Philips Sonicare Won’t Turn Off? – (6 Proven Fixes!)

Don’t know how to fix a Philips Sonicare won’t turn off issue? We got you!

Many users have reported their Sonicare toothbrush won’t turn off, no matter how hard they press the power button.

This frustrating problem drains your battery, damages your toothbrush head, and makes noise. 

To get your Philips Sonicare toothbrush to turn off if it’s not shutting down, let your toothbrush run out of battery and charge it completely to fix this.

Great, let’s start delving into the specifics. 

Philips Sonicare Won’t Turn Off – 6 Proven Methods to Fix

There are several possible reasons why your Philip Sonicare toothbrush won’t turn off.

Identifying them will help you troubleshoot the issue and get your oral routine back on track.

Here are some of them:

• A faulty power button that is either stuck or broken
• A corrupted firmware that affects your toothbrush’s functionality
• A defective battery that prevents the toothbrush from shutting down
• A damaged circuit board that interferes with the operation
• A dirty or wet contact point that affects communication between the toothbrush and charger

In the following section, we will explore the basic troubleshooting steps. 

Before You Start

Before we proceed to the solutions, perform these four basic troubleshooting methods.

You might be dealing with a simple issue that doesn’t require more complex fixes. 

• Make sure the power button is clean
• Restart your toothbrush
• Clean the area around the power button
• Update your toothbrush’s firmware

If these don’t fix your problem, move on to the solutions below. 

1. Let it Run Out of Battery and Charge

The best and easiest way to fix your Philips Sonicare power problem is to let it run out of battery and fully charge it.

This will reset your toothbrush and clear any glitches or errors causing the power button to malfunction.

Note that this method may take some time, depending on your toothbrush’s battery. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Leave your toothbrush on until it completely runs out of battery. 
2. Place it on a charger once it stops vibrating, and the LED light goes off. 
3. Wait for your toothbrush to be fully charged.
4. Turn your toothbrush on and see if it works normally.  

Tip: Place your toothbrush in a sink or bowl to avoid making a mess or disturbing anyone with the noise. 

If this doesn’t fix the issue, move on to the next solution. 

2. Remove the Brush Head and Turn Off Your Toothbrush

Sometimes, the cause of the problem is the brush head.

You won’t be able to turn off your Sonicare toothbrush if the brush head interferes with the power button or your toothbrush’s vibration.

To fix this, remove the brush head before you turn off your toothbrush. 

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Twist and pull the brush head off the handle.   
2. Press the power button and see if the toothbrush turns off. 

Note: A little force may be necessary to remove the brush head, but be careful not to damage the toothbrush or hurt yourself. 

If this fixes the issue, great! If it doesn’t, advance to the next solution. 

3. Disable Easy-Start Mode

If your Philips Sonicare toothbrush won’t turn off still, turn off the Easy-Start mode.

This mode gradually increases the brushing power of your toothbrush over the first 14 sessions to help you get used to the sonic vibration.

However, sometimes, it also causes your toothbrush not to turn off properly. 

To disable the Easy-Start mode, follow these steps:

1. Plug the charger into a working wall socket. 
2. Place the Sonicare toothbrush handle on the charging base. 
3. Press and hold the power button for about 3 seconds.
4. Release when you notice a beep or the battery indicator lights flash green twice.
5. Remove the toothbrush from the charger. 
6. Turn it on and off to see if it works normally. 

Once you have turned off Easy-Start mode, your toothbrush will operate at full power from the first brushing session. 

Note: Some Philips Sonicare toothbrush models have a different process for disabling the Easy-Start mode. Consult the user manual for more information. 

If you’re new to using an electric toothbrush, it is recommended to start with Clean Mode and gradually work your way up to more intense brushing modes.   

4. Switch to a Shorter Brushing Mode

If you’re experiencing a Philips Sonicare toothbrush that won’t turn off, it’s worth noting that some toothbrushes have different brushing modes.

These modes affect how your toothbrush turns off due to differences in duration and intensity.

To fix this, switch to a shorter brushing mode and see if it resolves the issue.

Here’s a table of the different brushing modes, their duration, and intensity:

Brushing Mode	Intensity	Duration
Clean	High	2 minutes
White	High	2.5 minutes
Deep Clean	High	3 minutes
Gum Health	Medium	3 minutes
Sensitive	Low	2 minutes

To switch to a shorter brushing mode, follow these steps:

1. Turn on your Philips Sonicare toothbrush. 
2. Press and hold the power button for about 3 seconds to activate Easy-Start mode.
3. Press the power button again to switch to the next brushing mode.
4. Continue pressing the power button to switch between other brushing modes. 
5. Release the power button once you reach your desired brushing mode. 

Note: If you have a newer Philips Sonicare toothbrush, you will have additional brushing modes like TongueCare and Massage. 

5. Reset Your Toothbrush

If none of the above solutions work, reset your Philips Sonicare toothbrush to its factory settings.

Note that all the personalized settings and preferences you made will be erased. This means you’ll have to set up your electric toothbrush again. 

Here’s how to reset your toothbrush to its default settings:

1. Plug the charger into a working wall socket. 
2. Place the Sonicare toothbrush handle on the charging base.
3. Press and hold the power and mode buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds.
4. Release when you notice a beep or the battery indicator lights flash green three times.
5. Remove the toothbrush from the charger.  
6. Turn it on and see if it works normally. 

Note: Ensure your toothbrush is fully charged before resetting it. 

Reset your toothbrush every three months or when you change the brush head to ensure optimal performance.

If resetting your toothbrush does not solve your issue, contact customer support or buy a new toothbrush. 

6. Disassemble and Clean the Power Button Contacts

Disassemble your toothbrush and clean the power button contacts if all else fails.

This is a more advanced and risky solution, so you may void your warranty or damage your toothbrush if you don’t do it correctly.

We recommend only doing this as a last resort and at your own risk.

Things you need:

• A small Philips screwdriver
• A small flathead screwdriver
• A pair of tweezers
• Rubbing alcohol or contact cleaner 

To disassemble your toothbrush and clean the power button contacts, follow these steps:

1. Remove the brush head and the rubber ring from the toothbrush handle. 
2. Use the Philips screwdriver to unscrew the two screws at the bottom of the handle. 
3. Set aside the screws or the spring.
4. Use the flathead screwdriver to pry open the toothbrush handle. 
5. Once the handle is open, you will see the circuit board and the battery.
6. Locate the power button and the contacts connecting it to the circuit board.
7. Gently lift the contacts using the tweezers.
8. Use rubbing alcohol or contact cleaner to clean the contacts and the circuit board.
9. Reassemble the toothbrush handle by reversing the steps above.
10. Turn on your toothbrush and see if it works normally.   

Note: Be careful not to damage the contacts or circuit board when cleaning them, and ensure everything is aligned and secured properly during the reassembly. 

If you’ve tried various troubleshooting steps and your Philips Sonicare still won’t turn off, it’s time to contact Philips Support.

Visit the Philips Sonicare website or check the product manual for customer support information.  

Quick Recap

Numerous users experienced their Philips Sonicare won’t turn off, leading to battery drainage, potential damage, and excessive noise.

The primary suspect is often a malfunctioning power button. Let the battery run out and fully recharge your toothbrush to fix this.

If this doesn’t resolve the problem, reset your toothbrush.