Sony Bravia Keeps Restarting? Here’s How to Fix It
Steve H.
Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers
Specialities: Sony Bravia & Android TV, Google TV firmware, TV power issues, restart loops, HDMI-CEC, apps & storage cleanup, Wi-Fi/network for smart TVs
Sony Bravia keeps restarting or rebooting — power, software, app and update issues
Technician
• Exact TV model (e.g. KD-55XH9005, X90J, XR-65A80L) and whether it’s an Android TV or Google TV?
• What does it do exactly: reboot loop with Sony / Android / Google logo, or it turns off and on randomly while you’re watching?
• Do you see any red LED blinking pattern (e.g. 4, 6 or 8 blinks) when the Sony Bravia restarts?
• Did this start after a software/firmware update, installing a new app (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+), or plugging in a new device (soundbar, PS5, Chromecast, USB drive)?
• Is the TV plugged directly into the wall, or through a surge protector or power strip?
With that info we can tell whether this Sony TV reboot loop is more likely a software/app problem or a power / hardware issue.
Technician
Common causes when a Sony TV keeps turning off and on are:
• A buggy software update or corrupted system cache after an update.
• A misbehaving streaming app (Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video) that crashes the OS and forces a reboot.
• Not enough internal storage left, so Android TV gets unstable when launching heavy apps or games.
• External devices (soundbar via HDMI ARC, PS5, set-top box) sending bad HDMI-CEC signals that make the Bravia turn off/on.
• Less commonly, a power supply issue or overheating that triggers automatic restarts.
We’ll go step by step:
1) Do a proper power reset and disconnect accessories to rule out simple power/CEC glitches.
2) Boot Android TV in a “clean” state, test in Safe mode, and clear problem apps/cache.
3) If your Sony Bravia still keeps restarting, we’ll go through a factory data reset using the official sequence.
4) If even a factory reset doesn’t stop the TV reboot loop, we’ll talk about hardware/service options and what the red LED flashes mean.
Technician
Step 1 — Disconnect everything except power
1) Turn the TV off with the remote and unplug the power cord from the surge protector.
2) Unplug all HDMI cables (PS5, soundbar, set-top box), antenna/cable, and any USB drives or hard disks from the TV.
3) Ideally, plug the Sony Bravia directly into a wall outlet (no power strip) for this test.
Step 2 — Do a long power reset (soft restart)
1) With the TV unplugged, hold the power button on the TV itself (not the remote) for about 10–15 seconds if the model has one.
2) Leave it unplugged for at least 60 seconds to discharge the power supply.
3) Plug the TV back into the wall and turn it on — but still with no HDMI/USB devices connected.
Leave it on the home screen or a built-in app (like the Sony demo or built-in tuner) for 20–30 minutes and see if the Bravia still restarts. That tells us if a connected device / HDMI-CEC is part of the problem.
Technician
Next, we’ll see if the TV is stable in Safe mode and clean up apps and cache.
Step 3 — Boot Sony Bravia into Safe mode (Android TV / Google TV)
Exact steps vary by model, but typical method:
1) With the TV on, press and hold the power button on the remote until a menu appears.
2) Choose Restart and keep holding the power button until you see “Safe mode” in a corner of the screen.
3) In Safe mode, only core system apps run; downloaded apps are disabled.
Now try watching something using a built-in app (YouTube, Netflix) in Safe mode. If the Sony Bravia no longer keeps restarting in Safe mode, we know a downloaded app, cache or setting in normal mode is causing instability. Then we:
• Clear cache and data for the main streaming apps.
• Remove unused apps that may be hogging storage or crashing Android TV.
• Make sure the TV firmware is up to date once it’s stable.
Tell me what happens in Safe mode — does it still reboot, or is it stable there?
Technician
Step 4 — Free up space & reset heavy apps
1) Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
2) For YouTube, Netflix, and any apps you installed recently:
• Choose the app → Clear cache.
• If restarts continue, also use Clear data / storage (you’ll need to sign in again).
3) Uninstall any apps or games you don’t use. On many Bravia models, keeping at least 1–2 GB free helps stop Android TV from crashing and rebooting.
Step 5 — Check power & eco settings
1) In Settings > Power & Energy / Eco, temporarily turn off timers like Idle TV standby or automatic power saving, just for testing.
2) In Settings > Watching TV > External inputs > Bravia Sync (HDMI-CEC), you can temporarily disable Bravia Sync to see if HDMI control is making the TV reboot when devices wake or sleep.
After cleaning storage and resetting those streaming apps, use the TV normally for a while. If your Sony TV keeps rebooting even with plenty of free storage, the next strong step is a full factory data reset, which is what Sony recommends for stubborn Android TV reboot loops.
Technician
Yes, it will reset channels & app logins, but it often stops random Sony TV restarts for good.
Step 6 — Factory reset from the menu (when the TV stays on long enough)
1) Go to Settings > System > About > Reset (some models use Device Preferences > Reset).
2) Choose Factory data reset, then “Erase everything”.
3) Let the TV restart and sit through the full reset — don’t unplug it during this.
4) Set it up again, but initially only install the main apps (Netflix, YouTube) and connect to Wi-Fi.
Tip: After setup, immediately check for a software update under Settings > System / About > System software update. Updating can fix known restart bugs, especially if your Sony Bravia began restarting after a firmware update that got interrupted.
Once we know how it behaves after a clean factory reset, we can decide if this was purely a software issue or if the TV still restarts by itself due to hardware or power.
Technician
Step 7 — Check ventilation and power
• Make sure the TV has a few inches of space on all sides; heat trapped in a tight cabinet can make the Bravia restart to protect itself.
• Try a different wall outlet, ideally on a different circuit, and avoid daisy-chained power strips.
• If you’re in an area with unstable mains, a decent surge protector or UPS with AVR can help reduce sudden restarts from voltage dips.
Step 8 — Watch the red LED blink codes
Next time it restarts, note if the red standby LED blinks in a repeating pattern (e.g. 4, 6, 8 times). On Sony Bravia models:
• 4 or 6 blinks often point to backlight or power-supply issues.
• 7 or 8 blinks can indicate main board or overheating problems.
If your Sony TV keeps restarting with a red light blinking, that’s usually a sign it needs hardware service. We can still try a forced factory reset via the buttons on the TV, but repeated blink codes usually mean a board or component is failing.
Technician
Step 9 — Forced factory reset using TV buttons
Exact combo varies by model, but on many Bravia sets:
1) Unplug the TV from power.
2) On the TV (not the remote), press and hold Volume Down (-) and Power.
3) Keep both buttons held while plugging the power cord back in.
4) Keep holding until the LED changes color or the reset screen appears.
This forces a factory data reset even when the Sony Bravia keeps restarting before reaching the menu.
If a forced reset and the usual power resets don’t break the restart cycle, or the red LED flashes a known error pattern, that points to a hardware fault (main board, power board, or backlight). At that point it’s often best to talk through repair vs. replacement costs with a technician.
If you like, we can go through your exact model’s button combination and LED codes live in chat so you don’t risk the wrong sequence.
Technician
Quick answer: the accepted fix
Accepted fix when a Sony Bravia keeps restarting: perform a proper power reset with the TV unplugged, disconnect all HDMI/USB devices, then test on the home screen. If stable there, clear cache/data for streaming apps, free up storage and update the TV software. If your Sony Android TV is still stuck in a reboot loop, run a full factory data reset from the menu (or using the TV buttons) and retest before reconnecting other devices.
Why Sony Bravia TVs keep restarting or turning off and on
Most Sony Bravia restarting problems come down to three things: unstable software after an update, a crashing app, or a power/heat issue. Android TV and Google TV can become unstable if the system cache is corrupted, storage is nearly full, or a streaming app repeatedly crashes. External devices using HDMI-CEC (Bravia Sync) can also make a Sony TV turn off and on by itself. In other cases, poor ventilation, bad power strips, or failing power components cause the TV to protect itself by shutting down and restarting.
How to test if your Sony Bravia restart issue is really fixed
After each step, leave the Bravia TV running for at least 30–60 minutes. First test with only the TV plugged into the wall and no external devices, then add HDMI devices back one at a time. Try several apps — YouTube, Netflix, live TV — and watch whether the TV stays on without rebooting. If it only restarts with a specific app, the app or its data is usually to blame. If the Sony Android TV keeps restarting even on the home screen after a factory reset and with no HDMI devices, watch for red LED blink codes — those usually point to hardware and are a sign to involve a technician.
Sony Bravia keeps restarting — quick troubleshooting tips
Most cases are fixed by proper power resets, app cleanup and, if needed, a factory data reset.
Quick path: unplug the TV, disconnect all HDMI/USB devices, and perform a long power reset. Test the Bravia on the home screen and in Safe mode. Clear cache/data for heavy streaming apps, uninstall unused apps, and free up internal storage so Android TV doesn’t crash and reboot. If your Sony TV still keeps restarting, do a full factory data reset and update the firmware before reconnecting other equipment. Persistent restarts with red LED blinking usually mean a power or main-board fault that may require professional repair.
Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your Sony Bravia model, software version, and power setup, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before making decisions.
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FAQ
Why does my Sony Bravia keep restarting or turning off and on by itself?
Most of the time, a Sony Bravia that keeps restarting is caused by software problems — a recent update, crashing streaming app, or low internal storage. In other cases, HDMI-CEC from connected devices, poor ventilation or unstable power can make the TV turn off and on automatically. If you also see a repeating red LED blink code, that usually points to a hardware fault that needs service.
Will a factory data reset fix the Sony Android TV reboot loop?
In many cases, yes. Sony recommends a factory data reset when an Android TV or Google TV continuously restarts. It wipes corrupted data and reloads the system software. You’ll need to set up the TV again afterward, but a clean reset often stops random reboots that power resets and app cache clears couldn’t fix.
What should I do if my Sony Bravia keeps restarting after a software update?
If the Bravia began rebooting after a firmware update, first perform a long power reset and disconnect external devices. Then clear cache/data for streaming apps, check for another software update, and if needed do a factory data reset. If the TV still restarts on the home screen with no HDMI devices connected, or shows a stable red LED blink code, contact Sony support or a TV technician.
When should I call a technician about a Sony TV that keeps rebooting?
If your Sony TV continues to restart after power resets, Safe mode tests, app cleanup and a factory reset, or if you see a repeating red LED blink pattern, it’s time to involve a professional. That usually indicates a problem with the power board, main board, or backlight circuitry that requires tools and parts you won’t have at home.
Sources
- Sony Support — BRAVIA TV turns on or off automatically
- Sony Support — Try performing a factory data reset on your TV
- Sony Support — How to perform a software update on your TV
Filed under: Dns Ip Gateway Network Errors
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