Whether you are in the market for a new smart TV or already have one at your home, it is highly likely that you may be considering or already have a Samsung Smart TV. This is due to the reason that Samsung’ smart TVs are some of the best out there. Not only do you get an amazing smart TV experience with Samsung TVs, but they even offer amazing picture quality.
However, similar to other TVs out there, even Samsung smart TVs are not perfect. You can face a number of issues with your Samsung smart TV including your Samsung smart TV remote not working. And if you are planning to watch a match or catch up on your favorite TV show, this can be quite frustrating.
So, if you are also facing the same, then we are here to help you with this guide on top 10 methods to fix the issue. You can also find some handy workarounds for issues that you may find with your Samsung smart TV remote controller down below.
Top 10 Methods To Fix Samsung Smart TV Remote Not Working
Without wasting any time, let’s get into the possible solutions for Samsung smart TV not working.
Because your Samsung smart TV remote controller might be facing issues due to a possible number of reasons, there are multiple solutions out there that you should try. And for the same reason, here are the top 10 methods to fix the issue:
#1 Check For Network Issues
Before anything else, you should first check the internet connection or any network-related issues of your Samsung smart TV. This is due to the reason that unlike standard TVs, Samsung smart TVs have a wide range of features that directly depend on your internet connection.
As a result, even if your remote controller is functioning properly, you may not be able to use your Samsung smart TV properly. So first, you should check for network issues by doing these:
- If you’re using a wired network, then unplug the ethernet cable from the back. Then, wait for a minute before plugging the cable again and checking if the remote controller works well.
- In case of wireless networks, you can simply disconnect from your current wireless network. And after a minute, either connect to the same or a different wireless network depending on the available options.
#2 Use The Samsung Remote Control App
In case you have already ordered a replacement remote controller for your Samsung smart TV, then you may have to wait for your new remote to arrive. Since this long wait can be quite frustrating, you may also want to look for other alternatives.
Thankfully, if you are using a Samsung smart TV, then you will be glad to know that there is a very easy fix to control your Samsung smart TV without a remote controller. You can simply use the Samsung Remote Control App on your smartphone or tablet.
With this app, you can control your Smasung smart TV over the internet which is the perfect alternative to using a remote controller.
#3 Try Using a New WiFi Module
While this is not true for all Samsung smart TVs available out there, some Samsung smart TVs have a combined WiFi module and IR sensor. And if you are familiar with TV remotes, then you must know that all TV remotes use an IR sensor for sending signals to your TV.
However, if the IR sensor of your TV is faulty, it won’t be able to detect signals from your remote. Therefore, you should consider using a new WiFi module for your Samsung smart TV. Generally, these WiFi modules are fairly affordable and can be easily installed in most Samsung smart TVs out there.
#4 Clean Your Samsung Remote IR Sensor
Other than a faulty IR sensor on your TV, the IR sensor of your remote itself can be dirty as well. Since it is quite common to touch your TV remote right after eating food, your TV remote might be oily or dirty.
And in some cases, this can block off the IR sensor of your remote. As a result, your Samsung smart TV remote might not be working because of the same. So, use any surface cleaner solution and a microfiber cloth to properly clean the IR sensor. Once that is done, you can try controlling your Samsung smart TV using the included remote without any issues.
#5 Replace Your Samsung Remote Batteries
Another simple but highly helpful solution is to check and replace your Samsung remote batteries. In case your Samsung smart TV remote has empty or almost empty batteries inside it, the remote might still function but may face issues in properly sending signals to your TV. Thus, if your Samsung smart TV remote is not working, try installing a new set of batteries in the remote. Most Samsung smart TV remotes will use AAA batteries so make sure to install the correct ones.
#6 Confirm Samsung Remote Pairing
If you have a newer model of Samsung smart TVs, then the remote might be connected to your TV via Bluetooth instead of IR. And just like any other Bluetooth device out there, your Samsung smart TV remote might also get disconnected from your TV which can be quite problematic while using your TV.
So, first go to the connected devices section in the settings of your Smart TV, and make sure that your remote is properly paired and connected. If not, you can press and hold the Return + Play/Pause buttons on your Samsung smart TV remote for 5 seconds. Doing so will initiate the pairing process of your Samsung TV remote which can be helpful for making it function properly.
#7 Update Your Samsung TV Software
Similar to a smartphone or a tablet, smart TVs like Samsung ones also receive new software updates every now and then. With these new software or firmware updates, your Samsung smart TV will not only receive new features, but it can even receive bug fixes.
And because your Samsung smart TV remote might not be working because of some bug, it is a great idea to update your Samsung TV software. If Samsung has released any recent software update with bug fixes to the remote controller, it will fix any issues right away.
#8 Check For Remote Interference
As mentioned earlier, many modern Samsung smart TVs come with a Bluetooth remote controller. While this does offer better signal range, things can be quite different when you have multiple Bluetooth devices around your TV. This is due to the reason that when you are dealing with multiple Bluetooth devices in a small space, all of them can cause interference to each other which also includes your Samsung smart TV remote. Thus, if you are facing any issues related to your Samsung smart TV remote, make sure to get rid of all other Bluetooth devices and check if that fixes any interference issues.
#9 Reset Your Samsung Smart TV
While updating your Samsung smart TV should fix any bugs in most cases, it might not fix the issue for some. In that case, you can also try resetting your Samsung smart TV as a last resort. By resetting your Samsung smart TV, you can change all of its settings to the factory default which can be quite useful for fixing all sorts of issues. And if you want to reset your Samsung smart TV to fix remote not working issues, then you can simply go through these steps:
- You need to start by first pressing and holding the power button of your remote controller for 5 seconds until the TV restarts. This should reset the TV in most cases.
- If it doesn’t, unplug your TV and hold the TV’s power button for 5 seconds before releasing.
- Finally, replug the TV after 2 minutes which should reset it and get it rid of any remote functioning issues.
#10 Try Using a Universal Remote Controller
Other than fixing your issues, you can also consider getting a replacement for the same. But instead of getting a remote replacement directly from Samsung, you can also try using a universal remote controller. Not only does a universal remote controller allow you to control your Samsung smart TV, but it can also be handy for using with other appliances and devices in your home. In other words, using a universal remote controller can be quite handy and practical even if your Samsung smart TV remote controller is functioning properly.
Fix For Only Power Button Working On Samsung Smart TV Remote
Samsung smart TV users who report issues with their remote controller generally find that only the power button of their remote controller is working. In that case, you will be glad to know that there is nothing wrong with your Samsung smart TV remote. Instead, it has simply unpaired from your TV because of which only the power button is working on your Samsung smart TV. Thankfully, you can easily fix this issue by repairing your Samsung remote controller as given here:
- Start by powering off your Samsung smart TV and waiting 15 seconds before turning it back on.
- Once it’s powered on again, you need to hold the Back + Play/Pause buttons on your Samsung smart TV remote for 10 seconds.
- By doing so, you will initiate the pairing process of your Samsung smart TV remote controller to get it functioning again.
Fix For Samsung Smart TV Not Responding To Remote
While it is definitely not common, in some cases your Samsung smart TV might not respond to its remote controller at all. This means that even the power button of your remote controller is not working even after trying out all the various solutions and fixes given above. In that case, it simply means that your Samsung smart TV itself has some sort of hardware issues. Due to the same, it is better to get your Samsung smart TV checked for any possible defects and issues.
How To Reset a Samsung Smart TV Remote?
As mentioned earlier, resetting your Samsung smart TV can fix all sorts of software issues related to it. However, some of you might be interested in resetting your Samsung smart TV remote itself as well. Thankfully, you will be glad to know that resetting your Samsung remote controller simply means to repair it to your TV. And as we have already explained, this can be done by holding down the Back + Play/Pause buttons of your smart TV remote controller. Doing so will repair your Samsung smart TV remote controller and fix any issues related to it.
Pairing Samsung Smart TV Remote
Whether you have just gotten a new replacement remote controller for your Samsung smart TV or want to repair the current one, doing so properly is highly important to ensure that you don’t face any issues with it again. So, to properly do the same, you need to hold down the Back + Play/Pause buttons of your Samsung smart TV remote control. After that, a pairing request popup will come up on your Samsung smart TV. You then need to wait until this pairing process is complete to ensure that your Samsung smart TV remote does not face any issues in the future.
Conclusion
Apart from all the various handy features offered by your Samsung smart TV, the included remote controller is still going to be the most handy accessory. Whether it’s changing channels or using any of the various smart features offered by your Samsung smart TV, you will need to use the included remote controller. And for this reason, the last thing that you would want with your Samsung smart TV is to face issues with its remote not working.
Thankfully, if you are, you can simply use one of the top 10 methods to fix Samsung smart TV remote not working given above. Since we have also given handy workarounds for Samsung smart TV not working, you should be able to get over this issue with ease. If it did, make sure to leave all your thoughts and questions in the comments section down below.
