Methods, systems, and devices for signaling for configuring downlink transmissions are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a configuration message from a base station indicating that a control resource set (CORESET) for a downlink control channel is associated with a set of transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states. The UE may subsequently receive a control message from the base station activating one or more of the TCI states. The UE may decode the downlink control channel based on the configuration message and the one or more activated TCI states. The UE may identify one or more TCI states (e.g., associated with the CORESET) to apply to a reception of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission. The UE may determine to apply one or more of the TCI states activated by the control message. The UE may determine to apply one or more different TCI states.