Why Did My PS5 Turn on by Itself? Reasons, Fixes, and When to Worry About It

You’re sitting on the couch, minding your own business, when suddenly — your PlayStation 5 turns on. No one touched the controller, the TV is off, and there’s no reason for it to be awake. If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. Plenty of players have found themselves wondering, “Why did my PS5 turn on by itself?”

At first, it might seem like a ghostly encounter (or maybe your PS5 just really wants you to play). Turns out, there are several explanations for why this happens. Most of them are nothing more than a simple setting on the console. The good news? You can fix it. Keep reading as we explain all the potential causes and how you can stop it from happening.

If your PS5 turns on every time you use your TV, the HDMI Device Link is probably the culprit. This feature, also called HDMI-CEC, lets your TV control your console. In theory, it’s a handy tool — turn on the TV, and your PS5 wakes up with it. Sometimes, however, you end up with the console turning on even when you don’t want it to.

To check if this is the issue, go to Settings > System > HDMI and turn off Enable HDMI Device Link. Many users on Reddit and Quora have reported that disabling this setting stopped their PS5 from powering up unexpectedly. If you have multiple HDMI devices connected to your TV, this feature might be getting signals crossed, so turning it off is a good place to start.

Rest Mode is one of those features that sounds great in theory but can sometimes cause more confusion than convenience. It allows your PS5 to stay connected to the internet, download updates, and charge controllers even when it's "off." The problem? Your console might wake itself up for one of these tasks when you least expect it.

To see if this is the reason your PS5 keeps turning on, go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode. Try turning off these two settings: Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning On PS5 from Network. Some players have shared that their PS5 stopped powering on by itself once these settings were disabled.

On X (formerly Twitter), one PS5 user joked they will never get used to their PlayStation turning itself on to perform updates.

Believe it or not, your controller or remote might be the reason your PS5 is acting possessed. If a button is stuck or accidentally pressed, it can signal the console to turn on. Some players have even reported that when their remote’s batteries were running low, their PS5 would turn on at random times.

Here’s what you can do:

• Remove the batteries from your remote and see if the issue stops.
• Make sure your DualSense controller isn’t stuck under something (like a couch cushion) that could be pressing the power button.
• Disconnect controllers from Settings > Accessories > Bluetooth Accessories to rule them out as the cause.

If you’ve tried all the fixes above and your PS5 is still powering on by itself, there might be a deeper issue at play. Some users have reported that power surges or faulty outlets can cause the console to behave strangely. In rare cases, there could even be a hardware problem inside the system itself.

Here’s what you can do:

• Plug your PS5 into a different outlet to see if that helps.
• Use a surge protector to prevent electrical fluctuations from affecting your console.

Most of the time, this isn’t something to panic about. However, if your PS5 keeps turning on after making these changes, there could be an electrical or hardware issue.

At the end of the day, your PlayStation 5 isn’t haunted. Whether it’s HDMI settings, Rest Mode quirks, or a controller waking it up, there’s almost always a simple fix. With a few adjustments, you can stop your console from powering on unexpectedly and get back to gaming on your own terms.