Samsung Remote Blinking Red? (Guaranteed Fix!)
Smart televisions and the remotes that accompany them are vastly more sophisticated than ever before. Samsung TVs and their remotes are known to be both finely crafted and long lasting. For this reason and others, it can be downright frustrating when your Samsung TV remote is blinking red and not functioning properly.
If your Samsung TV remote is flashing red, Turn off your TV, unplug it, and plug it back in. Then, press the back button and up button at the same time for 10-20 seconds. This will re-pair your TV with the remote. If this doesn’t work, change out your batteries as they may be weak.
A blinking red LED on your Samsung remote control usually indicates a communication problem between the remote control and the Samsung TV. There are several possible causes for this communication problem.
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Re-Pair Your Samsung Remote to The TV
The most common reason a Samsung remote is blinking a red LED light is there is a connectivity issue between the remote and the TV. In other words, the remote is having trouble communicating with your TV. The first thing you should do to try and fix this issue is to manually pair your Samsung remote to your Samsung TV. This can be done in a few simple steps.
How To Pair A Samsung Smart Remote
- Turn On Your Samsung TV by pressing the power button on the TV, not the remote.
- Back up One or Two Feet.
- Point The Remote Directly At Your TVs IR Sensor. Ensure there is nothing blocking the sensor.
- For 5 Seconds, Press And Hold Down The Return Arrow Button and Play/Pause Button At the Same Time.
- Look Up At Your Samsung TV Screen. In the top middle of the screen you should notice it begin to go through the pairing stages.
- When You See a Battery Icon On The TV Screen you know the pairing is complete.
At this point your remote should be paired successfully. Additionally, red light should stop blinking and the remote should work without issues.
Power Cycle The Remote
If your Samsung remote has an issue you can not figure out, including a blinking red light, one option is to power cycle it. If you power cycle a remote you are essentially resetting it to its factory settings and wiping it clean. This can be done within minutes following a few steps.
- Locate Batteries in Your Remote And Remove Them.
- Hold Power Button For 20 Seconds. By holding down on the button you are draining all remaining battery energy in your Samsung remote.
- Reinsert Batteries. Be sure you put them in the correct direction.
- Test Your Remote. See if the remote works properly and if the red light has stopped blinking.
Try Replacing The Batteries In The Remote
It may seem like a no-brainer, but your remote may not be working right because it needs new batteries. Do not be fooled by the blinking red light.
Just because your remote has enough battery juice to blink red does not mean it has enough power to fully function. In fact, the red blinking light can be a final distress call, letting you know it is time to replace the batteries. In order to see if the batteries are the culprit there are a few things you can try.
- Remove Batteries from Samsung Remote and Test Them. One easy way to test batteries without a battery tester is to take them out of the Samsung remote and put them in another device. Make sure the device requires a similar amount of power as the Samsung remote. If this device works fine with the batteries then the issue is likely something else.
- Investigate the Batteries Themselves and The Battery Chamber. When you take out the old batteries look them over for corrosion. Also, look in the battery chamber for signs of rust or deterioration. If you notice any corrosion throw away batteries and clean the chamber thoroughly before trying new batteries.
- Replace Old Batteries With New Batteries. Use fresh batteries, not used ones, if you are checking to see if your Samsung remote is blinking red due to its low batteries.
Note: Be sure to use the right batteries. Check your manual to see the type of batteries your remote prefers.
Ensure The Are No Obstructions
Another reason for your Samsung Remote blinking red is a possible physical obstruction between the remote and the IR Sensor. The blinking red light on the remote is almost always a communication issue. Sometimes this difficulty in the transmission is as simple as an object blocking the Samsung remote’s path. This is quick and easy to check.
- Locate the IR sensor on your Samsung TV. It is often located on the bottom right or bottom middle of the TV below the screen.
- Ensure the IR sensor is clean, and no objects are between the remote and the IR sensor.
- Check the remote sensor to ensure it is clean. Although rare, your remote can be exceptionally dirty, or a thin layer (glue, tape or food residue) can prevent the sensor from doing its job.
Tip: If either your remote sensor or TV IR sensor is dirty, use a Q-tip or cotton swab to gently wipe the area clean. Avoid using liquids as they can be damaging.
You Might Be Too Far Away
Samsung TVs and remotes are excellent products, but they do have their limitations. A Samsung remote can reach a maximum distance of about 10 meters, or 30 feet. This is certainly further than the dimensions of the rooms in most homes, but under some circumstances, you may exceed this distance.
In addition, the remote sensor must have a full view of the room. You may find that areas of a large room will have zones on each side of the television where the remote control may not work. To test your remote control functions, stand directly in front of the TV and point the remote control at the remote sensor on the front of the television.
Make Sure No Buttons Are Stuck
The reason your Samsung remote is blinking red may actually be caused by one or more of your remote buttons being stuck. Dried residue, dirt or operator error can all cause a button to get stuck. There are a few ways you can test to make sure the buttons are not stuck.
- Test all buttons individually. The first step you should take is to push each button on your remote and then release it. You should notice a push and release on each button. If there is no “click” the button may be stuck.
- Carefully Clean Remote. Use a Q-tip, and if particularly dirty, add a bit of rubbing alcohol to the Q-tip as needed. Do not overdo it with the rubbing alcohol, as you do not want the inside of the remote to get wet. Be sure you clean the areas surrounding each button.
- Rapidly Press Each Button Several Times. This will ensure any buildup or blockage is broken up.
Test your remote once you have made sure all buttons are working correctly and are free of jams and dirt buildup. If a stuck button was the problem your remote should work and the red light should stop blinking.
Your Samsung Remote Is Damaged
Sometimes your Samsung remote is blinking red because it is physically damaged. Perhaps it got slightly wet and corroded. Remotes also become frequently damaged when they are dropped on a hard and unforgiving surface.
Regardless of the reason, you may need to either repair or replace the remote.
Repairing A Samsung Remote
A Samsung remote control can be repaired, depending on the type of damage or problem. If one of the electronic components is damaged, a trained electronics technician may find and replace the bad part. Damage to the circuit board in the remote control typically is not repairable.
Replacing A Samsung Remote
All in all, given the relatively low cost of a replacement Samsung remote control, it is usually more cost-effective to order a new remote control rather than attempt to repair an old remote.
Tip: Check to see if your Samsung remote is under warranty before you spend money to purchase a replacement.
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Say Goodbye To The Red Light
It is frustrating when you see a blinking red light on any of your modern technological devices. When you see this blinking red light on your Samsung TV remote you can be fairly sure there is a communication issue occurring.
Most often the blinking light appears because your Samsung Remote needs to be paired to the TV again. If this is not the problem you can try power-cycling, replacing the batteries and making sure there are no stuck buttons.
Sometimes the surroundings are the problem. A Samsung remote can not work properly if there is an obstruction blocking it or if it is too far away. If nothing seems to work then your device may be damaged. You can try repairing it but you might be better off getting a new one.
Dennis is a retired firefighter with an extensive background in construction, home improvement, and remodeling. He worked in the trades part-time while serving as an active firefighter. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and home repair business, which he ran for several years.
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