7 Ways To Fix “Samsung TV Error 116” (2023 How-To Guide)

“Unable to connect to Samsung server.

Check your network settings or try again later. (116)”

This message keeps popping up on your Samsung TV.

And you can’t figure out the root cause of the problem.

So what may have caused this?

And what can you do before asking for help from an expert?

Keep reading to find out:

7 quick fixes for Samsung TV Error 116.
The things that may have caused this error.
How to check the network signal strength on your TV.
Steps to restart your network manually and automatically.
And so much more…

Why does my Samsung TV display error 116?

Your Samsung TV displays error 116 because of an open API error. This usually means a connection problem between your network and Smart Hub. First, the connection might be poor. This is why they can’t communicate well. But, this may also be caused by a bug on your TV as well as outdated software.

“What is an API error?”

First off, API means “Application Programming Interface.”

To explain it simply, it’s a software that allows communication between 2 different apps. Say, your Smart Hub and server.

And an error is likely due to a problem with a certain request.

So, what are the troubleshooting tips you can do to fix this at home?

Let’s dive right in.

Samsung TV error 116: 7 ways to fix it

#1: Check your network

For Smart Hub to work properly, you must have stable Internet.

So if you need to get rid of error 116 on your Samsung TV, the first step is to check your Wi-Fi connection.

And then see if your Smart Hub is connected to it or not.

“What do I need to do?”

Start with the simplest troubleshooting steps first:

Look at your Internet lines. Ensure that there’s no loose connection.
Check your TV’s signal strength. If you have a good connection, the Wi-Fi bar should be (almost) full.
Connect other devices to your current network. If they also disconnect, your Wi-Fi must be the problem. But if they’re working well, your TV might be at fault.

How to check TV signal strength:

Point your remote to the TV and press “Home.”
Click and open “Settings.”
Cycle down to “General.”
Select the “Network” from the choices.
Click “Open Network Settings.”
Choose “Wireless.”

Your TV will now show you the current signal strength of your network.

Note: If the bars are low, try the other tips below to fix your connection. But if the signal is high and stable, check out tips #2, #5, #6, #7.

Check out also: 11 Steps To Fix “Samsung TV Error 110” (How-To Guide)

#2: Soft reset your TV

Many Samsung TV users reported that this simple trick solved their connection problem.

“How does doing a reset help?”

Devices like TVs and computers tend to collect residual charges or overheat in the long run.

These will cause them to lag, freeze, or stop working.

And by doing a reset, you’ll be doing your devices a favor.

All running apps in the background will be put to a halt. And your device will restart fresh and operate more smoothly.

How do I reboot my Samsung TV?

There are 2 easy methods you can try.

Option 1: Manual reset

Remove your TV plug from the outlet while it’s switched on.
Wait for around 30 seconds.
Then plug your TV cord back in.

After doing this, your Samsung TV will restart on its own.

Option 2: Using a remote

Press and hold down the “Power” button while your TV is turned on.
Hold it ‘till your TV restarts automatically.
Wait until your device is done rebooting.

Then see if you still get error code 116 or not.

Note: A soft reset may not also work in some cases. However, this fix is quick and easy, so there’s no harm in trying this out first.

You might also like: Why is my Samsung TV not recognizing the HDMI input?

#3: Restart network on your TV

If your Wi-Fi connection is fine but your TV shows an unstable signal, try rebooting the network first.

There might be an error with your devices. And doing a soft reset may help solve the problem.

This is also a quick fix for Samsung TVs that often disconnect to Wi-Fi.

How to reboot network on your TV:

This can be done in 2 ways.

But let me discuss the easier one first since it only has 7 simple steps.

Plus, you don’t have to stand up and reset your router right away.

Turn your TV on.
Press your remote’s “Home” button.
Go to “Settings.”
Select “General.”
Choose “Network.”
Click “Reset Network.”
Select “Yes” to reset your connection.

Another way is to…

#4: Manually reboot your router

If the trick above doesn’t work, this might do it for you.

Unplug your router from the power socket.
Let it cool down for about 60 seconds.
Plug it back in. (Press its “Power” button if it doesn’t restart automatically.)
Wait until your router finishes restarting. (This may take 2 minutes or less.)
Check if your TV connects to the network or not. And also, see if the signal strength has improved.

“How does this help?”

Like TVs and computers, routers can also have errors the more you use them.

So a soft reset could help them get back on track and work properly.

Note: You can also do this with your modem. But instead of waiting for 60 seconds, plug it in again after 30 seconds.

#5: Factory reset your Smart Hub

Now, if it seems like this is an internal issue with your Samsung TV, start by resetting your Smart Hub.

As I said earlier, error code 116 appears when there’s a problem with it and the Internet. So this might solve your dilemma.

Warning: A factory reset is different from a simple restart. By doing this, you’ll be logged out from all of your Samsung TV apps. Plus, your saved info and settings will be erased as well.

So before doing a hard reset on your Smart Hub, make sure that you have all of your account and app infos.

How do I reset Smart Hub on Samsung TV?

On your remote, press the “Home” button.
Open “Settings.”
Cycle down and select “Support.”
Click “Device/Service Care.”

Note: 2020 TV models and below don’t have this option, so skip to step #5.

Choose “Self Diagnosis.”
Select the “Reset Smart Hub” option.
Type your TV PIN.

Note: The default PIN is ‘0000.’ But if you change your PIN before, enter it instead.

Select “OK” once it’s finished.

Note: If you want to change your TV PIN, follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” tab.
Select “General.”
Choose “System Manager.”
Click “Change PIN.”
Enter your desired PIN.

#6: Do a software update

In other cases, Samsung TVs with outdated firmware will also get error code 116.

“Why’s that?”

This is because software updates prevent bugs and improve devices’ efficiency.

So if your Samsung TV has been outdated for so long, it’s missing a lot of enhanced features.

Now, this could make your device perform poorly. And it’ll also affect your Smart Hub and Wi-Fi connection.

How to fix it:

Press the “Home” button on the Samsung TV remote.
Select “Settings” to open it.
Now, choose “Support.”
Click “Software Update.”
Choose “Update Now” to start the process.

Your TV will now search for updates that are available for your device.

So wait for the scan and installation to end.

Note: If you can’t click the “Software Update” on your TV, press the remote’s “Source” button. Make sure that the selected option is “TV” (not HDMI1 or etc). If not, click “TV” then go back to the “Support” settings tab. This should make the “Software Update” available by now.

#7: Hard reset your TV

If nothing works out, don’t give up yet.

Here’s another easy fix that might help you save money from bringing your device to a professional.

If you did a soft reset earlier, you’ll perform a hard reset now.

And again, this will also remove all saved preferences on your device.

So you have to set your accounts and settings all over again.

How to hard reset a Samsung TV:

Press the “Home” button on your remote and select “Settings.”
Click and open the “General” tab.
Choose “Reset.”
Enter your TV PIN (default: ‘0000’).
Click “Reset.”
Select “OK” once it’s done.

After this, your Samsung TV will reboot on its own. So see if the error code still appears on your screen after the hard reset.

Note: In some models, the menu might be different. So if you can’t see the options above, go to “Support” instead of “General.” Then click “Self Diagnosis” and select “Reset.”
Reading tip: 9 Easy Ways To Fix Samsung TV Black Screen of Death