Sony's power article gives a five-step ladder. Make sure the AC power cord is properly plugged into the BRAVIA and the wall, and if the model has an AC adaptor check it and the cord for damage; do not use a power strip, plug directly into a wall socket. Reset by unplugging: turn the TV off, unplug the cord for two minutes, plug it in and turn the TV on; Sony says internal processing can take time or go wrong because of the network service, data broadcast or external devices, and a power cycle often clears it.
The checks in more detail
Check whether the TV turns on from its own power button, not the remote; positions vary, so check the sides, back, front and top, or the manual. To test whether an external device is the cause, remove every cable except the power cord: USB, wired LAN, HDMI and antenna, including routers, USB drives, the USB wireless LAN adaptor and antenna boosters, and see whether the symptom occurs.
Press POWER on the remote that came with the TV; if the TV turns on from its button but not the remote, troubleshoot the remote. Try another device on the same outlet to confirm the outlet is good. For a lit or blinking LED, Sony has a separate article: it says a red LED blinking a set number of times, from two to eight and varying by model, usually means a detected fault and most red blink patterns need service, and there is a specific article for a TV that turns off and on by itself, reboots or blinks eight times.
For unwanted turn-on, check Control for HDMI (BRAVIA Sync) and the timers. Keep a note of what the LED does, color and count, because Sony support asks for it first, and a photo or video of the blinks helps if the pattern is quick. Most red blink patterns need service, so a record saves a second call. Keep the box and a photo of the label showing model and serial, since service always asks for both.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sony BRAVIA TV line keeps restarting or will not stay on”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A power cord or strip fault
What separates it The TV has no power because the power cord or the power strip has a fault
How to confirm Plug the TV directly into a wall socket, and not into a strip or an extension
- 2
A stuck software state
What separates it The TV is unresponsive because it is stuck in a software state
How to confirm Unplug the TV for two minutes, and then plug it in and start it again
- 3
An external device
What separates it The TV restarts when something is connected because an external device causes it
How to confirm Remove the cables from the TV one by one, and test to find the device that causes it
- 4
A weak remote
What separates it The TV works from its own button but not the remote, which points to a weak remote
How to confirm Replace the batteries in the remote, and then try the remote again
- 5
A board fault
What separates it The red light blinks because of a fault on the board inside the TV
How to confirm Contact Sony service, since a blinking red light points to a fault inside the TV
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The LED color and blink count
- Whether the TV's own button works
- Which devices are connected to the TV at the time it restarts
- Whether the outlet works for other devices
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the power cord
ReversibleCheck the power cord, and plug it into a wall socket and not into a power strip.
Unplug for two minutes
ReversibleUnplug the TV for two minutes, and then plug it in and restart it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use the TV's own button
ReversibleUse the TV's own button, to rule out the remote as the reason it does not respond.
Remove all cables
ReversibleRemove all of the cables except the power cable, and test whether the TV stays on.
Test the outlet
ReversibleTest the outlet with another device, to be sure that the outlet gives power, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Read the LED
ReversibleRead the LED, noting its color and the number of times that it blinks, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Sony
ReversibleContact Sony if the LED blinks red, since that points to a fault inside the TV.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- LED codes
- Blink counts and meanings differ between Google TV, Android TV and older BRAVIA models.
- 2025 models
- The BRAVIA 2 II, 5, 7 and 8 II are Google TV models with the same power steps.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models A80L, A90J, A95L, BRAVIA 2 II LED TV, BRAVIA 5 Mini LED TV, BRAVIA 7 Mini LED TV, BRAVIA 8 II QD-OLED TV, BRAVIA 9 Mini LED TV, X85K, X900H, X90L, X95L.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a red LED blinks, contact Sony service; most blink patterns need service
- !If the TV does not start with only power connected, contact Sony
- !If eight blinks show, see Sony's reset article for your model
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Power cord, reset, TV button and external devices.
LED indicator meanings.
Index of Google TV help articles.
Restart, reset settings, update, Safe Mode and Clear data.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What if my BRAVIA will not turn on?+
Check the cord, unplug for two minutes and use the TV's own button.
What do red blinks mean?+
A detected fault; most need service.
How many blinks?+
From two to eight, depending on the model.
What are eight blinks?+
Sony has a specific reset article.
Can an external device cause it?+
Yes, an external device can cause it, so remove the cables one by one to test.
How do I restart a Google TV?+
Hold the Power button on the remote, and choose Restart from the menu.
Why does it turn on by itself?+
Control for HDMI or a timer.
Can the remote be at fault?+
Test with the button on the TV, to find out whether the remote is at fault.
What is the Sony Troubleshooting Guide?+
It is a step by step tool on Sony's support site, which walks you through problems with a BRAVIA TV.
What is Control for HDMI on a Sony TV?+
It is Sony's HDMI-CEC feature, also called BRAVIA Sync, which lets the devices that are connected control each other.
What is Google TV?+
Google TV is the operating system on most current BRAVIA TVs, and it brings apps and recommendations together.
What is Safe Mode?+
Safe Mode is a startup mode that disables downloaded apps, to test whether one of them is causing a fault.