How to Reset a Samsung TV (2026)
There isn’t one “reset” — there are four, and they are not interchangeable. Most problems (freezing, lag, a black screen, an app that won’t load) are fixed by a 60-second power cycle that loses nothing. A full factory reset wipes everything and is Samsung’s own “last resort.” This guide shows you exactly which reset to use, the real menu path for both Tizen menu layouts (newer 2022+ and older 2021-and-earlier), the default PIN, and what each one erases.
Pick the least destructive reset that fixes your problem — don’t nuke the whole TV for a minor glitch. Samsung itself calls a full factory reset a “last resort” (Samsung Canada).
| Your problem | Use this reset | Does it erase your stuff? |
|---|---|---|
| TV is frozen, laggy, glitchy, won’t respond, or one feature acts up | Soft reset / power cycle (unplug ~60s) | No — keeps everything |
| One app crashes, won’t load, won’t update, or keeps erroring | Smart Hub reset | Removes apps you added + signs you out; pre-loaded apps stay |
| Picture looks wrong (color/brightness off) or sound is off after fiddling with settings | Picture / Sound reset | Only those settings — nothing else |
| Selling/giving away the TV, or a major problem nothing else fixed | Factory reset | Yes — wipes everything (except network) |
Rule of thumb: glitch → soft reset first · app problem → Smart Hub · picture/sound only → picture/sound reset · selling it or last resort → factory reset. (Routing per Samsung US & Samsung Canada.)
On newer models: Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Reset → enter PIN (default 0000) → Reset → OK. On older models it’s Settings → General → Reset or Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Reset. This erases everything and restarts the TV into setup (Samsung US, ANS10005248). Menu path varies by model year — both variants are spelled out below.
Soft reset / power cycle — fixes most glitches, loses nothing
This is the first thing to try for almost any Samsung TV problem — freezing, lag, a black screen, an app that won’t open, or general weirdness. It clears the TV’s temporary memory without deleting a single app, account, or setting (SmartHomeStarter).
Method 1 — Unplug it (the reliable one)
- With the TV on, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet (or from the back of the TV / the One Connect box).
- Wait ~60 seconds. (30 seconds is the minimum some guides use; 60 lets the internal capacitors fully discharge for a cleaner reset.)
- (Optional, more thorough): while it’s unplugged, press and hold the TV’s physical power button for ~30 seconds to drain residual power.
- Plug it back in and turn the TV on with the remote.
Sources: SmartHomeStarter — restart/reboot a Samsung TV; AEANET — how to power cycle a Samsung TV; TVsBook — how to reboot Samsung TV.
Method 2 — Hold the remote’s power button
Press and hold the Power button on the remote until the TV turns off and back on by itself (it restarts). This is a quick soft restart when you don’t want to reach behind the TV (TVsBook). If the remote itself is unresponsive, see Samsung TV remote not working.
Why do this first: a power cycle clears temporary system memory and resolves most freezes and connectivity hiccups, and — unlike a factory reset — it does not erase your apps, accounts, or preferences. Many people jump straight to a factory reset when a 60-second power cycle would have solved it (SmartHomeStarter). If the TV won’t power back on after unplugging, that’s a different issue — see Samsung TV won’t turn on.
Smart Hub reset — fixes app problems, re-downloads your apps
Use this when the TV itself is fine but apps misbehave — an app won’t open, crashes, won’t update, or throws errors. Resetting Smart Hub returns the smart-TV platform to its defaults and clears app-related corruption (Samsung US, ANS10005248).
What it does / what you lose: all Smart Hub settings revert to factory defaults, and per Samsung, “all information related to Samsung accounts, linked service accounts, Smart Hub service agreements, and Smart Hub apps will be deleted.” Pre-installed apps stay, but any apps you added yourself must be re-downloaded, and you’ll have to sign back into your accounts (Netflix, Disney+, your Samsung account, etc.). Your picture/sound and other TV settings are not affected (Samsung US; Samsung Australia).
Newer models (≈2022+): Settings → All Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub
Some / older models: Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub (no “Device Care” step)
Steps:
- Press Home/Menu → Settings.
- Go to (All Settings →) Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis (older: Support → Self Diagnosis) — (path varies by year).
- Select Reset Smart Hub.
- Enter your PIN (default
0000). - When it finishes, select OK. Then re-download your apps and sign back in.
Sources: Samsung US — How to reset your Samsung TV (ANS10005248); Samsung Australia — Reset the Smart Hub; Samsung Canada.
Tip: if you only added one or two streaming apps, deleting and reinstalling just that app (Apps → settings → Delete) is even less disruptive than a full Smart Hub reset. Walkthrough: how to download apps on a Samsung smart TV.
Factory reset — wipes everything (for selling or major problems)
This is the nuclear option. A factory reset restores the TV to how it came out of the box: it deletes all your apps, accounts, and settings and forces you through initial setup again. Use it only when (a) you’re selling/giving away the TV, or (b) a serious problem survived every gentler fix. Samsung explicitly calls it a “last resort” (Samsung Canada).
What it erases: Samsung US states a factory reset returns “all TV settings (excluding the network settings) to their factory defaults” — picture, sound, channel list, downloaded apps, signed-in accounts, and personal preferences are all wiped. Your network/Wi-Fi settings survive per Samsung US — but write down your Wi-Fi password anyway, just in case (Samsung US, ANS10005248).
Before you start: note your Wi-Fi network + password, your app login details, and any custom channel list — you’ll re-enter them during setup (Samsung US).
Menu path — newer models (≈2022 and later) — (path varies by year)
- Press Home/Menu → Settings.
- Go to All Settings → General & Privacy.
- Select Reset.
- Enter your PIN (default
0000). - Select Reset, then OK to confirm.
- The TV powers off, restarts, and boots into the Initial Setup screen.
Menu path — older models (≈2021 and earlier) — (path varies by year)
- Either: Settings → General → Reset → enter PIN (
0000) → Reset - Or (often 2017 and earlier): Menu / Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Reset → enter PIN (
0000)
Sources: Samsung US — How to reset your Samsung TV (ANS10005248); Samsung Gulf/AE — reset TV to factory settings; Samsung Canada; independent confirmation: Tom’s Guide, Support.com.
“Reset” is grayed out / won’t select? Per Samsung: “The Reset function is not available if you are using an app like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, etc.” Press Return/Exit on the remote until you’re back on the Home screen (close any open app), then reopen Settings and try again (Samsung US; Samsung — grayed-out menu options).
Forgot your PIN? If 0000 doesn’t work, the PIN was changed. You can reset the TV’s PIN itself with a remote button sequence (varies by model) or contact Samsung Support — but never guess repeatedly. (Covered in our broader Samsung TV problems guide.)
Picture reset / Sound reset — fix only the picture or audio
If you (or a kid, or a “calibration” you regret) messed up the picture (color, brightness, contrast, tint) or the sound (equalizer, balance, audio delay) and want those back to default without touching anything else, use the targeted picture/sound reset. Nothing but those settings changes — apps and accounts are untouched (Samsung Canada — reset picture settings).
Reset Picture
- Settings → (All Settings →) Picture → Expert Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Reset Picture.
- Confirm with Yes / Reset.
Resets color, brightness, contrast, sharpness, tint and the rest of the picture settings to factory defaults.
Reset Sound
- Settings → (All Settings →) Sound → Expert Settings.
- Select Reset Sound.
- Confirm with Yes / Reset.
Resets balance, equalizer, TV installation type, HDMI audio format, audio delay, and Auto Volume to factory defaults.
Path note: on 2021-and-earlier models the icons are reached the same way after pressing Home to open Smart Hub, then Settings → Picture/Sound → Expert Settings → Reset Picture/Reset Sound — (path varies by year).
Sources: Samsung Canada — reset the picture settings; Samsung US — reset your Samsung TV; Samsung US — adjust picture settings.
After a factory reset — re-setting up your TV
A factory reset drops you on the Initial Setup screen — same as a brand-new TV. Walk back through it:
- Language & region, then accept the Terms & Conditions / Smart Hub agreement (accepting this is also what re-enables automatic software updates) (Samsung US, ANS10002051).
- Connect to Wi-Fi (or Ethernet). Even though network settings technically survive a factory reset, you may be prompted to confirm the connection — re-enter your Wi-Fi password if asked. (If it won’t connect, see Samsung TV not connecting to WiFi.) (Samsung US)
- Sign in to your Samsung account (restores some preferences and app entitlements).
- Re-download your apps and sign back into each streaming service (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) — these were wiped. (Walkthrough: how to download apps on a Samsung smart TV.)
- Run a software update to make sure you’re current: Settings → (All Settings →) Support → Software Update → Update Now. (Full guide: how to update a Samsung smart TV.) (Samsung US, ANS10002051)
- Re-scan channels if you use an antenna/cable tuner, and re-apply any picture/sound preferences you liked.
Sources: Samsung US — How to reset your Samsung TV; Samsung US — update the software on your Samsung smart TV; Tom’s Guide — here’s how to reset a Samsung TV.
Fix it or replace it? The honest math
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Frequently asked questions
- How do I reset my Samsung TV without losing everything?
- Use a soft reset / power cycle: with the TV on, unplug it for about 60 seconds, then plug it back in. It clears the temporary memory that causes most freezes and glitches and loses nothing — no apps, accounts, or settings (SmartHomeStarter). Only a factory reset erases your data, so try the power cycle first.
- What is the default PIN for a Samsung TV reset?
- The default PIN is
0000unless you (or someone) changed it — confirmed across Samsung’s US, Gulf, and Canada support pages (Samsung US; Samsung Gulf/AE). If0000doesn’t work, the PIN was changed and you’ll need to reset it (a remote sequence that varies by model) or contact Samsung Support. - How do I factory reset my Samsung TV?
- On newer models (≈2022+): Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Reset → enter PIN (
0000) → Reset → OK. On older models (≈2021 and earlier): Settings → General → Reset, or Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Reset (Samsung US; Samsung Gulf/AE). The exact wording varies by model year, so check both paths. It erases everything and restarts the TV into setup. - Why is “Reset” grayed out on my Samsung TV?
- Almost always because a streaming app is running in the background. Samsung states: “The Reset function is not available if you are using an app like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, etc.” Press Return/Exit until you’re back on the Home screen to close the app, then reopen Settings and try again (Samsung US; Samsung — grayed-out menu options).
- What does resetting Smart Hub do?
- It returns the smart-TV platform to its defaults and, per Samsung, deletes “all information related to Samsung accounts, linked service accounts, Smart Hub service agreements, and Smart Hub apps.” Pre-installed apps stay, but apps you added must be re-downloaded and you’ll have to sign back into your accounts. Your picture, sound, and other TV settings are not affected (Samsung US).
- How do I reset my Samsung TV before selling it?
- Do a full factory reset — it’s the only one that wipes your apps, accounts, and personal settings so the next owner starts fresh. Use the menu path above for your model year and enter the PIN (default
0000). Note that your network settings survive a factory reset per Samsung US, so confirm Wi-Fi is cleared/forgotten if that matters to you (Samsung US).
Still stuck — or thinking it’s time to upgrade?
If a reset didn’t fix it, the fix is in a more specific guide. And if the TV needs a factory reset because it’s chronically slow, dropping apps, or no longer getting updates, that can be a sign the set is near end-of-life. Where to go next:
- 🛠️ Reset didn’t fix it? Work through the full troubleshooting hub → common Samsung TV problems and fixes
- ⚡ TV won’t power back on after unplugging? → Samsung TV won’t turn on
- 📺 Set feels end-of-life? See what’s worth upgrading to → the best Samsung TVs