Samsung TVs pair Bluetooth headphones, speakers, keyboards and game controllers, and the failures follow a few patterns. Samsung's guidance says the TV will not pair with a device that is currently connected to another device, so disconnect it from its previous host first, and every Bluetooth device must be put into pairing mode before the TV can find it. On the TV open Settings, Sound, Sound Output, Bluetooth Speaker List, or Settings, General, External Device Manager, Input Device Manager, Bluetooth Devices, start the search and select the device.
The checks in more detail
Keep the device within a few meters of the TV and clear of Wi-Fi routers and microwave ovens, since Bluetooth shares the 2.4 GHz band. If the device appears but will not connect, remove it from the TV's list and re-pair, and forget the TV on the device. If audio lags, a TV with a Bluetooth audio delay setting can adjust it, and lip sync problems are common with cheap transmitters.
The TV supports a limited number of simultaneous Bluetooth audio devices, and connecting a second device may drop the first. Turn the TV off and unplug it for 30 seconds if the Bluetooth list stays empty. Update the software, since Samsung releases Bluetooth fixes in updates. Older Samsung TV models such as the MU series had documented Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signal issues. If Bluetooth remains unavailable, use an optical or eARC connection or a Bluetooth transmitter on the audio output. Test the accessory with a phone first. If the phone pairs and the TV does not, the fault is the TV's Bluetooth or its range, and if neither pairs, the accessory itself needs a reset or a charge.
Keep the accessory's charge above half, since a low battery weakens the link and looks like a pairing fault.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung TV line will not pair with Bluetooth headphones or speakers”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The device connected to another host
What separates it The TV cannot find the device because it is still connected to another host
How to confirm Disconnect it from the other host, and put it in pairing mode
- 2
Interference
What separates it The connection drops or stutters because of interference on the 2.4 GHz band
How to confirm Move away from routers and microwaves, which share the same band
- 3
A stale pairing
What separates it The device appears in the list but will not connect because of a stale pairing
How to confirm Remove the device from the TV's list and pair it again from the start
- 4
Too many devices
What separates it A second device drops the first because too many devices are connected
How to confirm Limit the number of connections, and disconnect the device you do not need
- 5
An old software version
What separates it The Bluetooth list is empty because the TV software is old
How to confirm Update the TV software, and then look for Bluetooth devices again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The Bluetooth device and its mode
- Whether it works with a phone
- How far the device is from the TV when you pair it
- The model year of your TV
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedPut the device in pairing mode
ReversiblePut the device in pairing mode, and disconnect it from any other host that it is paired with.
Open the Bluetooth list
ReversibleOpen the Bluetooth list on the TV, which is in the sound settings of the TV.
Search and select
ReversibleSearch and select the device from the list, and wait for the pairing to complete.
Move closer
ReversibleMove closer to the TV, and away from sources of interference such as routers and microwaves.
Remove and re-pair
ReversibleRemove the device and pair it again, if it is stuck in a stale pairing.
Unplug the TV
ReversibleUnplug the TV for thirty seconds, and then plug it back in and try the pairing again.
Update the software
ReversibleUpdate the software on the TV, and then retest the connection with the device, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Models
- Most current Samsung TVs support Bluetooth audio and game controllers.
- Frame
- The Frame supports Bluetooth headphones and speakers.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Q80C, Q90T, QN900D, QN90B, QN90C, QN95D, S90C, S90D, S95C, S95D, LS03D.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If no device pairs after a software update and unplug, contact Samsung
- !If only one device fails, check that device
- !If the audio lags behind the picture, use a wired connection instead
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Speaker settings and audio faults.
Re-pairing the Smart Remote.
Automatic, internet and USB updates.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why will my TV not pair?+
The device may be connected elsewhere.
Does the device need pairing mode?+
Yes, the device must be in pairing mode, which usually means holding its button.
Can interference matter?+
Yes, interference can matter, since Bluetooth shares the 2.4 GHz band with wifi.
Should I remove and re-pair?+
Yes, remove the device and pair it again, when it will not connect.
Is there a wired alternative?+
There is a wired alternative, which is an optical cable or eARC to a soundbar.