Samsung Soundbar Remote Not Working: Reasons and Solutions

If your Samsung Soundbar remote has stopped working, there is no need to buy a new remote immediately. This is because, the remote could not be working due to minor issues like discharged batteries, jammed buttons, and obstructions. In such cases, you can easily fix the issues by troubleshooting instead of buying a new Samsung soundbar remote. If the remote is dysfunctional due to physical damage, we recommend you buy a replacement remote for Samsung Soundbar.

Why is Samsung Soundbar Remote Not Working

If the Samsung soundbar volume or any buttons on the remote control not responding, it may have the following reasons.

SCENARIO	CAUSES
1	If the batteries on the remote are drained and running out of charge
2	Due to obstructions, the remote signals may be blocked by an object
3	If the remote’s IR emitter has become faulty due to physical damage
4	The remote key may stuck due to the accumulation of excessive dirt
5	Soundbar remote volume won’t work due to the wrong audio setting
6	When you don’t update the firmware on your Samsung Soundbar

DIY Fixes for Samsung Soundbar Remote Not Working

Here are the workarounds that you should try to solve the Samsung Soundbar remote not working issue.

Replace the Remote Batteries

The first and foremost reason for Samsung Soundbar Remote not working is because of insufficient batteries. Press any button on your remote and check if your Soundbar is responding to your command. If not, then replace the old batteries with the new set of AA batteries.

[1] Gently pull the battery cover notch and then remove the back cover.

[2] Remove the old batteries from your remote.

[3] Insert two new AA batteries into the battery compartment based on its terminals.

[4] Now, press any key on your remote to check that your remote is working fine.

Note: Make sure that there are no obstacles between the TV and the IR-based soundbar remote. If you see furniture, speakers, and showpieces in between the remote’s line of path, relocate them immediately.

Fix Jammed Buttons

If you have been using the remote for years, the remote may be filled with dirt or dust. To fix this, you can use a pin or tooth clip to clean the smudge on the edges of the buttons. For effective cleaning, you can use a cotton cloth dipped with 99.9% isopropyl alcohol to clean the rubber pad. After cleaning the remote, press all the buttons to ensure that the buttons are not jammed.

Check Whether the Soundbar is Bluetooth Enabled

If the Soundbar and device are not connected, then probably the Soundbar will not respond to the remote commands. So, check whether the Bluetooth connection is enabled on your remote and soundbar. For that, press the Input button on the controller and hold it until the blue light appears, and press the TV button. In Soundbar, press and hold the TV/AV Receiver button until you see the blue light. Now, click on the Input Select button and see if your device is shown on the nearby connections list.

Choose Soundbar as Default Device

You need to set the Samsung Soundbar as a default device or else the Samsung Soundbar remote will not work. To do so, go to the TV’s configuration and locate the Out Audio Device option. From the menu, scroll down and select the Samsung soundbar device connection. Now, your smart TV will recognize the Samsung Soundbar audio device as the default or main sound source.

Note: If you don’t have a Samsung TV remote, you can still change the input on Samsung TV without a remote.

Power Cycle the Remote

Power cycling the remote will help in fixing minor bugs and temporary glitches. It would surely work in most cases unless the remote has any physical damage.

[1] Remove the batteries from the remote compartment.

[2] Press and release the remote buttons once you hold them for 5 seconds to drain the remaining power.

[3] Now, insert the batteries back into the remote and see if the remote is working fine or not.

Update Samsung Soundbar Firmware

If the Samsung Soundbar is outdated, you need to update the firmware using the SmartThings app.

[1] With the help of the SmartThings app, connect your Soundbar to a WiFi network.

[2] Unplug the soundbar, the subwoofer, and the rear speakers, and leave them unplugged for 30 seconds.

[3] After that, reconnect them back in and launch the SmartThings app on your smartphone.

[4] Tap the three-vertical dots icon at the upper right corner and select Information.

[5] Select Firmware Update and choose Update Now.

Proceed with the on-screen guidelines to install the latest update.

Restart your Samsung TV

If the soundbar remote is not working with Samsung TV, you can restart Samsung TV without a remote to fix the issue.

[1] Turn off your Samsung TV and unplug the TV cord from the source.

[2] Next, press the Power button on the TV for about 30 seconds.

[3] After that, insert the TV cord and switch on your TV.

[4] Now, press the buttons on the soundbar remote and see if the remote is working or not.

Soft Reset Samsung Soundbar

As with restarting the Samsung TV, you shall perform a soft reset of the Samsung Soundbar. For that.

[1] Press the Power button on the Soundbar to turn it off.

[2] Then, remove the power cable from the source and wait for 5-10 minutes.

[3] Now, plug the cable back into it and press the power button to turn it on.

Factory Reset Samsung Soundbar Remote

If none of the methods fix the issue, you can finally reset Samsung Soundbar without a remote.

[1] Turn off your soundbar and unplug the cord from the power source.

[2] Locate the Power button on the soundbar and press it for 10 seconds.

[3] Keep pressing the power button, until you see the INT on the soundbar. Following that, it will show BYE.

[4] Release the button and your soundbar will reset.

Bonus Fixes

Even after trying all the above methods and if still, the remote is not working, then you shall buy a replacement remote. Otherwise, you can install the SmartThings app to control your Samsung Soundbar using an Android or iPhone. Alternatively, you can use a third-party app, Remote for Samsung SoundBar which is available in the Play Store.

FAQ