How To Make TCL Roku TV Go Straight To Cable?

If you’re wondering how to make TCL Roku TV go straight to cable, don’t worry; it is simpler than you imagine.

So, in this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process in a step-by-step guide without any technical steps, so let’s unwrap the most important first…

To set TCL Roku TV straight to the cable, press the Home button on the Roku TV remote and navigate to the Power menu from the TV Settings.

Let’s learn more!

Can You Set the Roku TV Straight to the Cable?

Yes, you can configure your TCL Roku TV to automatically connect to the cable input when you turn it on.

This functionality sets your TV to bypass the Roku home screen and directly access your ​cable TV channels without having to switch inputs manually.

However, it is crucial that your Roku TV be connected to the cable box or satellite receiver with a functional HDMI or cable lead before configuring the input settings on your TV.

To avoid mistaking anything in the process, we recommend reading the step-by-step guide below…

How to Make TCL Roku TV Go Straight to Cable?

Tip: Follow the steps consecutively!

1. Check the Cable Connection

To set your TCL Roku TV to the cable it is crucial that your TV is connected to the cable box. 

If your unit is already connected, then double-check the cable connection between devices to ensure that everything is in the correct order.

Follow these steps to check the cable connection:

1. First, make sure your devices are unplugged.
2. Find the HDMI lead connected to the cable box.
3. Inspect the cable connection on your Roku TV.
4. Then, inspect the connection on the cable box.

It is important to ensure that the cable is firmly plugged into the port on your TCL Roku TV and the output port on the cable box or satellite receiver.

In case you find any fault on the HDMI line, try using a different cable to verify that the connection is intact.

When you’re ready, proceed with the next step!

2. Power *ON* Your Roku Setup!

When the cable connection is correctly set up, the next step is to finally power on your both devices so that you can correctly implement the steps to set up your TV input to the TV Box.

Simply plug in both your TCL Roku TV and cable box into the wall outlet. Then, press the power button on your TCL Roku TV and cable box or use the remote to turn the devices on. 

Tip: It’s crucial to verify that the electrical outlet for your devices is functional!

3. Access the Roku TV Settings

When your TCL Roku TV launches the home screen, press the “Home” button on the TCL TV remote to access the menu where you can see all the streaming channels, TV settings, and much more.

So, using the remote, scroll down in the menu and highlight the “Settings” option. 

Then press the Right Arrow button on the remote to access all the detail settings menu.

4. Access the Roku Power Menu

To set the TCL Roku TV straight to the cable, you need to access the power menu to adjust the input to the cable box.

So, whenever you turn on your TCL Roku TV, it will start on your input.

Here’s how to access the power menu on your TCL Roku TV:

1. First, scroll down and enter the “Settings” menu.
2. Then, locate and press on the “System” section.
3. Next, press the Right Arrow button on the remote.
4. Again, scroll down in the menu and go to “Power.”
5. From the power menu, scroll and select “Power On.”

When you access the Power On menu on your TCL Roku TV, you’ll see different input options to set up your TV on a specific input on powering on.

So, continue with the next step to set this!

5. Select the Cable Source Input

Within the “Power ON” submenu, simply press the Right Arrow button on the TCL remote and select the “Cable Box” option.

Otherwise, scroll to the HDMI input options, such as HDMI 1 and HDMI 2, and select the correct source where your device is connected.

Necessary: Press the OK button on your TCL Roku remote control to confirm your selection, and you should see a checkmark.

6. Test Your TCL Roku Setup

Once you are done selecting the “Cable” option from the “Power On” menu on your TCL Roku TV, these settings will make your TV go straight to cable when powered on.

To verify that it is set correctly, simply press the “Power” button on your TCL TV remote to power off your device. 

Again, press the “Power” button on your TV remote, and now your Roku TV automatically starts to the cable input to display the content from your cable box. 

Bonus Tip:

To switch back to the Roku interface, simply press the “Home“ button on the Roku remote or directly change the input source using the remote.

How to Get Roku TV to Start on Cable? 

If you own a TCL Roku TV and want it to directly launch the cable channels instead of the Roku home screen when you turn it on, the process is straightforward.

Then, make sure your Roku TV is connected to the cable box via HDMI or a cable.

When you are ready, follow these steps to set it up:

1. Plug in and turn on your TCL Roku TV.
2. Acquire access to the TCL Roku remote.
3. Press the “Home” button on your remote.
4. Scroll down and go to the “​Settings” tile. 
5. In the Settings, navigate to the “​System.”
6. Then, scroll right and go to the “​Power.”
7. Again, scroll right and press “Power On.”

You’ll now see a list of input sources on your TCL Roku TV. Simply scroll through the options and choose the cable box or the input that corresponds to your cable box.

After that, press the OK button on your Roku remote control to save your changes.

Why Won’t My Roku TV Start on Cable? –  Easy Solutions!

Now you know how to set TCL Roku TV to go straight to cable, and when the process does not work even after the steps in this guide, there may be an issue.

If the TCL Roku TV is not starting on cable when powered on, it could be due to different factors such as faulty connection, outdated software, defective cable, or faulty cable port.

It’s also possible that there is no service in your area and this is why the cable box’s feed does not show!

Here are some simple solutions for you to attempt:

Check the Cable Connection!

The first thing you have to do is check and make sure that the cable from your cable/satellite box is securely connected to the HDMI input on your Roku TV.

Power Cycle Your Setup

If there is nothing wrong with the connections, turn off both your Roku TV and cable/satellite box and unplug them from the power source for 5 minutes.

After that, plug them back in and power your devices back on.

Choose the Correct Input

It is crucial to choose the correct input source on your Roku TV. To set your TV to cable, go to Settings > System > Power > and then the Power On menu.

In the power on menu, locate and choose the HDMI input where your cable/satellite box is connected.

Test With Another Port

If nothing helps, then try using a different HDMI port on your Roku TV to see if the problem is related to a specific port.

Alternatively, try using another HDMI cable with your devices, so if you have another HDMI cable at home, check whether the setup will work by replacing the old one.

Update Roku TV Firmware

Sometimes, issues can be related to corrupted software or software conflicts.

In such a case, check if there are any software updates available for your Roku TV and attempt updating the TV software to see whether this would work.

Factory Reset the Roku TV 

As a last option, carry out a factory reset on your Roku TV.

Remember that this method will delete all your TV settings and installed apps, so prefer this only as a last resort and test whether the input will appear when you set up the settings from scratch.

In case you experience any issues setting your TCL Roku TV straight to the cable even after following all the steps from the guide, you need to contact TCL Support for more guidance!

Quick Recap:

Now we know how to make TCL Roku TV go straight to cable, and to achieve the setup, you must connect a video cable to your TV and then choose the correct source.

Then go to the TV Settings > System > Power, and select the source from the Power ON menu. 

Good Luck!