Among the best smart TV brands today is Samsung. It’s user-friendly, affordable, and compatible with various streaming apps and devices. The brand also has multiple TV sizes and display types that you can choose from. But, it’s also possible to experience Samsung smart TV problems.
Samsung TV issues can vary from picture, sound, connectivity, and many more. In this guide, we’ll show you the most common Samsung TV problems and troubleshooting Samsung TVs with easy fixes.
Read on to know more.
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Most Common Samsung TV Problems and Their Fixes
Like other smart TV brands, your Samsung TV can have issues over time. Most can be rooted in Samsung TV screen problems, which sometimes makes it impossible to watch anything on your smart TV. However, you can review the list below and see which fix is effective for your Samsung smart TV issue.
Problem #1: An App is Not Working on Samsung TV
Some installed apps on your Samsung TV might not work due to bugs, compatibility issues, and other factors. However, you can solve this by following the fixes below.
Fix #1: Perform a Soft Reset or a Power Cycle
To perform a soft reset, turn on your Samsung TV. Then, press and hold the power button on the remote until the TV turns off and quickly turns on again in a few seconds. You can now try opening your desired app and see if it works normally.
To do a power cycle, follow the steps below:
- Turn off your Samsung TV and unplug its power cable from the socket.
- Wait for 30 seconds to drain the power.
- Plug the power cable back in and switch on your Samsung TV. Launch your desired app and see if the issue is fixed.
Fix #2: Update Your Samsung TV’s Firmware
Your Samsung smart TV’s firmware should be up-to-date to keep its app compatible with all installed apps. To update your Samsung TV to the latest version, proceed to the steps below:
- Turn on your Samsung TV and press the Home button on the remote.
- Navigate to Support > Update Now. The latest update will be automatically installed on your smart TV.
If the remote is malfunctioning as well, you can read what to do if your Samsung remote is not working.
Fix #3: Reset the Samsung Smart Hub
Resetting the Samsung Smart Hub is an effective way to fix account log-in bugs that might prevent you from using an app. To reset the Samsung Smart Hub on Samsung TV models before 2020, follow these steps:
- Switch on your smart TV and go to Settings > Support.
- Select Self Diagnosis and choose Reset Smart Hub.
For TV models after 2020, follow these steps:
- Switch on your Samsung TV and navigate to Settings > Support > Service Care.
- Choose Self Diagnosis and select Reset Smart Hub.
Fix #4: Reinstall the App
Once an app crashes, is buggy or is unresponsive to certain features, you can uninstall and reinstall it on your Samsung TV. It also deletes temporary app data, such as cache, which might cause issues on the app. To do this, proceed to these steps:
- Select the Home button on the Samsung remote and go to Apps.
- Select the Settings icon and find the app that you wish to uninstall.
- Choose Delete. Then, select the Search icon and search for the app you just uninstalled.
- Select its app icon and choose Install.
This is a similar method to getting Discovery Plus On your Smart TV.
Problem #2: Samsung TV Screen Has Lines or Dots
Lines and spots appearing on your Samsung TV are one of the most common Samsung TV screen problems experienced by various users. This might be caused by a problem with the external device connected to the TV or hardware failure. Follow the fixes below to solve this issue.
Fix #1: Do a Picture Test
A picture test will help diagnose most display problems on your Samsung TV. It helps to confirm issues such as lines or dots on your TV caused by a hardware problem. To do a picture test on 2021 TV models or greater, follow these steps:
- Turn on your Samsung TV and go to Settings > Device Care.
- Select Self Diagnosis and choose Picture Test.
To do it on previous models, follow the steps below:
- Navigate to Settings > Support and choose Self Diagnosis.
- Select Picture Test and follow the on-screen instructions.
We have a full article which investigates What Causes Horizontal Lines on a TV Screen? as well as providing several solutions.
If you still see lines or spots in the picture test, it’s best to contact Samsung Support and schedule a repair, especially if it’s covered by warranty. But, if it was caused by physical damage, it’s better to buy a new TV model instead due to expensive repair costs.
If you don’t see any lines or spots on the TV screen, you can try replacing the cable that connects your TV from the external device.
Problem #3: Samsung TV Screen is Flickering
You may experience this when your Samsung TV’s display is flickering after turning it on. This might be caused by issues with the HDMI cable, power-saving settings, and internal hardware. To fix this problem, follow the steps below.
Fix #1: Disable the Eco Solution Settings
The eco solution settings are a power-saving feature that allows your Samsung TV to adjust to the environment’s brightness. Your smart TV might flicker once the lighting in your room constantly changes between light and dark.
To disable the Eco Solution settings on your Samsung TV, follow the steps below:
- Turn on your smart TV, go to Settings > General, and select Eco Solution or Energy Saving.
- Set it to off.
Fix #2: Perform a Picture Test
- Turn on your Samsung TV, go to Settings > Device Care, and select Self Diagnosis.
- Choose Picture Test and follow the on-screen steps.
If your TV screen still flickers during the test, contact Samsung Support and request a repair.
Fix #3: Do an HDMI Test
If you’re using your Samsung TV with an HDMI device, the HDMI cable might cause display issues, especially when faulty. To do an HDMI test on Samsung TV 2021 models and greater, proceed to these steps:
- Go to Settings > Device Care and choose Self Diagnosis.
- Select HDMI Troubleshooting and follow the on-screen steps.
To do it on older Samsung TV models, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings > Support and select Self Diagnosis.
- Choose Signal Information and select HDMI Test. Follow the on-screen instructions.
If the test shows that there’s a problem with your HDMI cable, get it replaced and see if the issue is fixed.
Fix #4: Transfer Your TV’s Power Cable to Another Socket
Flickering can occur on your Samsung TV once its display is disrupted due to grounding problems. This can be caused by the socket’s wiring or another device that’s plugged in on that socket. Try transferring your TV’s power cable to another socket and see if the flickering issue is fixed.
Problem #4: Samsung TV Screen is Black
Various factors can cause your Samsung TV to show a black display. If you’re using it with an external HDMI device, check the HDMI cables and try reconnecting them to your smart TV.
However, if you’re using your smart TV with no external device connected, it’s a sign of hardware failure, specifically on its power supply or capacitor. When this happens, contact Samsung Support to schedule a repair.
Problem #5: Samsung TV Screen Freezes
Samsung TVs are prone to freezing once their firmware is not updated. To update your Samsung TV’s firmware to the latest version available, follow the steps below:
For 2021 TV models or greater
- Using the TV’s remote, go to Settings > All Settings and select Support.
- Choose Software Update and select Update Now. Your Samsung TV will now be updated shortly.
For previous TV models
- Press the Home button on the Samsung remote and choose Settings > Support.
- Select Software Update and choose Update Now. Once the update is downloaded, wait for the installation to finish.
Once it still freezes, you can do a power cycle on your Samsung TV. To do this, proceed to these steps:
- Turn off your Samsung TV and unplug its power cable from the socket.
- Wait for 30 seconds to drain power.
- Plug the power cable of your Samsung TV and turn it on. Check if the screen still freezes when using it.
Final Thoughts
Samsung TVs are one of the most affordable and high-quality smart TV brands. Most of their TV models are equipped with smart features and are compatible with various streaming devices and apps. However, you still might face Samsung smart TV problems with your Samsung TV.
Hence, this guide hopefully helps you to solve the most common problems with Samsung smart TVs. If the fixes on this guide weren’t effective, contact Samsung Support for further help.