Troubleshooting
TV turns on by itself? Why it happens and how to stop it
Nefarius Apps10 min read
A TV that turns on by itself is usually told to turn on by something nearby or by its own schedule. The most common triggers are a stuck remote button, an on timer or an HDMI device waking the set over CEC. A phone app or voice assistant on the same network can also wake it. Work through the checks below in order, and you will find the cause without wasting time.
Rule out the remote first
Start with the remote because it takes a minute. Samsung lists foreign matter around the power button of the remote control as one of the most common reasons a TV turns on by itself (Samsung (2022). How to troubleshoot the Samsung TV that keeps turning on by itself.).
- Remove the batteries from the remote.
- Press every button twice to release a stuck key.
- Clean around the power button with a dry cloth.
- Put the remote in another room for one night.
- If the TV stays off, the remote was the cause. Replace the batteries with a fresh matching pair and check that no button sticks.
Infrared remotes need a clear line of sight, so a sensor blocked by a soundbar or a reflective surface can also confuse the set. If a neighbor could see the TV through a window and you share the same brand, test it. Cover the remote sensor with thick tape for one night. This case is rare, but the test is quick.
Check the timers that can wake the TV
Many sets turn on because a timer tells them to. LG states the cause directly: if an LG TV turns on automatically, it can come from timer settings on the TV or from a connected external device (LG (2026). Why Does My TV Turn On By Itself.).
- Open Settings on the TV.
- Find Timers, Power or Eco.
- Turn Power On Timer to Off.
- Turn Sleep Timer to Off unless you use it.
- Turn Eco Mode or Power Saving to Off as a test.
Power On Timer schedules the set to turn on at a set time. Sleep Timer schedules it to turn off, but a wrong clock can make it act at odd hours. Eco or Power Saving can switch the set off after idle time, which feels related when you test. TCL lists the same three checks in its troubleshooting guide: look for Power Saving or Eco Mode and disable a sleep timer you did not set (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off?). Menus differ by brand and year, so look under General, System or Power. If the clock is wrong, fix it first, or timers will keep firing at the wrong hour.
Turn off HDMI-CEC wakeups
HDMI-CEC lets devices control each other over the HDMI cable. When it is on, powering on a console, stick or soundbar can wake the TV, and a device updating in standby can do the same. LG describes it plainly: HDMI cables have a CEC (Simplink) function that enables power control between products (LG (2026). How to Enable HDMI-CEC.).
- Unplug every HDMI device from the TV for one night.
- If the TV stays off, plug devices back one by one.
- When the TV starts waking again, you found the trigger.
- Open the trigger device and turn off its HDMI-CEC or power-sync option.
- Open the TV and turn off its HDMI-CEC option too.
The names differ by brand. Samsung calls it Anynet+. Go to Home, then Settings, then General, then External Device Manager, then Anynet+, and turn it off (Samsung (2022). How to troubleshoot the Samsung TV that keeps turning on by itself.). LG calls it Simplink. Go to Settings, then General, then Devices, then HDMI Settings, then Simplink, and turn it off. On older sets the path uses Connection instead, so check both variants. Turn off Auto Power Sync if you want to keep remote sharing without power follow.
You must disable the function in both ends. A player that still sends power commands will keep waking a TV that still listens. If you cannot find the device option, leave that HDMI cable unplugged until you need it.
Disconnect the network triggers
A smart TV also listens to the network. Samsung records these wakeups in its Event logs as YouTube, SmartThings on the same access point, sensor, WOL magic packet and Bluetooth wake (Samsung (2022). How to troubleshoot the Samsung TV that keeps turning on by itself.). Each value names a real trigger: casting, a phone app, a voice assistant, a wake packet or a Bluetooth device.
- Close video apps on phones and tablets on the same Wi-Fi.
- Ask voice assistants to stop, then test one night without them.
- If your set offers it, turn off network remote in the TV network settings as a test.
- Disconnect the TV from Wi-Fi for one night as a test.
TCL recommends the same Wi-Fi test to stop voice and cast triggers (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off?). Use it only to prove the cause. Do not leave the TV offline as a fix, or apps and updates will stop working. When the TV stays off with Wi-Fi disconnected, reconnect it and remove the trigger: sign out an old casting session, disable YouTube remote pairing, or turn off wake from the assistant app.
Check power and cables
Power faults can look like random wakeups. Check them after the remote, timers, CEC and network, because they take longer.
- Plug the TV directly into a wall outlet you trust.
- Avoid outlets switched by a wall switch.
- Avoid power strips with a switch for the test night.
- Push the power cable fully into the TV and the outlet.
- Unplug the TV for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
Samsung notes a related case in its Event logs as One Invisible connection. The TV turns on or off when the cable link between the TV and an external box is poor, so check all cable links (Samsung (2022). How to troubleshoot the Samsung TV that keeps turning on by itself.). Do not open the set. If you smell heat or see damage, unplug it and call support.
Samsung: read the Event logs
Samsung sets from 2019 onward record why they woke, when the firmware is current. Use this log before you change more settings.
- Open Menu on the TV.
- Select Support.
- Select About This TV.
- Open Event logs.
- Read the last Power-on reason, CEC command or One Invisible connection entry.
A Power-on reason names the trigger: YouTube or SmartThings on the same access point, sensor from Ambient Mode brightness detection, WOL magic packet, or Bluetooth wake. Disconnect or turn off the named source. A CEC command means an HDMI device woke the set. Turn off Anynet+ in Home, then Settings, then General, then External Device Manager, then Anynet+. Turn it off in the device too. A One Invisible connection means a poor cable link, so check every cable between the TV and its external box. These names and paths come from Samsung (2022). How to troubleshoot the Samsung TV that keeps turning on by itself. as of 2026. If your menu lacks About This TV, update the firmware first. To change these settings from your phone while you test, you can control a Samsung TV from an iPhone over Wi-Fi instead of hunting the physical remote.
LG: check two settings
LG reduces the problem to two checks: timers or a connected device (LG (2026). Why Does My TV Turn On By Itself.). Do them in this order.
- Open Settings on the TV.
- Turn Power On Timer to Off.
- Open General, then Devices, then HDMI Settings.
- Turn Simplink to Off.
- Turn Auto Power Sync to Off if you keep Simplink on.
- Update the firmware to the latest version.
- Unplug the TV for 30 seconds, then test one night.
On 2021 webOS 6.0 the Simplink path uses General, then Devices, then HDMI Settings. On 2019 webOS 4.5 it uses Connection, then HDMI Device Settings. Menus vary by year, so check both variants on older sets. Also open each connected HDMI device and turn off its CEC power-sync option, because the TV can still wake if the device sends the command. If you lost the LG remote, you can control an LG TV from an iPhone to reach these menus over Wi-Fi.
What to do when it still turns on
When the checks above fail, update and reset. This order protects your settings.
- Update the TV firmware to the latest version.
- Test one night.
- Write down your picture and network settings.
- Run a factory reset from Settings, then General, then Reset on Samsung, or the matching Reset path on your brand.
- Set up Wi-Fi and test one night before you reinstall apps.
TCL places updates and factory reset last for the same reason (TCL (2024). Why Does My TV Keep Turning Off?). If the TV still wakes after a reset with no HDMI and no Wi-Fi, call the maker support line with your model, firmware and Event-log values. Do not open the back or change internal parts.
Use your iPhone while you fix it
You will turn the set off many times while you test. When the physical remote is lost, has a stuck button or sits across the room at 3am, use your phone instead. You can use an iPhone as a TV remote over Wi-Fi when both devices share the same network, with pairing that differs by brand.
Tivi turns supported sets off and opens their menus. It works with Samsung, LG and Android TV or Google TV. It cannot stop the TV from waking again. It cannot turn a TV back on. Roku, Fire TV and Vizio sets need their own official apps for these steps. Use the phone to manage the symptom while you remove the cause above.
| Cause | What to check | Samsung path as of 2026 | LG path as of 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote | Stuck power button, foreign matter, batteries out test | Clean power button, remove batteries per Event-log guide | Remove batteries, cover sensor for one night |
| Timer | Power On Timer Off, Sleep Off, Eco Off, correct clock | Check Power On Timer in Settings, correct the clock | Check Power On Timer in Settings, turn it Off |
| HDMI-CEC | Unplug HDMI test, disable in TV and device | Home, then Settings, then General, then External Device Manager, then Anynet+ Off | Settings, then General, then Devices, then HDMI Settings, then Simplink Off |
| Network | Casting apps, voice assistants, WOL, Bluetooth | Event logs Power-on reason: YouTube, SmartThings, Sensor, WOL, BLE | Disconnect Wi-Fi for one night as a test, then remove the app trigger |
| Power | Wall-switch outlet, strip, loose cable, 30s unplug | Check One Invisible connection cables, then Reset last | Unplug 30 seconds, update firmware, then reset last |
Common questions
Why does my TV turn on in the middle of the night?
A timer or an HDMI device most often wakes it at night. Check Power On Timer first, then unplug HDMI devices for one night. If it stays off, turn off CEC in the TV and in the device that woke it.
Can HDMI turn my TV on?
Yes. HDMI-CEC lets a console, stick or soundbar wake the TV over the cable. Turn off Anynet+ on Samsung or Simplink on LG, and turn off CEC in the connected device too.
Can my neighbor turn on my TV?
This is very rare and needs line of sight with the same infrared codes. Cover the remote sensor for one night as a test. If the TV stays off, move the set or block the window path.
Can a phone app turn on my TV?
Yes, apps on the same Wi-Fi can wake it through casting or remote functions. Samsung lists YouTube and SmartThings on the same access point as Power-on reasons. Close casting sessions and test one night with Wi-Fi disconnected.
Why does my Samsung TV keep turning on?
Read Support, then About This TV, then Event logs. A Power-on reason names the app or wake source, a CEC command points to HDMI, and One Invisible connection points to cables. Fix the named source, then turn off Anynet+ if CEC caused it.
Why does my LG TV keep turning on?
Turn Power On Timer to Off, turn Simplink to Off, and update the firmware. Also turn off CEC power-sync in each connected HDMI device, because the TV can still wake if the device sends the command.