Why Does My Smart TV Turn Off By Itself [Solved]

There’s nothing more irritating than preparing to watch your best movie or TV program only for your smart TV to shut off automatically. 

This is a problem that is experienced regularly; however, that does not make it any less irritating. 

You may be thinking, “Is there a good reason why my smart TV keeps switching itself off, and is there anything I can do about it?” To put it simply, in this case, you are not alone.

There are a lot of people who have a smart TV, and this television disabling feature is present in many of them. This issue can be tedious, and in most cases it’s manageable. 

In this piece, we won’t only explain the common reasons why a television will turn itself off randomly. 

We shall also provide you with a detailed guide on how to diagnose and effectively deal with the issue.

What Causes My Smart TV to Turn Off By Itself?

There are multiple and several factors that may be contributing to the issues that lead to your smart TV shutting down on its own. 

Some of them can be rectified easily. Others may require a bit of technical finesse. Avail yourself of the opportunities offered by the three main types of issues: 

software, hardware, and even settings and power sources. Let’s break down the most common causes:

Power Supply Issues

Sometimes smart TVs do turn off on their own and the reason is generally a power supply that is faulty or not reliable. 

Whenever your TV does not have a reasonable flow of electricity, this means its flow is not consistent, the TV is likely to turn off. This can happen for several reasons:

Loose Power Cable: 

As much as it can be a one-time occurrence if your TV’s power cable isn’t properly plugged into the power jack or into the TV itself. 

Then there is a possibility that the TV may go on and off on its own and eventually turn off completely.

Faulty Power Outlet: 

In case the previous reason doesn’t hold in your situation, the outlet you’re connecting may not be functioning well and therefore, would make your TV not work and turn off.

Power Surge: 

Electrical storms and fluctuations in your local power grid can cause what is called a power surge. This surge can disrupt the power of your TV and may even turn it off completely.

How to Fix:

Check Connections: 

Make sure that the power cable is connected firmly to the outlet as well as the TV. In case you find that the power cord is damaged, you may have to buy a new one.

Try a Different Outlet: 

Unplug everything try connecting your TV to a different outlet and check whether it solves your problem.

Use a Surge Protector: 

If you frequently face power surge issues or expect them to occur in the future. 

It is wise to invest in a surge protector or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that will prevent any power surges from damaging your TV.

Overheating

These days, smart TVs can now be referred to as complex machines and as any machine, be it a computer or a smartphone, they do tend to heat up from time to time. 

If ever there is heating in the TV to excessive amounts, the TV will shut itself off to prevent any damage to the internal parts. This can occur due to several different reasons such as:

Blocked Vents: 

All TVs require adequate ventilation to dissipate heat. Blocked or dusty vents may create conditions for heat to accumulate excessively.

Surrounding Temperature: 

Overheating may also happen if the ambient temperature is high or the television is placed near a heat source like the chimney or in direct sunlight.

Extended Viewership: 

When your TV always has a 4k content stream or is being watched continuously, it may be very easily overheated.

How to Fix:

Ensure Proper Ventilation: 

First, ensure that there is enough space around the TV. 

The vent region should be about two inches away from the side wall of a closed cabinet.

Clean the Vents: 

Dusting protects one area of the TV, where moisture entering the TV may create problems. Clean the vents with a delicate brush or use compressed water or air.

Use an External Fan: 

Where the temperature in the room is too high or the TV is placed in a very warm area, other measures like a fan to cool the TV can be employed.

Broken Remote Control or Batteries of the Remote

 

The remote control is a surprising offender in many instances. 

The problem with the remote control is that in some cases, a bad remote control may send signals which make the TV turn off even. 

When the user has not pressed the power button. It could also be caused by:

Sticking Buttons:

 If for some reason a button on the remote control is sticking, this may be a cause that sends a continual signal to the TV to turn off.

Low or Dying Batteries: 

In case the batteries are on the lower side the remote in use can sometimes act strangely and for instance, send sup power off signals to the television.

How to Fix:

Replace the Batteries: 

Try to replace the weak batteries in the remote with new ones and see if the issue has been fixed or persists.

Check for Sticking Buttons: 

If the above problems do not show any signs of bringing about a solution. 

You may have to check whether there are any sticking buttons on the remote, and where the volume and channel buttons are located, a little cleaning is advised.

Test Without Remote:

If the above suggestions don’t work, see if the TV has a power button, and try pressing it to turn the TV on and off.

Auto-Power-Off or Sleep Timer Settings

Most nowadays smart TVs now are being designed in a way that there is an auto-switch off or sleep timer for the TV. 

This is the kind of feature that dictates when the TV switches off depending on how long the TV has been idle. 

This feature is indeed quite helpful for conserving power but on some occasions, it can be irritating when it is activated by mistake.

How to Fix:

Check Auto-Power-Off Settings: 

Enter your TV Settings and then enter Power Options and see whether the auto-power-off feature is switched on or off. If it is on, switch it off.

Disable Sleep Timer: 

Navigate to Settings > System > Sleep Timer and ensure it is turned to ‘off’. Your Energy Saver Mode should also be checked as it can contribute to turning off the TV too.

Old Firmware or Software Problems

Another reason why your smart TV can power itself off is due to software problems and tv firmware currently in use being not up to date. 

When the firmware or the operating system of the TV unit is outdated, it will result in such effects as powering the unit at unexpected times.

How to Fix:

Firmware Update: 

Look for any pending software or firmware updates within the Settings menu of your TV. If there are any updates available follow the instructions and install the update.

Factory Reset: 

a factory reset is a final option if the problem still exists after the firmware has been updated. This will wipe all settings but can be useful in resolving persistent software problems.

Hardware Failures

Sometimes, the problem could be linked to a hardware failure, which includes the power supply board, mainboard, or some other internal parts.

If some of these components fault them, the television may turn off by itself.

How to Fix:

Professional Help: 

If you suspect a hardware failure, call a professional technician for assistance. Repairing any hardware faults on your own can be risky and possibly void your warranty.

External Devices Interference

Occasionally, gaming consoles, streaming boxes, external hard drives, and other connected devices can interfere with TV. 

These devices can send signals to the TV or cause the TV to turn off unexpectedly.

How to Fix:

Disconnect Devices: 

Remove devices that are connected to the TV like HDMI cables, USB drives, and game consoles, and check to see if the problem goes away. 

If the TV does not turn off anymore, try re-plugging the devices one after the other to trace the source of the problem.

Check Device Settings: 

In the case of a specific unit causing the fault, inspect the settings for the device. 

For instance, a power signal off has been found on some gaming consoles when turned off.

Personal Anecdote: 

A Small Victory Over Random Shutdowns.

Allow me to digress for a bit and share my story. 

 

My smart TV began to power off without any notice or cues a couple of months ago. I attributed this to power fluctuations. 

 

After trying new power outlets and changing the power cord, the problems did not go away. 

 

Mysteriously, my remote was sending signals when I wasn’t even using it. 

 

I changed the remote batteries and cleaned the buttons, and after that, my TV never turned off on its own again. 

 

I was overjoyed and was finally able to watch all my favorite shows in one sitting.

 

Steps Taken to Troubleshoot the Problem

In conclusion, here’s the stepwise method to solve the case:

Check the Power Supply:

Make sure the power cable is plugged in properly.

Try plugging your TV into another power socket.

Use a surge protector.

Prevent Overheating:

Make sure the TV has enough space for air ventilation.

Dust off any lost particles from the vents.

Avoid keeping the TV near heat-emitting devices.

Verify the Remote Control:

Put in new remote batteries.

Check for any sticky or faulty buttons.

Check the TV without the use of the remote control.

Turn Off Auto Power Off and Sleep Timers:

Disabling the auto power off from the settings and sleep timer should also be done.

Firmware Update or Reset TV to Factory Settings:

The firmware for the TV should be upgraded where possible.

If it does help, one may as well perform a factory reset.

Look for External Devices Interference:

You could remove the external devices and see if the problem exists.

Think About Potential Hardware Problems:

You could contact an expert if you feel that there is a hardware problem.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I confirm if it is a power supply that is the cause of the problem?

In case you’ve eliminated problems with your software and settings and your TV unexpectedly turns off, it is only reasonable to suspect the power supply as well. 

Attempt using a different outlet or try a different power cable if one is available.

Can a power surge damage my television set?

There are some risk factors, interruptions and general interference that could potentially cause irreparable damage to the internal circuitry of the television. 

A surge protector could help with that determination.

My TV, is overheating, will it cause physical harm in the long run?

Overheating can prove to be damaging in the long run if it remains unaddressed. 

In cases where overexertion occurs causing overheating protection to kick in, quick action has to be taken regarding the cause of such overheating issues.

How do I reinstal the TV settings to original?

The action to effect a factory reset depends on the brand. However, look under Settings > System > Reset or under Settings > Support > Reset for this option. 

If these are unclear, please refer to your user manual.

Final comments

In the case of your smart TV turning off by itself, this can stem from problems with the power supply, overheating, excesses with uid remotes or software bugs. 

As can be appreciated, resolving every possibility will usually lead to resolving the issue without the need to engage a specialist.

Patience is very essential when dealing with the troubleshooting steps and if after everything professional help is needed, so be it. 

However, with a little bit of knowledge and even a bit of patience, one can quite easily fix the TV and enjoy all favored shows and movies without any interruptions.