Samsung's remote guidance is short and exact. Your Smart Remote may be disconnected from the TV, or its battery may need to be charged or replaced. With the TV turned on, point the remote at the TV and press and hold the Return and Play/Pause buttons together for more than three seconds; the remote pairs and a message appears on the screen. Newer remotes charge from the USB-C port or the solar cell on the back, so charge it under light or by cable if it is dead, and older remotes use AAA batteries.
The checks in more detail
If the remote appears to press buttons by itself, Samsung says the buttons may be dirty, so wipe them and press each one repeatedly. Check the infrared path: the receiver is at the standby light, so remove obstructions and point straight at it. If some buttons work and others do not, reset the remote by removing the batteries for a minute and holding Power for 10 seconds.
If the TV turns on from its own button but not the remote, the remote is at fault; the SmartThings app can act as a virtual remote from your phone while you replace it. Anynet+ can pass the TV's remote to other devices, and an HDMI device may take control, so unplug HDMI devices to test. If a One Remote controls a cable box, the box may be programmed under Settings, General, External Device Manager. Update the software, since remote pairing fixes ship in updates.
A replacement Samsung Smart Remote pairs the same way. Do not use remotes from other models. Keep spare batteries or a charging cable near the TV, and pair the phone app as a backup remote before the day you need it. A remote that fails at the same distance every time usually has a weak battery, not a faulty remote. If the remote works only from very close, the battery is nearly flat or the receiver is blocked by a soundbar or shelf, so move the obstruction first.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung TV line remote will not control the TV”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A disconnected Smart Remote
What separates it The buttons do nothing because the Smart Remote has disconnected from the TV
How to confirm Hold the Return and Play or Pause buttons for three seconds, to pair the remote again
- 2
A flat battery
What separates it The remote is slow or does not respond because its battery is flat
How to confirm Charge the remote, or replace its battery, and try it again
- 3
Dirty buttons
What separates it The remote presses buttons by itself because the buttons are dirty
How to confirm Clean the buttons with a soft cloth, taking care not to push dirt inside
- 4
A blocked infrared path
What separates it The remote works only up close because the infrared path is blocked
How to confirm Point the remote at the standby light, where the receiver is, with nothing in the way
- 5
An HDMI device taking control
What separates it The TV behaves oddly because an HDMI device is taking control of it
How to confirm Unplug the HDMI devices to test, and see whether the TV behaves normally
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model of the remote that you are using
- The battery or the charging state of the remote
- Whether the SmartThings app can control the TV
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCharge or replace the battery
ReversibleCharge or replace the battery, which is solar, USB-C or AAA depending on the remote.
Point at the TV
ReversiblePoint the remote at the TV, toward the standby light, where the receiver sits, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Hold Return and Play/Pause
ReversibleHold the Return and Play or Pause buttons for more than three seconds, to pair it.
Clean the buttons
ReversibleClean the buttons if they stick, using a soft cloth that is slightly damp, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset the remote
ReversibleReset the remote by taking out the batteries for a minute, and then put them back.
Unplug HDMI devices
ReversibleUnplug the HDMI devices as a test, since one of them may be sending commands to the TV.
Use SmartThings
ReversibleUse SmartThings as a temporary remote, from a phone, while you sort out the remote.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Solar remotes
- Recent QN90D and S95D remotes have a solar cell and a USB-C port.
- One Remote
- The One Remote controls Samsung and connected devices.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models CU8000, Q80C, Q90T, QN900D, QN90B, QN90C, QN95D, S90C, S90D, S95C, S95D, LS03D.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the remote will not pair after the reset, replace it
- !If the TV does not respond to its own button, see the power steps
- !If the app works but the remote does not, the remote is at fault
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Re-pairing the Smart Remote.
Smart Remote troubleshooting.
Standby light states and the 2024 OLED power board note.
Automatic, internet and USB updates.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I pair a Samsung Smart Remote?+
Hold Return and Play/Pause for more than three seconds.
How long must I hold?+
You must hold the buttons for over three seconds, until the remote pairs.
Does the remote charge?+
Newer ones charge by USB-C or solar.
Why does it press buttons by itself?+
It presses buttons by itself because the buttons are dirty, and stick down.
Where is the receiver?+
The receiver is at the standby light, so point the remote there.
Can I use another model's remote?+
Not reliably, since another model's remote may not pair or control all functions.