How to Update a Samsung Smart TV (2026)
The fastest way is right in the menu: Settings → Support → Software Update → Update Now. This guide covers both ways to update — over the internet and via a USB stick for TVs that aren’t online — plus how to turn on auto-updates and fix the update when it’s greyed out, stuck, or won’t download. Every step is taken from Samsung’s own support pages and named tech sources, with the exact menu paths (which shift slightly by model year).
On most 2021–2026 Samsung TVs: press Home (or Menu) on the remote → open Settings → go to All Settings → Support → Software Update (on some models: Settings → Support → Software Update) — (path varies slightly by year) → select Update Now.
The TV checks Samsung’s servers, downloads any new firmware, installs it, and restarts on its own — usually a few minutes. Don’t unplug or power off the TV until it finishes. If there’s nothing new, you’ll see “There are no new updates” — select OK to exit (Samsung US; confirmed by Samsung Canada and Digital Trends).
First (optional): check which software version you’re on
Before updating, it’s worth seeing your current version and exact model code — you’ll need both if you go the USB route or contact support. Go to Settings → (All Settings →) Support → About This TV (on older models this may read About This Projector or live under Contact Samsung) — (path varies slightly by year). That screen shows your Model Code, Software Version, and Serial Number (Samsung UK; Samsung US — model/menu info).
Update over the internet (network update)
Use this if your TV is connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet — it’s the easiest and the one Samsung recommends.
- Press Home / Menu on the remote, then open Settings.
- Navigate to All Settings → Support (or Settings → Support on some models) — (path varies slightly by year).
- Select Software Update.
- Select Update Now.
- The TV contacts Samsung’s update servers. If a newer version exists, it downloads and installs automatically, then reboots. Per Samsung, updates “usually take a few minutes; please do not turn off the device until the update is complete.”
- If there’s nothing new, select OK to exit.
Sources: Samsung US; Samsung Canada; Support.com.
Update via USB flash drive (for TVs that aren’t online)
Use this when the TV has no internet connection — no Wi-Fi and no Ethernet — or when the network update keeps failing. You’ll need a USB stick and a computer with internet.
A. On the TV — find your exact model & current version
- Go to Settings → (All Settings →) Support → About This TV and note the Model Code and Software Version — (path varies slightly by year) (Samsung US — model/menu info).
B. On your computer — download the firmware
- Go to the Samsung Download Center (
samsung.com/us/support/downloads/), choose TV as the product type, and search your exact model. - Under Downloads / Firmware, download the firmware file that matches your model (it downloads as a
.zip). - Unzip / Extract All the file (Samsung US; Samsung Latin America).
C. Prepare the USB stick
- Use a USB drive that is empty and formatted FAT32 (4 GB+ is plenty). Do not use NTFS — Samsung TVs commonly reject it (Samsung US). You can grab a basic stick for this — a USB flash drive (search Amazon) works fine; just format it to FAT32 first.
- Copy all the extracted files to the root of the USB drive — do NOT place them inside any other folder. The files must sit at the top level or the TV won’t see them (Samsung US).
D. Run the update on the TV
- Unplug any other USB devices, then insert the USB drive into a USB port on the TV.
- Go to Settings → (All Settings →) Support → Software Update → Update Now, then select Yes — (path varies slightly by year). On many models the TV detects the USB firmware and prompts you automatically; otherwise choose the Update via USB option.
- Follow the on-screen prompts. The TV scans the drive, installs the firmware, and restarts.
Do not turn off the TV or pull the USB drive mid-update. A failed firmware flash can corrupt the TV’s software (Smartupworld; Android Police).
Sources: Samsung US; Samsung Latin America; Smartupworld.
Turn on auto-update (set it and forget it)
Turning on Auto Update lets the TV download new firmware in the background and apply it the next time you turn the set on (or on restart) — so you stay patched without thinking about it.
- Go to Settings → All Settings → Support → Software Update (some models: Settings → Support → Software Update) — (path varies slightly by year).
- Select Auto Update to toggle it On. (Selecting it again turns it Off.)
- On most setups, Auto Update is already enabled when you accept the Smart Hub Terms & Conditions during initial setup (Samsung US).
- With Auto Update on and the TV online, updates install in the background while you watch and finish applying the next time the TV powers on (SamMobile).
- Why you might leave it off: a small group of owners prefer to wait a few days after a major Tizen release to let early bugs get caught before updating manually. Even with Auto Update off, you can always hit Update Now yourself (SamMobile).
Sources: Samsung US; SamMobile; Android Police.
Update won’t work? Fixes for greyed-out, stuck & no-internet
If Update Now won’t cooperate, work through these in order — they’re listed by how often each one is the actual culprit.
“Update Now” is greyed out / can’t be selected
This is the #1 issue, and it’s usually a streaming app running in the background holding the TV busy.
- Close the app: press Exit or Back to leave Netflix/YouTube/etc., or switch the input to live TV or Samsung TV Plus, then reopen the Software Update menu.
- If it’s still greyed out, power-cycle the TV (below) and try again.
Sources: The Droid Guy; TechJunctions.
“No updates available” but you think there should be one
- You may already be on the newest firmware — confirm your version under Support → About This TV and compare it against the latest on Samsung’s Download Center for your model.
- Samsung rolls updates out in waves; it can take a few days to reach every region/model (Samsung US; Samsung UK).
No internet / update won’t download
- Confirm the TV is actually online: Settings → General → Network → Network Status (or run the connection test). If it can’t reach the internet, the network update can’t run.
- Power-cycle your router and modem, move the TV closer to the router, or temporarily disconnect other devices hogging bandwidth.
- Still offline? Use the USB method (above) instead.
- Full Wi-Fi walkthrough on our site → Samsung TV not connecting to WiFi.
Sources: The Droid Guy; GearTrouble.
Update freezes / gets stuck partway
- Give it time first — large firmware files can sit at a percentage for several minutes. Do not pull the plug while it’s genuinely working.
- If it’s truly frozen (no progress for 15+ minutes, no activity): hard power-cycle — hold the power button on the remote until the TV turns off, unplug the power cord for ~60 seconds, plug it back in, and retry the update.
Sources: The Droid Guy; Whizz Experts.
Not enough storage
The TV needs free internal storage to download and apply an update. Delete unused apps (Apps → Settings → Delete) to free space, then retry (TechJunctions; GearTrouble).
Smart Hub glitch blocking updates
A corrupted Smart Hub can stop updates. Reset it: Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub (you’ll re-sign-in to your apps afterward) (TechJunctions; The Droid Guy).
Last resort
If none of the above works, use the USB firmware method, or contact Samsung Support for model-specific help (The Droid Guy).
If your TV problems go beyond updates (won’t turn on, black screen, apps crashing), see our broader guide → Samsung TV problems.
Why keep your Samsung TV updated
Firmware updates aren’t just busywork — on a modern smart TV they do real things:
- Security patches. Smart TVs are internet-connected computers; researchers have found exploitable flaws (e.g. root-access bugs on some connected-TV platforms) that manufacturers close via firmware. Skipping updates leaves known holes open (American TV; Tom’s Guide).
- Bug fixes & stability. Updates squash glitches, crashes, and freezes, and keep the TV running optimally (BGR; Android Police).
- App compatibility. Streaming apps (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) require current firmware; outdated software is a common reason an app stops loading or won’t update (SlashGear; Android Police). New to a TV? Here’s how to download apps on a Samsung smart TV.
- New features & better picture/sound. Bigger updates (including annual Tizen OS releases) can add features, refresh the UI, and improve picture/sound tuning (Android Police; SamMobile).
One honest caveat: if a reader’s older Samsung is too out-of-date to run current apps even after updating, that’s often the sign the hardware itself has aged out — at that point a newer set is the real fix. If that’s you, see our pick of the best Samsung TVs rather than chasing an update that can’t come.
Fix it or replace it? The honest math
If you’re replacing: three picks by budget
Straight from our researched Samsung TV guide — same picks, same cited reasoning, condensed to one line each.
Affiliate note: buy through a link below and we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. It never sways the picks.
Full comparison — all five picks, measured brightness, gaming specs and the marketing traps to avoid: the best Samsung TVs → (including the QN90F Neo QLED, our best-overall bright-room pick). Going bigger than 65″ while you’re at it? Start with the best 70-inch TVs.
✉ Want to catch a replacement on sale? Samsung prices move a lot — get our free TV deal alerts →
Frequently asked questions
- Why is “Update Now” greyed out on my Samsung TV?
- Almost always because a streaming app (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) is running in the background and holding the TV busy. Press Exit or Back to leave the app, or switch the input to live TV or Samsung TV Plus, then reopen Settings → Support → Software Update and try again. If it’s still greyed out, unplug the TV for about 60 seconds and retry (The Droid Guy; TechJunctions).
- How do I update my Samsung TV without internet or Wi-Fi?
- Use the USB method. On the TV, note your Model Code under Support → About This TV, then on a computer download that model’s firmware from the Samsung Download Center, unzip it, and copy the extracted files to the root of an empty FAT32 USB drive (not NTFS). Plug it into the TV and go to Settings → Support → Software Update → Update Now → Yes (Samsung US; Samsung Latin America).
- How long does a Samsung TV update take?
- Usually just a few minutes. Samsung’s guidance is that updates “usually take a few minutes; please do not turn off the device until the update is complete.” Large firmware files can pause at a percentage for several minutes — that’s normal, so don’t pull the plug unless it’s been frozen with no activity for 15+ minutes (Samsung US).
- How do I turn on automatic updates on my Samsung TV?
- Go to Settings → All Settings → Support → Software Update (some models: Settings → Support → Software Update) and select Auto Update to toggle it On. On most TVs it’s already on if you accepted the Smart Hub Terms during setup; updates then install in the background and apply next time the set powers on (Samsung US; SamMobile).
- How do I check what software version my Samsung TV is on?
- Go to Settings → (All Settings →) Support → About This TV (the exact path varies slightly by model year). That screen shows your Software Version, Model Code, and Serial Number — compare the version against the latest on Samsung’s Download Center for your model (Samsung UK; Samsung US).
- Will updating my Samsung TV reset my settings?
- It can. Samsung notes that after a firmware update your picture and sound settings may reset to factory defaults, so you may need to re-apply your preferred picture mode. Your apps and account sign-ins generally stay put — it’s mainly the picture/sound tuning that may need re-setting (Samsung US).
Still wrestling with your Samsung TV?
If updating didn’t solve what you came here for, these guides pick up where this one leaves off:
- 🛠️ Other glitches — black screen, won’t turn on, apps crashing? → Samsung TV problems
- 📶 TV can’t get online to download the update? → Samsung TV not connecting to WiFi
- 📲 Want to add or reinstall streaming apps? → How to download apps on a Samsung smart TV
- 📺 Old set that’s aged out of current apps? → The best Samsung TVs