Some Samsung TV owners report hearing a faint buzzing or high-pitched noise while the TV is in standby mode. Often described as sounding like a mosquito, this noise can be especially noticeable at night or in quiet rooms. If you’re experiencing this issue, you’re not alone, and there are ways to reduce or eliminate the sound.
What Causes the Buzzing Sound in Standby Mode?
Samsung TVs use switching power supplies that convert high-voltage electricity from the wall outlet into lower voltages needed by various components like the main board, T-Con board, backlight system, and others. These power supplies operate at high frequencies and adjust their output depending on the load. While they usually run silently, under certain conditions—especially when the power draw is low or fluctuating—they can produce a noticeable buzzing or humming noise. This isn’t considered a defect but rather a side effect of how switching power supplies work, especially when operating at partial loads around 15%.
Even when your TV is in standby mode, it doesn’t shut off completely. Some components remain powered, such as RAM, HDMI ports, USB ports, Wi-Fi modules, and standby sensors. If the total power usage during standby enters a certain range, the power supply may enter resonance, leading to the buzzing noise.
How to Eliminate or Reduce the Buzzing Noise
One way to deal with the noise is to change the power load during standby. This can be done either by reducing the load—disabling some features—or by increasing it slightly to stabilize the power supply.
Reducing the Load on the Power Supply
You can try turning off features that keep components powered during standby. This can reduce the likelihood of the power supply entering a noisy partial-load state.
Disabling Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) may help. This feature allows the TV to control HDMI-connected devices, but it also keeps HDMI ports active in standby. If you’re not using ARC or HDMI control, disabling this can lower power draw and potentially stop the buzzing. To turn it off, go to:
Settings → All Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
You can also disable IP Control, which keeps the Wi-Fi module powered so that the TV can be turned on over the internet, such as via Alexa. If you use only the remote control and don’t need smart features in standby, turning this off may help reduce the buzzing. To disable it, go to:
Settings → All Settings → Connection → Network → Expert Settings → Wi-Fi
Increasing the Load to Stabilize the Power Supply
In some cases, increasing the load instead of reducing it can bring the power supply out of the partial-load state that causes buzzing.
You can try enabling Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) if it was turned off. Though it’s less commonly used today, it is still required for functions like ARC and may help shift the power draw out of the resonance zone.
Another trick is to connect a device to the USB port. Some Samsung TVs continue to supply power to USB ports in standby mode. Plugging in a device that draws a bit more power—like a charging smartphone—might stabilize the power supply and stop the noise. Keep in mind, however, that not all TV models power USB ports when the screen is off.
