To reset your Samsung Smart Remote Control, unpair and then re-pair it with the television again. If you have an older remote model, remove the batteries from the device, hold the power button for at least 10 seconds, and then insert the batteries back in.
There is hardly anything more annoying than a malfunctioning remote control. Thankfully, the majority of issues can be easily fixed with a simple reset.
Are there any other ways to reset a Samsung TV remote? Can the actual television, not the remote, be the root cause of the problem? Let’s find out!
When To Reset a Samsung TV Remote?
If you’re experiencing any issues with your remote – the buttons are not working, the TV is not responding, etc., then resetting the remote control can become an easy fix to the problem.
However, before you reset the device, it is typically recommended to change the batteries (this might be what’s causing the problem in the first place).
If you know that the batteries in your remote are fresh, you can also check if everything’s alright with the device’s signal.
- Point the camera on your phone to the tip of the remote control from where the signal gets sent.
- Push the power button – if you see a red light on the camera, then your remote should be working perfectly fine, if not, then it might have gone bad.
In any case, it is recommended to reset the device. But if you’re still experiencing problems even after the reset, then you might have to either get a new remote (in case you didn’t see a red light on the camera) or troubleshoot the TV.
How To Reset a Samsung TV Remote?
If you have an older Samsung TV remote model, methods 1 and 2 might work for you.
If you have the Samsung Smart Remote Control, you can give method 1 a try, but the chances are high that only method 3 would work.
You can also attempt to re-pair your smart remote and TV before proceeding (this trick might immediately fix the issue).
Method 1
- Remove the batteries from the remote control.
- Unplug the TV from the wall.
- Wait for at least a full minute.
- Plug the TV back in.
- When the TV switches to the main screen, insert the batteries into the remote (ideally, fresh ones, if you don’t remember when was the last time you changed those).
- Try to use the remote and see if it works.
Method 2
- Remove the batteries from your Samsung TV remote. Leave it like that for about 3-5 minutes.
- Hold the power button down for 10+ seconds. This will hard reset the remote and remove any residual power.
- Insert the batteries back in, and check if the issue has been fixed.
Method 3
These are the instructions that will bring the remote back to the factory settings.
- Hold the ‘back’ and ‘enter’ buttons simultaneously for 10+ seconds.
- Re-pair the remote control with the television.
How To Re-pair Samsung Remote with the TV?
Your TV might get paired with the remote control automatically. But if that didn’t happen, you would have to hold the ‘return’ and ‘play/pause’ buttons simultaneously for 5+ seconds.
You will soon see a pop-up message on the screen saying that the device is now connected to the television.
How To Unpair, Pair and Reset Samsung Solar Remote?
Unpairing the Remote:
To unpair a Samsung remote, you should press and hold the ‘Return’ and ‘Play/Pause’ buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds. The remote’s RED LED light will start flashing, now release the buttons and your remote will be unpaired.
In case your Samsung remote is flashing red continuously and not working, check our troubleshooting guide "Why is Samsung TV Remote Blinking Red And How To Fix This?"
Pairing the Remote
To pair the remote with your Samsung TV, just press any button on the remote and your TV will search for the bluetooth devices and get connected automatically. If the TV is taking too long to pair, press any other button on the remote.
Resetting the Remote
For resetting a 2023 Samsung SolarCell remote, press and hold down the Enter and Return keys for approximately 10 seconds.
To reset 2021 Samsung SolarCell remote, the process is slightly different: first, take out the batteries, then press and hold the Power button for around eight seconds, and finally, put the batteries back in.
What Else To Do If A Reset Didn’t Fix the Issue?
If the Samsung TV remote reset didn’t fix the problem, try the below fixes:
Fix Network Issues
Your remote might not be working because of network-related issues.
Smart TVs have plenty of features that depend on a stable Internet connection, so you might want to unplug the ethernet cable and insert it back in in a minute or two or reset your Wi-Fi router and reconnect the TV to the wireless network.
Clean the Dirty IR Sensor
Dirt or grease can easily block off the IR sensor of the remote control. A quick clean may fix the issue (and you might not even have to reset the remote).
Fix the Issues with the TV
If none of the tips mentioned above helped, then the chances are high that there is something wrong with your TV. Thankfully, a simple reset might fix the issue. You can use your Samsung remote for the job if the buttons are working.
- Make sure that the TV is turned on.
- Hold the ‘exit’ button on the remote for about 12 seconds. The standby light should be flashing while you’re holding the button.
- You will see a pop-up message on the screen warning you about a factory reset and asking you whether or not you want to proceed. If you select ‘OK’, the TV will be reset.
If your Samsung TV does not get updated automatically, you might have toinitiate a software update manually. Navigate to ‘menu’, select ‘settings’, ‘support’, ‘software update’, and ‘update now’. The device will restart when the update is finished.
A software update might solve your remote-related problems as well, by the way.
Use the Samsung App While You Wait for a Replacement
Did you know that you can use your smartphone as a TV remote? This is a great option for those who are sick and tired of trying to fix their remote and for those waiting for a new remote control to arrive.
All you would have to do is:
- Download the SmartThings app.
- Add your TV as a ‘device’ in the application.
- Tap ‘menu’ and then ‘all devices’ and select ‘TV’.
- An on-screen remote will immediately appear in the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I resync my Samsung TV remote?
To resync your Samsung TV remote:
- Turn on your TV manually or with an already paired remote.
- Find the Return and Play/Pause buttons on your Samsung Smart Remote.
- Press and hold Return and Play/Pause buttons buttons simultaneously for at least 3 seconds.
- Your TV will start syncing with the remote, and a message will appear on your TV screen indicating this process.
- Pairing information will show at the lower left part of your TV screen, confirming successful resyncing.
Remember, these steps might slightly vary based on your Samsung TV and remote models.
How do I fix an unresponsive Samsung remote?
To Fix your unresponsive Samsung remote
- Check for Signs of Physical Damage on the remote.
- Remove and reinsert the batteries.
- Clean the Transmission Window and Battery Terminals.
- Try turning on the TV directly using the power button on the TV.
- Check if the Universal Remote Setup on your TV is completed.
- Test the Infrared Sensor.
- Check the One Connect Box. (If your TV uses a One Connect Box, ensure that it is correctly placed.)
Why is my Samsung TV not responding to remote?
If your Samsung TV is not responding to the remote control, it might have jammed or stuck buttons, dirty battery terminals, or obstruction between the TV and the remote.
Where is Samsung TV remote sensor?
Generally, Samsung TV remote sensor is placed in the bottom middle or bottom right of the TV, depending on the model and year it is manufactured.
How can I test my TV remote sensor?
You can test your TV remote sensor with a few simple steps that can be done using a digital camera, a cell phone camera, or a camcorder.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Choose a Device: Turn the camera ON a digital camera, cellphone camera, or a camcorder.
- Point the Remote: Point the end of the remote control with the IR emitter at the camera or camcorder lens.
- Look at the Screen: Look at the viewfinder or LCD screen of the camera or camcorder.
- Press a Button on the Remote: Press and hold one of the buttons on the remote control.
- Check for Light: If the remote control’s transmitter light is not visible when any button is pressed, the batteries may need to be replaced. Replace the batteries and check if the transmitter lights up.
- Test Each Button: You should also test each of the buttons on the remote by pressing them one at a time and checking if you see a light from the emitter.
- Check for Stuck Buttons: If you see a light when no button is pressed, one of the buttons on the remote may be stuck. In this case, remove the batteries, press and release each button a couple of times to free the stuck button, replace the batteries, and test the remote again.
- Identify Broken Buttons: If the remote control still does not light up when a specific button is pressed, that button may be broken.
Conclusion
Now you know exactly how to reset a Samsung TV remote. Before trying to push any of the buttons, you might want to clean the device and change the batteries. If that doesn’t work, you can try resetting the remote and re-pairing it with your TV.
And remember that if dealing with the remote is not your top priority at the moment, you can always use your smartphone as a remote with the help of the SmartThings app.