How to Pair a Samsung Remote to a TV

With the TV on, point the remote at the IR receiver and press-and-hold the Return and Play/Pause buttons for a few seconds

By
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
  • Shoreline Community College
Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles .
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Updated on December 26, 2023
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • Turn the TV on and locate its IR receiver. It's usually on the lowest portion of the TV.
  • Point your remote at the IR receiver, and press-and-hold the Return and Play/Pause buttons. 
  • Wait for the success message to appear on the TV.

This article explains how to pair a Samsung remote to a TV.

How Do I Pair My Samsung Remote to My TV?

Your Samsung Smart Remote is designed to automatically connect to your new Samsung TV when you first get it, but you can also pair it manually if you need to. If you get a new remote, or you want to connect your Samsung Smart Remote to a different Samsung TV, then you can use this manual connection procedure.

Your Samsung remote can only control one TV at a time. If you pair your remote to a new TV, you will have to go through this procedure again if you want to use it with the original TV in the future.

  1. Turn on your Samsung TV using the power button on the TV or a remote that’s already paired.

  2. Locate the remote control sensor on the TV—it's usually on the lower right side, but it may be on the bottom center—and point your remote at it.

  3. On the remote, press-and-hold the Return and Play/Pause buttons simultaneously for at least three seconds.

  4. Watch the screen for a successful pairing message. Depending on your TV or remote, it might say Pairing Complete, or you'll see a green circle.

    If the message on your TV says Not Available or there's a red X, try to pair the remote again. Contact Samsung for further assistance if it still doesn’t work.

How Do I Reset My Samsung Remote Control?

If your Samsung remote is malfunctioning, you may need to reset it. The reset procedure requires removal of the batteries, so this is a good time to insert new batteries if you haven’t done so in a while. Weak batteries can also cause a lot of issues.

Here’s how to reset a Samsung remote control:

  1. Remove the batteries from the remote.

  2. Wait at least eight seconds.

  3. Put the batteries back in, or insert new batteries.

  4. Pair the remote to your TV using the procedure from the previous section.

What if My Samsung Remote Still Won’t Pair?

If your remote won’t pair, and you don’t see an error message on your TV, then you need to verify that it’s actually sending an infrared (IR) signal to your TV. While the IR signals sent by your remote are invisible to the naked eye, it will show up in the camera app on your phone.

Here’s how to make sure your Samsung remote is transmitting an IR signal:

  1. Open the camera app on your phone.

  2. Point the remote at your phone, so that you can see the front of the remote in your camera app.

    You can also use a digital camera if it has a live view LCD display and not just an optical viewfinder.

  3. Push a button on the remote, like the power or volume button.

    Some Samsung remotes use Bluetooth for every button but the power button, so the power button is the best one to use for this test.

  4. If the remote sends a signal, you’ll see the IR transmitter light up in your camera app.

    If you don’t see anything light up, try replacing the batteries in the remote. If that doesn’t help, the remote may need to be replaced. Contact Samsung to see if the remote is still under warranty.

FAQ
  • How do I turn on a Samsung TV without a remote?

    Samsung TVs usually have a small control box in the lower-right corner, under the edge of the screen. Hold the button to turn the set on.

  • How do I reset a Samsung remote?

    If your Samsung remote stops working consistently, a reset may help. First, remove the batteries. Then, hold the Power button for about eight seconds. Put the batteries back in, and then re-pair the remote with the TV if necessary.

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