Troubleshooting
TV keeps turning off by itself? Why it happens and how to stop it
Nefarius Apps10 min read
A TV that keeps turning off by itself is usually told to switch off. A sleep timer, a power-off timer, an Eco or auto power off mode, a connected device over HDMI-CEC, a stuck remote button, or a power or heat problem causes it. Check power and the remote first, because those tests take one minute. Then check timers and connected devices, brand by brand, and the switching stops.
Check power first
A loose cord or a weak outlet can cut power without warning. Samsung advises the same first test on all its turning-off pages: unplug the set and plug it back in a way that rules out the outlet.
- Switch the TV off with its own power button.
- Unplug the power cord from the wall socket and from the back of the TV.
- Check the full cord for cuts, kinks or loose plugs.
- If the cord looks damaged, stop and order a replacement cord for the model.
- Plug the cord directly into a wall outlet that is known to work.
- Do not use a surge protector or an extension cord for this test.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Plug the TV back in and switch it on.
Samsung calls this a soft reboot or a cold shutdown and says it recalibrates the set (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). TCL gives the same 30-second unplug as its first step (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off.). If the TV stays on after the direct-wall test, the protector or the outlet caused the fault.
If the TV switches off seconds after it switches on, treat it as a power or heat fault, not a timer. Timers need hours or a set clock time, as the next sections show. A set that clicks, flashes strange colours or loops on and off needs service, and the last section lists those signs.
Test the remote before you change settings
A remote with a stuck power button can send repeated off commands. Samsung says to remove the batteries and switch the TV on with its manual button to test this (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). TCL says to change the batteries and check for stuck buttons (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off.).
- Remove the batteries from every remote in the room.
- Switch the TV on with the button on the set.
- Wait and watch.
- If the TV stays on, clean the power button on the remote or replace the remote.
- If the TV still switches off, the remote is not the cause.
A phone app gives the same answer from the other side. A phone remote sends commands over Wi-Fi, not over batteries, infrared or pairing. If the app controls the TV while the plastic remote does nothing, the plastic remote is defective. TCL uses this exact test with its own app, and the same logic works with any maker's app.
For the test, the TV must be on and on the same Wi-Fi as the phone. Install the maker's app or a universal app such as Tivi for Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets, then try volume. Tivi finds those sets on Wi-Fi with no account, and use your iPhone as a TV remote shows the setup. It does not control Roku or Apple TV, so use the Roku app or the Apple remote in Control Center for those sets instead. If the TV does not appear in the app, follow the checklist for a TV that does not appear. If both devices look joined but cannot reach each other, read same Wi-Fi but not connecting. The full battery, camera and pairing procedure is in remote diagnostic steps.
Switch off the timers that switch the TV off
Three timers cause most repeat switch-offs: a sleep timer, a power-off timer and an Eco or auto power off mode. They differ, and the difference tells you which one to blame.
A sleep timer counts down once from the moment it is set. Samsung says a sleep timer explains a single switch-off only, and repeated switch-offs have another cause (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). A power-off timer fires at a set clock time each day. An Eco or auto power off mode fires after hours with no input or no signal.
Samsung ships Auto Power Off switched on. The set warns with a countdown of 300 seconds and switches off after 4 hours with no user operation or no signal, unless you select OK to cancel it (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). LG ships a similar default: the set switches off after 4 hours with no button press, or after 2 hours on some models, and after 15 minutes with no signal and no press (LG USA (2026). How to Set the Power On-Off Timer., LG USA (2025). Self-troubleshooting.).
| Timer | Samsung path | LG path |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep timer | Settings, General, System Manager, Time, Sleep Timer, Off | All Settings, General, System, Time and Timer, Timers, Sleep Timer, Off |
| Power-off timer | Settings, General, System Manager, Time, Timer, Off | All Settings, General, System, Time and Timer, Timers, Power off Timer, Off |
| Eco or auto power off | Settings, General, Eco Solution, Auto Power Off, Off | All Settings, General, System, Time and Timer, Timers, Auto Power Off after 4 Hours, Off |
The paths above follow Samsung Australia and LG USA (Samsung AU. How to Troubleshoot Samsung TV that Keeps Turning Off., LG USA (2026). How to Set the Power On-Off Timer.). Menu names move between model years, so look under General and System or Time where the year differs. Check that the clock shows the correct time first, because a wrong clock fires a power-off timer at the wrong hour. If the TV switches off at one fixed time each day, the power-off timer is the cause. If it switches off after hours of viewing with no presses, Eco or auto power off is the cause.
Stop another device switching it off
HDMI-CEC lets connected devices control each other over HDMI. A box, a console or a soundbar can then send a standby command that switches the TV off. Samsung calls its version Anynet+. LG calls it Simplink (LG USA (2026). How to Enable HDMI-CEC.). Sony calls it Bravia Sync (Sony Help Guide. Adjusting BRAVIA Sync settings.). TCL and most others call it HDMI-CEC, with its path under Settings, Display and sound (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off.).
| Brand | Name | Path |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Anynet+ | Settings, General, External Device Manager, Anynet+, Off |
| LG | Simplink | All Settings, General, Devices, HDMI Settings, Simplink, Off |
| Sony | Bravia Sync | Settings, Watching TV, External Inputs, Bravia Sync settings, Off |
| TCL and Google TV | HDMI-CEC | Settings, Display and sound, HDMI-CEC, Off |
Samsung says a TV that turns itself on and off can be following Anynet+ commands and advises switching Anynet+ off to test it (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). Disconnect all external devices first, then reconnect them one at a time to find the one that triggers the fault. Samsung Australia gives this exact one-by-one test and asks for a certified HDMI cable, because uncertified cables cause black screens and connection errors (Samsung AU. How to Troubleshoot Samsung TV that Keeps Turning Off.).
Two edge cases cause the same symptom. A soundbar with its own auto-off can put the TV in standby over CEC. LG traced one such case to a soundbar that sends a standby command after 20 minutes with no audio and no presses, and the fix is to switch that timer off in the soundbar app (LG CA (2025). TV powers off on its own.). A streaming app with autoplay can also stop after 4 hours and leave the TV with no signal, which Eco then treats as idle. LG reports this for autoplay left running, and asks to switch the same auto-off check on every connected box (LG CA (2023). Auto Power Off Disabling feature.).
Also check the source before you reset anything. If a set-top box, a console or a PC goes to sleep, the TV loses its signal and shows a no-signal image or shuts down. Samsung describes this exact black-screen case (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). If the screen is black but the set looks on, try change the input without a remote and wake the source device first.
Update, cool down and reset in that order
An old firmware version can hold bugs that newer versions fix. Samsung and TCL both list a software update before a reset (Samsung US. TV or projector powers on or off by itself., TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off.).
- Open Settings on the TV.
- Open Support.
- Open Software Update.
- Select Update Now.
- Install the offered version and wait until the set restarts.
If the set has no network connection, update over USB with the file from the maker support page instead.
Heat causes shutdowns too. A set in a closed cabinet, against a wall with blocked vents, in dust, in direct sun or in a hot room protects itself by switching off. Give the set space on all sides, clean the vents with a soft brush or compressed air, keep it out of direct sun and let it cool before you switch it on again.
Keep a factory reset last. It returns the set to its out-of-box state and erases all settings and apps, so use it only after the tests above. TCL gives this order and the same warning (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off.). Consult the manual for the exact reset path for the model.
One note for a set that turns on and off in a loop: Samsung says phones and apps on the same network can send power-on signals over Wi-Fi, and its Power On with Mobile setting at Settings, General, Network, Expert Settings controls this (Samsung US. TV or projector powers on or off by itself.). Switch that setting off while you test a loop, so a network trigger does not confuse the result.
When to call service
Stop and book a repair when the set shows a hardware sign. Samsung says a standby light that flashes as the set shuts down means a defective set (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.). The same applies to a burning smell, smoke, water inside, a cracked screen, a loud click before each shutdown, strange colors before each shutdown, or a loop that continues with no devices connected and fresh software. Samsung 2019 and later sets keep event logs at Settings, Support, About This TV that the technician can read (Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.).
Do not open the set. High voltage inside can injure, and opening voids the warranty. Contact the maker support line or a local technician, and keep the model code and the purchase date ready.
The short version
Unplug the TV for 30 seconds and plug it directly into a wall outlet. Remove the batteries from every remote and test with the button on the set, then test with a phone app on the same Wi-Fi. Switch off the sleep timer, the power-off timer and Eco or auto power off on the TV. Disconnect external devices, switch HDMI-CEC off and check the soundbar auto-off. Update the software, give the set air and reset only last. If the standby light flashes or the loop continues with nothing connected, book service.
Common questions
Why does my TV turn off by itself after a few seconds?
A set that switches off seconds after it switches on has a power, heat or hardware fault, not a timer fault. Timers need hours or a set clock time. Check the cord, plug directly into a wall outlet, give the set air and remove the remote batteries. If it still loops, book service.
Why does my TV keep turning on and off by itself in a loop?
A loop means the set receives repeated on and off commands or loses power repeatedly. Disconnect all HDMI devices, switch HDMI-CEC off, switch Samsung Power On with Mobile off while you test, update the software and check the cord. If the loop continues with nothing connected, the set needs service.
Can a remote turn the TV off by itself?
Yes. A stuck power button or a faulty remote can send repeated off commands. Remove the batteries from every remote and switch the TV on with its own button. If the set stays on, clean or replace the remote. A phone app on the same Wi-Fi can stand in until the new remote arrives.
Can a phone app keep my TV from turning off?
No. A phone app cannot override a sleep timer, Eco mode or a CEC standby command. It can tell you whether the plastic remote is at fault and it can control the set while you fix the cause. The TV must be on and on the same Wi-Fi as the phone for the test to work.
Sources
- Samsung UK (2026). My TV switches itself off.
- Samsung US. TV or projector powers on or off by itself.
- Samsung AU. How to Troubleshoot Samsung TV that Keeps Turning Off.
- LG USA (2026). How to Set the Power On-Off Timer.
- LG USA (2025). Self-troubleshooting.
- LG CA (2025). TV powers off on its own.
- LG CA (2023). Auto Power Off Disabling feature.
- LG USA (2026). How to Enable HDMI-CEC.
- Sony Help Guide. Adjusting BRAVIA Sync settings.
- TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off.