Your Samsung TV is likely turning on because of a stray infrared signal, a scheduled wake timer, or a connected device sending a command
Samsung TVs turn on without your input for a handful of specific reasons, and most of them are fixable without calling a technician. The culprit is usually one of three things: an infrared remote signal bouncing off a wall or coming from a nearby device, a sleep timer or scheduled power-on you set and forgot about, or a connected device like a soundbar, streaming box, or phone that is telling the TV to wake up. Less often, it is a power surge or a failing power button circuit, but those are rarer.
The good news is that you can narrow down the cause in a few minutes and stop it from happening. Start by checking whether the TV turns on at a specific time each day, or randomly. That one detail tells you whether you are dealing with a timer or a signal problem.
Key Takeaways
- Check your TV's sleep timer and power-on schedule in Settings > General > Time to see if a scheduled wake time is set.
- Move or cover nearby infrared sources like cable boxes, soundbars, and motion sensors, which can send false on signals to your TV.
- Disable HDMI-CEC in Settings > General > External Device Manager > HDMI-CEC to stop connected devices from turning on your TV.
- Unplug the TV for 30 seconds to clear the power circuit if the problem started after a power outage or surge.
- If the TV turns on at the exact same time every day, a scheduled wake timer is almost certainly the cause.
Check for a scheduled wake timer or sleep timer
Samsung TVs have a built-in timer that can turn the TV on at a set time each day. If your TV powers on at the same time every morning or evening, this is almost always the reason. Go to Settings, then General, then Time. Look for Sleep Timer and On Timer (the exact names vary slightly by model year). If either one is set, you will see the time and days it is scheduled for.
Turn off any timer that is active. If you do not remember setting it, someone else in your household may have, or it may have been set by accident. Once you disable it, the TV should stop turning on at that time. Check back in a few days to make sure the setting did not reset itself.
Disable HDMI-CEC to stop connected devices from waking your TV
HDMI-CEC is a feature that lets devices plugged into your TV's HDMI ports communicate with each other and with the TV itself. A soundbar, streaming device, or gaming console can use HDMI-CEC to turn your TV on when it powers up, or even when it receives a signal. This is useful when everything is working as intended, but it can also cause unwanted wake-ups.
To turn off HDMI-CEC, go to Settings, then General, then External Device Manager, then HDMI-CEC. Toggle it off. Your TV will no longer respond to power commands from connected devices. If you want to keep HDMI-CEC on because you use it for other purposes, try unplugging the device that you suspect is sending the wake command for a day or two to see if the problem stops.
Move infrared sources away from your TV
Infrared signals from remote controls, cable boxes, motion sensors, and even some light fixtures can bounce off walls and furniture and reach your TV's sensor. If your TV turns on randomly at no particular time, an infrared signal is a likely culprit. The TV's infrared receiver is usually on the bottom front of the set, but it can also be on the sides.
Start by moving any devices that emit infrared signals away from your TV or pointing them in a different direction. This includes cable boxes, satellite receivers, soundbars with remote sensors, and motion-activated lights. If you have a universal remote or a phone app that controls your TV, make sure it is not in a pocket or bag where it could accidentally press a button. You can also cover the TV's infrared sensor with a small piece of opaque tape if you do not use the remote control often, though this will prevent the remote from working until you remove the tape.
Power-cycle your TV to clear temporary faults
If the TV started turning on by itself after a power outage or electrical surge, the power circuit may have a temporary fault. Unplug the TV from the wall outlet and leave it unplugged for at least 30 seconds. This drains any residual power from the capacitors in the power supply and forces the TV to reset. Plug it back in and turn it on normally using the remote or the power button on the TV itself.
If the problem was caused by a power surge, this usually fixes it. If it does not, and the TV continues to turn on by itself, the power supply circuit may be failing and you should contact Samsung support or a repair technician.
Check for a failing power button or remote sensor
A stuck power button on the TV itself, or a failing infrared sensor, can cause the TV to turn on without input. Press the physical power button on the front or side of your TV a few times to make sure it moves freely and is not stuck. If it feels stuck or stiff, do not force it—contact Samsung support.
If the power button feels normal, the infrared sensor may be failing. This is less common, but it can happen if the sensor has been exposed to heat, moisture, or physical damage. If you have ruled out timers, HDMI-CEC, and infrared signals from other devices, and the TV still turns on randomly, a failing sensor is possible. In this case, contact Samsung support or a local TV repair service for diagnosis.
Disable voice assistant wake commands if you use Bixby or Alexa
If your Samsung TV has a built-in voice assistant like Bixby, or if you have an Alexa device nearby, voice commands can accidentally trigger the TV to turn on. Someone in your home may say a phrase that sounds like a wake word, or a voice from a TV show or video could trigger it. Go to Settings, then General, then Voice, and check whether voice wake-up is enabled. If it is, you can turn it off or adjust the sensitivity.
If you have an Amazon Alexa device in the same room, check its settings to make sure your TV is not listed as a device that Alexa can control. You can also move the Alexa device further away from your TV or adjust its microphone sensitivity if it is picking up stray sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a power surge cause my TV to turn on by itself?
Yes. A power surge can damage the power supply circuit and cause it to send a false on signal to the TV. Unplug the TV for 30 seconds and plug it back in. If the problem continues, the power supply may need replacement and you should contact Samsung support or a repair technician.
Why does my TV turn on when I turn on my soundbar?
Your soundbar is using HDMI-CEC to tell your TV to power on. Go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > HDMI-CEC and turn it off. Your soundbar will still work, but it will no longer control your TV's power.
Does covering the infrared sensor with tape stop the TV from turning on?
Yes, but it also stops your remote from working until you remove the tape. This is a temporary test to see if infrared signals are the problem. If the TV stops turning on by itself after you cover the sensor, move infrared sources away instead of leaving the tape on permanently.
What if my TV turns on at the same time every single day?
A scheduled timer is almost certainly the cause. Go to Settings > General > Time and look for Sleep Timer and On Timer. Turn off any timer that is active. If you do not see a timer set, check whether someone else in your household set it, or contact Samsung support.
Can my phone turn on my Samsung TV?
Yes, if you have the SmartThings app installed and your phone is connected to the same network. Check your SmartThings app to see if your TV is listed, and remove it if you do not want your phone to control it. You can also disable HDMI-CEC and check your TV's network settings to limit what devices can communicate with it.