For online movies or series enthusiasts, there is nothing worse than having remote control issues. Imagine if you’re excited to watch a recently released episode or movie but you can’t get your Samsung TV remote to cooperate.
No matter how difficult, there is no need to worry. Our technical team has listed all possible options to get your remote up and working. Try the following solutions below to fix your remote control issues.
Top 5 Remote Control Fixes
We’ve listed down below some steps and troubleshooting methods you can do at home. In order to determine which is the best solution, let’s first run through what’s causing the issue.
We’ve also included options you can choose from should it be a case of a defective smart remote needing replacement.
Fix #1: Check the Remote
The most common culprit is there’s something defective with your Samsung remote control.
Normally, you would be able to spot this issue when the light doesn’t respond when pressed, the pointer isn’t working, or when you see rust build-up or small damage in the casing of the Samsung Smart TV remote. Here are some tried and tested fixes:
Try to Replace the Batteries in the Remote
The most common issue as to why your Samsung TV remote is not working are the remote batteries. Whether you’ve had your TV for months or just a few days, this may be the issue. To solve this, do the following steps:
- First off, open the battery compartment. Try removing and switching the remote control batteries.
- Sometimes, they’re not just lodged correctly. Follow the (+) and (-) label in the Samsung remote and install the batteries accordingly.
- If you’ve been using your remote for about a year, it may be a signal that it’s time to get new batteries.
Your Samsung Smart TV should warn you the remote is running on low batteries. You’ll also be able to observe this gradually. Over time, it becomes harder to get the Samsung TV remote working.
Do a Hard Reset
Try rebooting your remote. First, remove the batteries (or replace them with new ones) then leave the remote for 3 minutes. Place the batteries in the remote and long press (about 5-10 seconds) the remote’s power button.
Try pressing some buttons and point it towards the TV. Check if this solved your issue. If not, try the next step.
Create a Clear Line of Sight
Are there any objects blocking your TV’s sensor?
Remove any items directly in front of your Samsung Smart TV. This may be the cause of signal interference which causes the smart remote to experience issues.
Try a closer proximity by pressing the buttons closer to the TV. You might be too far from your Samsung TV. Most smart remotes only have a range of just 5-6 meters without any obstructions (i.e. cabinets, walls, or chairs).
Lastly, you may also want to clean your IR sensor (both the TV screen and remote). You can wipe it with a dry cloth or simply blow any dust build-up to make sure your Samsung TV and remote sensor can send and receive signals easily.
Do a Digital Test
Remotes transmit signals through infrared. You’ll be able to check if the infrared signal of your remote is working by doing a digital camera test.
Get your phone and open your phone camera. Turn the remote towards the camera lens. With your screen facing you, press a button on the remote. You should be able to see a red light blinking on your screen phone as you press the button.
If you don’t see the red light, this means your remote control is defective.
Re-pair the TV and Remote
When you buy a new TV, the manufacturer usually pairs them beforehand for an easy plug-and-play setup process.
However, if it seems like you can’t get one or both to work properly, you might need to manually pair your devices together all over again. Do a hard reset on your Samsung smart TV remote (see instructions above).
For any TV model released in 2016 and later, this is how you start re-pairing them.
- After you reboot the remote, start the pairing process by pressing the Return and PLAY/STOP buttons simultaneously on the remote control for at least 3 seconds.
- You’ll see that the linking or pairing is successful when you see a message on the TV that you have successfully paired both devices.
- Check if the TV responds, and if it does, that means you’re good to go.
Fix #2: Restart Your Samsung TV
If the problem doesn’t seem to stem from your Samsung Smart TV remote, try troubleshooting your smart TV. There may be instances your Smart TV encounters a minor and temporary glitch that causes disconnection of your smart remote to the TV.
You can conduct a system restart through a quick power reset. Follow the steps below to initiate rebooting:
- Locate the power button on your TV. This is usually found at the back or on one of the sides of your TV.
- Remove the TV switch from the power source. Remember, you should cut the power supply for the reboot to be effective.
- Wait for around 1 minute.
- Plug the TV’s power cord back to the power outlet.
- Press the power button again to complete the process.
Once the TV reboots, try using your remote control and check if this works.
Fix #3: Check Samsung Smart TV Updates
If the steps above still don’t do the job, your TV might be outdated and needs some software updates.
Samsung televisions often release updates to improve the performance of their TVs. This also means you have to check the settings regularly to make sure your TV is running on the latest TV software.
To do this, go to settings. Check your TV’s software and pending updates (if any) by going to Support.
Initiate update by clicking the Install or Update button. If the TV encounters software problems (ie. failed installation, update is not supported), try calling the customer service so they can assist or schedule your TV for a check-up.
Fix #4: Get a Universal Remote Control
If your remote is not working properly even after trying all the steps above, consider buying a universal remote. Remember, check if the TV model is supported by the remote control you want to buy.
Keep in mind that you may also have to pair the new remote manually or through Bluetooth connection, depending on the brand of remote control you buy. Lastly, don’t forget to buy batteries as well to avoid any issues!
If you don’t want to spend extra just to buy a new remote, you can always download a remote control app. You can easily find this in your phone’s play store. However, you should look for an Android TV control app since pairing Android TVs with an iPhone app may not work.
Fix #5: Replace WiFi Module
The last solution in this Samsung TV remote not working guide is to replace your WiFi module [1]. If you know how to locate and replace the WiFi module, you can also try changing this as it might be the source of the problem why both devices cannot connect.
The WiFi module is connected to the power button and infrared sensor.
If the WiFi module is defective, the TV will have a hard time or even fail to connect to the WiFi. This may also be the cause why the other functions of the TV are inaccessible, especially those that need the internet in order to function.
A WiFi module costs nothing more than 20 dollars. After you have replaced your WiFi module, you can proceed with the factory reset process for your TV. However, if you are unsure on how to proceed with this step, you can always call customer service or bring it to the support center and have it fixed.
When All Else Fails
It may be hard to accept defeat, but if all the steps above still do not solve your smart TV and smart remote issues, it’s time to call for help.
This means the issue may be rooted in the TV system itself, you have a defective remote, or it’s something that simple troubleshooting cannot fix.
If the TV is still covered under the warranty period, call Samsung to schedule a checkup and repair for your TV. Don’t forget to take the remote control with you.
Should there be no Samsung facilities or branch close to you, you may also bring this to the nearest authorized repair facility. If it’s outside the warranty, you can check if Samsung can take a look and fix the problem (at your expense) or you may bring it to your trusted handyman.
(Want a bigger screen for you iPhone? Here’s how you can screen mirror an iPhone to Samsung TV properly)
FAQ
Why Is My Samsung TV Not Responding to the Remote?
There are a number of reasons why smart TVs may be unresponsive to the remote.
Oftentimes, it boils down to some minor issues of the remote control (remote not working, due for replacement of batteries, signal obstruction, or replacement). You can also check if the TV needs to be rebooted in order to remove any TV glitches which may cause the malfunction.
Lastly, you should create a clear line of sight and remove any obstructions between the TV and remote. The control can reach the TV from 5 meters away but there should be no furniture or hindrances in between the two.
How Do I Reset My Samsung TV Remote?
Resetting the Samsung TV remote is easy and doable in 5 minutes:
- The first thing you need to do is to open the battery lodging and remove the batteries.
- Wait for 3 minutes before you put them back in.
- Once the batteries are back, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
- Try to point the remote towards the TV and check if it works!
What Do You Do if Your Samsung Remote Won’t Work?
There are a number of ways to troubleshoot a malfunctioning remote control.
You can check if the batteries have been depleted or mispositioned, you can try rebooting it, or you can also do a digital test to check if the remote is defective. Oftentimes, the TV is unresponsive because there are issues with the remote control.
Check if the batteries need to be replaced or repositioned, do a digital camera test, or try resetting the remote to fix any glitches it may have. If your remote is not working, you should also try checking if there are cracks or damages or any blinking red light in the Samsung TV remote sensor.
The latter would need you to reconnect your remote control to the Samsung TV. If there are cracks, not only is the TV remote not working due to malfunction, it could also mean it’s time for repair or replacement.
Conclusion
That ends our guide if your Samsung TV Remote is not working. The simple fixes above should be able to rid the remote control and TV of any glitches that may be the root cause of the issue. The steps above should help you solve minor issues your smart TV and remote may have.
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