How To Fix A Samsung TV That Keeps Power Cycling (2026)
Your Samsung TV keeps switching itself on and off, and the loop can be hard to stop.
Most of the time the trigger is a connected device, a wireless wake-up signal, or a timer, and all three can be switched off in the settings.
This guide walks through the fixes Samsung itself lists, in order, and takes about 30 minutes plus a day of watching the TV.
Which fix should you try first in 2026?
Start with the Event Logs if your TV has them, because they name the trigger.
| What you see | Likely cause | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| Event log says “CEC command” | An HDMI device is sending power commands | Step 2 |
| Log shows YouTube, SmartThings, WOL or BLE | A phone or app on your network is waking the TV | Step 3 |
| TV turns itself off at set times | Sleep Timer, Off Timer or Auto Power Off | Step 4 |
| Cycling only with devices attached | A single device is the trigger | Step 5 |
| Started after an update | Software problem | Steps 6 and 7 |
| Log says “One Invisible connection” | Poor connection between the TV and its One Connect box | Contact Samsung |
How do you check why the TV powered on?
Samsung says Event Logs exist only on TVs manufactured in 2019 or later.
- Open Settings > Support > About TV > Event Logs.
- Read the power-on reason on each recent entry.
- Match it to the table above.
Samsung’s own page lists YouTube or SmartThings apps on networked devices, the Ambient Mode sensor, Wake-on-LAN and Bluetooth wake-up as possible sources.
Step 1: Power cycle and plug into the wall
Samsung’s US support page starts with unplugging the TV for 30 seconds.
- Unplug the power cord from the TV or the outlet.
- Wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
- Connect the cord straight to a wall outlet and bypass any surge protector.
- Check the cord for visible damage.
If the cord is damaged, Samsung points to samsungparts.com for a replacement.
Step 2: Turn off Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
Anynet+ is on by default and lets connected HDMI devices turn the TV on.
- Open Settings > General > External Device Manager.
- Turn Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) off.
The trade-off is that you lose the ability to control both devices with the TV remote.
Step 3: Turn off Power On with Mobile
Samsung says abnormal power-on signals over the wireless network can switch the TV on.
- Open Settings > General > Network > Expert Settings.
- Turn Power On with Mobile off.
On a 2025 model, Samsung’s Australian page shows the path as Settings > All Settings > Connections > Network > Expert Settings.
Turning this off also stops the SmartThings app from powering the TV on.
Step 4: Check the timers if it turns itself off
A timer can shut the TV down on a schedule you forgot about.
| Setting | Path |
|---|---|
| Sleep Timer | Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > System Manager > Time > Sleep Timer |
| Off Timer | Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > System Manager > Time > Off Timer |
| Auto Power Off | Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Power and Energy Saving > Auto Power Off |
These paths come from Samsung’s Australian support page, so labels can differ slightly on older models.
Step 5: Disconnect devices one at a time
Samsung’s advice is to unplug every HDMI connection and see whether the TV stops switching on by itself.
- Unplug all HDMI cables from the TV.
- Watch the TV for a day.
- If it behaves, reconnect one device at a time until the loop returns.
Take the batteries out of the remote during one test as well, since Samsung lists the remote among possible causes.
If a port or device stops being recognized afterward, see our guide to Samsung TV HDMI devices not detected.
Step 6: Update the software
Samsung recommends keeping the TV on the latest software.
- Open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update.
- Select Update Now.
- Leave the TV on until it restarts by itself.
Do not switch the TV off during the update, and expect picture and sound settings to reset afterward.
If the update will not finish, use our guide to Samsung TV software update failures, or install from a FAT32 USB drive using the steps on Samsung’s update page.
Step 7: Factory reset as a last software fix
A reset restores default settings, so do it only after the steps above fail.
- Open Settings > General & Privacy > Reset.
- Enter your PIN, which is 0000 by default.
- Select Reset, then OK, and let the TV restart.
If those menus are missing, look under Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis instead.
The Reset option is not available while an app such as Netflix or YouTube is open.
Samsung also offers Reset Smart Hub, which deletes your Samsung account information, linked accounts and Smart Hub apps.
If the reset fails, see Samsung TV factory reset issues.
Where are the menus on different TVs?
Samsung’s pages show different menu wording depending on the model, so use this table as a map.
| Task | Samsung US page | 2025 model (Samsung Australia) |
|---|---|---|
| Power On with Mobile | Settings > General > Network > Expert Settings | Settings > All Settings > Connections > Network > Expert Settings |
| Anynet+ | Settings > General > External Device Manager | Settings > General > External Device Manager > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) |
| Event Logs | Not listed on the US page | Support > About TV > Event Logs |
| Software update | Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update | Same page links to update guide |
When is it a hardware problem?
If every setting above is clean and the loop continues, the cause is likely inside the TV.
One documented example from Samsung is a poor connection between the TV and its One Connect box, which shows up as “One Invisible connection” in the Event Logs.
Opening the back of a TV is not covered by any Samsung support page, so leave internal repairs to an authorized technician.
How do you contact Samsung support?
Samsung’s US page says to request service through its Support Center if the problem continues.
| Route | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (726-7864) | Mon-Fri 8 AM-9 PM EST, Sat-Sun 8 AM-6 PM |
| Live chat | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Text “SUPPORT” to 800-726-7864 | 24/7 |
| Service request | samsung.com/us/support/service |
Tell them which steps you already tried and what the Event Logs showed.
The full list of Samsung’s own steps is on its TV powers on or off by itself page, and contact options are on its contact page.
What a waste of time this site is. Nothing here relates to the problem I have. Method 10 – Contact Samsung support. This like everything else suggested is a waste of time . As the posts above show – people have a similar fault but no answers are forthcoming. take it down!!!