Various aspects and features described herein relate to methods for beam failure recovery in a SCell with assistance from a PCell. In an aspect, an apparatus (e.g., a UE) may detect an SCell beam failure, and send a scheduling request in response to detection of the SCell beam failure to a base station via a PCell. The UE may receive a first message including one of an uplink grant or a trigger for an UL report from the base station via the PCell. The UE may send a second message via the PCell indicating the SCell beam failure and a preferred candidate beam associated with the SCell. The UE may receive CORESET TCI state activation from the base station via the PCell, and determine, based on the CORESET TCI state activation signal, a control channel associated with the preferred candidate beam.