Samsung TV Remote Problems [The Easy and Best Fixes]

Tapping your remote several times on your palm is a quick fix that seems to work in many households when the remote is not working.

But what happens when that doesn’t work? Common remote issues include infrared sensor malfunctions, pairing issues, battery problems, or physical damage.

Below is everything you need to know about different Samsung TV remote problems and what you can do to fix them.

Samsung TV Remote: Main Problems and Solutions

If you own a Samsung TV and your remote fails to work, worry not. Samsung TV remote problems are common and have a set of easy fixes.

Check if You Need To Replace the Batteries

Check if you need to replace the batteries. Press the red power button on the remote while pointing at your TV. If the LED indicator on the TV doesn’t blink and turn on the TV, your remote batteries do not have enough power.

Note: The battery life depends on several factors, like battery brand, operating temperature, and possible damage.

How To Inspect Remote Batteries

The batteries are damaged or too old if you see a white powdery substance, greenish coloring, or crystalized granules inside your remote’s battery compartment.

Dispose of the old batteries and rub damp baking soda on the remote terminals to clean the area and remove any corrosion.

Replace the old batteries with new quality batteries, and ensure the batteries are inserted correctly.

Try To Solve the Problem by Restarting Your TV

If you have new batteries in the remote, but it still fails to work, consider restarting your TV. Restarting your TV helps to:

• Clear memory
• Get rid of sign-in issues
• Avoid mid-stream freezing

How To Restart Your Samsung TV

Follow the steps below to restart or power reset your Samsung TV:

1. Press the menu button on your Samsung TV.
2. Go to Settings, About, and select Restart.
3. Give it a few minutes for the restart process to complete.
4. Test to see if your remote is working again.

If your remote can turn the TV on and off, you may also use it to restart it. Press the red power button on the remote continuously for about five seconds and release. After some time, the TV will restart.

Check the Remote Sensor of the Samsung LCD TV

If the infrared signal compartment on your remote isn’t working correctly, you’ll have issues operating different commands.

To check whether or not the remote’s infrared system is working, open the camera app on your smartphone. Press any buttons on the remote while pointing the remote to your phone’s camera lens.

If you see a red light blinking through the camera when you press any button, your remote is working. If there’s no red light, either the batteries are dead, or the remote has a defect.

Check if the Remote Is Paired Properly

After a software update or TV reboot, the remote should pair automatically.

However, the remote can spontaneously un-pair with your TV for unknown reasons. Therefore, your TV will not respond to the remote’s commands.

Correct the issue by re-pairing the remote manually. Here’s how you do this:

1. Turn on your TV by pressing the power button on the TV.
2. Point your remote toward the Samsung TV.
3. Press the Return and Play/Pause buttons simultaneously and hold for five seconds to initiate the pairing process between the remote and TV.
4. Test to see if the pairing process is successful by pressing any of the menu commands on the remote.

Sudden power surges and outages could cause the remote to un-pair from the TV.

Get a New Wi-Fi Module

If your remote’s wireless connection fails, inspect to see if the correct Wi-Fi module is working.

A malfunctioning Wi-Fi module inhibits the remote’s ability to connect to the TV. Getting a new Wi-Fi module can help restore standard TV and remote function.

Check if Your Network Connection Is Connected Properly

All Samsung TVs have an android operating system that keeps your TV functional. If your remote is not working, there could be a problem with your network connection. To fix this, do the following:

1. Press the menu button on your TV.
2. Go to Settings and select Network & Internet.
3. Select Network Status.
4. Press Network, then Advanced, and select Network Status.
5. Select Check Connection and press Yes.

This process initiates the diagnosis process and lets you know the connection status of your Samsung TV.

Note that the network diagnosis process can differ slightly depending on your Samsung TV model. Contact Samsung customer care for assistance if the steps above do not match your TV.

Update Your TV’s Software

Your TV automatically updates in the background as you watch.

If your TV doesn’t update automatically, you’ll experience different issues with your TV and remote. You may notice the TV takes longer to load or the remote fails to connect or pair.

How To Check and Update Samsung TV Software

To update your software, go to Settings, select Software Updates, and install new updates.

After the software update is complete, your Samsung TV will restart automatically. Go ahead and try using the remote to operate the TV.

Reset the Remote With a Hard Reset

A hard reset is a quick fix for a malfunctioning remote. Follow the steps below to hard reset the remote:

1. Remove the batteries from the remote.
2. Unplug the power cord from the TV.
3. Wait for about a minute.
4. Put the power cord back on the TV.
5. Press your TV’s power button to turn it on.
6. Put the batteries back into the remote.
7. Try pressing different buttons to test to see if the remote is working.

Usually, a hard reset helps fix remote issues by eliminating residual energy on the remote and TV, which could hinder normal function.

Blinking Red Light Problem With Samsung TV Remote

Your remote should only blink red when you press different buttons. If your remote is flashing on its own, take that as a warning.

Below are possible blinking red light issues with your Samsung remote, plus how to fix them.

Remote Pairing Issue

A blinking red light on the remote could indicate that it’s not paired with your Samsung TV.

Some remotes re-pair with the TV if you simultaneously press the ‘home’ and ‘back’ buttons.

Reboot Samsung Television

There are two ways to reboot your Samsung TV. You can do a soft reboot or a cold boot.

How To Soft-reboot Your Samsung TV

Soft-reboot your Samsung by pressing and holding your remote’s power button for five seconds. You will notice your TV turn on and off automatically, and your remote will stop blinking.

How To Cold Boot Your Samsung TV

Follow the steps below to cold boot your TV:

1. Turn the TV on.
2. Unplug the power cable while the TV is still on.
3. Wait for 30 seconds before plugging the power cable back into the TV.
4. The TV will turn on automatically.

When your TV is low on memory, the apps develop glitches, have slow responses, or stop working altogether.

Cold booting is an effective way to eliminate residual electrical charge and clear unnecessary data.

Issue With the HDMI Cable

The HDMI cable transmits digital video and audio from the TV. If there’s a fault with your HDMI cable, it could affect your remote and TV performance. Signs of HDMI problems include:

• Blurry visuals
• Abnormally colored videos
• Intermittent sound
• The TV has audio, but no video or vice versa

Replace your HDMI cable if you notice these issues.

Remote Signals Can’t Reach TV

Obstructions like walls, furniture, speakers, and other items may block the remote’s Bluetooth signal or infrared beam from reaching the TV.

If your remote is blinking red, remove anything blocking the signal’s path or move to a different location.

Weak or Dying Batteries

Replace old batteries with new ones from a reputable brand to eliminate the blinking red light problem on the remote.

Remote Is Damaged

If the remote falls and cracks, you may be able to piece it back together, but getting full function may be a long shot.

If the remote is damaged, the only viable solution is to get a new one.

Samsung TV Remote Only Turns the TV On and Off

When the red power button on your remote is the only command your Samsung TV will respond to, here’s what you can do to fix the remote.

Discharge the Samsung Remote

Below are crucial steps to discharge the Samsung remote:

1. Remove the batteries.
2. Press the power button continuously for eight seconds and release.
3. Reset the remote.
4. Put the batteries back into the remote.
5. Test to see if the remote is working.

Consider discharging your remote once every three months to avoid inconveniences.

Hard Reset Your Samsung TV

To hard reset your Samsung TV, hold the power button to turn the TV off. Continue pressing the power button until the Menu function appears. Select Menu and choose Restart.

Reconnect Your Samsung Remote to Your TV

Follow the steps below to reconnect your Samsung remote to the TV:

1. Power on your TV using its inbuilt power button or the remote.
2. Use your remote to select the TV you want to connect to.
3. Press the remote’s power button and device button at the same time and hold for a few seconds.

Reset Your Samsung Remote

To reset the remote, remove the batteries and press the power button continuously for about 10 seconds. Insert the batteries and test if the remote is working correctly.

Reprograming a Samsung Remote

To reprogram the remote, turn on your Samsung TV and hold the TV’s power button and remote’s power button simultaneously.

Press continuously for a couple of seconds and release when the TV automatically turns on again.

Samsung Smart TV Remote Replacement

Purchase a universal remote to replace an old or damaged remote. Universal remotes are ideal because they are compatible with multiple TVs from different brands.

Remote Bluetooth Searching Problem of Samsung TV

Infrared batteries send LED pulses to execute commands to your TV. On the other hand, Bluetooth remotes send radio wave codes to execute different commands on your TV. 

To fix your Samsung Bluetooth remote, follow the steps below:

1. Remove the remote’s batteries and press any button continuously for 20 seconds.
2. Reinsert the batteries and use the remote to un-pair the remote’s Bluetooth from your TV. To un-pair the remote, press 4 and 6 simultaneously for a few seconds.
3. Try re-pairing the remote Bluetooth to the TV again. To re-pair, press 7 and 9 continuously for a few seconds until the red light on the remote flashes four times.

If the method above doesn’t solve the issue, consider cleaning your remote’s terminals.

Samsung TV remote problems can be a bother if you don’t know some quick fixes to regain full function. When your remote is not working, you can try to replace your remote’s batteries, restart your TV, check if your remote is paired, check your Wi-Fi, update your TV, and more.

These simple troubleshooting techniques are ideal for the following remotes:

• Samsung TV remote bn59-01260a
• Samsung Smart TV un40h5201afxza
• Samsung Smart TV un50ku6300 remote control
• Samsung 70 in 6300 series
• Samsung LED TV 5200 remote control
• Samsung TV un75ju7100fxza remote
• Samsung 450 LCD TV remote sensor
• Samsung Curved TV remote
• Samsung One remote

FAQs

Do you still have some Samsung TV remote problems? Here are some common questions.

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