TV turns off by itself? Find the timer or device behind it
A TV that switches itself off is usually doing what a setting tells it to. Many TVs switch off after 4 hours without a press on the remote, and many follow a connected box or soundbar into standby. When it happens tells you which one.
Updated 18 October 2026
When does it switch off?
| It switches off | The likely cause |
|---|---|
| After about 4 hours without a press on the TV's remote, often after a countdown | Auto power off, a power-saving setting that is on by default |
| Once, after a set time | The sleep timer |
| At the same time every day | An off timer, or an on timer that switches the TV off again after a while |
| A few minutes after the source goes off | The no-signal timer |
| When you switch off a box, a console or a soundbar | HDMI-CEC, the link between connected devices |
| Every hour, on the hour | A plug-in timer between the plug and the wall, says Sony |
| At random, with the standby light flashing as it goes off | A fault, says Samsung. See when it is a fault |
| A few seconds after you switch it on, again and again | A restart loop |
Switch off the power-saving timers
Samsung and LG switch auto power off on at the factory, set to 4 hours. Philips, Panasonic and TCL's European TVs do the same. The timer counts presses on the TV's own remote, so if you mostly use the remote of a set-top box, the TV thinks nobody is watching. Samsung shows a countdown from 300 seconds first: press OK and the TV stays on. Philips suggests switching its timer off if you use the TV with a set-top box or as a monitor.
Samsung
- Auto Power Off: on newer models under Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, Power and Energy Saving. On older ones under Settings, General, Eco Solution.
- Auto Power Saving sits in the same menu on newer models. It uses Wi-Fi signals and how you use the remote, and Samsung says to switch it off too.
- Sleep Timer and Off Timer: Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, System Manager, Time. On older models General, System Manager, Time. Samsung notes that a sleep timer only explains the first time the TV switches off.
- The event log: for TVs from 2019 on, Samsung says to check it, under Menu, Support, About TV, Event logs. Our Samsung model number guide tells you the year of your TV.
LG
- Timers: Settings, General, System, Time & Timer, Timers. There you find Auto Power Off after 4 hours, the Power On Timer and the Power Off Timer. LG notes that some models do not have auto power off.
- A TV started by the Power On Timer switches off again if nobody presses a button for a while. LG calls this a power-saving feature.
- Check the clock in the same menu. A wrong time makes the timers fire at odd moments.
- Quick Start+: LG Canada says it can make the TV switch on and off at random. Switch it off as a test.
Sony
Sony uses three names for the same feature, depending on the model: Idle TV power off, Idle TV standby or Turn off TV after. It switches the TV off after a period without use, and the time differs between models.
- Google TV: Settings, System, Power and energy. Look there for Energy saver (Turn off TV after), Idle TV power off, Idle TV standby, Auto shut-off, Auto turn-off and Shut-off timer, and set each one to Off or Never. The sleep timer is in Quick Settings.
- Android TV: Idle TV standby and Auto shut-off are under Device Preferences, Power, or under BRAVIA settings, Eco. Also set the screen saver's Put device to sleep to Never.
- Without Android: Idle TV Standby and Auto Shut-off are under Eco in the settings, the sleep timer under Clock/Timers. The Presence Sensor turns the picture off when nobody moves in front of the TV, and puts it in standby after 30 minutes.
Auto Shut-off is Sony's no-signal timer: it switches the TV off when no input signal arrives. If the TV goes off every hour on the hour, Sony says to check whether the plug is on a plug-in timer.
Philips with Google TV
- Settings, System, Power & Energy holds the Sleep timer, the Switch off timer and the Shut-off timer, with When inactive and When watching.
- The No signal timer is in the same menu. Philips says it cannot be switched off, so keep an active source on.
- Philips Google TVs also switch off after 4 hours without a press on the remote.
Hisense, TCL and Panasonic
- Hisense with Google TV: Settings, System, Power & Energy. Under Power you find the Sleep Timer and the Power Off Timer, and under Energy saver the time after which the display turns off, from 15 minutes up to Never.
- TCL: TCL's European TVs switch off after 4 hours without use, with a warning first, and the time can be changed in the menu. On a TCL Roku TV the sleep timer is under Settings, System, Timer.
- Panasonic: two timers, one that switches off after 10 minutes without a signal and one after 4 hours without a press on the remote or the TV. Set both to Stay on. Panasonic counts down 3, 2, 1 before it switches off.
A connected device switches it off
HDMI-CEC lets devices on the HDMI cables switch each other on and off, so that one remote runs everything. Each maker gives it its own name:
| TV | Name of HDMI-CEC |
|---|---|
| Samsung | Anynet+ |
| LG | SimpLink |
| Sony | BRAVIA Sync |
| Philips | EasyLink |
| Panasonic | VIERA Link |
If the TV goes off when you switch off a box, a console or a soundbar, this link is the cause. LG gives an example: a Bose soundbar that sits idle for 20 minutes sends the TV to standby over HDMI. The fix there is the soundbar's own auto-off timer, in its app. You can also switch the link off on the TV, but then one remote no longer runs the other devices.
- Samsung: Settings, General, External Device Manager, Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
- LG: on 2021 and 2022 models All Settings, General, External Devices, HDMI Settings, SimpLink (HDMI-CEC). On 2020 models All Settings, Connection, Device Connection Settings, SimpLink (HDMI-CEC).
- Sony with Google TV: Settings, Channels & Inputs, External inputs, BRAVIA Sync settings.
- Philips with Google TV: Settings, Channels & Inputs, Inputs, EasyLink.
TV turns on by itself
The same settings work the other way round:
- An on timer. If it happens at the same time every day, LG says someone set a timer. Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense have one in the timer menus above.
- HDMI-CEC. Many boxes switch the TV on when they start, and LG says some do so when they wake for an automatic update. Google adds that some TVs switch on when you cast to them. Switch the link off on the TV, and on an LG on the box too.
- Your phone. Samsung's Power On with Mobile lets the SmartThings app switch the TV on over the network: Settings, General, Network, Expert Settings. Sony calls it Remote Start, LG TV On With Mobile. Switch it off and the app can no longer turn the TV on.
- Voice and sensors. Sony says a voice remote or a smart speaker can react to everyday conversation by mistake. A Google TV with Ambient Display can switch on when someone enters the room.
- A dirty remote. Samsung says dirt around the power button can press it. Clean the remote, or take its batteries out to test.
On a Samsung from 2019 on, the event log names the cause: Menu, Support, About TV, Event logs, Power-on Reason. On an LG that turns on at random times, not at a fixed time, LG says a technician needs to look at it.
TV keeps restarting or turns off after a few seconds
A TV that starts, shows the logo and goes dark again, over and over, is in a restart loop. The makers suggest, in this order:
- A full power reset, plugged straight into the wall, with nothing else connected. Samsung says 60 seconds for this case. The waiting time for each brand is in our guide to a TV that won't turn on.
- A software update, if the TV stays on long enough. On a Samsung: Settings, Support, Software Update, Update Now.
- A factory reset, as the last step. It erases all settings and apps. On a Samsung from 2017 to 2021: Settings, General, Reset, with the PIN 0000. For a Sony with Android TV that keeps restarting after a software update, Sony's fix is a forced factory reset with the buttons on the TV. Our guide on how to reset a TV has the path for every brand and year.
Sony keeps one thing apart: a red light that blinks is not a restart problem. Our guide explains what a blinking light means. TCL says to check that the surge protector works properly, and to contact TCL if the TV turns off right after you switch it on, every time. LG says the same when the standby light flashes and the picture never appears.
Checks for the power and the remote
- Plug straight into the wall, not into a power strip or a surge protector, and make sure the outlet is not on a wall switch.
- Check the power cable for damage, and that it sits firmly at both ends.
- Take the batteries out of the remote, or cover the TV's remote sensor with your hand. Samsung says a faulty remote can switch the TV off.
- Unplug the other cables, USB, network, HDMI and antenna, and see whether it still happens. Sony suggests this, and switching off Wi-Fi as a test.
- Update the software. Samsung, LG and TCL all name it.
- Samsung One Connect: a poor connection between the TV and the box can switch the TV on and off.
When it is a fault
- Samsung: if the standby light flashes when the TV switches off, the TV is faulty and needs a repair. The same applies if it keeps switching off and on after all the steps above.
- LG: switching at random times, once the timers are ruled out, needs a technician. LG also names its protection against heat: the TV switches off when the inside gets too hot too fast. Sony's advice for a hot TV is to clean the vents and leave space around it for air.
- TCL: a fault in the power supply needs the maker or a technician.
Questions people ask
Why does my TV turn off by itself?
Usually because of a setting. Many TVs switch off after 4 hours without a press on the remote, and HDMI-CEC lets a set-top box or a soundbar send the TV into standby. Check the sleep timer, the off timer and auto power off, then switch HDMI-CEC off as a test. If the standby light flashes as the TV goes off, Samsung says it is a fault.
Why does my TV turn off after 4 hours?
It is a power-saving feature that Samsung, LG, Philips and Panasonic, among others, switch on at the factory. The TV counts presses on its own remote, so watching through a set-top box looks as if nobody is watching. Samsung shows a countdown first: press OK to stay on, or switch Auto Power Off off in the settings.
Why does my TV turn on by itself?
Usually an on timer, HDMI-CEC or a phone app. Many set-top boxes and consoles switch the TV on when they start, and the SmartThings, Sony and LG apps can wake the TV over the network. Sony adds that a voice remote can react to normal conversation. On a Samsung from 2019 on, the event log names the cause.
Why does my TV turn off and back on by itself?
If it happens again and again, the TV is in a restart loop. Unplug it, wait, and plug it straight into the wall with nothing else connected. Update the software if it stays on long enough, and use a factory reset as the last step. If it still loops, the makers say it needs a repair.
How do I stop my Samsung TV from turning off?
On newer models go to Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, Power and Energy Saving, and switch off Auto Power Off and Auto Power Saving. On older ones it is under Settings, General, Eco Solution, Auto Power Off. Then check the Sleep Timer and, if a box switches the TV off, Anynet+.
Sources
Every step on this page comes from the makers' own support pages and manuals:
- Samsung: TV switches itself off, newer menus, turning off by itself, event log, powers on or off by itself, turning on by itself, keeps resetting
- LG: auto power off, TV powers off on its own, turns on or off by itself, timers, turns on by itself, set-top box, random times
- Sony: turns on or off automatically, Idle TV power off, off every hour, restarts after an update, vents and lights
- Philips: Google TV switches off
- Hisense: 55A6H manual
- TCL: off after 4 hours, off and on by itself, keeps restarting
- Panasonic: screen turns off
- Google: what is CEC, Ambient Display