TV Turns Itself On And Off

Does your TV live its own little life and turn itself on and off?

You’re on your couch watching a series when your TV suddenly shuts itself off. Must have been an accident, right? You turn it on again and keep watching. A few hours later it turns off again.

Here we answer CompareSweden on why your TV continues to turn on and off itself and what you can do to stop it.

Why does my TV turn off automatically?

That question may sound funny, but if your TV seems to have its own mind, you probably are not laughing. The good news is that the problem is simple – as long as you can identify the cause. Here is what you should test if your Samsung, LG, Philips or Sony TV is switched on and off on its own, or regardless of TV brand, the solution is usually the same. Read on to get rid of the ghosts on your TV.

Check your power source

First, unplug your TV and watch the power cord carefully for damage or wear. If you see damage, remove the cord and replace it. If it looks good, make sure the cord is securely connected to the TV and reconnect it.

It can also be a problem with your outlet. Try connecting the TV to another socket, preferably one that is not connected to a light switch. Or it could be a problem with your surge protector, if you have one, try plugging your TV cable directly into the wall outlet.

Check your TV timer settings

Sleep-timer is a great way to make sure the TV turns off if you fall asleep on the couch. However, if someone in your family sets it up without telling you, you will probably get annoyed when your TV continues to turn off every night. Go to your settings and check your timers to make sure they are disabled.

Check the remote control

Take a look at your clicker, especially the power switch. Is it slightly depressed? This can happen if you or your family members have spilled something sticky on it or been a little too eager in your zapping. Try cleaning the remote control until all buttons are working properly. To do this safely, first remove the batteries and shake off any debris between the buttons. Then put some alcohol on a soft cloth or cotton swab and then clean the remote control and let it dry.

NOTE! You can also try replacing batteries. When the power of the remote control is low, it can send random signals to your TV.

Check your CEC settings

CEC, which stands for Consumer Electronics Control, is a feature that allows devices connected to your HDMI ports to control your TV. For example, if you turn on your game console, CEC could also turn on your TV. This setting is convenient but can also make your TV work a little funny sometimes.

You can disable CEC through your settings, but some manufacturers have different names for this feature. Here are what some of the big brands call it:

At LG® it is called SIMPLINK.
On Samsung it is called Anynet +.
Sony® calls it BRAVIA Sync ™.

Disconnect your TV from Wi-Fi if your TV turns itself off and on

Smart TVs allow you to do much more than just watch movies and programs. However, if your smart TV is connected to an Alexa or Google Home device, voice commands or smart routines may cause your TV to turn itself on or off. This can also happen if you watch something on your phone and it starts casting TV4 Play video to your TV on its own.

Turn off echo mode because your TV turns on

Some TVs have this option, which is intended to reduce energy consumption. Instead of your TV turning off, it switches to an energy saving mode . Therefore, devices connected to your TV via CEC or via Wi-Fi can get it to boot up again. To prevent this, disable the echo mode in your settings.

Check for firmware updates – TV turns itself on and off

These updates (sometimes called software updates) can add new features to your TV or fix known bugs. You can compare it with operating system updates on your phone or computer. Go to your settings and see if any firmware updates are available. Be careful: Sometimes they may introduce new problems depending on the age or model of your TV.

Perform a factory reset – the TV turns itself on and off

If you have tried all these tips and your TV is still on and off by itself, you may need to perform a factory reset. This deletes all custom settings or downloads of apps, so use it only as a last resort. Each brand has different steps to do a factory reset, so if you do not find it in your settings, see the TV instruction manual for help. If the problem persists, contact your TV manufacturer for further assistance.