Vizio TV Turns On By Itself: Turn Off This Setting

Last night, after watching a movie on my Vizio M-Series Smart TV, I turned it off through the remote’s power button.

I found it turned on the next morning. It was switched to the Xbox input and was showing a “No Signal” message on the screen.

I’ve got an Xbox and a cable box connected to the TV via HDMI but they were both turned off.

I turned off the TV again and everything was fine until it turned on by itself after a few hours.

In search of a permanent solution, I visited the Vizio website and read through the discussion threads of folks who have faced a similar issue with their Vizio TVs.

Based on a few suggestions, I checked the TV remote to ensure that the power button wasn’t stuck.

I got the best way to prevent the Vizio TV from turning on by itself and also found a setting to ensure that the problem won’t persist.

If Vizio TV turns on by itself, turn off the HDMI-CEC setting. Press the menu button on your Vizio remote and go to System or Settings. Navigate to the CEC setting and turn it off.

Turn off CEC Setting To Prevent External Devices From Controlling Your Vizio TV

HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is a function of the HDMI standard that enables external devices connected via HDMI to communicate with your TV.

For instance, when HDMI-CEC is enabled, if you turn on an HDMI-connected device like the PS5, the TV will automatically switch to the HDMI device’s input.

Moreover, you can also put multiple devices such as a cable box, DVD player, and TV to sleep using a single power button on the TV remote.

It’s possible that the devices connected to your TV via HDMI may be sending a Power On signal to your TV that causes it to turn on by itself.

You need to turn off the HDMI-CEC setting to prevent the TV from turning on automatically.

To do this:

Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote
Go to System or Settings based on your Vizio TV model
Navigate to the CEC setting on the menu
Click on it and turn it off
After the CEC setting is disabled, check if your TV stops turning on automatically

Note that you won’t be able to use the HDMI-CEC features after you’ve turned the CEC setting off.

Change the Vizio TV Power Mode to Quick Start

Your Vizio TV is set to Eco mode by default. The Eco mode adjusts TV settings to save power especially when the TV is not in use.

For example, if the display is powered off, the Eco mode uses less than 0.5W of power allowing lower energy consumption.

Despite its advantages, the Eco mode can also cause the TV to turn on or off randomly.

Try disabling the Eco mode to verify if it is causing your Vizio TV to turn on by itself.

Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote
Select System
Scroll down to Power Mode
The Power Mode is usually set to Eco Mode by default
Press the Right Arrow to change it to Quick Start
This will disable the Eco Mode and prevent your TV from turning on automatically

Note: The Quick Start Mode enables your TV to turn on faster. It also allows the TV to turn on automatically while casting content. However, the Quick Start Mode consumes more power as compared to the Eco Mode.

Power Cycle Your Vizio TV To Drain Excess Power

Performing a power cycle on your TV closes all background processes and running applications on your TV.

Additionally, it drains any excess or residual power left in the TV.

Try power cycling your Vizio TV if it still keeps turning on by itself.

Unplug the TV from the wall outlet
Locate and hold the TV’s physical power button for about 10 seconds
Wait for at least 60 seconds before plugging the TV back in

Note: Some select Vizio TV models also have a Soft Power Cycle feature that works the same as a manual power cycle process. Go to Menu > System > Reset & Admin > Soft Power Cycle.

Check If the Vizio Remote’s Power Button Is Stuck

If your Vizio TV keeps turning on by itself, it is essential to inspect if there’s an issue with the TV remote.

Check if the remote’s power button is damaged or stuck in the ON position.

You can also try power cycling your Vizio TV remote to drain any residual charge or fix a temporary malfunction.

Remove both batteries from the Vizio TV remote
With the batteries removed, press and hold the remote’s power button for about 10 seconds
Wait for at least 30 seconds before putting the batteries back in
Ensure that the +ve end of the battery is inserted into the +be slot of the remote and vice versa

Check If Someone Is Trying to Cast Content On Your Vizio TV

Vizio TVs come with an option that allows them to turn on automatically through specific network commands as well.

For instance, if someone connected to your home network unintentionally tries to cast content from an app, the Vizio TV will turn on by itself to start displaying that content.

This usually occurs when your TV is set to Quick Start Mode. In that case, change the Power Mode setting to Eco Mode and your TV should stop turning on automatically.

Update The Vizio TV Firmware

Firmware updates are regularly released by Vizio to fix certain user-reported bugs and software issues.

It’s likely that the latest firmware version may prevent your Vizio TV from turning on by itself.

To check for the latest firmware update on your Vizio TV:

Make sure that your Vizio TV is connected to the internet
Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote
Go to System
Select Check for Updates
Download & install the update if available

Factory Reset the Vizio TV to Restore Default Settings

If none of the above troubleshooting methods worked and your Vizio TV still keeps turning on, try factory resetting it.

Opt for a factory reset as the last option as it deletes all app data, installed apps, user information, etc.

Additionally, a factory reset restores all TV settings to default.

Follow these instructions:

For VIA TVs

Press the Menu button on your remote
Go to Help > Clear Memory or Help > Reset & Admin based on the TV model
Navigate to the Reset To Factory Defaults option and press OK
Enter the parental PIN (the default value is 0000)
Press OK to confirm the factory reset

For VIA Plus TVs

Press the Menu button on the TV remote
Go to System > Reset & Admin > Clear Memory
Choose Reset TV to Factory Default option and press OK
Enter the PIN as 0000 and press OK to confirm the factory reset

Factory Reset Vizio TV Without Remote

You can also use the physical buttons to factory reset your Vizio TV without a remote.

The TV buttons may be located at the back of the TV on the left side, right side, or at the bottom of the bezel.

Make sure that your Vizio TV is turned on
Press and hold the Volume Down and Source buttons together for about 15 seconds
A message will appear at the top of the screen asking you to hold the Input button for another 10 seconds
Release the Volume button and hold the input button as stated in the message
The TV will start performing a factory reset

After the factory reset is complete, try turning off your Vizio TV and it should not turn on by itself now.

Contact Vizio Support For Professional Assistance

In case your Vizio TV still keeps turning on randomly, the best option is to get in touch with the Vizio Support Team.

Provide them with the necessary details regarding the issue along with your TV model.

Based on the diagnosis, the support team may suggest some proven troubleshooting methods that may fix the issue.

Prevent Your Vizio TV From Turning On Automatically

If you’ve got two Vizio TVs installed nearby, it’s possible that a different TV remote might be turning on the TV.

Make sure that there’s no other remote in close proximity that is likely to control your Vizio TV.

You may want to use the HDMI-CEC function on your Vizio TV and also prevent it from turning on by itself.

In that case, go to the external device settings such as a game console, and check if the Quick Start Mode for the device is turned on.

This feature can randomly send signals to your Vizio TV forcing it to turn on by itself. Make sure that you turn off the Quick Start Mode on your external device to resolve the issue.

Additionally, check if the external device is set to enter sleep mode instead of turning off completely.

This can also put your Vizio TV into standby or sleep mode causing it to turn on automatically later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Vizio TV turn on by itself due to interference from other devices?

Interference from other nearby devices connected to the same network can cause the Vizio TV to turn on by itself. This is mainly because when the TV is in Quick Start Mode, it is set to turn on automatically when someone tries to cast any content on the TV. This is most likely in case you’ve got multiple devices connected to the same WiFi network as your TV. The best way to prevent this issue is by turning on Eco Mode which prevents the TV from responding to any casting or other network commands.

What to do if my Vizio TV keeps turning on and off randomly?

If your Vizio TV keeps turning on and off randomly, try power cycling it. Unplug the TV from the wall outlet and wait for about 60 seconds. Meanwhile, press and hold the physical power button for about 30 seconds. Plug the TV back in. You can also try removing all the HDMI-connected devices and check if it resolves the issue. As a last option, you can try factory resetting the TV using the physical buttons.

How to disable the Sleep Timer on a Vizio TV?

The sleep timer allows your TV to go into sleep mode after a defined amount of time. This may also cause your TV to turn off randomly if the setting is turned on. To disable the sleep timer, press the Menu button on the TV remote. Go to System and navigate to Timers. Select Sleep Timer and turn it off.

Can I use my smartphone as a Vizio TV remote?

To control your Vizio TV through the smartphone, install the Vizio SmartCast app available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Make sure that both your smartphone and TV are connected to the same WiFi network. Launch the app and tap on the Control icon. From the available device list, select your Vizio TV. Try controlling the power or volume buttons on the TV.