How To Fix Samsung TV Remote Pairing Issues In 2026

If your Samsung TV remote will not pair, the TV stops answering your Smart Remote and you may be stuck without menus.

The cause is usually a lost Bluetooth link, a weak battery or charge, or a software hiccup, and all of them are fixable at home.

The steps below follow Samsung’s own support pages, from the quick checks to the full TV reset.

How do you re-pair a Samsung TV remote? Quick answer

Task	Buttons	How long
Re-pair a Smart Remote	Return + Play/Pause, standing within 1 foot of the TV	At least 5 seconds, until a pairing message appears
Reset a battery remote	Remove batteries, hold Power, reinsert batteries	8 seconds
Reset a solar remote (2021 and newer TVs)	Return + Enter	10 seconds
Reset a Smart Remote before pairing	Return + the button diagonally up and to the right of it	Hold together

Samsung’s Canadian support page lists 3 seconds for the Return + Play/Pause step, so if 3 seconds does not work, hold for 5.

Why is my Samsung TV remote not pairing?

Smart Remotes talk to the TV over Bluetooth, while simpler remotes send an infrared signal that needs no pairing.

Common reasons a pairing fails:

• Weak batteries or a low charge on the remote.
• A lost pairing after a reset or power glitch.
• Distance, because Samsung says to stand within 1 foot while pairing.
• TV software or app trouble, such as the SmartThings issue on 2022 B models described below.

Fix 1: check whether the remote still sends a signal

Samsung’s remote test uses a phone camera to see the infrared light.

1. Point your phone camera at the remote.
2. Press and hold Power on the remote.
3. Look for a colored light on the camera screen.

No light means replacing the batteries, and if there is still no light, replacing the remote.

If you see the light but your remote is not a Smart Remote, turn the TV on with its own controls and aim the remote at the Samsung logo.

Fix 2: replace the batteries or charge a solar remote

Samsung’s reset advice for solar remotes starts with letting the remote charge, especially if it is new or the TV behaves erratically.

For battery remotes, fit fresh batteries and test the camera light again before moving on.

Fix 3: reset the remote

The reset depends on your remote type.

• Battery remote: remove the batteries, hold Power for 8 seconds, then reinsert them.
• Solar remote (2021 and newer TVs): hold Return and Enter for 10 seconds, then pair again.
• Clear the pairing: hold Return and the button above and to the right of Enter for 3 seconds, per Samsung Canada.

Samsung notes that the Return + Enter reset keeps the Bluetooth pairing, while the second one clears it.

Button layouts vary by model, so the upper-right button may look different on your remote.

Fix 4: re-pair the remote to the TV

1. Turn the TV off and back on using the physical power button on the TV.
2. Stand within 1 foot of the TV and point the remote at it.
3. Hold Return and Play/Pause together for at least 5 seconds.
4. Wait for the pairing message on the screen.

If the message never appears, go to the next fix.

Fix 5: unplug the TV for 30 seconds

Samsung’s own advice when pairing fails is to unplug the TV for 30 seconds.

1. Unplug the TV from the wall.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug it back in and repeat the pairing steps.

Fix 6: update the TV software

Samsung lists one path for all models, and menu names can vary slightly by TV.

1. Go to Settings > All Settings > Support.
2. Select Software Update.
3. Select Update Now and do not switch the TV off until it restarts.

If Software Update is grayed out, a streaming app is running, so switch back to the regular TV source first.

If the update will not install, see our Samsung TV software update failures guide.

Fix 7: reset the TV as a last resort

A reset can clear a deeper software fault, but plan for signing back in to your apps.

1. Open Settings > General & Privacy.
2. Select Reset and enter your PIN (the default is 0000).
3. Select Reset, then OK, and let the TV restart.

If your menus differ, Samsung says to look under Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis for Reset.

Heads up: reset is unavailable while an app like Netflix, YouTube or Hulu is running, and you will need to sign in to every app again.

Samsung says this reset restores TV settings to factory defaults but keeps your network settings.

You can also try the lighter Reset Smart Hub under Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis, which deletes Samsung account and Smart Hub app information.

What if the remote broke after using the SmartThings app?

Samsung documents a specific problem on 2022 B models, where the remote stops working after the SmartThings TV app is used.

1. Turn the TV off and on with its own Power button.
2. In the SmartThings TV app, go to Settings > About SmartThings > SmartThings Guide.
3. Choose the option to not receive new device notifications.
4. Exit the app.

Samsung says an app update was planned to fix this.

Which fix matches your symptom?

Symptom	Try this
No pairing message after holding Return + Play/Pause	Move within 1 foot, hold 5 seconds, then unplug the TV for 30 seconds
No light on a phone camera when pressing Power	Replace batteries, or replace the remote
Solar remote acts erratically	Let it charge, then hold Return + Enter for 10 seconds
Remote failed after SmartThings use on a 2022 B model	Follow the SmartThings steps above
Remote works from one spot only	Check the One Connect Box location, since it sends IR from its front and sides

When should you contact Samsung?

If a camera test shows a working remote but the TV still will not pair after a reset, the fault may be in the TV or the remote.

Samsung’s pages point you to its Support Center at that stage.

You can start from Samsung’s TV and appliance care page.

Related Samsung TV remote guides

• How To Fix A Samsung TV Remote Not Working
• How To Fix Samsung TV Remote Battery Or Connectivity Issues
• How To Fix Samsung TV Remote Buttons Not Responding

Official help: Samsung remote is not working and How to reset your Samsung TV.