TCL tv model troubleshooting

TCL TVs: Google TV, Roku TV, picture and ports

TCL sells Google TV sets such as the QM7, QM8, Q6, 5-Series S555 and 4-Series S455 and Roku TV sets such as the 6-Series R655, and the directory lists model pages. Owners report a picture that is dim or has halos, no sound through a soundbar, apps that crash, a remote that does not respond and a TV that restarts. The model pages give the checks.

For picture, choose Movie mode and check local dimming. For sound, use the eARC or ARC port and turn on HDMI-CEC. For apps, update the TV and clear caches. For restarts, check the power and the software.

The model and serial are on a label at the back, and the software version is in Settings. TCL's support pages list firmware for some models.

TCL's sets run either Google TV or Roku TV, and the platform decides where settings live, how the remote pairs and how apps update. Check the model label: Roku sets say Roku TV in the name, and Google TV sets carry the Google TV logo. Software updates for Google TV come through Settings, System, Software update, and for Roku TV through Settings, System, System update. Using the right menu saves time, and TCL's support pages are organized by series and platform.

Whether the set runs Google TV or Roku TV, the remote is the part that most often causes complaints. A remote that stops working may have flat batteries, may have lost its pairing or may be blocked by a soundbar standing in front of the infrared window. Replace the batteries first, then re-pair the remote as the menu or the manual describes. The phone app for your platform can act as a remote while you sort it out, and it also lets you type searches faster.

Both of TCL's platforms update their software over the air, and an update can fix problems such as a slow menu, an app that crashes or an HDMI port that misbehaves. Check for updates every few months, and leave the TV connected to the network so that it can fetch them. If a TV has an issue after an update, restart it by unplugging for a minute. Keeping the TV's software up to date also keeps its apps working, since streaming services drop support for old versions.

HDMI connections cause many TCL complaints. A black screen with sound often means that the TV and the source cannot agree on a signal. Try another HDMI cable, another port and a lower output resolution on the source, then raise it step by step. Make sure that HDMI-CEC is on if you want the TV remote to control a soundbar, and turn it off if it switches devices on and off unexpectedly.