infrared?
Yes, if it is a smart TV on the same Wi-Fi and its network standby option is enabled. The app sends a wake-up signal over the network. Without that option, the TV turns its Wi-Fi off in standby and no app can reach it.
Why can my remote app control the TV but not turn it on?
Turning a TV off over Wi-Fi is easy; turning it back on requires the TV to keep listening while in standby. Enable the network standby setting for your brand (listed above) and keep the TV plugged in.
Does every TV have a power button?
Almost every TV sold in the last 15 years has at least one physical button. On many models it is a small joystick or a single button hidden under the bottom edge, below the logo, or on the back panel.
Can a game console turn on my TV?
Yes. With HDMI-CEC enabled on both the TV and the console, turning on a PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch in its dock can wake the TV and switch it to the right input.
The team behind RemotApp, a universal TV remote app for iPhone and Android. We test every fix on real Samsung, LG, Roku and Google TV sets before publishing. About us
