Samsung Soundbar Remote Not Working? DIY Fixes and Reasons

It is common to experience issues with the Samsung soundbar remote after using it for a long time. Sometimes, a battery change is enough to fix the remote problem. However, if that doesn’t solve the remote issue, you can try a few troubleshooting techniques before taking it to the service center. This article provides quick fixes to rectify the Samsung soundbar remote not working issue.

The following table summarizes the common problems, potential causes, and solutions for fixing Samsung soundbar remote problems.

Problems	Reasons	Solutions
The Soundbar remote is not responding at all	Weak or dead remote batteries	Replace the batteries with a fresh one
The remote operates only at a particular angle	Obstruction between the remote and soundbar receiver	Remove the obstructions
The buttons on the remote are not responding	The buttons might be clogged with dirt, or they might be damaged	Clean the remote or replace the damaged parts
The soundbar remote works intermittently	Signal interference from nearby devices	Move your soundbar and remote away from other electronics that interfere with signals
Only a few buttons on the remote are working and experiencing a delayed response.	The remote is not properly paired with the soundbar	Unpair and repair the soundbar remote
Samsung soundbar and the remote are not syncing with each other	Samsung soundbar firmware may be outdated	Update the Samsung soundbar firmware
The remote is not working properly even after the update	Temporary glitches or errors on the soundbar	Reset the Samsung Soundbar

Change the Batteries

When you experience any issues with the remote, you must first check its remote batteries. Batteries play a vital role in the functioning of the remote. If you haven’t changed the batteries for a long time, the problem might be with the batteries. So, take your Samsung soundbar remote and open its battery compartment door. Eject the batteries from the remote and clean the compartment with a microfiber cloth.

Insert a fresh pair of batteries into the remote according to its positive and negative polarities. Make sure to replace the old one with good-quality batteries for a longer run. Once you replace the batteries, try controlling your soundbar using the remote. If your Samsung soundbar remote is not working even after changing the batteries, move to the next step.

Clear the Obstructions

If your Samsung soundbar remote doesn’t work at a proper distance, there may be an obstruction that blocks the remote signals. Remove all the objects that block your soundbar remote signals between your soundbar and the remote. While controlling the remote, there should be a clear line of sight between your soundbar and the remote. Also, you should not be too far from the soundbar while operating it. The ideal distance to control your soundbar is fewer than 10-15 meters.

Clear the Signal Interference

Another problem you may encounter while controlling your Samsung soundbar using the remote is signal interference. Your soundbar remote signals will be disrupted by other electromagnetic devices if they are kept near the Samsung soundbar. So, make sure to move microwave ovens and touch-controlled lamps a little away from your soundbar to avoid signal interference. Try controlling your soundbar once you have cleared the signal interference. If your Samsung soundbar remote is still not working, move to the next fix.

Clean the Samsung Soundbar Remote

If particular buttons on your soundbar remote are not working, there is a possibility that they may be damaged. However, in some cases, the remote buttons may not operate if clogged with dust or dirt particles. This may happen if you haven’t cleaned the remote for a long time. So, grab a soft microfiber cloth and dip it into a cleaning solution like isopropyl alcohol. Using the cloth, clean the buttons and their edges.

Once you clean the buttons, press all the buttons on the remote once to release the locked buttons due to dirt. Now, the buttons will work smoothly without any issues. If this doesn’t solve the issue, you can move to the next fix.

Re-Pair the Soundbar Remote

Your soundbar remote will not work if it is not paired properly with the soundbar. You can confirm that your soundbar remote is not properly paired if the soundbar responds late to the remote controls. You can fix this issue by pairing the Samsung soundbar remote again.

1. Press and hold the Power button on the soundbar remote for a few seconds. The LED light on the remote will begin to blink.

2. Also, press the Source or Input button on your soundbar. The LED light on the soundbar will also begin to blink.

3. Wait for a few minutes until the LED on both the remote and the soundbar stops blinking.

Now, press the buttons on the soundbar remote to test whether it controls the audio device properly.

Update the Samsung Soundbar Firmware

Generally, keeping your soundbar’s firmware up to date will help you avoid software-related issues. If you haven’t updated your soundbar in a while, you can use the SmartThings app to do it.

1. Connect your soundbar to a WiFi connection. If not, press the Network button on the soundbar to connect to it.

2. Disconnect the soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers for about 30 seconds, then plug them back in.

3. Next, launch the SmartThings app on your smartphone and select your soundbar. If you can’t find your soundbar on the SmartThings app, check if your phone and soundbar are paired to the same WiFi.

4. Then, access the Control Menu on the app and tap the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the screen.

5. Click on the Information option and select Firmware Update. Then, tap Update Now to upgrade your Soundbar’s firmware.

Once you update your Soundbar’s firmware, you can try controlling it using the remote.

Reset the Samsung Soundbar

If your Samsung soundbar remote is not working even after updating the device’s firmware, you can reset it to solve the issue. Resetting the Samsung soundbar clears its memory and gives a fresh start.

1. Ensure your Samsung Soundbar is powered on using its Power button.

2. Now, press and hold the “+” and “–” buttons on the remote for 5 seconds.

3. The INT message will appear on the soundbar for 2 seconds and turn off.

Once you reset your soundbar, pair the remote with your soundbar to control it.

Check the Remote’s IR Emitter

If the soundbar remote is not working after the reset, you should check for any damage to the remote’s IR emitter. So, inspect all sides of your remote and check for any visible damage on its outer layer. Also, take a soft cloth and clean the glass part of the IR emitter to remove the dust and debris. If there is no physical damage on the IR emitter, check whether it works or not using the camera app.

So, open the camera app on your smartphone and point the IR emitter of the remote in front of the camera. Then, press any buttons on the remote and check if the light passes through the camera. If yes, the remote’s IR emitter is working properly. If not, you must repair the IR emitter or replace a new remote.

Contact Samsung Customer Support

If you can’t identify what is causing the remote to not work, it is better to contact Samsung customer support. You can email them or call them directly using their contact number. The customer support executives will guide you through the steps to solve the remote issues.

Until you repair it, you can use the Samsung soundbar remote app as a virtual remote. Otherwise, purchase a universal remote from Amazon and use it to control your soundbar.

Frequently Asked Questions