TCL AC shows CF, AP, PP or SA: what the codes mean and how to switch

These are Wi-Fi setup codes, not faults

On a TCL air conditioner with Wi-Fi, CF, AP, PP and SA describe where the unit is in Wi-Fi setup. TCL’s Wi-Fi guides don’t treat any of them as a fault:

TCL documents these codes only in its Wi-Fi setup instructions, which are for Wi-Fi models. TCL’s manuals mark the Wi-Fi symbol on the control panel as “only available for WIFI models”, and the Wi-Fi steps are “for wifi models only”. The manuals don’t list which exact models have Wi-Fi.

If you don’t want to use Wi-Fi at all, the guides don’t say how to turn these codes off or whether the AC keeps showing them.

Switch between CF and AP

On window and through-the-wall units the switch uses the Display button on the remote:

1. Press Display 6 times within 6 seconds. This resets the unit’s Wi-Fi setup to CF. The 2021 through-the-wall guide says you’ll hear two beeps after 8 to 10 seconds and the display then shows CF.
2. To go from CF to AP, press Display 6 more times within 6 seconds after CF appears. Allow 10–15 seconds; AP flashes when the switch is done.

Pressing Display once still does its everyday job: TCL’s window manual says it switches the display lights off and on.

Portable units: the portable quick-start guide gives the same Display instruction, but the remote drawn in that guide has no Display button, and the guide names no other key for it. If your portable’s remote has no Display button, ask TCL support for the step for your model.

What to do next

• CF: the AC is waiting to be added. Add it in the app with your 2.4 GHz network name and password, following Connect a TCL air conditioner to Wi-Fi. That page also shows which app your unit’s manual names (Smart Life, TCL Home Comfort or TCL Home+; TCL’s current US support pages name TCL Home).
• AP: the AC is acting as a hotspot. You’d normally choose this only after CF fails: switch the app to AP Mode, enter your home network’s password, then join the AC’s own network (SmartLife-xxxx or TCLHOMECOMFORT-XXXX, depending on the guide) in your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and go back to the app. The full AP steps are in the Wi-Fi setup guide.
• PP or SA: pairing is in progress. If the app then shows a check mark, setup is finished. If the app shows a warning, tap Retry.

If a code stays on or won’t appear

• PP or SA, and the app says setup failed: the code itself isn’t the fault; the app couldn’t finish connecting. Work through TCL’s checks for an app that can’t find the AC (2.4 GHz, password, range, firewall, Location permission, restarts, then AP mode).
• CF or AP won’t appear after pressing Display: press it 6 times within 6 seconds with the remote pointed at the unit, then wait 8–10 seconds. If nothing changes, your unit may not have Wi-Fi; check for the Wi-Fi symbol on the control panel and in your model’s manual.
• A different code, such as E1, E2, Lt, PF or Ft: those are error or status codes in TCL’s operating manuals, not Wi-Fi setup codes. Look them up in your model’s manual.

TCL’s Wi-Fi guide also warns: don’t unplug the Wi-Fi module yourself. None of these steps need the unit opened.