So you just got your new TCL smart TV, and you’re excited to try out all the apps! You install Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, anything that looks interesting.
But then you realize it won’t open! The app loads — but when it’s supposed to play something, it just sits there…
First, try restarting your router. This is a good place to start because most likely, any apps not working are all trying to access the Internet through this device.
Sometimes simply turning your router off and back on again will help it reset itself and allow you to go online but if that doesn’t work, keep reading.
How to Fix Issues with TCL Smart TV Apps
There are a few ways you can approach this problem, and I’m going to walk you through them, going from easiest to somewhat more complicated.
1- Reboot Your TCL Smart TV
If you’ve tried restarting your router and it didn’t work, then try restarting your TV by following these steps:
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Once in the Home menu, select Settings
- Now, go into System, then Power
- You should now see System Restart, where you should select Restart
- Wait for the TV to reboot, then try launching an app again – it should load like normal now!
If that didn’t fix the problem, try this alternative:
- Unplug your TV by pulling out the power cord
- Let it sit unplugged for 30 seconds, then plug it back in
- Check your apps to see if they work properly
90% of the time, this simple method will solve your problem; if it doesn’t, we’ll have to perform some quick and easy software updates.
2- Update Your Firmware
Alternatively, it could be time for an App or firmware update. Your TV should be checking for them periodically but if it isn’t, follow these steps:
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Once in the Home menu, select Settings
- Now, go into System and then System Update
- Select Check Now to see if an update is available
- The TV will now check and install any available updates
If an update exists, the TV will prompt you to install it when it’s complete. It can take a few minutes, so be patient!
If there are no updates available, the TV will say that in this menu. If you are having problems with apps outside of Netflix or Hulu, look into your internet connection before continuing on any further!
3- Your TCL Smart TV Might Have Trouble Connecting to the Internet
The first thing we did was reboot your modem; now, we have to check if your TCL Smart TV is connecting to the Internet properly.
To do this, we will check the settings:
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Once in the Home menu, select Settings
- Now, go into Network and then About
- You should now be able to see your signal strength labeled as Poor, Good, or Excellent.
- In case your signal isn’t strong enough, you may want to bring your modem closer to your TV or invest in a reliable Wi-Fi repeater like this one by TP-Link.
If the signal is good, you might want to open an app and see if it loads properly. If it does, then your modem is fine, while if not, try contacting your Internet Service Provider or router manufacturer for further assistance.
4- A Glitch with Your Private Network Could Be Causing This Problem
There are two types of networks available on your TCL Smart TV — Public and Private. Depending on what each one means for you will determine which one you should be using.
A public network won’t require any type of configuration, while a private network will.
When connecting to a private network, there are usually some security protocols in place that can also cause apps to malfunction — whether this is due to incorrect login information or if they simply weren’t set up properly is unknown.
You can check and see if there’s a problem with your security configuration:
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Once in the Home menu, select Settings
- Now, go into Network and then Advanced
Make sure that Private Networks (Home/Office) is checked instead of Public Networks (Just Visible).
This way, you’ll be using a private network for better protection of your data.
Once done, restart your TV again and try another app — it should work by now!
If these steps didn’t help you fix the problem, first make sure to update all apps on your TCL Smart TV.
In case a specific app on your Roku TV isn’t working, you should keep reading to find the best fixes for some of the most popular TCL apps.
What to do if YouTube Doesn’t Work on Your TCL Smart TV
If the YouTube app doesn’t work on your TCL TV, then there are five possible reasons for this problem:
1- If YouTube doesn’t work properly on your TCL smart TV, then you should first check that you have the latest version of the YouTube TV and YouTube app.
2- YouTube isn’t working because your TV’s internet connection is too slow.
Check if the problem only occurs with the YouTube app or not — if so, try rebooting your modem and router using these instructions.
If that still doesn’t work, choose a faster network protocol like 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz as a test.
If that works, then you might want to invest in a Wi-Fi repeater or move your router closer to your TCL Smart TV.
3- Your Internet Service Provider could be blocking some features from other countries.
In case you’re traveling abroad and the YouTube app becomes unavailable, try using a VPN like NordVPN or TunnelBear to change your IP address.
4- You might want to turn off the Power Saving option on your TCL Smart TV if it doesn’t automatically do so.
That means turning off the HDMI CEC option in Network > Advanced settings by selecting Off under System, disabling Eco Sensor, and disabling Auto Power Off.
5- Finally, if none of these solutions work for you, reset your Roku TV to factory defaults following these instructions, or contact technical support for further assistance.
What to do if Netflix Doesn’t Work on Your TCL Smart TV
Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services — and according to recent data, it’s also the most used. That’s why it’s no surprise that Netflix is supported by a number of devices, including your TCL Smart TV.
If you have a problem watching Netflix on your TCL TV, first make sure the Internet connection is up to par by checking these guidelines.
In case your internet service provider isn’t to blame, there are a number of troubleshooting steps you can take:
1- Uninstall Netflix and try to reinstall it from your Roku and reboot it:
- Press Home on your Roku remote
2. Once in the menu, select Settings
3. From there, go to System and then choose System Restart — this will also powercycle your TCL TV
1- Try clearing the cache and data for the Netflix app. To do this, simply go into Network > Advanced settings and select Clear Cache. Once done, restart your Roku device and try opening the Netflix app again.
2- Netflix might not load if it’s blocked in your location. A VPN is useful in such cases as it lets you spoof your IP address so that you appear to be browsing from another country.
3- Your bandwidth might be too low if Netflix isn’t working on your TCL TV even after clearing cache and data. Consider switching off some apps that you don’t regularly use to free up more of your internet speed for Netflix or switch to a faster network protocol like 5GHz, but only do it as a test since this may affect other devices connected to your network.
4- Another possible reason is incorrect login information which can happen easily thanks to the new Family View option found in most streaming services.
Make sure everyone logs out of their profiles and then try logging back in using different passwords for each user.
5- If you’ve checked all of these options and none of them work, or if your TCL TV isn’t even letting you log in to Netflix, reset your Roku to factory defaults, or contact technical support for further assistance.
What to do if Hulu Doesn’t Work on Your TCL Smart TV
When Hulu isn’t working properly on your TCL smart TV, there are a few steps you should take before contacting customer care:
1- Uninstall Hulu and try reinstalling it from your Roku, then reboot both devices:
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Once in the menu, select Settings
- From there, go to System and then choose System Restart — this will power cycle your TCL TV
2- Try clearing the cache and data for the Hulu app on your TCL Smart TV. To do this, simply go into Network > Advanced settings and select Clear Cache. Once done, restart your Roku device and try opening the Hulu app again.
3- Your bandwidth might be too low if Hulu isn’t working on your TCL TV even after clearing cache and data.
4- Another possible reason may be that you’re using the wrong login information, which can happen easily. Just like for Netflix, you should make sure everyone logs out of their profiles and then try logging back in using different passwords for each user.
5- If your router is blocking certain features from other countries, try using a VPN before launching Hulu on your TCL smart TV. These services let you unblock content outside of the region it was intended to be viewed in.
6- Finally, if none of these options work for you, reset your Roku TV to factory defaults, or contact technical support for further assistance.
What to do if Amazon Prime Doesn’t Work on Your TCL Smart TV
When Amazon Prime isn’t working properly on your TCL smart TV, there are a few steps you should take before contacting customer care:
1- Uninstall the application and try reinstalling it from your Roku, then reboot both devices.
2- Try clearing the cache and data for the Amazon app on your TCL Smart TV. To do this, simply go into Network > Advanced settings and select Clear Cache. Now, restart your Roku device and try opening the Amazon app again.
3- Your bandwidth may be too low if Amazon is not working on your TCL TV even after clearing the cache and data. Check who else might be using up the bandwidth; even something like a family member watching Facebook videos might cause your connectivity to drop significantly.
4- Just like with Netflix and Hulu, Amazon may not be working because you’re using invalid login information.
5- Alternatively, your ISP may be to blame; fixing this is as simple as using a VPN to unblock channels, apps, and services that are unavailable in your region.
6- Finally, if none of these options work for you, reset your Roku TV to factory defaults.
What to do if Pandora Doesn’t Work on Your TCL Smart TV
If Pandora is not working on your TCL smart TV, you should start by checking the internet connection. Make sure your TV and Roku device are connected to a stable wireless or wired network. If you’re using a router with 5GHz support, enable this network protocol as it’s faster than 2.4GHz.
There may be an issue with the Pandora app itself, so try reinstalling it from “My Channels” on your TCL Roku TV.
You may also want to restart both your Roku box and your TCL smart TV before trying again — this often solves common startup problems.
If Pandora is still not working on your TCL smart TV, there are a few steps you should take before contacting customer care:
1- Try clearing the cache and data for the Pandora app on your TCL Smart TV. To do this, simply go into Network > Advanced settings and select Clear Cache. Once done, restart your Roku device and try opening the Pandora app again.
3- Consider switching off some apps that you don’t regularly use or pause the occasional update on your smartphone or computer, to free up more of your internet bandwidth for streaming services like Netflix.
You may also want to temporarily switch to a faster network protocol like 5 GHz, but only do it as a test since this may affect other devices connected to your network.
4- Make sure you’re using the right Pandora login information.
5- Try using a VPN while watching Pandora on your TCL Roku TV to help unblock content that was not intended for your region.
As a last resort, you should contact customer care for further assistance.