Philips Sonicare Turns On By Itself? (Fix In Minutes!)

Don’t know what to do when Philips Sonicare turns on by itself? We got you! Your Philips Sonicare toothbrush isn’t supposed to turn on by itself.

It is annoying when this happens at night, and your sleep gets disrupted.

Plus, it drains the battery and reduces your toothbrush’s performance. 

To fix your Philips Sonicare that’s turning on randomly, you need to clean the charging contacts and brush head. If this doesn’t work, open your toothbrush, check for moisture, and dry it.

Excellent, now let’s discuss the solutions in detail. 

Philips Sonicare Turns On By Itself – 6 Proven Methods to Fix

There are a few reasons why your toothbrush turns on by itself.

Once you nail down the culprit, finding the right solution becomes a breeze. 

• Damaged or worn-out brush head
• A faulty power button
• Low or defective battery
• Moisture inside the toothbrush 

Dive into this article and discover why your Philips Sonicare toothbrush is turning on itself.

But before getting into the nitty-gritty, give the following troubleshooting steps a go. 

Before You Start

Do these four simple troubleshooting steps to tackle minor issues and save you from diving into complex solutions.   

• Check the power button.
• See if the battery is properly charged.
• Look for signs that water can get in your toothbrush.
• Update your toothbrush firmware.

If you’re knee-deep with trickier problems, check out the solutions we’ve lined up below.  

1. Clean the Charging Contacts

If your Philips Sonicare toothbrush turns on by itself, you should first clean the charging contacts on the toothbrush handle and the charging base.

Dirty or corroded charging contacts often interfere with the power supply and make the toothbrush act erratically.

Cleaning them ensures a good connection between them and prevents any short circuits. 

Things you need:

• A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol
• Dry cloth 

Here’s how to do this:

1. Soak a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. 
2. Gently rub the metal contacts with it to remove dirt, corrosion, or residue.
3. Using a dry cloth, wipe the metal contacts.  
4. Put the Philips Sonicare toothbrush back on the charging base. 
5. Plug it into a working power outlet.
6. Check if the toothbrush still turns on by itself.  

Note: After cleaning the charging contacts, ensure they are dry and shiny before plugging the charging station back into the power outlet. 

2. Clean the Brush Head and Replace It

Next, clean the brush head well and replace it if it has seen better days.

A damaged or worn-out brush head sometimes messes with the connection, making the toothbrush sense a false movement.

By cleaning or replacing it, you ensure a proper fit and prevent any phantom activations that turn on your Philips Sonicare toothbrush by itself.  

Things you need:

• Toothpick or sm

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Remove the brush head from the handle.
2. Rinse it with water. 
3. Use a toothpick or a small brush to remove anything stuck between the bristles. 
4. Check the brush head for cracks, chips, or signs of wear. 
5. If it’s damaged, replace it with a new one. 
6. Place the new or cleaned brush head on the handle until you hear a click. 
7. Check if the toothbrush still turns on by itself. 

Note: Purchase replacement brush heads online or at your local store. Choose the right type and size for your toothbrush model. 

3. Reset Your Toothbrush

The best solution is to reset your Philips Sonicare toothbrush.

Resetting fixes many issues, such as your device turning on by itself, not charging, or not working properly.

It restores your toothbrush to its original settings and clears any glitches causing the problem. 

To reset your toothbrush, follow these steps:

1. Press the power button to turn off your toothbrush. 
2. Hold the power button for 5 seconds until you notice a flashing light or beep.
3. Now, your toothbrush is in reset mode.
4. Release the power button.
5. Wait until the light goes off, signaling the toothbrush has been reset.  
6. Press the power button again to turn on your toothbrush. 
7. See if the problem is fixed. 

If resetting your toothbrush doesn’t work, move on to the following solutions. Take note that they require opening up your toothbrush. 

Open Up Your Toothbrush

The following solutions will help you fix the self-turn-on issue on your Philips Sonicare toothbrush.

You will need to open your toothbrush to complete them.

These methods are a bit advanced, but you should be able to follow them even if you don’t have any technical experience.

4. Check the Power Button for Dirt and Clean It

The power button is the main control of your toothbrush, and if it’s dirty or faulty, your Philips Sonicare randomly turns on by itself.

To fix this, check the power button for dirt and clean it as needed. Ensure that it’s working properly and doesn’t get stuck or malfunction. 

Things you need:

• Magnifying glass
• Toothpick or small brush
• A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol
• Dry cloth

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Press the power button to turn off your toothbrush. 
2. Inspect it with a magnifying glass to find dust, dirt, or debris. 
3. Remove them with a toothpick or small brush.
4. Wipe the power button and the area around it with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab.
5. Now, wipe it with a dry cloth, ensuring it’s dry and clean.
6. Press the power button again to turn on your toothbrush.
7. Check if the toothbrush still turns on by itself. 

Note: Avoid damaging the power button or the toothbrush handle when cleaning it.

5. Check the Battery and Replace It

The battery powers your toothbrush and allows it to operate wirelessly.

If it’s low or defective, it will affect the performance and functionality of your Philips Sonicare device.

To address the issue, check and replace the battery, ensuring it has enough power and doesn’t cause erratic behavior. 

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the power button to turn off your toothbrush.
2. Check the battery indicator on your toothbrush handle. 
3. If it’s red, flashing, or empty, the battery is low and needs to be replaced or recharged.
4. Depending on what you see, follow the solutions below. 

Low Battery

1. Plug the charging base into a working power outlet. 
2. Put your toothbrush on the charging base.
3. Leave the toothbrush charging for at least 24 hours.
4. Remove the toothbrush when the battery indicator turns green, solid, or full. 

Defective Battery

1. Buy a replacement battery online or at your local store. 
2. Open the toothbrush handle and remove the old battery.
3. Put the new battery into the toothbrush and close it. 

Press the power button again to turn on your toothbrush. Then, check if it still turns on by itself. If the issue persists, proceed to the last solution.  

Tip: If your Philips Sonicare toothbrush is still under warranty, we recommend contacting Philips Support and getting your unit repaired or replaced.

6. Get Rid of Moisture Inside the Toothbrush and Reseal It

The water inside the toothbrush causes corrosion, rust, or short circuits. To address this, remove the moisture inside the toothbrush and reseal it.

This will prevent water damage to the internal components and ensure your Philips Sonicare toothbrush works properly. 

Things you need:

• A small screwdriver
• A larger screwdriver
• A paper towel
• Rubbing alcohol
• Plate

To get rid of moisture and reseal your toothbrush, follow these steps:

1. Press the power button to turn off your toothbrush. 
2. Using the small screwdriver, pry open the bottom of the toothbrush handle.
3. Pull out the circuit board.
4. Get the paper towel inside the case and wipe it dry. 
5. Use the larger screwdriver to push the paper towel further inside. 
6. Place the circuit board on a plate and pour rubbing alcohol all over it. 
7. Shake it off a bit and dry it completely with a paper towel.
8. Reassemble the toothbrush and turn it on to see if the issue is gone. 

If the issue persists, contact Philips Sonicare customer support for expert assistance.

They will provide personalized guidance and solutions based on your specific situation.

Additionally, check for firmware updates. Sometimes, they address performance issues.  

Quick Recap

It’s annoying when your Philips Sonicare turns on by itself, especially if it happens at night. The go-to fix is a good old reset.

If that doesn’t do the trick, peek inside your toothbrush for any moisture and clear it out.  

Browse through our extensive library for more Philips Sonicare troubleshooting tips and articles!