A sleep timer turns the TV off after a set countdown, often 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. It is useful at night, but it is also a common reason a TV seems to shut off by itself.
Menu names vary by brand, but the setting is usually under General, System, Time, or Timers.
Does this affect you?
Use this guide if you want the TV to shut off automatically, if you changed your mind and want to cancel a timer, or if the TV keeps turning off and you suspect a timer setting.
Set a sleep timer
- Press Menu or Settings on the remote.
- Open the brand’s timer area: Samsung often uses General or Support, LG uses General > Timers, Vizio/TCL use System > Timers, and Roku TVs use Settings > System > Time > Sleep Timer.
- Choose Sleep Timer.
- Select the time amount, such as 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes.
- Confirm the selection.
The TV will shut off when the countdown ends, no matter what is playing.
Turn off an active sleep timer
- Return to the same Sleep Timer menu.
- Select Off.
- Confirm if the TV asks.
Some TVs also show a countdown warning shortly before shutting off. Pressing a remote button during that warning may cancel or reset the timer, depending on the model.
If the TV turns off by itself
Check Sleep Timer first. If it shows any value other than Off, someone may have enabled it accidentally or without mentioning it.
Then check separate power-saving features. Auto Power Off, Eco Mode, No Signal Power Off, and inactivity timers can shut the TV down even when the sleep timer is off.
Check streaming devices and schedules
If you use a Roku, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or other streaming device connected to a basic TV, sleep settings may exist on both the streaming device and the TV. Check both sides.
Do not confuse Sleep Timer with Timer On/Timer Off schedules. A sleep timer is a one-time countdown. A timer schedule repeats at set clock times, so if the TV turns off at the same time every night, look under the Timers menu for a recurring schedule.
Sources
- Samsung Support – Set the Sleep Timer on your Samsung TV (2025)
- LG Support – Use the Sleep Timer (2025)
- Roku Support – Set a sleep timer on your Roku TV (2025)