Cisco Cable Box Not Turning On? – Complete Fix Guide

Is your Cisco cable box not turning on? If you encounter this issue, don’t panic. Some users had the same problem. And luckily, we have the solution!

The main cause of a Cisco cable box not working is a connection problem. Either there is a service outage or an issue with the remote.

Your Cisco cable box will also not turn on if the coaxial cable is not plugged in. Another culprit is a hardware malfunction.

To clear your Cisco cable box not turning one issue, power cycle your device. Unplug the power cord, and wait 15 seconds before plugging the cord back in. Then, wait for another 20 minutes before turning on the receiver. In case this doesn’t work, factory reset your device.

Let us discuss why your Cisco cable box will not turn on. If you know the cause of the problem, you can take the appropriate action to resolve it.

Why Cisco Cable Box Will Not Turn On

If your Cisco cable box won’t turn on, the most common cause is a connectivity issue. There may be problems with the wall outlet, power bars, and TV settings.

1. Service Outage

Your device won’t turn on due to local or systemic failures. It may take time to work again. It all depends on the frequency of the outage and the recovery time of each outage.

2. Coaxial Cable not Plugged In

If the coaxial cable is not properly connected, your Cisco cable box won’t turn on. The ports may not be working, or the device is loosely attached. 

3. Remote Issues

Another possible reason your Cisco cable box won’t power on is a deprogrammed remote.

4. Hardware Malfunction

Problems can occur with the cable connections, processor, and external devices like the modem and router.

Now you know the possible causes of your Cisco cable box not powering on. We can now proceed to the solutions.

How to Fix Cisco Cable Box Not Turning On

If your Cisco cable box is not turning on, there are a number of things you can do to fix the problem.

But, before you move on to more elaborate solutions, we suggest you take the easiest road. It will save you a lot of time and effort.

You should first check the power on your wall outlet or plug it into a different spot on your power strip. Make sure all cables are plugged in, and the power bar is working.

If the wall outlet and power bar are not why your Cisco cable box is not turning on, proceed to the following solutions.

Solution #1: Turn Your TV On and Getting ‘No Signal’ Error

If you see the “No signal” message, chances are your TV is on, but your Cisco cable box is off. Make sure your TV is actually turned on. There are many ways to turn on your TV.

For this step, you actually want to see the error on your screen as this signifies that there are no problems with your TV.

Here are the steps that you should take when you encounter this scenario:

1. Turn your TV ON.
2. Unplug your TV and wait for 2 minutes.
3. Plug your TV and turn it ON again.
4. Use the physical buttons if needed.

Tip: If you do not see this message displayed on your TV’s screen, there might be something wrong with your TV. and you should have it checked.

Solution #2: Make Sure that the Indicator Lights are On

Now that you’ve made sure your TV is on, check if the indicator lights on your cable box are on.

If you see no lights, hit any button on the remote. Your device may not be receiving power. 

Here’s are the different indicator lights and what they mean:

1. Continuous Green LED light means the router is functional.
2. Amber LED light means the router is receiving power but isn’t working.
3. If the LED light is OFF, check the cable and power source.

Note: If the cable and power source is fine, but your Cisco cable box is still not receiving power, schedule a replacement of your device.

Solution #3: Turn it On Using the Power Button on the Box

Once your TV is on, and the indicator light is green, you should also turn on your Cisco cable box. Otherwise, you will get an error message. It’s possible that your cable box is simply not turned on.

The switch could be stuck, so make sure that you perform this step to rule out this cause.

Here’s how to turn on the Cisco cable box:

1. Press the CBL button.
2. You should see the CBL button light up.
3. Press the power button to turn on your cable box.

Note: If the CBL button doesn’t light up, replace the batteries in the remote. Try again and see if this works.

Solution #4: Power Cycle Your Cisco Cable Box

If your Cisco cable box is not turning on, power cycle your device. Rebooting fixes temporary bugs and glitches that may be causing the issue.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Unplug the power cord from the back of your Cisco cable box.
2. Wait 15 seconds, and then plug the power cord back in.
3. Wait for up to 20 minutes before turning your receiver back on.

Note: If power cycling does not work, it's time to check the cables. They may not be plugged in properly.

Solution #5: Make Sure the Cables on the Box are Plugged In Properly

Another common reason your Cisco cable box is not working is the cables aren’t plugged properly.

They may be loosely connected to the port, so make sure of the following:

1. Your lines are connected securely.
2. The coaxial cable is connected to the cable outlet on the wall.
3. The HDMI cable is connected to the HDMI port on the TV.

Tip: Several times, troubleshooting cables and connections fixes the problem.

Sometimes, it seems the cables are seated properly. Unplug and reinsert them to make sure.

Solution #6: Factory Reset Your Cisco Cable Box

If none of the above solutions work, restore your Cisco cable box to factory settings.

It will reset your device to its original state, thereby deleting start-up configurations and commands.

Here’s how you reset your Cisco cable box to its default settings:

1. Press and hold the Reset button for five seconds, then release.
2. Press the power button on the box, or use your remote to turn it on.
3. Wait for your cable box to set up.
4. Wait until you see the message Retrieving Channel Info….
5. Live TV will display when the reboot is complete.

After exhausting every solution in this post, try contacting Cisco Customer Support if the problem persists.

Talk to an expert for assistance since your box may require repair or replacement.

Read Next: Cisco AnyConnect No Policy Server Detected? (Fixed)

Bottom Line

Now you know why your Cisco cable box is not turning on issue. Fortunately, we have straightforward solutions that can help you solve the problem on your own.

You don’t need technical experience to perform them.

However, if the issue persists, we recommend you reach out to Cisco Customer Support for additional help.