“I cannot turn on my Smart TV via SmartThings, but I can turn it off: what should I do?

Smart TVs have become essential in our modern living rooms. They allow us to control everything at our fingertips, thanks to connected apps like SmartThings. However, sometimes an unexpected issue disrupts this technological harmony: you can turn off your Smart TV via SmartThings, but not turn it on. This malfunction is more common than it seems, and fortunately, there are several effective solutions to fix it.

Why Your Smart TV Won’t Turn On via the SmartThings App

Before diving into solutions, let’s understand the problem. When a Smart TV is turned off, it’s not completely inactive: it enters a network standby mode that allows certain commands, like remote power-on, to be executed. If this function stops responding, the issue often comes from the network connection, a disabled setting, or software incompatibility between the app and the TV. Don’t worry: we’ll show you how to restore full communication between your Smart TV and SmartThings.

1. Check the Basic Settings on Your Smart TV and Phone

Start with simple but often overlooked checks.
Ensure your Smart TV and smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If either is on a different router or guest network, SmartThings won’t be able to communicate.

Steps:

• Open your Smart TV network settings.
• Check the connected Wi-Fi name.
• Do the same on your smartphone.
• If both devices aren’t on the same network, reconnect them to the same access point.

This simple check resolves most issues with a Smart TV not being detected or inactive remotely.

2. Run an Offline Network Diagnostic

If the connection seems fine but the TV still won’t turn on via SmartThings, try running an offline network diagnostic.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > Network Connection Test.
• Wait for the analysis to finish.
• If an error appears (e.g., server connection failed), restart both the TV and the router.

An offline diagnostic often temporarily resets network communication without requiring manual configuration.

3. Enable the “Turn On with Mobile” Option on Your Smart TV

This is a crucial and often forgotten option. On some Smart TVs, the remote power-on function is disabled by default.

How to check:

• Go to Settings > Network > Advanced Settings.
• Make sure Turn On with Mobile is checked.
• If it isn’t, enable it and restart the TV.

This feature allows SmartThings or other connected apps to wake the TV from standby. Without it, only the power-off command works.

4. Try a Different Connection: Wi-Fi or Ethernet

Network stability plays a major role in communication between your phone and Smart TV.

• If your TV is on Wi-Fi, try a wired Ethernet connection.
• If you’re on Ethernet, try Wi-Fi.

Some routers block Wake-on-LAN commands over Wi-Fi, preventing remote power-on. A different connection can bypass this issue and restore full control via SmartThings.

5. Assign a Static IP to Your Smart TV

By default, most TVs get an IP address automatically via the router’s DHCP. However, this automatic setup may change addresses after a restart, disrupting SmartThings connection.

To fix:

• Open Settings > Network > IP Settings.
• Select Manual Input.
• Enter a static IP (e.g., 192.168.1.50).
• Save and restart the SmartThings app.

This stabilizes communication between the devices and ensures your Smart TV is always detectable.

6. Test Another Compatible App, like Google Home

If your TV still won’t turn on via SmartThings, it could be a software bug in the app itself. Try another control platform, such as Google Home or Smart View.

These apps often use the same network protocols but may have better compatibility depending on the TV model. If the TV powers on with another app, the problem likely comes from SmartThings, and reinstalling the app may fix the bug.

7. Consider the Age of Your Smart TV

If your TV is several years old, its network module or firmware may no longer support the latest remote control features. Older Smart TVs may not have full network standby mode. In this case, the long-term solution is a firmware update or replacing the TV with a newer model compatible with SmartThings.

Conclusion: Regain Full Control of Your Smart TV

Being able to turn your Smart TV on and off from your smartphone is a convenience no one wants to lose. Fortunately, most problems come from simple settings, an unstable connection, or a forgotten network configuration.

By following these steps from ensuring the same Wi-Fi network, activating Turn On with Mobile, to assigning a static IP you’ll regain smooth, full control via SmartThings. And if your Smart TV shows signs of age, it may be time to consider a newer, more connected, and higher-performing model.

Also Read:

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• The Ultimate Guide to Improve Mobile Wi-Fi Connection