Why Does My Samsung TV Keep Turning Off? Steps to Try

Last updated: September 2026

🕒 4 min read

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A TV that shuts itself off, or keeps switching on and off, can have several causes. If you’re asking why does my Samsung TV keep turning off, this guide goes through what Samsung’s UK and US support pages say, with each step credited to the page it comes from. We haven’t tested any of these steps, and the menu paths below are Samsung’s.

Why Does My Samsung TV Keep Turning Off? What Samsung Says

The two main reasons for a TV switching itself off, in Samsung UK’s words, are that a connected device has powered off or that it is due to your settings. The page adds that the causes and solutions depend on your TV and setup.

Samsung’s US page covers TVs, projectors and the Odyssey Ark gaming screen. This guide covers TVs only. That page describes the problem as a TV that is “turning off and on continuously.”

Start With the Basics

Check the standby light

Samsung UK’s page says to first establish whether the TV is defective, by checking whether the standby light flashes when the TV shuts down. If the light does flash, the page says the TV is defective and you’ll need to book a repair.

Try a soft reboot

Completely disconnecting an appliance from power can sometimes let it reset, according to Samsung UK. Its steps for the TV (the US page also gives 30 seconds):

1. Turn the TV off.
2. Disconnect the TV from the power socket.
3. Leave the TV for 30 seconds.
4. Reconnect the TV to power.
5. Turn the TV on.

Samsung’s US page also says to inspect the power cord for visible damage and, if it’s damaged, to get a replacement from samsungparts.com.

If you use a surge protector, both pages say to try plugging the TV directly into a power outlet. The UK page explains that this lets you check whether the surge protector is the problem.

Settings Samsung Says Can Switch a TV Off

Auto Power Off

According to Samsung UK, Auto Power Off is on by default. The TV powers off if it detects no signal from the current source, for example when a set-top box has gone into standby, or if it receives no user operation after four hours. A warning counting down from 300 seconds appears on the TV before it shuts down, and selecting OK cancels it.

To change it, Samsung UK gives this path:

1. Open the settings on your TV.
2. Navigate to General.
3. Select Eco Solution.
4. Select Auto Power Off.
5. Select how long the TV will wait before turning itself off.

Sleep Timer

A sleep timer can be set so that the TV switches itself off automatically after a certain amount of time. Samsung UK says you should check whether one has been activated, but adds a limit: this cause only applies the first time a TV turns itself off. If your TV turns itself off repeatedly, Samsung says the sleep timer is not the cause.

Samsung UK’s path to switch it off:

1. Open the settings menu.
2. Go to General.
3. Select System Manager.
4. Select Time.
5. Select Sleep Timer, then Off.

Connected Devices and Anynet+

The screen may not display properly if the source your TV was connected to turns off, such as a set-top box that’s been switched off or a PC that has gone to sleep, Samsung UK notes. The TV then shows an image indicating that there’s no longer an output signal.

Samsung UK adds that if you’ve checked your settings and the TV is still switching off, you should disconnect it from devices such as set-top boxes, games consoles or PCs, then reconnect them one at a time to determine which device is causing it.

Samsung UK’s page says some TVs have a feature called Anynet+, a type of HDMI called Consumer Electronic Control (CEC), used to connect different devices under one remote control. It says that if your TV is turning itself on and off, Anynet+ may be the cause. The path it gives to turn it off: open settings, select General, select External Device Manager, then press to turn Anynet+ on or off.

If the TV Also Turns On by Itself

Samsung’s US page describes a setting for TVs that can connect to SmartThings. It says these TVs can be turned on using compatible devices, sometimes automatically, and that abnormal “power on” signals sent through the wireless network will trigger this function and make the TV turn on. To turn this off, the page gives Settings > General > Network > Expert Settings > Power On with Mobile, then switch the setting off.

Check the Remote and the Software

Samsung UK says the issue may be with the remote. Its steps to test that are to remove the batteries and turn the TV on with its manual power button; the button’s location varies, so check your user manual. If that solves the problem, Samsung says you’ll need a replacement remote.

If the remote is the part that misbehaves, see our guide to Samsung TV remote control problems.

Samsung UK also lists checking for software updates, and calls the settings menu the easiest way: open Settings, select Support, select Software Update, then Update Now. If the TV isn’t online or the connection isn’t stable, you can update with a USB stick instead. Samsung notes that the steps may look different depending on your TV model and menu version.

Frequently Asked Questions

✅ Based on Samsung’s US and UK support pages.