A few times my TV had turned itself on by itself. I don’t really believe in ghosts so I quickly ruled that out and there were no power shortages, which I thought could be the issue. Anyway, it turned out there was a very simple explanation in my case.
So why do TVs turn on by themselves?
A common reason why TV turn themselves on is that they are left in standby mode. Some HDMI devices are set to turn the TV on when they turn on. This feature is known as HDMI-CEC and allows you to control both devices with your TV remote. Sometimes if they receive a signal or a software update from a device (like a satellite box or games console) they will automatically turn on.
There is nothing wrong with your television if you are experiencing this issue. The most simple solution is to turn the television off after you finish watching it to avoid this from happening. You’re saving electricity and the environment too, so it’s just a good habit. There are other reasons your TV could be turning itself on too, so if turning your TV off doesn;t work – take a look at these reasons.
Other Reasons Why Your TV Can Turn Itself On
TVs can turn themselves on for all sorts of reasons. Usually it’s to alert you of something. If your TV is turning itself on for no apparent reason, here’s a few things you can check to exorcise your TV ghost.
Other Reasons why your TV can turn itself on?
- Standby Autotune issues (Common with Samsung TVs)
- Low Battery in Remote Control
- TV Timer Issues (Common with Sony TVs)
- Remote Control Button Issues
- Sunlight on Infrared Sensors
- Bluetooth device casting issues
- Power Cord Issues
Standby Autotune Issues (Common with Samsung TVs)
Your TV could be switching itself on because of the Standby Autotune function (common with Samsung Smart TVs). The frequency is set, manufacturer.
The purpose of the autotune function is to scan and refresh channel lists, store new channels and improve picture quality.
Under the Broadcast menu, there’s the option to disable this so the television doesn’t attempt to autotune while it’s in standby mode.
Low Battery In Remote Control
Remote controls are known to send infrared signals to your TV when it’s batteries are low, which could cause your TV to be turning itself on or off.
Before you replace the batteries in your remote, cover the sensor on your remote to see if the problem persists. You’ll know then if you have an issue with your TV or the remote.
If it’s remote – change the battery – problem solved. If it’s not, check if your TV is under warranty, and get it serviced if necessary
TV Timer Issues
Some TVs have timers set to turn on and turn off the TV at specific times of the day. Be sure to check the settings of your television to confirm that this is not the case for you.
For most TVs, look for the Settings section of the remote. This is a common problem with Sony Televisions.
Remote Control Button Issues & Universal Remotes
Remote control button issues. If you have an old remote control and any of the buttons stick, it’s possible that your remote could be triggering your TV to turn on without you realising it.
If you have a universal remote, it’s also possible that your signal if being interfered with someone else’s remote. In this instance, It may be worth getting another remote.
Sunlight on Infrared Sensors Turning on your TV
If your TV is facing a window and gets overexposed to sunlight, it could happen, your TVs infrared sensor can be affected by the sunlight and turn itself on! This is rare but can happen. You might as well cover the bases.
Bluetooth Device TV Casting Issues
Casting your phone to your TV is common practice nowadays. As brilliant as it is, sometimes your TV can detect devices that have not even been paired with yours.
I have had instances where this has triggered my television to turn on. The best way too avoid this to is to build your list of “denied”devices that can pair with your TV.
Your TV should alert you when a device is detected, and should give you the option to deny future access.
Another reason why you think your TV may be turning itself on is if you are casting to it without knowing it. When using YouTube, there is a casting option that you may be accidentally be pressing.
Power Cord Issues
Your TV could be turning itself on or off, just because of a fault power cord or extension cord.
Check that all the leads are properly plugged into your TV and the AC outlet.
Try another AC wall outlet as well (as in another plug socket) just to make sure you don’t have any issues with power surges.
TV Keeps Turning On After You Have Tried Everything
Ok, if you have tried everything and you are still experiencing an issue, the best thing to do is a hard factory reset; Which essentially means that you are restoring the settings of your TV as if you are taking out of the box again.
In terms of how to do this, you can usually navigate from your settings.
Here are a couple of guides from SONY. They are specific to their televisons, but give you an idea of the setps that you need to take.
How to perform a factory re-set:
How Do I get my TV off Idle Standby?
Idle TV standby is a function of your TV, whereby it powers off your TV after a certain length of time with no remote control or TV operational activity.
The idea is that you can save energy if you forget to turn your TV off. Your TV should usually warn you and give you the option to keep it on if you want to.
If you feel the TV standby option comes too soon, you can change the length of time or turn it off completely.
Navigate from setting to the energy saving mode, usually called “eco” or something like that. You can adjust the timer, or just turn your “TV standby” function to off to stop this from occurring completely.
My TV Won’t Turn On But The Red Light Is On
Re-setting your TV when the red light is on may seem impossible, but it can be done.
- Turn off the TV, turn off switches and disconnect the power cord
- Disconnect the power cord and hold down for at least 40 seconds
- Then wait 10 minutes, plug the TV back in and turn it on.
If your TV won’t turn on and the red light is off, the fuse in your plug may be blown. The easiest solution in this case is to change the fuse and plug it back in. If the red light is on however the fuse will not be blown.
Summary…
TVs can turn themselves on and off for a variety of reasons that can be easily fixed. So before you go out to the stores to buy a new one, go through the checks mentioned in this article.
Smart TVs, in particular, can turn themselves on for a variety of reasons, the most common reason being via the HDMI ports and casting through connected devices.
The simplest issues can also cause problems including low batteries in remotes, sticky buttons or even sunlight.
If you found this article useful, be sure to check our some more of our content. If I’ve experienced a DIY issue or malfunction, the chances are I’ve blogged about it, so check it out here.
If you have resolved your TV issue, kick back and watch your favourite show – What are you still reading for?