Why Your TV Keeps Restarting: Causes and Solutions | Refitec Kenya

By Refitec Kenya | TV Repair & Electronics Experts

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Why Does My TV Keep Restarting? — Overview

A TV that keeps restarting on its own is one of the most frustrating electronics problems Kenyan households face. Whether you own a Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, Syinix, or any other brand, random reboots are almost always caused by one of six core issues: overheating, power supply problems, software or firmware faults, faulty hardware components, incorrect settings, or external electrical interference.

The good news is that many of these problems can be resolved at home with a few simple steps. Others require the attention of a qualified TV repair technician. This guide from Refitec Kenya walks you through everything — from the easiest DIY fixes to knowing when to bring your TV in for professional repair.

Cause 1: Overheating

What It Is

Your TV generates heat during operation. When internal temperatures rise too high — usually because of blocked vents, a dusty interior, or a failed cooling fan — the TV’s thermal protection system automatically shuts it down and restarts it to prevent permanent damage.

How to Tell If Overheating Is the Problem

The TV feels hot to the touch on the back or sides. It tends to restart after being on for 30–60 minutes. Restarting stops when the TV is given more time to cool down between uses.

Detailed Steps to Fix Overheating

Step 1: Check the TV’s placement. Your TV needs at least 10 cm of free space on all sides and behind it. If it is mounted inside a wall unit, cabinet, or entertainment stand with no ventilation gaps, heat has nowhere to escape. Remove any objects placed on top of or directly beside the TV.

Step 2: Clean the ventilation slots. Using a can of compressed air or a soft-bristled brush, gently blow or brush dust out of the ventilation slots — usually located on the back and sides of the TV. Do not use water or a damp cloth near electronics. Dust buildup is very common in Nairobi and other areas with construction activity nearby.

Step 3: Check the room temperature. TVs are designed to operate in temperatures between 5°C and 35°C. During hot months in Kenya, rooms that are not ventilated can get extremely warm. Open a window or use a fan in the room.

Step 4: Inspect the internal cooling fan (professional step). Some large TVs and plasma screens have internal cooling fans. If a fan has failed, the TV will overheat quickly regardless of external ventilation. This requires opening the TV — a job for a trained technician. Contact Refitec Kenya if you suspect a fan failure.

Cause 2: Power Supply Problems

What It Is

The power supply board inside your TV converts the mains electricity from your wall socket into the lower voltages the TV’s circuits need. If this board has faulty or bulging capacitors, or if your home’s electricity supply is unstable, the TV will randomly restart or shut off.

How to Tell If the Power Supply Is the Problem

The TV makes a clicking or popping sound when restarting. The problem started after a power surge or blackout. The TV sometimes fails to turn back on after restarting, or the indicator light blinks repeatedly.

Detailed Steps to Fix Power Supply Problems

Step 1: Test your wall socket. Plug a different device — such as a phone charger or lamp — into the same socket the TV uses. If the other device also behaves erratically, the problem is with your power supply at home, not the TV itself.

Step 2: Use a surge protector or UPS. Kenya’s electricity supply can be unstable, especially in areas served by Kenya Power. Voltage spikes and drops are common and are a leading cause of TV damage. Plug your TV into a quality surge protector or an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This single step prevents a large number of TV power faults.

Step 3: Try a different power cable. If your TV uses a detachable power cable (the IEC cable that plugs into the back of the TV), swap it for a known-good cable. A damaged cable can cause intermittent power loss.

Step 4: Inspect for swollen capacitors (professional step). If the steps above do not help, the power supply board itself may be faulty. Bulging or leaking capacitors on the board are a very common problem, especially in TVs that are 3–8 years old. This repair requires a professional. Refitec Kenya replaces faulty capacitors and power supply boards at affordable rates across Nairobi and the surrounding areas.

Cause 3: Software or Firmware Glitch

What It Is

Smart TVs run on operating systems just like smartphones and computers. A corrupted system file, a failed firmware update, or a buggy application can cause the TV to crash and restart repeatedly.

How to Tell If Software Is the Problem

The TV restarts specifically when you open a certain app, try to stream content, or after a recent software update. The restarting started suddenly with no physical changes to the TV or its surroundings.

Detailed Steps to Fix Software or Firmware Glitches

Step 1: Perform a soft reset. Unplug the TV from the wall socket completely — do not just use the remote or the power button. Leave it unplugged for at least 60 seconds. This drains residual power from the TV’s memory and clears temporary software errors. Plug it back in and test.

Step 2: Check for a pending firmware update. Go to your TV’s Settings menu, find “About” or “System,” and look for a software/firmware update option. If an update was interrupted (for example, due to a power cut), the TV may be stuck in a loop. Complete the update using a stable internet connection or, for some models, via a USB drive with the firmware file downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

Step 3: Clear app cache. On Android TVs and smart TVs with app stores, go to Settings → Apps → select the problematic app → Clear Cache and Clear Data. This resolves crashes caused by corrupted temporary files without deleting your account or preferences.

Step 4: Perform a factory reset. This restores the TV to its original out-of-box software state. Note that a factory reset will delete all your saved settings, downloaded apps, and login details. Navigate to Settings → System → Reset → Factory Reset (the menu name varies by brand). After the reset, set up the TV again and check if the restarting continues.

Step 5: Reinstall firmware via USB (advanced). If the TV cannot complete a firmware update over Wi-Fi or the factory reset does not help, visit the manufacturer’s official website (e.g., samsung.com/ke, lg.com/ke) and download the correct firmware for your exact model number. Copy it to a USB flash drive, insert it into the TV, and follow the on-screen instructions. If you are unsure of the process, Refitec Kenya can perform this service for you.

Cause 4: Faulty Internal Hardware

What It Is

Beyond the power supply board, other internal components — including the mainboard (motherboard), the T-Con board, and the backlight inverter — can develop faults that cause random restarts. Component-level failures are more common in older TVs or those that have suffered from power surges, moisture, or physical knocks.

How to Tell If Hardware Is the Problem

None of the software or power solutions above resolved the issue. The TV shows distorted images, colored lines, or a black screen before restarting. The TV has been dropped or exposed to water or humidity in the past.

Detailed Steps to Fix Internal Hardware Faults

Step 1: Do not attempt this yourself unless you are trained. Opening a TV to work on internal boards without the right tools and knowledge can cause further damage or electric shock. TV screens carry high voltages even when unplugged.

Step 2: Bring the TV to a qualified repair centre. At Refitec Kenya, our technicians diagnose faulty mainboards, T-Con boards, and power supply boards. We use genuine and compatible spare parts and offer a repair warranty on all component replacements.

Step 3: Get a repair estimate before committing. A good technician will open the TV, diagnose the fault, and give you a written estimate of the cost before any repair begins. If the cost of repair is close to the price of a new TV of similar quality, the technician should advise you honestly.

Cause 5: Incorrect TV Settings

What It Is

Your TV comes with built-in settings that can cause it to shut down or restart at scheduled times. These include the sleep timer, the auto-off/eco mode, and the automatic restart after updates. If these settings were accidentally enabled, the TV will restart or switch off at predictable intervals.

How to Tell If Settings Are the Problem

The TV restarts or switches off at roughly the same time each day or after the same amount of time each viewing session. No error messages appear before it restarts.

Detailed Steps to Fix Incorrect Settings

Step 1: Disable the sleep timer. Go to Settings → General or System → Time → Sleep Timer and set it to “Off.” The sleep timer automatically powers down the TV after a set number of minutes.

Step 2: Disable auto-off or eco mode. Look for settings named “Auto Power Off,” “Eco Mode,” or “No Signal Auto Off.” These turn the TV off when no input signal is detected. While useful for saving energy, they can feel like random restarts if you are using certain external devices.

Step 3: Disable automatic updates. On some smart TV brands, a scheduled overnight update causes the TV to restart at a fixed time. Go to Settings → System → Software Update → Auto Update and disable it. You can then update manually at a time that suits you.

Step 4: Check HDMI-CEC settings. HDMI-CEC (called Anynet+ on Samsung, SimpLink on LG, Bravia Sync on Sony) allows connected devices like decoders and soundbars to control your TV. A faulty or poorly configured connected device can send a restart command to your TV. Try disabling HDMI-CEC temporarily to test if this is the cause.

Cause 6: External Electrical Interference

What It Is

In Kenya, unstable voltage from the national grid, shared transformers that serve many households, and low-quality extension cables or sockets are common causes of power instability. This kind of electrical interference can trigger a TV’s internal protection circuits, causing it to restart without warning.

Detailed Steps to Fix Electrical Interference

Step 1: Invest in a good surge protector. A quality surge protector absorbs voltage spikes before they reach your TV. Look for one with a joule rating of at least 1000J. Avoid cheap extension cables that offer no actual surge protection.

Step 2: Consider a Voltage Stabilizer. If your area experiences frequent brown-outs or high-voltage fluctuations, a voltage stabilizer or automatic voltage regulator (AVR) keeps the power supply to your TV steady.

Step 3: Avoid using the TV during thunderstorms. Lightning-induced surges can travel through power lines and damage electronics instantly. Unplug your TV when a storm is nearby.

Step 4: Report persistent voltage problems to Kenya Power. If your entire building or estate is experiencing regular power fluctuations, report the fault to Kenya Power on their helpline 97771 so the issue is addressed at the transformer level.

When to Call a Professional

You should contact a professional TV repair technician if:

• The TV makes clicking, popping, or burning smells when restarting.
• The screen shows lines, color distortion, or goes black before restarting.
• The problem started after a power surge or flooding.
• A factory reset and all software steps have been completed with no improvement.
• The TV is under warranty — attempting DIY repairs may void your warranty.

Why Choose Refitec Kenya for Your TV Repair

Refitec Kenya is a trusted electronics repair company serving Nairobi and across Kenya. We specialize in the repair of all major TV brands including Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, Syinix, TCL, Vitron, Vision, and more. Our technicians are trained and experienced in both screen-level and component-level repairs.

We offer transparent pricing with a written diagnosis before any repair begins, use of quality spare parts with a repair warranty, fast turnaround times for most common faults, and home pickup and delivery for large or mounted TVs within Nairobi.

Whether your TV keeps restarting due to overheating, a blown capacitor, a software fault, or a faulty mainboard, Refitec Kenya has the skills and parts to fix it right the first time.

Contact Refitec Kenya today for a free diagnostic consultation.

Refitec Kenya — Reliable Electronics Repair Across Kenya