LG TV Keeps Turning Off: Causes and Solutions

In a split second, your LG TV goes from turned on and illuminated to dark and off. The rest of your home’s lights are still turned on so you know there hasn’t been a power cut. You turn your TV back on but the same thing quickly happens again. 

Why does your LG TV continuously turn off and what can be done to fix it? 

Keep reading to find out! 

Causes 

Overheating

When turned on and in use, all electronics use energy and, consequently, generate heat. You may have noticed this phenomenon occurs when you use your phone for long periods. LG TVs are no exception to this rule, though certain screen types are more prone to overheating than others. 

For instance, it’s been found that OLED models produce more heat than their LCD and LED counterparts since OLED screens feature self-emitting technology while other screens use backlighting. 

TVs may randomly turn off when they’ve overheated regardless of their screen type since they can no longer function normally.

Issues With the Power (Power Plug, Socket, Cable)

If your TV isn’t receiving enough power, it may turn on but quickly shut down again since there isn’t enough energy to sustain the TV’s screen, software, and so on. 

So, it’s a good idea to check that your TV’s power cable is securely plugged into its wall outlet or power strip. Some homes may also have loose power sockets, especially if the electrical wiring is a few decades old. 

Your TV’s power cable could have also been damaged if it’s been chewed on or exposed to extreme heat or moisture. 

Alternatively, there may be a problem with the TV’s voltage. It could be incompatible with your home’s electrical outlets, especially if you bought your TV in another country with varying power requirements. 

The electrical outlet could also be faulty due to age, harsh weather incidents, or water damage. 

Timer Features 

Many LG TVs have a Power Off Timer or Sleep Timer which will shut down the TV after a certain amount of time has elapsed. For instance, if the Sleep Timer is set to three hours, then your TV will automatically turn off after having been on for that amount of time. 

If you don’t remember enabling this timer, it could have been turned on accidentally by you or someone else in your household, like a curious child who’s gotten ahold of the remote. 

Cache/Memory Issue

Smart TVs which have built-in apps are prone to cache/memory issues since they store dozens of apps and their data in their built-in storage. 

Additionally, your TV could be overwhelmed if there are several “heavy” streaming apps open and running in the background, even if you’re not actively using them. 

Your TV’s full memory could prevent it from functioning as usual, resulting in it suddenly shutting down.

SimpLink (HDMI-CEC) Issue

HDMI-CEC, labeled SimpLink on LG units, allows HDMI devices to send commands to each other and to be controlled with a singular remote. This feature is extremely helpful when connecting soundbars or streaming sticks to your TV, though there can be negative side effects. 

For instance, if one of the HDMI-CEC device’s batteries is low, it may trigger the TV to turn off since it can no longer function anymore, even if the TV’s power supply is stable.  

Out-of-Date Firmware

LG employs some of the sharpest software engineers in the world, but that doesn’t prevent their TVs from being vulnerable to bugs in the code. These bugs can cause the software to glitch and, at times, shut down completely. 

Luckily, bug fixes are released in every firmware update to help keep the TV working normally and upgrade some of its features. 

These updates are crucial to the TV’s functionality, so failing to install them may be the sole reason why your LG TV continues to turn off

Solutions

Cool Down Your TV

If your TV feels warm to the touch and you suspect it’s overheated, try one of these five ways to turn it off and release the excess heat. 

It’s also a good idea to observe your TV’s environment to ensure there isn’t anything near it emitting large amounts of heat. For instance, ensure your TV isn’t located right next to a space heater, AC unit, or fireplace. 

To learn more about TVs’ heat tolerance, check out our article Can a TV Break From the Heat? 

Have Your Power Issues Handled

If your TV’s power cable is damaged, try replacing it. You will have to bring your TV to a repair service to do this since TVs’ power cables are built-in. 

It’s also a good idea to take a close look at the rest of your TV’s connectors and cables since they may be fostering other connection and power issues. 

Extreme weather events like lightning storms can damage your home’s sockets and any appliances plugged into them. Alternatively, older homes’ wall sockets that have been through decades of wear and tear may not function properly. 

So, it’s best to have an experienced electrician make a house call to check your outlet’s voltage and assess if it’s suitable to plug a TV into. 

Additionally, you may need to plug your TV directly into a wall outlet if it’s currently plugged into a power strip. Overloaded power strips tend to randomly turn off, causing any appliances plugged into them to also lose power. 

Turn Off the Timer Features

If you suspect that you or someone else has enabled the Turn Off timer on your LG TV, it’s best to check to see if it’s on in your LG TV settings. 

Head to LG’s Help Library or follow the steps listed below to disable the Turn Off timer on your TV. 

Clear the Cache/Memory 

To clear your TV’s cache/memory, soft reset your TV by draining its power. To do this, unplug its power cable from the wall outlet or power strip. Please note that turning off the power strip will not properly drain your TV’s power. 

Once it’s been left unplugged for at least 60 seconds, plug it back in. 

We also suggest closing any apps that may be running in the background in addition to exiting out of any streaming apps (e.g. Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu) that may be hogging the memory. 

Watch the video below to learn how to clear your LG TV’s cache/memory. 

Turn Off SimpLink (HDMI-CEC) feature 

Follow the instructions below to disable your LG TV’s SimpLink (HDMI-CEC) function. 

Update the Firmware

To ensure your LG TV is up-to-date and install any pending firmware updates, follow the instructions listed below or refer to the official LG website. 

Factory Reset Your LG TV

The final solution is to factory reset your TV, returning its settings to their default values and deleting any custom settings and installed apps. 

This means that you will have to set up your TV from scratch, re-install any apps you’d like to use, and log back into your accounts. 

So, ensure you have all of your accounts’ passwords before following the steps below. 

Step 1: Press your remote’s Settings button. 

Step 2: Go to All Settings. 

Step 3: Head to General. 

Step 4: Click on Reset to Initial Settings. 

Step 5: Select OK to start the factory reset process, and do not turn off or unplug your TV until the process is complete and you see your TV’s start-up page on-screen. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to factory reset an LG smart TV.

Good luck!