If you’re just about to relax on the sofa and put on your daily staple of movies on TV, a Samsung remote blinking red could be the last thing you need. No reason to panic, though, you can actually fix the issue from where you’re sitting right now.
Power cycle your remote to fix the Samsung remote blinking red issue. Also, check on the batteries, pair the remote again with the TV, or factory reset your Samsung TV if things fail.
Don’t let the details worry you. In this guide, we’ll show you a blow-by-blow account of how to deal with your Samsung TV remote acting up using 6 proven quick fixes — so you can DIY everything in less than 10 minutes!
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Duration | 9 minutes and 10 seconds |
| Number of Ways | 6 |
| Things You Need | Samsung Smart TV Smart remote control 2 AA batteries USB-C cable and charger |
What causes the Samsung Smart Remote to blink red?
A host of factors can cause your Samsung Smart remote to blink red and not work as intended. Check out the most common ones below.
1. The batteries on the remote control are weak or dead.
The most common cause of Samsung remote blinking red and not working correctly is its batteries running low or out of juice. Like most electronic devices, sufficient electrical power is required for the Smart remote to function as intended.
If you’ve been using the same batteries on your Samsung Smart remote for a while now, it’s easy to forget that they might be low on power. It’s advisable to use Lithium-ion batteries on your Smart remote if you ever plan on replacing them.
For Samsung TVs with a SolarCell remote control, you only need to ensure it’s always charged at a comfortable battery level. Solar-powered remote controls will recharge themselves as long as the back panel faces upward.
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| Note: There must be enough indoor light for the SolarCell remote to recharge without a direct light source. |
2. The Samsung Smart remote is experiencing pairing issues.
Problem pairing with the TV is also a significant cause of the Samsung remote blinking red issue. When you experience this problem, you’ll notice that your Smart remote gets automatically unpaired to your TV and stops working correctly.
During this time, the indicator light on your Samsung Smart remote will start blinking red when you try to use it. The only way to address this issue is to pair it with your Samsung Smart TV manually.
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3. The Samsung Smart remote sustained physical damage.
Physical damage due to falling or being stuck below another object can be fatal to a small device like the Samsung Smart remote. It can break the components inside the remote control or its buttons, which might result in them not working when pressed.
Even if the indicator light on your remote control seems to be working fine, there might not be any inputs at all. As such, it’s advisable always to pay close attention to prevent any damages that can lead to the Samsung remote blinking red issue.
4. The IR sensor is experiencing some obstructions.
The Samsung remote blinking red and not working while being used can also be caused by obstacles to its Infrared (IR) sensor. Objects in your living space, such as books, furniture, walls, and even people, can block the TV’s IR receiver.
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Keeping a good distance between your Samsung Smart TV and other objects in the surroundings is recommended to avoid signal interference. Also, ensure you’re pointing the IR sensor directly at the TV’s IR receiver for the signal to come through.
5. The Samsung TV is out of the remote’s range.
Remote controls operate at a short range, which can also be affected by the objects around them, further limiting their operating range. It’s advisable to use your remote control at a distance of at least two feet from the Samsung Smart TV.
The best range to use your Smart remote is within sixty feet of the TV at 100 percent battery level. Please note that there mustn’t be any obstructions to the remote control’s operating path to achieve the ideal result.
You should always maintain the recommended distance between your Smart remote and the TV to avoid facing any Samsung remote blinking red issues.
6. The buttons on the remote control are stuck.
A problem with TV remote controls that can develop over time is that their buttons could get stuck. This problem commonly affects the buttons pressed more often than the others, such as the volume and channel control keys.
Another possibility is that dirt will build up on the gaps around the remote control buttons due to dust or sweat. Layers or dirt build-up can result in the buttons getting stuck and not working correctly.
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In such cases, you’ll have a Samsung remote blinking red, but there wouldn’t be any inputs even if you keep pressing the buttons.
How to Fix a Samsung Remote When its Blinking Red
Knowing the most common causes of a Samsung remote acting up is a good start. You should be able to factor in the 6 quick fixes below–just make sure you apply them in the order they are presented for the best results.
1. Check your remote’s batteries.
A simple way to fix the Samsung remote blinking red issue caused by the batteries running low on juice is to replace them with a fresh pair. You can also recharge your Smart remote if you own the solar-powered variant.
Doing so will give your Smart remote the necessary power to function correctly and stop its status light from blinking red.
Follow these steps to replace the batteries on your Smart remote:
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 15 seconds |
Step 1: Apply pressure on the bottom part of the Smart remote and slide it forward or backward to release the back cover. Note: You should slide the Smart remote in the opposite direction pointed by the arrow at the back panel since you’re sliding it against the cover. This is an effective method since sliding the cover itself is often more difficult to perform.  |
Step 2: Take out the batteries inside the battery compartment. Pro tip: It’s advisable to clean the battery compartment before putting in the replacement batteries to ensure no dust build-up might mess with the battery connection. |
Step 3: Install a fresh pair of batteries. Note: Make sure you’ve inserted the batteries in the correct position. The part of the compartment with a spring should connect to the negative terminal (flat end) of the battery. |
| Step 4: Reinstall the back cover and slide it back in place to lock the battery compartment.  |
Follow these steps to charge a SolarCell Samsung Smart remote:
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Duration | 5 seconds |
Step 1: Place the Smart remote control with the SolarCell panel facing up. Note: The remote will recharge if there’s sunlight or sufficient indoor lighting. |
Step 2: Plug a USB-C cable into the Smart remote control to charge it when there’s no access to a reliable light source. |
2. Pair the Smart remote with your Samsung TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 10 |
| Duration | 30 seconds |
If the Samsung remote blinking red issue is due to the Smart remote getting unpaired to your TV, you will need to renew their pairing. Once paired with each other, you should be able to operate your Samsung Smart TV again.
Please ensure that your Smart remote has enough battery power beforehand to pair it without any issues. We also recommend removing wireless devices nearby to prevent them from interfering with the pairing process.
Follow these steps to pair the Smart remote control with your Samsung TV:
| Step 1: Point the Smart remote to your Samsung TV. Press/hold the back  and play/pause buttons simultaneously. |
Step 2: Release the buttons when a connection notice appears on your Samsung TV display screen. |
Step 3: Wait until the connection notice changes to Pairing Complete. |
3. Run a power cycle on your Samsung Smart remote.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 1 minute and 30 seconds |
Another way to troubleshoot your Samsung Smart remote control is to power cycle it. This action allows your Smart remote to discharge its stored electrical energy that might be causing the Samsung remote blinking red issue.
Power cycling is also an effective way to resolve all sorts of problems with the Smart remote. Also, repeatedly press all of the remote’s buttons to loosen them up and dislodge any dirt build-up that might be causing them to be stuck.
Follow these steps to power cycle a Samsung Smart remote control:
| Step 1: Apply pressure on the bottom part of the Smart remote and slide it forward or backward to release the back cover. Note: You should slide the Smart remote in the opposite direction pointed by the arrow at the back panel since you’re sliding it against the cover. This is an effective method since sliding the cover itself is often more difficult to perform. |
| Step 2: Take out the batteries inside the battery compartment. |
Step 3: Press/hold the power button of your Samsung Smart remote for 60seconds to discharge its residual electrical energy.  |
Step 4: Press all of its buttons repeatedly to loosen them up. Note: You can also smack or shake the Smart remote control repeatedly to dislodge dust build-up inside it. |
| Step 5: Reinstall the batteries of your Samsung Smart remote. |
| Step 6: Reinstall the back cover and slide it back in place to lock the battery compartment. |
4. Run a power cycle on your Samsung Smart TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 1 minute and 10 seconds |
Aside from the Smart remote control, you can also power cycle your Samsung TV to troubleshoot the issue at hand. Sometimes, a problem with the TV itself can cause the Samsung remote blinking red issue.
By power cycling your Samsung TV, you can also discharge its residual electrical energy to fix its errors once it reboots. This action should also improve the TV’s performance and refresh its system memory, which might fix other minor issues.
Follow these steps to run a power cycle on your Samsung Smart TV:
Step 1: Unplug the Samsung Smart TV from the wall/power outlet. |
Step 2: Press/hold the power button on the Samsung Smart TV for 60 seconds. Note: The power button can be found on the underside, side, or back of a Samsung TV depending on its model. |
Step 3: Plug the Samsung Smart TV back into the wall/power outlet. Note: You should ensure the TV’s power cable is securely plugged into the power source to avoid any power issues that might cause it not to reboot properly. |
| Step 4: Power on your Samsung Smart TV and check if the remote control works. |
5. Factory reset the Samsung Smart TV to restore its default settings.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 8 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
Sometimes, power cycling your Samsung Smart TV isn’t enough to troubleshoot any of its issues. That’s when we recommend you perform a factory reset to restore your Samsung TV to its default settings.
You can think of this as having a brand new Samsung Smart TV. After all, the data saved inside the TV, such as your Samsung account, downloaded applications, and configured settings, will be gone after the factory reset.
This is the reason it’s called a factory reset. This action restores your Samsung Smart TV to its original state and default settings, like when it was shipped out of the factory where it was manufactured in.
Follow these steps to restore your Samsung Smart TV to its factory settings:
Step 1: Press the home button on the Smart remote control to access the menu panel. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Reset. |
Step 5: Type the PIN of your Samsung Smart TV and click Done. |
Step 6: Click Yes to restore everything to the default factory settings. |
| Step 7: Wait for the Samsung Smart TV to shut down and fully reboot. |
| Step 8: Set up the Smart Hub of the Samsung TV by following the on-screen instructions.  |
6. Use the Samsung SmartThings app as a backup remote.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 13 |
| Duration | 40 to 60 seconds |
After reaching this part of the guide, we assume that none of the troubleshooting tricks provided above has helped you fix the Samsung remote blinking red issue. In this case, your best course of action is to get a new Samsung Smart remote control.
Luckily, you don’t need to wait for your replacement remote control to arrive before you can use your Samsung Smart TV. You can download and install the SmartThings app on your phone to get right back into your TV-watching routine.
With the SmartThings app, you’ll be able to operate your Samsung Smart TV using its built-in remote control pad.
Follow these steps to download and use the SmartThings app on your phone:
Step 1: Open your phone’s Google Play Store app. Note: You can also download and install the SmartThings app from the Apple App Store using an iPhone. |
Step 2: Click the search bar. |
Step 3: Type/search “SmartThings app.” |
Step 4: Download and install the SmartThings app by clicking the Install button. |
Step 5: Launch the SmartThings app by clicking the Open button. |
Step 6: Click the + symbol in the upper-right corner. |
Step 7: Click Add device. |
Step 8: Click Scan nearby. |
Step 9: Select/click your Samsung TV. |
Step 10: Enter the PIN code displayed on your Samsung TV screen and hit Done. |
Step 11: Click Done again to complete the setup. |
Step 12: Select/click the Samsung TV on the SmartThings app home screen. |
| Step 13: Use the remote control buttons on the SmartThings app to operate your Samsung Smart TV.  |
FAQs about Samsung Remote
Power cycling will reset your Samsung Smart remote control after removing the batteries and discharging its residual electrical energy. You can also unpair the Smart remote control from the Samsung TV and re-pair it afterward.
An unpaired remote doesn’t work so double-check to make sure that your Smart remote control is paired with your Samsung TV. Check also its batteries and replace them if they’re already low on juice.
If you’re using a SolarCell Smart remote control, make sure that its battery level isn’t low yet.
To initiate the pairing process, hold back and play/pause simultaneously while the Smart remote control is pointed towards the Samsung TV. The display screen of your Samsung Smart TV will tell you once the pairing is complete.
Smart remotes cost $10 – $100 on Amazon depending on the model. You can also buy a universal remote control, but it might not have the same buttons and functionalities as a Samsung Smart remote control.
