Imagine that you are talking on the phone, cooking or sleeping; all of a sudden, your VIZIO TV turns on by itself with a loud noise.
You will surely be amazed to see your smart TV turn on by itself, without using the remote to prompt it. It can be creepy and downright annoying to experience.
You may be wondering why your TV turns on by itself. Is it a ghost or is it damaged? Don’t worry, we’ve all experienced disappointment when you were super excited about your new TV, but it started to cause problems.
Your TV is not hijacked in any way and is likely not damaged. You can fix it yourself. You just need to carefully inspect it and its components.
This guide will help you do just that. So keep reading!
Why does your Vizio TV turn on by itself?
Your VIZIO TV may restart due to various reasons such as interfering devices, power issues, etc.
First, you must troubleshoot by narrowing down the actual cause of the problem. Below are a few common reasons why your VIZIO TV may turn on by itself:
- More than one TV remote
If you use more than one remote for your Vizio TV, the other remote may interfere and turn the TV on or off by sending signals.
Because of this, it may seem that the TV turned on by itself.
- Sleeping mode
Almost every TV set comes with a sleep timer these days. This function allows you to turn off the TV after a certain period of time. This option can turn on the TV on its own, without anyone asking.
- CEC
Vizio TVs are equipped with a CEC feature that allows other devices in your home to turn the TV on and off using a power signal. This can be caused by a cable box, media player, or game console. You must either disable CEC mode on your device or disable it altogether.
- Cables are loose
TVs often turn off on their own due to an insufficiently reliable cable connection. This can be caused by a bad plug, bad extension cord, power strip, etc. So make sure the plug is securely plugged into the adapter or outlet.
- Signal problems
Usually, VIZIO TVs support Chromecast or Miracast, which allows other devices using the same network to cast content to your TV.
It might be interfering with your signal.
- Connected devices
If your VIZIO TV is also connected or paired with other devices, they may also be causing this issue.
Typically, wireless routers, any network device, LAN adapters, or smart devices can cause the problem.
- Automatic settings
In your TV settings, you may have the option to turn on your TV using certain commands that may appear when you turn on some applications. It can also be caused by some other device in your home. To stop this, you need to check your system settings.
VIZIO TV turns on by itself: how to fix it?
Vizio offers a large selection of smart TVs. However, these TVs can also run into some issues and bugs that are not very common with other brands.
It’s only natural to be worried if something is wrong with your TV as it turns on and off.
You are not alone in this, and several Vizio TV owners have wondered the same thing.
Here are a few solutions you can try to prevent your VIZIO TV from turning on by itself.
Solutions to fix VIZIO TV turns on by itself
Below is a list of steps that you must follow one by one until your TV turns off after you turn it off:
- Check if the power button is stuck
- Check removed batteries
- Check cables
- Check for interference from other remotes
- Disable WiFi
- Check connected devices
- Turn your TV off and on again
- Disable HDMI-CEC mode
- Enable economy mode
- Enable Quick Start Mode
- Turn off sleep timer
- Update your VIZIO TV firmware
- Reset your VIZIO TV
Solution 1 – Check if the power button is stuck
If your Vizio TV turns on by itself, look once at the power button on the remote.
It may be defective or stuck somewhat, which could be causing the problem. If you find that the button is stuck on the remote, you need to replace the remote.
If you don’t find anything wrong with the remote, try cleaning it to remove dust and debris that may have settled on it over time.
Gently wipe the remote buttons with a clean cloth and check if everything is in order.
Solution 2: Check your remote control batteries
If the remote’s batteries are low, they may end up sending random signals to your VIZIO TV. Sometimes it can turn on the TV. Also make sure the TV remote is not stuck.
Solution 3: Check your cables
Many users have found that their problem was due to a bad cable or power adapter connection. So make sure the cables and adapters are securely connected.
First, unplug the TV’s power cable from the wall outlet and the smart TV. Then check if it is correctly inserted into the slot.
If that doesn’t work, try plugging the power cord into a different wall outlet. If the issue is not resolved even after checking the cables, continue to the next solution.
Solution 4: Check for interference from other remotes
These days, we can get a lot of universal remotes from Vizio that can work with multiple TVs.
So, if you have more than one TV in your home, you need to make sure that you are not using a different remote control that could mistakenly send a signal to your VIZIO TV.
Solution 5 – Disable Wi-Fi
To eliminate signal interference, the next step is to disable Wi-Fi from your VIZIO TV.
You need to disable WiFi altogether. Now, if the problem is fixed, the problem was caused by one of the connected devices.
Solution 6 – Check connected devices
It is also possible that the problem is related to a specific streaming device. For example, a Fire TV Stick or a Roku player could be the cause of the problem.
To verify this, unplug such devices from the network for a day or a couple of days and check if the problem is gone or not.
It is also possible that the cord or input of the connected device has been damaged. This can also lead to an error at hand.
So, check the cord, because it may need to be replaced.
Note. While checking to see if connected devices are causing problems, you can also disable HDMI CEC on your Vizio TV to get rid of all other possibilities.
Solution 7 – Turn your TV off and on again
Turning off the device’s power can be very effective, especially with TVs.
All you have to do is turn off your TV, wait at least 60 seconds, and reconnect your TV to turn it back on. This can solve many technical problems.
Solution 8 – Disable HDMI-CEC mode
HDMI-CEC is a feature that allows you to better control your entertainment system.
This allows the VIZIO TV to send commands to connected devices such as volume control, input switching, etc. You won’t need separate remotes to control these other devices connected to the TV.
You can control them with the TV remote control. Sometimes the HDMI-CEC feature can turn on your TV on its own when you connect it to a DVD player or Chromecast.
To disable HDMI-CEC, you need to follow the instructions below:
- Press the Menu button on the TV remote.
- Go to Settings, then System > CEC.
- Click the Turn off button and check if the problem is gone.
Note. Keep in mind that disabling HDMI will also disable other features that require HDMI-CEC to function.
Solution 9 – HDMI port is defective
If your VIZIO TV’s HDMI port turns out to be broken or malfunctioning in some way, this can also cause your TV to reboot on its own.
In this case, you need to use a different HDMI port to solve the problem . To do this, connect the device to a dedicated HDMI port.
Then restart your TV and select the new HDMI input you are using.
This should fix your smart TV issue if a faulty HDMI port is causing it.
Solution 9 – Turn on ECO mode
When you have multiple devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network, they can transmit signals that interfere with your TV.
This may worsen while streaming a movie or game.
Any Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interruption or signal interference can cause your Vizio TV to turn on or off by itself.
In order to control all of these devices (such as smartphones or laptops) on the network and prioritize your media files, you need to turn on ECO mode. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- Go to “Settings”and select “System”.
- Select power mode and turn on ECO mode.
- Then make sure casting is disabled by turning on ECO mode.
- This should allow your Smart TV to block the broadcast feature.
Solution 10 – Turn on fast startup mode
If the ECO mode does not solve the problem, then you can try turning on the Quickstart mode. To do this, follow the steps given below:
- Select “Settings”, then go to “System”and click on “Advanced Mode”.
- Then click “Quick Launch Mode”.
- Check if the error is fixed or not.
Solution 11 – Turn off the sleep timer
Almost every smart TV these days comes with a sleep timer. It automatically allows your TV to turn off after a certain amount of time.
This feature becomes useful if you fell asleep or left the house and forgot to turn off the TV.
Vizio TVs automatically turn off if they are left idle.
The default sleep time limit is 30 minutes, which can be increased. Or you can also turn off the sleep timer auto-off feature.
Solution 12 – Update your VIZIO TV firmware
If you have older versions of VIZIO software installed on your TV, this can lead to several problems.
Usually the TV will download the latest software on your behalf, but sometimes this may not happen.
In this case, you may be able to resolve the issue by running the Update TV feature through the Vizio SmartCast app. To do this, follow the steps given below:
- Make sure your Vizio TV is turned on and connected to the internet.
- Press the menu button on the TV remote
- Highlight and select the Administration and Privacy option. On some older models, it may be listed as System.
- Select Check for updates.
- Your VIZIO TV will now start checking for updates. If an update is available, it will start downloading.
- Wait for the download to complete before continuing. This may take a couple of minutes. Leave the TV on while the download is in progress.
- Your TV will download the update and restart. After restarting, it will apply the update and may restart again.
Solution 13 – Reset VIZIO TV
We usually hesitate when performing a factory reset on our smart TV. But sometimes this is our only workaround to solve the problem.
Think of it as your last resort; hope this solves any problem with your device. Follow the steps below to reset your Vizio Smart TV:
Note. Keep in mind that your TV’s settings and data will disappear after a reset.
- Select Menu on the Vizio TVremote.
- Visit Settings > System > OK > Reset and Administration.
- Select the Reset TV to factory settings option.
- If you are asked to enter a parent code, enter 0 0 0 0 when prompted for a password.
- Select the Reset option, and then click OK.
- Wait until your TV turns off. When the reset process is completed, you need to repeat the setup procedure.
Note. If there is something wrong with your VIZIO TV’s power supply or TV, you cannot fix it alone. You need to call the master for service.
Final words
If your VIZIO TV turns on by itself, it can be annoying and problematic.
However, this is not a normal event and is likely to cause a lot of anxiety.
We hope you’ve tried the above solutions one by one, and if the issue persists even after a factory reset, it’s time to speak directly with the manufacturer. You can do this through the VIZIO support page or by calling the toll free number.
FAQ
Why does my Vizio TV turn on by itself?
If your Vizio TV turns on by itself, it might be due to HDMI-CEC enabled, auto-off enabled, power cable issues, etc.
What does CEC mean on VIZIO TV?
CEC is short for Consumer Electronics Control. This allows other devices to control your Smart TV via HDMI without human intervention. If you try to cast a CEC-enabled TV using a different input source, it will automatically switch to the HDMI port of the TV that the Chromecast will be connected to.
What does ECO mode mean on VIZIO TV?
ECO mode is a function that can adjust the brightness of your TV screen. This function can help you block the broadcast function of your TV.
Why is the Vizio TV screen black when turned on?
A completely black Vizio TV screen suggests that you have a screen problem. Try pressing the Menu button to see if that solves the problem. If the power LED is also not visible, it means that power is not being supplied. To do this, try turning off the TV and pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds before plugging the TV back in.
How long do Vizio TVs last?
Vizio TVs have built a good brand reputation for themselves. You can expect them to last 5 to 8 years if you turn them off for a couple of hours a day. Otherwise, if your Vizio TV runs all day, expect it to last 2 years or so.