I generally don’t get scared easily, and I even like watching horror movies. But experiencing Vizio TV turns on by itself like I did, is a different story.
This was both confusing and spooky but while weirded out, I knew I had to stop this Vizio TV issue. Who wants their TV randomly turning on by itself? Well, here’s what I recommend you to do with your Vizio TV.
Table of Contents
Vizio TV Turns On by Itself
The most likely reason your Vizio TV turns on by itself is the enabled HDMI-CEC feature. Turn off this feature to resolve your issue. Go to Settings and select System > CEC. Now, turn it off. If this does not work, try switching your TV from Power Mode to Eco Mode.
Why Does My Vizio TV Turn On by Itself
Here are some reasons why a Vizio TV keeps turning on by itself:
- Enabled CEC
- Malfunctioning remote power button
- Pre-set wake-up timer
- Faulty power supply cord
- Interfering devices
- Unintentional casting from another source
What to Do if Vizio TV Keeps Turning On
To resolve your Vizio TV keeps turning on an issue, try the following quick fixes:
1. Examine Your Remote’s Power Button
You’d be surprised to know that a stuck power button on the TV’s remote is the culprit in most scenarios.
The solution is pretty simple. Check out the power button on your Vizio TV remote. You can also go ahead and disassemble the remote control and clean it. After that, check to see if it resolves the issue.
Note: Removing every speck of dust from the remote would be a smart thing to do, even if the power button is not part of the reason why.
2. Examine the Remote Batteries
Sometimes your Vizio smart TV turns on by itself because of low-powered batteries. Batteries lose their power over time and, as a result, they can send random signals from the remote to your television’s direction.
Especially if you’ve had to press any button on your remote a few times, that’s your sign and solution to replace the batteries.
However, if your batteries are still in good condition, try taking them out and then re-inserting them properly.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Remove both batteries from your remote.
- Press the power button on the remote and hold it for 15–20 seconds.
- Put the batteries back into the remote.
Turn on your TV and see if that resolves the issue.
3. Check for Other Connected Remotes
One of the best things about Vizio smart TVs is that they can be connected to multiple remotes. The feature allows you to control the TV from any connected device’s remote; a Firestick or Roku device, for example.
But sometimes, these remotes cause your TV to turn on by itself. There is only one way to fix this, and that is by removing the extra ones from your Vizio smart TV.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Take your Vizio TV remote and press the Menu button.
- Navigate to Settings > Remotes.
You’ll see a list of all connected remotes; just remove any extra paired remotes to fix this issue. If the problem persists, try removing any connected streaming devices for a night as well.
Vizio has its own Vizio Mobile app that can act as a remote for all your VIZIO devices. Maybe someone else in your house is using it and controlling your TV without you knowing. I had to check each of my housemates’ phones!
4. Turn Off HDMI-CEC
Most Vizio TVs come with a pre-enabled HDMI-CEC feature. The Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) feature makes your TV and connected devices work better together.
With this feature, you can partially control your TV from any connected device and vice versa.
Take the DVD player as an example. When turned on, it can automatically change the TV’s input to HDMI. The DVD player can also be controlled using your TV’s remote. Other devices even have a default configuration that turns on both the device and TV at the same time.
These are due to HDMI-CEC.
Luckily, you can turn off this feature.
- Take your Vizio remote and press the Menu button.
- Navigate to Settings > System > CEC > Off.
Turn off your TV and see if that fixes your problem.
5. Turn On Eco Mode
Enabling Eco Mode is another way to prevent your TV from turning on automatically for no reason.
Follow these steps to turn on Eco Mode:
- Take your Vizio TV remote and press the Menu button.
- Navigate to Settings > System.
- Now, select Power Mode and set it to Eco Mode.
Doing so will eventually slow the startup process, but it will be worth it.
Once you turn Eco Mode on, restart your Vizio TV and see if the issue is still there.
6. Soft Reset Your Vizio TV
Power cycling or soft resetting a TV solves numerous issues like freezing, black screens, and slowness.
To soft reset your Vizio TV, follow these steps:
- Unplug your TV from the power outlet.
- Wait for at least one minute.
- Press the power button on your television and hold it for 15–20 seconds.
Doing so will deplete any residual power in the TV. Now, plug in the TV’s power cord and turn it on. Check to see if soft resetting helped in any way.
7. Disable Sleep Timer
Most TV users set a sleep timer, a great way to automatically turn off the TV and conserve energy.
You may be wondering why my Vizio TV keeps turning on by itself, and we’re considering that the sleep timer might be the culprit!
You can simply turn off the sleep timer to resolve your issue. To do this, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Settings menu on your television.
- Select Timers > Sleep Timer, and turn it off.
Note: If there’s an option for “Auto Power Off,” make sure to disable that too!
8. Update Your Vizio TV OS
If you’re the one who is not keen on updating the TV OS, then you might be welcoming tons of issues to your TV!
An outdated software version can cause numerous issues, including the Vizio TV turning on itself.
So, always ensure that you keep your Vizio TV firmware up to date.
Follow these steps to update your Vizio TV firmware:
- Take your Vizio remote and press the V key.
- Scroll down and select System > Check for Updates.
- Your TV will now start checking for updates. If it finds any new update, confirm to install it on your device.
Restart your TV after updating it to see if it helps.
I also really made sure to update my Vizio TV because maybe this glitch is just because of the current OS. I also haven’t updated for a while so I think my TV needed that.
Note: You can only do this on Vizio Smart Cast TVs. For other Vizio TVs, go to the Vizio support page to learn more about how to update your TV.
9. Reset Your Vizio TV to Factory Defaults
If you’ve tried all the above fixes and your problem persists, it’s time for a factory reset.
Factory resetting your TV can help solve numerous issues like freezing, slowness, black screen, or discoloration. However, all your saved changes on your TV will reset to default. You will need to re-install some apps and re-login to your account.
You can factory reset your Vizio TV in two ways.
A. Factory Reset Using Remote Control
Follow these steps to perform a factory reset on your Vizio TV:
- Press the Menu button on your Vizio remote.
- Go to System and select Reset & Admin.
- Select Reset TV to Factory Defaults.
Your TV will ask you to enter a four-digit PIN code. The code is 0000, by default.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Your TV will take a few minutes to complete the reset process. Once finished, set up your TV and see if it worked!
B. Factory Reset Without Using Remote Control
You can still perform a factory reset if you’ve lost your TV remote. To do this, follow these steps:
- Locate the power button on your Vizio television. The button can be anywhere on the TV, depending on the model. It can be either on the left-hand side, right-hand side, or at the bottom.
- Once found, press it to turn on the TV. Now, press the source and volume down buttons simultaneously and hold them until your TV says to press the input button.
- Now, press and hold the input button until your TV turns off automatically.
That’s all! Your television will restart several times before being factory reset.
What Should I Do If Nothing Works?
Now that you’ve tried everything and your Vizio TV still turns on, it’s time to check your Vizio TV’s warranty and get professional help. Usually, Vizio TVs come with a standard one-year warranty, and you can check yours on the Vizio warranty page.
If your TV is still under warranty, you can get the issue resolved for free from the Vizio support team. However, if the warranty period is over, don’t worry, as you can still solve your problem, but it might cost you some money!
You can reach out to the Vizio TV support team in several ways:
A. Text Message Support
Get help using their Live Agent chat or Text Message support.
B. Call Support
Vizio TV customer support: 1-844-254-8087
You can call them during the following:
Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. CST
Saturday to Sunday, 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. CST
The support team will help you in the best possible ways. Make sure you tell them everything about the occurrence of the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
There could be numerous reasons why a TV turns on at the strangest hours of the day:
> An internal timer is set to turn on the TV
> Pre-enabled HDMI CEC
> Connected devices are interfering
Yes, a smart TV can turn on by itself. You’d be surprised to know that the issue is mainly with your remote’s power button or HDMI-CEC.
The Bottom Line
There could be numerous reasons why a Vizio TV turns on by itself. But with these easy-to-follow fixes, you can resolve the issue quickly!
While trying all these, ensure that all connected cables and devices are working properly!
Hopefully, one of these solutions helped you solve your Vizio TV keeps turning on issue. If not, try contacting Vizio team support for further assistance. Make sure to check if your TV is still covered under warranty.
Were you able to resolve the “Vizio TV keeps turning on” issue? If so, let us know in the comments below what worked!
