The most common causes and how to identify yours

A Samsung TV that turns on and off by itself usually has one of five problems: a faulty remote sending phantom signals, a power cable or outlet issue, sleep timer accidentally enabled, HDMI-CEC interference from another device, or a software glitch. The fastest way to narrow it down is to unplug the TV for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and watch whether it happens again without the remote in the room. If it stops, the remote is the culprit. If it continues, move to the power and cable checks.

Most of these issues are fixable without a technician. The ones that are not—like a failing power supply inside the TV—show up as a pattern: the TV turns off after running for exactly the same amount of time each day, or it shuts down only when you are using a specific input like HDMI 2. Those patterns tell you whether to troubleshoot or call Samsung support.

Key Takeaways

  • Unplug the TV for 30 seconds and plug it back in; if the problem stops, your remote is sending false signals and needs new batteries or replacement.
  • Check that the power cable is fully seated in both the TV and the wall outlet, and try a different outlet to rule out a tripped breaker or bad socket.
  • Look in the TV settings under Sleep Timer or Auto Power Off to confirm neither is set to a short interval that matches when your TV shuts down.
  • If you have a soundbar, game console, or cable box connected via HDMI, disable HDMI-CEC (sometimes called Anynet+) in the TV menu to stop those devices from turning your TV on and off.
  • If the TV turns off at the exact same time every day or only on one input, the problem is likely internal hardware and you should contact Samsung support.

Remote control sending false power signals

A remote with worn buttons, low batteries, or internal damage will send stray signals that the TV interprets as power commands. The TV responds by turning on or off even though you did not press anything. This is the single most common reason for the symptom you are seeing.

Test this by removing the batteries from your Samsung remote and leaving them out for a full day. If the TV stops turning on and off, the remote is the problem. Replace the batteries with fresh ones—do not assume old batteries are dead just because they have been in the remote for months. If new batteries do not fix it, the remote itself has failed and needs replacement. Samsung sells official remotes for your model; the part number is on the back of your current remote.

If you have a universal remote or a third-party remote programmed to your TV, that device is even more likely to cause phantom signals. Unplug it or remove its batteries and see if the problem goes away. If it does, reprogram it carefully or switch back to the Samsung remote.

Power cable and outlet problems

A loose power cable or a faulty outlet will cause the TV to lose power and restart, which looks like it is turning on and off by itself. Check that the cable is pushed firmly into the back of the TV until you feel it click or seat fully. Then check the wall outlet: plug in a lamp or phone charger to confirm the outlet is working. If the lamp flickers or does not turn on, the outlet is bad or the circuit breaker has tripped.

If the outlet is controlled by a wall switch, make sure someone in your household is not accidentally flipping it. If the outlet is on a power strip, try plugging the TV directly into the wall instead. Power strips can fail or have a tripped internal breaker that cuts power intermittently.

Move the TV to a different outlet on a different circuit if you can. If the problem follows the TV, the issue is inside the TV itself. If the problem stays at the original outlet, the outlet or circuit is faulty and you should have an electrician check it.

Sleep Timer or Auto Power Off enabled in settings

Samsung TVs have a Sleep Timer feature that turns the TV off after a set number of minutes. If someone in your household enabled it and set it to a short interval—say, 30 minutes—the TV will turn off automatically every time you watch. You may not notice you set it because the timer resets each time the TV is turned on.

Go to Settings (or Menu on older models), then look for Sleep Timer, Auto Power Off, or Power Saving. The exact name varies by model year. If you see a timer set to anything other than Off, change it to Off. While you are in Settings, also check for a feature called Auto Standby or Eco Mode; if either is on and set to a short time, disable it.

Some Samsung TVs also have a feature that turns the TV off if no signal is detected for a certain time. If you use an antenna or cable box, check that the signal is strong and stable. A weak or intermittent signal can trigger this auto-off feature.

HDMI-CEC interference from connected devices

HDMI-CEC is a feature that lets devices connected to your TV—like a soundbar, game console, or cable box—control the TV's power. It is useful when it works correctly, but it can malfunction and cause the TV to turn on and off without your input. Samsung calls this feature Anynet+ on most models.

To disable it, go to Settings, then look for Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC), HDMI Device Connect, or similar. Turn it off. If the problem stops, you have found the cause. You can then turn Anynet+ back on and disable it only for the specific device causing trouble—usually the one you use least often.

If you have a Samsung soundbar paired to your TV via Bluetooth or HDMI, check the soundbar's settings as well. Some soundbars have their own power-control feature that can conflict with the TV. Unplug the soundbar for a day and see if the TV stabilizes. If it does, the soundbar is the culprit and you may need to update its firmware or contact Samsung support for the soundbar model.

Software glitches and factory reset

Occasionally a Samsung TV will develop a software bug that causes erratic power behavior. The fastest fix is a soft reset: unplug the TV for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears the TV's memory without erasing your settings or apps.

If a soft reset does not work, try a factory reset. Go to Settings, then Support or About, then Reset. Choose Factory Reset and enter your PIN (the default is usually 0000). The TV will restart and return to its original state. You will need to set up your apps and inputs again, but this fixes most software-related power issues.

Do a factory reset only after you have ruled out the remote, power cable, sleep timer, and HDMI-CEC. If the problem persists after a factory reset, the issue is almost certainly hardware failure inside the TV.

When to contact Samsung support

If your TV turns off at the exact same time every day—for example, always at 9 p.m.—or if it turns off only when you use a specific input like HDMI 2, the problem is likely a failing component inside the TV, not a setting or cable. Contact Samsung support with the model number (on the back of the TV) and a description of the pattern.

Samsung offers phone support, live chat, and email support through its website. If your TV is still under warranty, repair or replacement may be covered. If it is out of warranty, Samsung can quote you a repair cost. In many cases, a repair costs more than a budget replacement TV, so ask for the estimate before authorizing work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a bad HDMI cable cause my TV to turn on and off?

A bad HDMI cable usually causes picture or sound problems, not power cycling. However, if the cable is damaged in a way that causes a short circuit, it could theoretically trigger a safety shutdown. Try unplugging all HDMI cables and see if the problem stops. If it does, test each cable one at a time to find the bad one.

Why does my TV turn on by itself at night?

Night-time power-ons are usually caused by a remote with a stuck button, a neighbor's remote interfering, or a scheduled recording or update. Check your TV's schedule in Settings to see if any recordings or updates are set. If you find one, disable it. If not, the remote is the most likely cause.

Does a power surge cause Samsung TVs to turn on and off?

A power surge can damage the TV's power supply, which would cause it to fail or cycle on and off. If your area recently had a storm or power outage, and the problem started right after, a surge may be to blame. Plug the TV into a surge protector and see if the problem continues. If it does, the TV likely needs repair.

Will updating my Samsung TV's software fix the power problem?

Sometimes. Go to Settings, then Support, then Software Update to check for updates. If one is available, install it and restart the TV. Software updates can fix bugs that cause power cycling. If no update is available or the update does not fix the problem, move on to the other troubleshooting steps.

What if my TV turns on and off even after I unplug it for 30 seconds?

If the problem continues after a soft reset, the remote is not the cause. Move through the power cable, outlet, sleep timer, and HDMI-CEC checks in order. If none of those work, do a factory reset. If the problem persists after a factory reset, contact Samsung support—the TV likely has a hardware fault.