hotstar on panasonic smart tv

Rik is an engineer who has held a range of marketing, technical support, and management roles. He is also a qualified teacher.

Power Up Your Panasonic TV With Your Satellite or Cable Box as the Default

The Problem

Let me describe my problem and how Hotel Mode is a useful hack to get a Panasonic TV to do what you want.

Some time ago, I bought a Panasonic TX-32LXD8 LCD television. This works fine and has a great picture, except it always powers up in TV mode (either Analogue or Digital Video Broadcasting; DVB) rather than from one of the SCART or HDMI inputs.

Although the Set Up menu should have a way of programming the TV to power up in AV mode, this doesn't seem to work on UK versions of the TV with built-in Freeview (UK free digital service). If you set the television to power up in AV mode, it still powers up in TV mode.

The solution that I found via online forums is to utilize 'Hotel Mode,' which seems to work on most Panasonic TVs. The problem is that Hotel Mode is not mentioned in the Panasonic handbook or the Panasonic website.

How to Select Hotel Mode

Go to the side of the set and hold down the -/V button on the side of the TV (middle of five buttons).
At the same time (holding this button down) press the AV button on the Remote control three times
The Hotel Mode Menu should then appear on screen

This is very similar to hacking a DVD player to change the Region.

You can see the Hotel Mode menu in the above photo. Before you use it, note options such as 'Button Lock' and 'Remote Lock.' Do not select these or you will create a huge problem. Remember you need both the side buttons and the Remote to get into Hotel Mode!

Now you can select the power up input (initial INPUT in the Menu) to anything you like, including AV1 (typically used for Cable or Satellite Box). You also need to turn Hotel Mode on before pressing the EXIT button.

The only problem I now have is that the TV will no longer automatically switch to AV2 when I turn on my DVD player, so I have to switch manually via the remote. I assume this is a 'feature' of Hotel Mode.

I suspect hotel mode allows TVs to be set up so the public can't fiddle with them. This is likely very useful in hotel lobbies and public buildings where otherwise a member of the public could turn up with a remote and reprogram the TV or change channel to watch their favourite show!

So there you have it. Hotel Mode is a great way to control the way your Panasonic TV powers up and what input signal it defaults to.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: How do I switch my TV to AV if I only have a Directv remote?

Answer: I assume you mean a universal remote. As far as I know, the solution I describe only works with the original Panasonic remote.

Sree murugan on July 15, 2020:

My tv is unable to view, the screen shows AV1 PAL. What I have to do to view the picture,pls advice

G on February 11, 2020:

how do I turn (OFF) Hotel Mode??

Yinna on June 20, 2019:

Fantastic. You just saved my 76 yo dad from having to mess around with two remotes. Thanks!

Mia hamlin on June 15, 2018:

My TV is stuck on av an no picture how do I get my TV to come on

Geoff Potter on May 30, 2018:

Thanks too for the Hotel Mode information. I have just purchased a Yamaha soundbar. The instructions say that if the TV does not have a method of disabling the TV speakers, put some headphones in the headphone socket. Very scientific.

The soundbar can be controlled from the TV remote now (using the 'learn' feature) and in Hotel Mode with max volume set to 0, the TV remote controls the soundbar now for volume, on/off and mute. When using the TV remote, a volume level bar still appears on the screen, but it sticks at zero whilst the soundbar volume increases or decreases.

Hannah Manderson on May 14, 2018:

You absolute diamond!!! Thankyou so much sorted my tv straight away after 3 days of going over and over the same things in settings!!!

Legasse on December 06, 2017:

I bought Panasonic tv which was used by hote, now I couldn't get all the tv service, all the original settings are missing.

Akoji Labija on November 13, 2017:

This is great info. Thank you very much

sheki on November 03, 2017:

i have panasonic tv model TX-L42U2B

i cant use in europe in analog antena whats can i do for to use in this option .tv work only with digitaalb

Paul on July 28, 2017:

Many tnks, I have exacgly this model of Tx-p42s31b panasonic that has long been blinking multiple times and goes out immediately. I tried your method by holding power bottom and AV or /-V down simultaneously.

The Green light stays now but pressing the AV on the remote produces no effects.

What else can I do to get this TV up ànd showing?

Jonathan L on May 23, 2017:

I purchased a panasonic 37'' (TH-37PR11UK) yesterday and a remote didn't come with it. Is there anyway to remove it from hoel mode without using a remote. I have a universal but the only thing it does it change the volume.

Nick on April 11, 2017:

This website shared by SONOS support, to recommend Hotel mode as a workaround solution for setting your panasonic TV remote to control SONOS home theatre sound **WITHOUT** also turning up the TV's internal volume (this creates an annoying echo and ruins the considerable investment in sonos home theatre (playbar, sub and 2 x PLAY3s for 5:1 surround). Finding out that a hotel mode even exists is a bonus! And the solution - turn hotel mode ON, the set Maximum volume level to '0' (zero), now allows me to control Sonos surround sound, from TV remote, without also changing internal TV speaker volume. Woo hoo. It's great having the sonos app on your mobile phone, but when your phone is charging, or in your bag and you can't control TV sound it's really really frustrating/ inconvenient .. so we're back to the trusted TV remote. Thanks Sonos and thanks for the info on this website.

Claudio on January 13, 2017:

Thank you Rik, great job!

Unlocker on October 28, 2016:

Brilliant tip, thank you so so much!!

This finally „unlocked" the HDMI3 input (the on the side) for me.

On my TX-P42G10E the HDMI3 input wasn't working since day1. Had only HDMI1 & HDMI2 available. I had tried numerous cables, factory resets, called Panasonic service several times during the last years - nobody had a clue, so was always asked to turn the TV in for repairs.

Before, I had to crawl behind TV to switch cables, now it's one push of a button and I'm straight into HDMI3.

Fantastic!

DRS Wales on August 23, 2016:

Excellent advice - worked like a dream after weeks of dipping in and out of other articles. Hotel mode is the way to go!

AH Collins on August 20, 2016:

I recently purchased a Panasonic TV from a hotel sale.Was not even aware of a hospatility mode until getting it home and setting up. Have tried several suggestion but no luck. The tv is a TH 32LRU20 and the remote is aN2QAYB000485 which does not have a AV button. Tried the /V with the input button no luck. any help is appreciated.

zOnDeR on August 03, 2016:

Thanks for the info. It's very usefull!!!

Jakob on July 23, 2016:

This was great, thank you!

Finn on July 15, 2016:

thanks for making my day very easy: first on my very old: TH42px80ea and now on my new old tv TX-P50ST50Y I am plasma fan ;-)

Christian on June 25, 2016:

Thanks. Very useful.

Roy on April 14, 2016:

Thid is great! Thanks! Should have found this much earlier...

J.Singh on October 06, 2015:

Many Many Thanks From Swiss too.

Dave on September 27, 2015:

Excellent, you just solved a 5 year old problem! Thank you muchly...

Hope this gives your post a useful bump for everyone else.

spudly on August 09, 2015:

Thank you very much, very clear instruction, have lived with blue input screen too long - thanks from Iteland

Arnt on July 21, 2015:

Old thread, but still usefull. Finaly got it the way it was supposed to be from the very beginning. Thanks a lot.

axel on July 17, 2015:

Omg !!!!! Finally , awesome :) have been struggling with this for years thanks a lot :)

IM IDIOT on April 05, 2015:

thx for help, i got 5 years PANNY G20 and setup 5 minutes ago and working perfect...my wife gimme tonight :D

Ewa on April 05, 2015:

I'm very grateful for your tip, thank you so much!

jonas42 on December 10, 2014:

Thanks a bunch! This bugged me forever! Love from Germany. :)

Davymac on October 16, 2014:

Thank you for sharing this, awesome stuff.

Andrey on September 20, 2014:

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was struggling with this problem for a long time, russian internet says nothing about it. I've found the solution only here.

Franny on September 07, 2014:

Thank you, I was very near to buy another TV!

Elania on June 19, 2014:

Thank you! Works like a charm!

MikeG on May 01, 2014:

Hi!

Thank you for this, it worked great on my old plasma!

Finally, I won't have to press the AV button on my remote anymore!

Zores on March 25, 2014:

Thanks a lot. Worked perfectly on my old plasma as well!

greeny on March 02, 2014:

worked on tx-p42g20

now when I say xbox on, everything boots up and shuts down together, even the amp!

Thanks!

Olaf on February 28, 2014:

Also worked on Plasma TV Panasonic TH-42PZ80EA. Many thanks!

Jose on February 18, 2014:

I'm looking for this since 2007 :D

Now I finally found it, it works very well on my TH-37PV70

Thanks

jappp on January 26, 2014:

thanks! works well

paul on December 19, 2013:

My Panasonic TX-37LZD80 - 37" was working fine powering up on av mode until a week ago. Everything I tried in setup menu didn't work until I found this fix. It works a treat. Cheers.

Kris on December 04, 2013:

Just was I was looking for. Thanks!

Hans on December 02, 2013:

Have Panasonic 42 inch Viera TV for over 4 years. The start up in Analogue TV bothered me a lot. The manual didn't give a clue. Your tip worked perfectly. No need for Panasonic remote anymore apart from DVD player. Thanks very much.

Hans (The Netherlands)

Olivier on November 28, 2013:

Works like a charm. Thanks from France

Adri on November 24, 2013:

Thanks from the Netherlands! Also works on a Panasonic LCD with buttons on top.

waggers66 on November 13, 2013:

Fantastic!! I am now the hero in our family

Claire on November 10, 2013:

At long last my Viera fires up straight onto sky box rather than having to select the input. Thank you very much for this post.!

Rickard on October 16, 2013:

Fantastic! Thanks!!

Smap on October 03, 2013:

You rock, this workshop fine !

Des on September 30, 2013:

Thanks very much Rik for posting this. .....Panasonic manual writers please take note !!!! Cheers :)

gold on September 27, 2013:

thanks! very useful information!

Dianne on September 11, 2013:

Brilliant solution to an irritation. Thanks from edinburgh in scotland!

George Curran on August 21, 2013:

Many thanks. My Panasonic Viera plasma (2010) was defaulted to AV1. I used your guide to change the default to HDMI1 - to go directly to my SKY+HD Box. Brilliant !

curiousgirl on June 16, 2013:

Thanks, so useful!

Can you tell where I can find a complete explanation of all settings available on hotel mode menu, on service menus, what other -v/tripleclick fancy combination goes where...

Is it possible to access a comprehensive colors/whitebalance setting area on a 42ST30 plasma ?

Is it possible to set sound system so that plugging a headphone disconnects inner loudspeakers ?

It is bad choices from Panasonic to hide settings from users, it is good thing internet help users ;-) Thanks again!

chris on May 13, 2013:

useful thanks !

Pascal on April 27, 2013:

Thanks for this very useful tip! It worked perfectly with my 2012 Panasonic plasma TV.

Maciej on April 11, 2013:

;) thanks a lot...

After usig th50pz700 for more then 5 years, i finally fix it ;)))))

Thanks thanks thanks

Wouter on March 04, 2013:

And another very satisfied reader from Belgium!

(HTPC in living room)

Paul on February 18, 2013:

Legend. Sorted my problem straight away. Why they couldn't put an option in the menu id never know!! Turns straight onto sky now. A* thank you

Alex on February 18, 2013:

You are a legend. 4 years of annoyingness solved by you.

Pfh on February 10, 2013:

Can you turn of the TV speakers to ? Completely! If your having a soundbar

Fabio on February 02, 2013:

Thanks! From Italy!

monkey on January 27, 2013:

I tried the hotel setting ,then put it back to the power on preference .ifound that the hotel setting goes straight in when you turn the tv on, the preference setting goes tv first then to av,so i will be putting it on the hotel and thanks for the info.

Paul on January 26, 2013:

Thanks for this, it's annoyed me for a couple of years!

Mike p on January 24, 2013:

Genius. Utter genius. Thanks!

Andy Ham in Edinburgh on January 22, 2013:

Thanks, this was useful. It had bugged me that you had to use two remotes.

Amal on January 18, 2013:

Absolutely awesome, thanks for a great article!

leo on December 31, 2012:

thanx for charing. It works very well. So, now up to the next CHALLANGE........

I did't read it here but if there are several input devices: use a HDMI switch that will auto-select the powered up device to your pre-selected HDMI input channel. That means you don't have to select the AV button never again!

My next step: can I auto power on the TV if a signal is sent to the preferred HDMI input? need help on that,

Amine on December 31, 2012:

works on my Viera TX-L42E5B UK&IE model, thanks a lot for that :)

Mike on December 25, 2012:

Hey, does anybody have a problem where, it will come up in the specified Initial Input, and then, 10 seconds later, switch back to the original setting?

Marcel on December 11, 2012:

Worked in the Netherlands as well! Thanx

TheRealToune on December 04, 2012:

@Ssss: its not the same thing.. Ive tested with the power on preference option and it doesn't work for a HDMI input.

The hotel mode works !! thx to the autor!!!

Ssss on November 17, 2012:

Just go to menu/setup/other settings/power on preference av

No need to use hotel mode

Niels Siemons on November 16, 2012:

This worked.. but I made a mistake with selecting the input channel. So I want to enter Hotel menu again and change the channel.. but how to get into the hotel menu when this is on? -/V and 3 times AV doesn't work (of course)... any work arounds?

Dee on November 13, 2012:

Works on my 32LX70 Panasonic as well. With the analogue tv signal now gone it was very annoying having to always switch the av when I turned on the tv. Turning on the SKY+HD box (connected via HDMI ) didn't automatically switch inputs. So this is brilliant!

Couldn't see how to set an initial input in the tv settings menu (probably cause my tv is old) so this worked perfectly.

erkan on October 30, 2012:

It works 2007 panasonic plasma's too.

Thanks

Matt on October 28, 2012:

Work perfectly - this has been bugging me for about 2 years!!

Michael on October 21, 2012:

Thanks been having this issue for years as I have a surround sound that controls all my inputs.

Georgi on October 17, 2012:

Work great for my 42PV80. Thanks

Ac on October 07, 2012:

Super, thanks. Works perfectly, extremely helpful page

Colin on September 05, 2012:

Thanks for info its good to have all control on handset instead of using two.

Thanks again

Simon on August 12, 2012:

Tried this on our new 3D TV and it works a treat. No more sitting waiting for it to detect hdmi 1 for the sky box! Why on earth do Panasonic not tell you this in the manual?!

crusty on July 26, 2012:

Thankyou no more trips to my Nana's house. Was a weekly routine selecting the AV input and reminding her.

rickussss on July 22, 2012:

Great stuff.... worked like a snake charmers most obedient snake, listening to the music..... dadadadadada, THANKS!!!!! WOO HOO!!!

Sorin K on July 19, 2012:

This was too easy, thanks a million for helping me get rid of the one remote, now I have all the controls only on the receivers remote.

Miroa on July 18, 2012:

Simply perfect!

Dazza on July 17, 2012:

You sir are a legend

sx on July 16, 2012:

works with 46gt30 plasma, thanks !!

Peter on July 14, 2012:

Anyone knows why my settings menu only shows one page instead of the 2 that are shown in the manual? I'd like to change the order of the TV channels but cannot find the proper menu to do that.

Silver_watcher on July 08, 2012:

I know this page is old but many many thanks for the info.

This has been a real issue for me as my HDMI 1 slot is bust so to default to HDMI 2 is great. Esp since we are going on holiday & i now don't have to write an instruction manual on how to get sky going for the house sitter.

Andy on June 25, 2012:

Thank you for this page! This has been annoying me for 3 years, but no more :)

John on June 22, 2012:

What a brilliant find as i have just come across this problem on a new panasonic tv and was about to trawl through the manual to resolve what i thought was an easy fix.

Cant believe panasonic don't have an option to do this but a million thanks for this tip which i will end up using as it seems out of the ninetys to have to switch every start up

Jo Adlam on June 08, 2012:

Amazing! You don't know how happy you've made me!! We were having problems because of the volume difference between the freeview and sky so when you turned the tv on it was really loud so you need to turn it down quick. It is the right volume when you switch it on now as it goes straight to sky!!!

wayne crookes on June 04, 2012:

you my friend are a genius

Sorin on May 27, 2012:

Thanks a lot. Simply clever.

Stuart on May 16, 2012:

Thanks, simple instructions to resolve an annoying problem.

Becky on May 12, 2012:

Thank you so much! This is why the internet is brilliant... my elderly mother was so confused by her new TV not going straight to the channels after the analogue signal was switched off. I tried to mark up the remote so she'd select AV, but if she pressed too hard or the wrong one... disaster! This works like a dream. No more confusion... woohoo!

André the norwegian on May 09, 2012:

Thanks, this helped a lot!

Johnniefp on May 07, 2012:

Excellent! Two years and this hack is still useful. Just set my plasma to default to hdmi2.

Thanks,

John.

Joris on April 28, 2012:

Thanks, working perfectly.

Ole Frank on April 27, 2012:

Rik, you made my day. I love Forums and helpful answers. Have a great wkd!