Samsung TV Turns On by Itself? Check the Event Log and Anynet+
Samsung links a TV that turns on by itself to the remote, connected devices or settings such as HDMI-CEC. On 2019 and newer models the Event Log under About TV records why the TV powered on, so you can switch off the exact app, device or feature that woke it.
Quick answer
Samsung says a TV that turns on by itself is usually triggered by the remote, a connected device or a setting such as HDMI-CEC. Open the Event Log first: it names the power-on reason. If it shows a CEC command, turn off Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC); if it names an app or device, disconnect or deactivate it.
- 1.Open Menu → Support → About TV and check the Event logs (models made in 2019 or later, with the latest firmware).
- 2.If the log says CEC command, go to Home → Settings → General → External Device Manager → Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) and turn it off.
What it means
A Samsung TV that switches on with nobody touching it is responding to a power-on signal from somewhere. Samsung's support pages list three groups of senders: the remote control (for example dirt around a power button that keeps it pressed), external devices connected to the TV, and TV settings such as HDMI-CEC.
On TVs that connect to SmartThings, compatible devices can turn the TV on, sometimes automatically. Samsung Australia notes that if abnormal "power on" signals arrive through the wireless network, they trigger this function and the TV turns on.
You do not have to guess which one it is. On models made in 2019 or later, the Event Log under About TV records why the TV powered on: a Power-on reason (an app, a sensor, Wake-on-LAN or a Bluetooth device), a CEC command from an HDMI device, or a One Invisible connection problem on One Connect models. Each entry points to a different fix, listed below.
Common causes
- A connected HDMI device (CEC command). Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) lets one remote control your HDMI devices. When an HDMI device such as a set-top box, console or soundbar activates, it may turn the TV on with it. The Event Log shows this as "CEC command".
- An app on a phone or tablet on the same network. Samsung names YouTube and the SmartThings app as examples: running on a device connected to the same access point (AP), they can be the reason the TV turns on. TVs that connect to SmartThings can be powered on by compatible devices, sometimes automatically.
- A stuck power button on the remote. Samsung lists foreign matter around the remote's power button as one of the common reasons. A button that stays pressed keeps sending the power command.
- Bluetooth, network or voice wake-up. The Event Log can show BLE (the wake-up function of a Bluetooth device) or WOL (Wake-on-LAN, a "Magic Packet" sent over the network). Samsung also lists voice among the things that can power the TV on.
- The Ambient Mode brightness sensor. A "Sensor" entry in the Event Log means the TV was detected and operated by the brightness sensor set in Ambient Mode.
- A poor connection to the One Connect box. On models with a One Connect box (OCB), a "One Invisible connection" entry means the TV can turn on or off automatically because the connection between the TV and the box is poor.
Before you start
- Look at the remote's power button. If it feels stuck or there is dirt or residue around it, clean the remote before anything else.
- Make a list of everything that could send a power-on signal: HDMI devices (box, console, soundbar), phones or tablets with the SmartThings or YouTube app on the same Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth devices paired with the TV.
- If the TV also switches off by itself, note it. Samsung treats on and off together on the same support page, and the off side has its own timer settings (see our guide on a Samsung TV turning off by itself).
Fixes, from safest to last resort
Clean the remote's power button
No data loss- 1Check whether the power button on the remote is stuck down or surrounded by dirt or residue.
- 2Clean around the button so it moves freely and springs back.
- 3Watch whether the TV still turns on by itself with the remote in normal use.
Samsung lists foreign matter around the remote's power button among the most common reasons, and its fix for a stuck button is to clean the remote.
Read the Event Log to find the power-on reason
No data loss- 1Go to Menu → Support.
- 2Select About TV and open the Event logs.
- 3Look for the entry recorded when the TV turned on: "Power-on reason", "CEC command" or "One Invisible connection". Use it to pick the matching fix below.
About TV is only available on products manufactured in 2019 or later, and Samsung advises updating the TV firmware to the latest version first. On older models, skip to the HDMI test.
Unplug the TV, then test the HDMI devices one by one
No data loss- 1Switch off the TV and unplug it from the wall for a minute, then plug it back in.
- 2Unplug every HDMI connection from the TV.
- 3Watch whether the TV keeps powering on by itself. If it stops, reconnect your HDMI devices one at a time to see which one triggers it.
This is Samsung Australia's first sequence for this symptom. It works without the Event Log, so it also suits pre-2019 models.
Disconnect or deactivate the app or device named in the log
No data loss- 1YouTube or SmartThings: deactivate the app on the phone or tablet that shares the TV's Wi-Fi, or disconnect that device from the network, and see whether the TV stays off.
- 2BLE: turn off or unpair the Bluetooth device that is waking the TV.
- 3WOL: disconnect or deactivate the device on your network that sends the Wake-on-LAN Magic Packet.
- 4Sensor: the brightness sensor set in Ambient Mode turned the TV on, so check your Ambient Mode settings.
Samsung's fix for any logged Power-on reason is the same: disconnect or deactivate the connected device that operates the TV.
Reseat the cables to the One Connect box
No data loss- 1Use this if the Event Log shows "One Invisible connection" or your TV uses a One Connect box.
- 2Check every cable connection between the TV and the One Connect box (OCB).
- 3Reconnect any cable that is loose so it sits firmly at both ends.
Samsung says the TV can turn on and off automatically when this connection is poor.
Turn off Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
Re-setup needed- 1Press Home and open Settings → General → External Device Manager → Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
- 2Turn Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) off.
- 3Watch whether the TV still turns on when your HDMI devices wake up.
This is Samsung's fix when the Event Log shows a CEC command. You lose single-remote control of your HDMI devices, and switching on a device no longer turns the TV on.
Turn off Power On with Mobile
Re-setup needed- 1Find the Power On with Mobile setting on your TV and turn it off.
- 2Watch whether the TV still turns on by itself.
Samsung Australia lists this step for TVs that can connect to SmartThings. The menu location depends on the model; your TV's user manual (Samsung Manuals & Downloads) shows where it sits.
Update the TV software
Re-setup needed- 1Check that your TV is running the latest software and install any pending update.
- 2Let the TV restart, then watch whether it still turns on by itself.
Samsung recommends the latest firmware for this symptom, and the Event Log check assumes it.
Reset the TV to factory settings (last resort)
Removes apps & settings- 1Only use this if every step above has failed.
- 2Go to Home → Settings → General → Reset.
- 3Confirm, wait for the TV to restart, and set it up again.
⚠ A factory reset reverts the TV to its original settings. Every setting you changed goes back to its original value and you will have to set the TV up again.
If a menu doesn't match your TV
- No About TV option under Support? Samsung says it only exists on products manufactured in 2019 or later. Use the unplug and HDMI one-by-one test instead.
- Menu names and paths differ by model and region, and Samsung's screenshots are English samples of menus that also exist in your country's language. If a path does not match, look the setting up in your model's user manual on Samsung Manuals & Downloads.
- If your TV turns off by itself as well, Samsung points to the Sleep Timer, Auto Power Off and Off Timer settings; see our guide on a Samsung TV turning off by itself.
When to contact support
If the TV keeps turning on after you have worked through the Event Log, Anynet+, the HDMI test, Power On with Mobile and a factory reset, Samsung's advice is to contact the Samsung Service Center so trained technicians can look at it:
- Have your TV's model number ready.
- Note what the Event Log shows next to each unexpected power-on (Power-on reason, CEC command or One Invisible connection).
- List what you already tried: remote cleaned, HDMI devices unplugged, Anynet+ off, Power On with Mobile off, software updated, factory reset.
Sources
- Official source: Samsung Support (Saudi Arabia): Why does my Samsung TV turn on by itself · www.samsung.com
- Official source: Samsung Support (Philippines): How to troubleshoot the Samsung TV that keeps turning on by itself · www.samsung.com
- Official source: Samsung Support (Australia): Samsung TV powers on and off automatically · www.samsung.com
Frequently asked questions
Samsung TV keeps turning on by itself: how do I find out why?+
Open Menu → Support → About TV and check the Event logs. On models made in 2019 or later the log records the reason: a Power-on reason (an app, a sensor, Wake-on-LAN or a Bluetooth device), a CEC command from an HDMI device, or a One Invisible connection on One Connect models.
Why does my TV turn on by itself in the middle of the night?+
Something sent it a power-on signal while you were asleep. On a Samsung TV the candidates are an HDMI device that activates and wakes the TV through Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC), an app such as SmartThings or YouTube on a device on the same Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth device's wake-up function, or a Wake-on-LAN packet. The Event Log tells you which.
Can my phone turn my Samsung TV on without me knowing?+
Yes. Samsung says an app like YouTube or SmartThings on a device connected to the same access point can be the reason the TV turns on, and that SmartThings-capable TVs can be turned on by compatible devices, sometimes automatically. Samsung lists turning off Power On with Mobile among the steps for this symptom.
Why does my Samsung TV keep turning on and off by itself?+
On One Connect models, Samsung links automatic on and off cycles to a poor connection between the TV and the One Connect box, logged as One Invisible connection; check every cable between them. For switching off, Samsung also points to the Sleep Timer, Auto Power Off and Off Timer settings.
What do I lose if I turn off Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)?+
Anynet+ is what lets one remote control your HDMI devices. With it off, you control each device with its own remote, and switching on a box or console no longer turns the TV on.
TV turns on by itself randomly: does that mean it is broken?+
Not necessarily. Samsung's first explanations are a stuck remote button, connected devices and settings such as HDMI-CEC, all of which you can check at home. Samsung only sends you to its Service Center if the problem continues after the Event Log checks and a factory reset.
Will a factory reset stop my Samsung TV turning on by itself?+
It is Samsung's last step, for when the Event Log fixes have not worked. It reverts the TV to its original settings, so you will have to set it up again. Try the Event Log, Anynet+ and the HDMI one-by-one test first.
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