Samsung makes some of the most desirable electronics on the market today. Phones, vacuum cleaners, and washing machines all make up part of their impressive catalog, but they are perhaps most well-known for their TVs, which they sell millions of every year.
So if you’ve got a Samsung TV, you’re probably very impressed, and it’s unlikely that you’ve encountered any issues. But one thing that often stumps people is when something goes wrong with the remote.
If you’re staring at a flashing red light on your Samsung remote right now, and you don’t know how to fix it, then this is the article for you.
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Samsung TV Remote Flashing Red – Most Common Causes
Let’s take a look at the most likely causes of your remote not working. Some of these are super simple, some of them require a bit of a process to rectify. Either way, the solution to your problem most likely lies in this section.
Low Battery Life
The most common cause for an improperly working remote is normally related to power, and that comes from the batteries.
If the remote works intermittently, then chances are that the batteries are almost dead. You might still get a few more days of usage out of them, but it’s worth replacing them sooner rather than later, as dead batteries not only won’t work, but they can leak, permanently damaging your electronics.
Remote Has Unpaired from TV
If you’ve changed the batteries and still have no luck, chances are this issue is what’s causing your remote to flash red.
When you first set up your new Samsung TV, the remote will pair automatically upon powering up the device. This connection should stay established for a long time.
However, regular usage, taking the remote in and out of the connectivity zone, and power cuts, can all test the connection between the remote and the TV.
An improper pairing between the TV and the remote can cause the remote light to flash red, and the remote won’t function correctly. To fix it, you need to re-pair your remote and TV.
Reestablish Pairing Between Samsung TV and Remote
Follow these simple steps to re-establish the connection.
- Turn on the TV using the power button on the uni.
- Holding the remote 1 – 2 feet from the TV, aim it directly at the infrared sensor.
- Press and hold the Return and Play/Pause buttons for 5 seconds.
Now wait for the pairing process to complete. When it’s finished, you should see a remote and battery icon on the TV display to indicate the pairing was successful.
Proximity
As simple as it sounds, simply trying to use the remote from too far of a distance from the TV can result in a poor signal and the dreaded flashing red light.
The maximum range at which you can use a Samsung TV remote is 60 feet, so unless you have a very, very large lounge, you should be ok.
However, that 60 feet limit stands provided there are no obstacles between the remote and the TV, and the batteries in the remote are at 100% power.
Test the remote at various distances from the TV at different points around the room – if you notice differing results, it may point towards a proximity-battery issue.
Infrared Sensor Obstruction
Even if you’re close enough to the TV, if the remote cannot make a clean connection between its infrared sensors, the signal won’t transmit from the press of the button on the remote to the enacting of that action on the TV.
If there is something that sits right in front of, or very close to, the infrared detection sensor on the front of the TV, you’ll likely run into issues due to the signal not getting through. Ensure things like soundbars and decorations don’t block the remote signal’s path.
Another possible cause for this issue is a button that’s stuck in its ‘pressed’ position. This can override other signals that you’re attempting to send by pressing other buttons, therefore resulting in a remote that appears to not be working. It can also cause the light to flash red.
Inspect each and every button on the remote to make sure it is fully ‘out.’ Remember, the button that’s stuck may be only just stuck, meaning it might appear normal on first inspection.
Prize out the button using your fingernails or something thin (be careful!), and try your remote again.
While you’re doing this, it’s also worth checking for any dirt or debris that may be clogged under or around the button(s) that caused them to stick in the first place.
Damaged Remote
Remotes get a lot of use. They’re often dropped, wedged between sofa cushions, lost under tables and chairs, and if you’ve got pets or kids… well, you know the kind of damage they can do!
Physical damage to a remote may be subtle and hard to detect, but if there is a break anywhere in the circuitry, your remote won’t function as intended, and you may see the flashing red light.
A close inspection of the external case of the remote, and the inside of the battery compartment can reveal any hidden damage. If you’re comfortable doing so, and have the knowledge to understand what you’ll be looking at, you may also want to take the remote apart and inspect the wiring.
Whether you attempt to repair it is up to you. If you don’t know how, or don’t feel comfortable doing so, ordering a replacement remote may be your only option.
Other Solutions
If you’ve tried all the solutions listed in the first half of this article but you’re still faced with a red-light-flashing, unresponsive remote, you can try these fixes to other common issues that may help.
Power Cycling
Ah, the trusty power cycle! I bet you know it would make an appearance! Well, there’s a good reason for it – it often works!
Here’s how to properly carry one out on both your remote and your TV
Power Cycle Your Remote
- Open the battery compartment.
- Remove the batteries.
- Press and hold the Power button for at least 20 seconds. This will drain the residual power from the remote.
- Reinsert the batteries
- Test the remote.
That’s it! Hopefully, that worked. If not, try the same on the TV itself:
Power Cycle your Samsung TV
- Unplug your TV from the mains power supply.
- Press and hold the Power button for at least 60 seconds. This will drain residual power from the TV set.
- Plug the TV back in
- Test the remote
Get a Replacement Remote
If none of the above fixes have worked, you might feel like you’re stuck watching the same channel forever. But fear not, there is an obvious solution, that while it doesn’t solve the problem, it comes as close as you can get. Get a new remote!
When it comes to remotes, there’s a lot more options available these days. Of course, you can try and find an exact replacement for the original remote that came with your TV, but that might not be necessary, and it may even be more expensive.
Samsung has a dedicated parts site, samsungparts.com, where you can purchase genuine Samsung replacements, including the exact model for your TV, or the cheaper generic Samsung IR remote that will work with all Samsung TVs, that Samsung actually recommends.
Use the Samsung SmartThings App
If you don’t want to buy a new remote, or you’ve ordered one and you’re waiting for it to arrive, then you may be wondering, how can you possibly control TV in the meantime?
Well, Samsung has an app called SmartThings, which is available to download for free on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. It allows you to use your smartphone as a remote, so even if you’ve temporarily lost your actual remote, or need something to use until you buy new batteries, it’s perfect.
Simply set up an account, then follow these simple steps to link your TV with the app.
- Open the SmartThings app
- Click the + in the top right hand corner
- Select Device
- Select Samsung for the brand
- Scroll down and select TV
SmartThings should now automatically find your TV and connect to it. Now you can use your phone as a remote! Problem solved!
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to panic when an electrical device suddenly stops working, but as with most cases, there is a simple and easy solution. In this case, it seems like the pairing issue is the most common cause of the flashing red light on Samsung TV remotes.
Obviously, that won’t always be the case, hence the other solutions offered in the article. Always check the batteries, keep the IR sensor clear from obstructions, and always, always try out a faithful power cycle when things go wrong! Good luck!
