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(9 Fixes) Samsung TV Bluetooth Pairing Problems [2023]

Samsung TV Bluetooth Pairing Problems

Tough, I know.

It’s been 10 minutes, and you still can’t pair your Bluetooth speaker and Samsung TV.

Well, I guess it’s time for me to help. 

Because I’ve solved this problem before in just a matter of minutes.

Continue reading to find out: 

  • The most common reasons why this problem happens. 
  • 7 steps to turn ON BT Support on your TV’s service menu. 
  • 9 straightforward solutions to this Samsung TV Bluetooth pairing problem. 
  • And a lot more… 

Why won’t my Bluetooth connect to my Samsung TV?

Your Bluetooth won’t connect to your Samsung TV because your Bluetooth device isn’t in pairing mode. Sometimes, this happens when the BT Support in the TV’s service menu is OFF. And in other cases, you can’t pair using Bluetooth because the TV is glitching. 


Samsung TV Bluetooth pairing problems: 9 fixes


#1: Check if your TV supports Bluetooth

If this is your first time trying to connect Bluetooth devices to your TV…

Then the first thing you should do is check if your Samsung TV supports Bluetooth.

See, while all new Samsung TVs support this wireless connection… 

Some older models don’t. 

That said, if you’ve had your device for longer than 5 years, you should…

Check if your Samsung TV has a Bluetooth connection:

Method 1: Check your TV’s remote

This is the easiest way to check if your TV has Bluetooth. 

See, if your TV has a Smart remote

Then your TV supports this wireless connection.

That’s because these controllers communicate with Samsung TVs through Bluetooth.

Now you might be thinking…

“How do I know if I have a Smart remote?”

It’s easy. 

Samsung Smart remotes have a circular navigation pad. And they also have a mic button at the top. 

Still unsure if your remote is smart?

Then watch this short clip to learn more about Samsung TV Smart remotes:

Now don’t fret even if your remote isn’t smart… 

That doesn’t necessarily mean your TV doesn’t support Bluetooth.

In that case, you should simply proceed to… 

Method 2: Check your TV settings 
  1. Turn your Samsung TV ON.
  2. Head to the Settings page.
  3. Click Sound > Sound Output. 

Can you see the “Bluetooth Speaker List” option? 

If you can, your TV supports Bluetooth. And you should continue to the next fix. 

But if you can’t, then your device doesn’t. So you should grab a high-quality Bluetooth adapter to add this wireless function to your TV. 

#2: Ensure that the Bluetooth device is in pairing mode

I can’t remember how many times I’ve tried to connect my TV to my Bluetooth speakers… 

Without putting my audio device into its pairing mode first.

And, of course, the connection doesn’t work every time that happens. 

That’s because all Bluetooth devices have a pairing mode.

And they won’t pair unless they’re in that setting.

That said, what you should do now is ensure that your Bluetooth device is ready to pair. 

How? 

Well, the exact process depends on the gadget that you have. 

So what you should do is check the user manual of your Bluetooth device. 

And follow the exact steps to put it in its pairing mode. 

After doing so, try connecting it to your TV again.

And if the connection still doesn’t work… 

#3: Bring the device closer to your TV

30 feet. That’s the farthest your Bluetooth device should be if you want to connect it to your TV.

But if possible, I recommend sticking to a range of 10 feet.

That’s because, based on experience…

Some Bluetooth devices tend to lose their signal strength past that. Especially if they’re on the cheaper end of the scale.

That said, use these steps as a guide to…

Pair your Bluetooth device that’s within 30 feet range of your TV: 

  1. Ensure that both devices are ON. 
  2. Place your Bluetooth device within 30 feet of your TV (10 ft if possible).
  3. Put your wireless gadget in pairing mode. 
  4. Connect your TV to the device.

Now, if you still can’t pair the 2 together, continue to the next fix.

You might also want to know: 7 Best Linkable Bluetooth Speakers That Pair Together

#4: Cold boot your TV

Samsung is 1 of the best TV manufacturers out there. 

However, like all gadgets in the world…

Their products are still prone to glitching and technological bugs. 

Luckily though, it’s fairly easy to remove these. 

That’s because all you need to do is cold boot your TV. 

“What’s that?”

This process drains all the power from your Samsung device. So that its main board can reset. And you can remove the minor glitches and bugs from its system.  

Now, this fix might sound fancy, but really, it’s effortless to do. 

So just follow along with these… 

2 ways to cold boot your Samsung TV

Through the remote: 
  1. Ensure that your TV is ON.
  2. Point your remote to the TV.
  3. Press the controller’s power button for 5 seconds. 
  4. Wait for the TV to turn OFF and ON. 
By unplugging your TV:
  1. Turn ON your TV. 
  2. Unplug it from the outlet.
  3. Wait for 30 seconds.
  4. Plug it into its power source again.
  5. Turn your TV ON.

Now, before you try to use your TV’s Bluetooth connection again, you should also…  

#5: Restart your Bluetooth device

Wireless speakers, controllers, and other types of Bluetooth gadgets can also glitch. 

That’s why before you try to connect your device to the TV again… 

You should also restart it. 

Now, the exact steps to restart Bluetooth devices depend on their brand and model.

But to give you an example, here’s how you can… 

Restart Bluetooth speakers: 

  1. Ensure that the device is ON. 
  2. Simultaneously press its power and pairing button for 5 seconds. 
  3. Wait for the restart process to finish. 

Note: If these steps don’t apply to your gadget, refer to its user manual. And check the exact process you need to follow to restart it. 

And now that you’ve cold booted your TV and restarted your Bluetooth device…

Try to pair the 2 once more while maintaining the optimal range of 30 feet. 

#6: Update your TV firmware

Update Your TV Firmware

Still having problems?

Then your TV’s firmware is most likely outdated.

See, updates ensure that your Samsung TV:

  • Remains compatible with its apps.
  • Is protected from common glitches and bugs. 
  • Can use all of its wireless connections correctly (including Bluetooth).

So if your TV still has pairing problems, you should update its firmware. 

However, before you do so, I recommend restarting your router. 

Why?

That’s because updates are installed through the Internet.

So if your network is slow, it’ll also take longer for your TV to be updated. 

That said, restarting your router is the easiest way to boost your Internet speed. 

So you should follow along with these steps to…

Restart your router: 

  1. Unplug it from the outlet.
  2. Wait for 1 minute.
  3. Plug it back once more.
  4. Wait for all of its lights to turn green.

Note: If some of its LED lights turn red or yellow, contact your Internet service provider. 

And now that you’ve given your Internet a little boost, follow these…

Steps to update your Samsung TV: 

  1. Turn it ON.
  2. Navigate to the left and tap Settings. 
  3. Scroll down and select Support (cloud icon).
  4. Head to the right side of the screen.
  5. Select Software Update. 
  6. Tap Update Now. 
  7. Wait for the updates to be downloaded.
  8. Tap OK. 

Now, try to use the Bluetooth connection on your TV again. 

And if the pairing still fails… 

#7: Try connecting another Bluetooth device

Your TV may not be the problem.

Rather, it’s the device you’ve been trying to pair all this time.

That said, you should try to pair another Bluetooth gadget with your TV.

So that you can determine if your TV is indeed the problem or not. 

“What types of devices can I try?

You can connect these Bluetooth gadgets to your Samsung TV:

  • Keyboard or mouse.
  • Gamepad or controller. 
  • Headphones and speakers.

And worry not, I’ll teach you how to pair each of those to your Samsung device.

That said, here are the… 

Steps to pair your Samsung TV with different Bluetooth devices

Keyboard/mouse

TV models released in 2018 and later:

  1. Head to Settings.
  2. Tap General > External Device Manager.
  3. Click Input Device Manager.
  4. Select Bluetooth Device List.
  5. Tap your device’s name. 

TV models from 2017 or earlier

  1. Go to Settings > General.
  2. Select External Device Manager.
  3. Tap Keyboard Manager. 
  4. Select Add Bluetooth Keyboard. 
  5. Click your device’s name. 
Gamepad/controller

TV models 2019 and newer

  1. Head to Settings > General.
  2. Click External Device Manager.
  3. Select Input Device manager. 
  4. Click Bluetooth Device List.
  5. Tap the name of your controller.

TVs released earlier than 2019:

  1. Head to Keyboard: Settings.
  2. Click System.
  3. Tap Input Device Manager.
  4. Select Add Bluetooth Keyboard & Gamepad. 
  5. Click the name of your controller. 
Speakers/headphones

TVs from 2016 and later:

  1. Click Settings on your remote. 
  2. Or manually go there by selecting Settings on your screen. 
  3. Head to Sound.
  4. Select Sound Output. 
  5. Tap Bluetooth Speaker List.
  6. Select the name of your speakers/headphones. 
  7. Tap Pair and connect. 

TVs from 2015:

  1. Tap Menu on your remote.
  2. Head to Sound.
  3. Select Speaker List.
  4. Click Bluetooth Audio. 
  5. Select your device’s name from the list.

Now, if the new device pairs with your TV without any problems…

Then your TV isn’t the root of the issue. Rather, it’s the gadget you were originally trying to pair.

However, if your TV still can’t connect to this new device, you should continue to the next fix. 

Further reading: 11 Steps To Enable Bluetooth On Samsung Smart TV

#8: Ensure that your TV’s BT Support is ON

Samsung TVs have a secret service menu

And you need to access this to ensure that the BT Support option on your TV is ON. 

That’s because if this setting is OFF… 

Your TV won’t be able to activate its Bluetooth connection. No matter how many devices you try pairing with it. 

However, remember that you can only access this secret menu if you know the right code. 

So before you proceed with the exact steps, try to familiarize yourself with the…

Codes you can use to launch the service menu of Samsung TVs

Code Remote buttons you should tap in quick succession
1Mute + 1 + 8 + 2 + Power 
2Info + Settings + Mute + Power
3Mute + 1 + 1 + 9 + Power
4Sleep + PSTD + Mute + Power
5PSTD + Menu + Sleep + Power
6Display/Info + PSTD + Mute + Power
7Display/Info + Menu + Mute + Power

Now, the only way to know which code works for your TV is through trial and error. 

So you should work your way from the 1st code to the last. Until you can launch the service menu. 

“Will this process take long?”

Fret not. It won’t. 

That’s because each code only takes a minute to try out. 

With that said, follow these simple steps to…

Access the service menu of your Samsung TV: 

Important: Strictly follow the steps I’ve listed. And don’t change other settings on the service menu. That’s because making a mistake here can make your TV unusable.  

Step 1: Turn your TV OFF

Ensure that it’s still connected to your wall outlet.

Because if it isn’t, your TV won’t recognize the code. 

Step 2: Press the code on your remote

Try out Code 1 first because it works for most Samsung TVs.

That said, after pressing the last button, which is Power…

Step 3: Check if the service menu shows up

When your TV turns ON…

Wait for about 30 seconds and observe if the service menu shows up.

Note: It’ll appear on the left side of your screen. And it’ll look like a blue box.

Don’t see it? 

Then do steps 1 to 3 again, but use the 2nd code this time. And work your way down each of them until you find the code that opens your TV’s service menu. 

That said, when it finally shows up… 

Step 4: Turn BT Support ON
  1. Click Option.
  2. Tap MRT Option.
  3. Select BT Support.
  4. Turn it ON if it isn’t already.  
Step 5: Turn OFF your TV

The changes you made on the service menu will be automatically saved.

Step 6: Turn your TV ON

You can do so by pressing the power key on your remote.

Or tapping the physical power button on your TV.

Step 7: Pair your TV with a Bluetooth device 

Your TV should now be able to pair with Bluetooth devices.

However, of course, outliers still exist. 

So some TVs can still have Bluetooth problems at this point.

And if that’s the case with your device, you should… 

#9: Contact Samsung support

Samsung’s support team is highly responsive.

So if you still have Bluetooth problems, you should contact them by:

  • Chatting with them online.
  • Calling them (1-800-726-7864).