Why Is Philips TV Not Connecting To Cable Box? Fix In Minutes?

Whenever Philips TV not connecting to cable box, in most cases the users are doing something wrong in the setup process.

However, there are other possibilities and in this post, we’ll cover them all in an attempt to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Your Philips TV is not connecting to the cable box because cables are disconnected or faulty. Additionally, you need to choose the correct source on your Philips TV and reboot both devices to solve any temporary issues.

There is quite a lot to cover today since there are a lot of possibilities so let’s proceed with exposing the suspects first and then approaching each of them.

How To Connect Philips TV To Cable Box?

When looking for the problem, you should firmly go through the cables to see how they are connected.

There are two connections when plugging a cable box into your Philips TV.

You could either use a coaxial connection, which counts for a satellite TV signal, or a video connection (HDMI, YPbPr, S-Video, and so on…).

One side of the cable should be connected to your cable box output (example: HDMI OUT), and the other end, should be connected to the respective input on your TV.

Why Philips Is TV Not Connecting To Cable Box?

Now when knowing how to connect the devices, here are some of the problems that could have occurred:

1. Wiring Problem

The cables, inputs, and outputs should be working otherwise you won’t be able to establish the connection between the TV and cable box.

2. Initial Setup Not Complete

Skipping, bypassing, or turning off your TV while the cable box is on the initial setup, will prevent you from using the device.

3. Faulty Input

The Philips TV input, where your cable box is plugged, could be problematic.

4. The Wrong Source

As you probably know, in your Philips TV source menu, you must select the correct source of the input where the box is plugged in.

5. Hardware Problem

Lastly, a hardware malfunction of your cable box will prevent your Philips TV from recognizing the device.

Those were all the possible problems that could occur when connecting a cable box to your Philips TV.

Next, we’re going to address each of them and solve the problem in no time!

How To Fix When Philips TV Not Connecting To Cable Box?

With the causes now exposed, we shall move on to solving them one by one. We will focus both on your cable box and TV until we neutralize the cause.

Note: When connecting your cable box for the first time, there is the initial setup you must go through to enable your cable box’s functionality.

In case the cable box is not connecting to the TV even after the initial setup, proceed with the first solution:

Solution #1 Select The Correct Source

There’s a high possibility that you’re not selecting the correct source of your cable box, therefore you’re not seeing the broadcast on your Philips TV.

In this solution, we suggest troubleshooting this matter by identifying and selecting the correct source.

Here’s how to choose the cable box’ source on your Philips TV:

1. Access Philips TV’s menu using the arrow on the remote.
2. Go to the Sources tab.
3. Examine the back of your television and locate where the cable box is plugged in.
4. Check the label above the input and memorize it (it could be HDMI 1, HDMI 2, Coax, and so on).
5. In the source menu, locate the source sharing the input’s name and click on it.
6. Wait for a couple of moments.

Note: You must make sure that your cable box is turned on by the time you’re selecting the source to view the broadcast on your TV.

Solution #2 Carry Out The Initial Setup

As we’ve previously mentioned, the initial setup has to be completed before you can interact or use your cable box.

In that regard, you’ll need to make sure that this is taken care of.

Follow the instructions we’ve provided exactly as they are:

1. Examine where your cable box is connecting to the Philips TV.
2. Detach the connection and reconnect it back in.
3. Re-select the correct source that you’ve identified in the previous step.
4. Wait for the initial setup to be triggered and displayed.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and choose your preferences.

Note: The initial setup generally occurs when you plug your cable box for the first time, but if you haven’t done it yet, it should appear by reconnecting the cable box.

Solution #3 Power Cycle TV & Cable Box

Restarting both devices should have been one of the first things to do when encountering an issue of this nature.

Moreover, here you’ll learn how to power cycle the device, which is a more effective way to reboot than the regular restart.

With that being said, let’s start with your Philips TV first:

How To Power Cycle Philips TV?

1. Turn OFF your television using the Philips TV remote.
2. Unplug the A/C power adapter of your TV from the source.
3. Wait for 5 minutes before reattaching the cable.
4. Turn on your TV and test the cable box.

How To Power Cycle Cable Box?

1. Turn OFF your cable box using the power button on its hardware.
2. Unplug its power adapter from the source.
3. Wait for around 60 seconds.
4. Re-attach the cable and test.

Tip: You should connect your devices to alternative power outlets to explore the possibility of power failures.

Solution #4 Use Different Input

If your Philips TV fails to recognize the cable box, there could be a problem with the input you’re using.

In that regard, we can suggest plugging your cable box into a different input on your TV.

Regardless of whether you’re using a video connection or coaxial cable, there should be at least one more additional slot you can use than your current one.

Plug the cable box into an alternative input port and test.

Note: When changing the inputs, remember to choose the respective source from your TV menu, otherwise you won’t be seeing anything.

Solution #5 Replace The Cable

If changing the input didn’t help, we suggest replacing the cable that you use for connecting the cable box.

For instance, if you’re using an HDMI, unplug it from both your TV and cable box and connect a replacement HDMI.

If the problem is solved by using a different cable, then the reason is clear.

Note: In case you cannot see the input even with another (proven-to-work) cable, you should start suspecting your cable box in the next solution.

Solution #6 Reset Your Cable Box

If nothing worked so far, perform a factory reset on your cable box.

Most cable boxes have a reset pinhole or a button on their panel in which you should reach in, using a sharp object, and hold the reset button.

Alert: Resetting your cable box will permanently erase ALL data and configurations!

Here’s how to reset your cable box step by step:

1. Locate the factory reset button or pinhole on the cable box.
2. Either press the button or insert a sharp object into the reset hole.
3. Hold the reset button for 15-20 seconds before releasing.
4. Wait for your cable box to shut down and reboot.

If that couldn’t solve the issue either, consider contacting a technical assistant of your cable boxes for additional troubleshooting solutions.

Read Next: Why Is My Philips TV Remote Not Working?

Bottom Line:

Thus, to fix the issue when Philips TV is not connecting to the cable box, power cycle both of the devices and replace the input cable. You should carry out the initial setup and try to use a different input on your Philips TV. If nothing helps, factory reset your cable box.

Now that you know why Philips TV not connecting to cable box, you can solve the problem by following our guide.

We hope that you were able to solve the problem and for more technical solutions make sure to check our online blog.