You just found it. Maybe it was buried under a pile of old fleece blankets in the attic, or perhaps you finally caved and bought the glowing 2023 reboot for your niece. You’re holding this ball of synthetic fur and plastic eyes, and you’re asking the same question millions have asked since 1998: how do you turn furby on? It seems like it should be simple. It isn't.
Furbies are weird. They don't have a standard power toggle like a toaster or a lamp. Back in the late nineties, Tiger Electronics decided that a "power button" would break the illusion of life. They wanted you to believe this thing was an owl-hamster hybrid from another dimension, not a circuit board with a motor.
So, if you’re staring at a silent Furby, don't panic. It’s probably just "sleeping," or the batteries died during the Bush administration.
The Secret "On" Switch (That Isn't a Switch)
If you have a modern Furby—the one released in 2023 with the glowing ears—look at the "heart" gem on its forehead. That's your primary gateway. Press it. Usually, that’s all it takes to get the party started. But the older ones? They require a bit more... physical interaction.
For a vintage 1998 or 1999 Furby, there is no "on" button. None. You turn it on by feeding it (pressing its tongue), tilting it, or shaking it until the internal ball-sensor triggers the CPU. If it’s been sitting for twenty years, you might need to do more than a gentle nudge.
Sometimes they get "stuck" in a deep sleep state.
I’ve seen people try to wake up a classic Furby for ten minutes before realizing the batteries leaked acid all over the terminals. Check those compartments first. If the springs are covered in white crusty stuff, that's your problem. You can usually clean that off with a Q-tip and some white vinegar or lemon juice. The acid is alkaline, so the mild acid in vinegar neutralizes it. Science.
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Why Won't My Furby Wake Up?
Let's talk about the "Sync" button and the "Reset" hole.
On the bottom of many models, near the battery pack, you’ll see a tiny hole or a small green/red button. This is the "hard" way to turn Furby on when it’s being stubborn. If you've put in fresh AAs and nothing is happening, grab a paperclip.
- Flip the Furby upside down.
- Find the reset button.
- Hold it for about five seconds.
- While holding it, press the tongue down.
This combo usually forces the motor to kick-start. You’ll hear a mechanical whirring, maybe a little groan from the internal gears, and then those giant eyes will snap open. It’s a little creepy. Honestly, it’s always been a little creepy.
The Different Generations Matter
The 2005 "Emoto-Tronic" Furbies—the big ones with the rubbery faces—actually have an On/Off switch. It was a rare moment of logic for the manufacturers. It's located right next to the battery compartment. If you have one of those, just slide the switch. If it still won't move, it likely has a "perished" motor, which is a common hardware failure for that specific 2005 run.
The 2012 "Furby Boom" and the "Furby Connect" (the ones with LCD eyes) are a different beast. They don't have switches. They stay on as long as the batteries have juice, but they go into a "Deep Sleep" if you don't talk to them. To wake a Furby Connect, you actually have to pull its tail or turn it upside down. If it has its sleep mask on, remove it. The mask is literally the "off" switch for that model.
Troubleshooting the "Coma" State
If you're asking how do you turn furby on because you’ve tried everything and it’s still a paperweight, you might be dealing with "MSA"—Motor Stuck Syndrome.
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This happens to the 1998 models a lot. The internal lubricants gunk up over decades. To fix this, you sometimes have to "jumpstart" the motor. This involves opening the Furby (skinning it, which is traumatic) and manually turning the gear.
Wait.
Before you get the screwdriver out, try the "slap method." It sounds barbaric, but it’s a recognized fix in the Furby collector community. Hold the Furby and give it a firm (but not destructive) smack on the back. This can sometimes dislodge a stuck motor gear just enough for the electricity to take over.
Battery Nuances You Probably Ignored
Furbies are notoriously picky about voltage. If you’re using those cheap batteries you bought at the pharmacy checkout line, they might not have enough "oomph" to turn the motor and power the speakers at the same time.
- Use high-quality Alkaline batteries (Duracell or Energizer).
- Avoid heavy-duty "Zinc Carbon" batteries; they are too weak.
- Rechargeables are hit or miss. Some Furbies love them; others find the 1.2v (compared to 1.5v in disposables) too low to function.
Actionable Steps for a Silent Furby
If you’re standing there with a quiet fluff-ball, follow this exact sequence to get it talking again.
First, the Fresh Start. Pop the battery cover. Check for corrosion. Even a tiny bit of blue or white dust can break the circuit. Clean it with vinegar, let it dry, and put in brand-new, name-brand batteries. Don't mix old and new ones.
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Second, the Interaction Loop. If it’s a 1998 model, flip it upside down and shake it. Stick your finger in its mouth and press the tongue down repeatedly. If it’s a 2012/2013 model, pull and hold the tail for 10 seconds. For the 2023 version, tap the heart gem three times or give it a hug.
Third, the "Cold Boot." Locate the reset button inside the battery compartment. Press it while holding the tongue. If it’s a 2012 model, you might need to hold the reset button while also pulling the tail. It’s like a secret cheat code for a video game.
Finally, the Gear Kick. If you hear a humming or a clicking but no movement, the motor is struggling. Give it a few sharp pats on the base. If that fails, you can try using a hairdryer on a low, warm setting to blow air into the bottom; sometimes warming up the old grease inside the gears is enough to let them spin again.
Once it wakes up, be prepared. It’s going to be loud, it’s going to speak Furbish, and it’s probably going to demand food immediately. But hey, that’s what you wanted, right?
The reality is that these toys were designed to be "always on" in a way that mimics a pet. They don't want to be turned on; they want to be woken up. Whether you're dealing with a vintage relic or a modern LED-filled version, the trick is always about finding that specific physical trigger—the tongue, the heart, the tail, or the reset button—to remind the internal computer that it’s time to play.