How To Troubleshoot Samsung Remote Blinking Red? (Try This 4 Easy Fixes!)

If your Samsung remote keeps blinking red when you try to use it, it may have become unpaired from the TV. Fortunately, resolving this problem is simple. Turn on the TV and hold the remote control 2-feet away, aiming it at the screen, when your Samsung remote starts blinking red.

For 5 seconds, press and hold the return and play/pause buttons at the same time. Once the pairing process is complete, a remote and battery icon will appear. For most people, simply re-pairing the remote will suffice. There are several other tried-and-true solutions for the rest of you.

You should try all of them (listed below) before purchasing a replacement. Few brands of smart TVs are as well known for their quality as the Samsung brand. They’ve been around for a long time and have successfully carved out a reputation as the luxury brand of smart TVs – but without the price tag to match.

And, in general, when it comes to diagnosing problems with their equipment, we rarely have anything to write about. Until recently, that is. After scouring the boards and forums, we discovered that there are quite a few of you out there who are experiencing issues with your Samsung remotes.

It’s a strange problem to begin with, but it gets even stranger when we discovered that the same problem was occurring with a variety of different models. Of course, we’re referring to the situation in which your remote begins blinking a red light and then stops working entirely.

Fortunately, this is a simple problem to resolve. As a result, we anticipate that nearly all of you will be able to resolve the issue using our troubleshooting guide. In that case, we’d better get started!

WHAT DOES SAMSUNG REMOTE BLINKING RED MEANS?

Smart televisions and their remote controls are far more sophisticated than ever before. Samsung TVs and remotes are well-known for being well-made and long-lasting. For this and other reasons, it can be extremely inconvenient when your Samsung TV remote is blinking red and not working properly.

Turn off your TV, unplug it, and plug it back in if your Samsung TV remote is flashing red. Then, for 10-20 seconds, press the back and up buttons simultaneously. This will reconnect your TV to the remote. If this does not work, replace your batteries, which 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.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SAMSUNG REMOTE BLINKING RED?

A Samsung remote that flashes red but does not respond is extremely inconvenient, but don’t panic! Knowing why your remote is behaving in this manner can assist you in quickly troubleshooting and resolving the issue.

The following are the most common causes of your Samsung remote blinking red but not working or responding.

1. Problems with pairing

When your Samsung remote starts blinking red, the most likely cause is a connection/communication problem between the remote control and the television. For your Samsung remote control to work, you must pair it with your TV.

The remote will pair up with the TV automatically during the initial setup, and it will likely remain paired for awhile. However, your remote control may eventually unpair from your TV and begin flashing red every time you try to use it. If this is the case, you must manually pair it again.

Fortunately, pairing your Samsung remote is simple and quick. Here are the steps to take:

1. Use the power button on your Samsung TV to turn it on.
2. Hold the remote control 1-2 feet away from the TV and point it at the IR sensor.
3. For 5 seconds, press and hold the Return and Play/Pause buttons at the same time.
4. Wait for the pairing process to complete.
5. To indicate successful pairing, a remote and battery icon will appear on the screen.

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2. Weak or dying batteries

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how frequently it is overlooked. Weak or dying batteries can also cause your remote to stop responding and begin blinking red. If the batteries are not fully charged, your remote will not function properly.

The quickest way to test the batteries is to use another device. If everything appears to be in order, the issue could be coming from somewhere else.

Most of the time, you don’t have to go through the trouble of testing the batteries. Simply install new, fresh batteries and ensure they are oriented correctly. The following are the steps for installing new batteries:

1. Turn your remote control around. On the back cover, there is a directional arrow.
2. Push the back cover in the direction of the arrow to open the battery compartment.
3. Remove any faulty or dead batteries.
4. Install two AA batteries correctly.
5. Put your remote control to the test by connecting it to your television (You may need to pair up your remote with your TV)

HINT: Use Lithium Ion batteries instead of standard Alkaline batteries for more consistent remote performance!

3. IR sensor obstruction

When you try to use your Samsung remote, it may stop responding and begin blinking red due to an obstruction between the remote control and your TV. When you go to use the remote, if it blinks red, it is undoubtedly transmitting signals. However, the signals may not reach the TV receiver due to some impediment.

Everyday items in the living room, such as sound bars, books, children’s blocks, furniture, and so on, can prevent your remote from having a clear line of sight to the TV receiver. Removing these items from the way may resolve the problem and allow the remote control to resume normal operation.

To get the best results, make sure you point the remote directly at the TV receiver. When using the remote control, keep it at least 1-2 feet away from the IR sensor. On rare occasions, dust or dirt may clog the TV sensor, preventing it from responding when you use your remote control.

You can fix this by gently cleaning the area with a cotton swab or a soft cloth. To protect the sensor from damage, avoid using spray cleaners or any liquids.

4. Physical damage

Any physical damage to your remote may cause it to malfunction. The remote control may continue to flash a red light, but it will not function due to insufficient circuit connections on the motherboard.

Because a remote control is frequently used, normal wear and tear can cause it to malfunction over time. If the remote is no longer functional due to physical damage, the only viable option is to replace it. Some parts of a broken remote may be repairable, but it is more cost effective to buy a new one.

You can buy a replacement directly from Samsung or opt for a universal smart remote. However, a universal remote may have entirely different settings, and you may struggle to pair it up with your Samsung TV.

5. Stuck buttons

Sometimes the remote isn’t completely broken, but one or two buttons are stuck. Dirt, grime, and oxidation have a habit of accumulating over time, causing your remote to function strangely, if at all.

The good news is that if you’re willing to put in the effort, fixing buttons that don’t work due to dirt, grime, or oxidation is relatively simple. But, before you disassemble your remote, try this: quickly press and release each and every button on your remote several times.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but try it! In and out, press every button as many times as you can. A lot of times this is enough to dislodge whatever is in your remote that is causing the button to stick! If this didn’t work, the next thing to do is to take apart your remote:

1. Turn your remote control around. On the back cover, there is a directional arrow.
2. Remove the batteries from the battery compartment.
3. Using the appropriate screwdriver size, locate and unscrew the screws.
4. To gain access to the circuit board, separate the front and back covers.
5. Gently rub the contacts with a rubber eraser to remove any oxidation.
6. Remove the case’s rubber padding and wash it in warm soapy water.
7. Clean the rubber contacts with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
8. Assemble the remote and secure all of the screws.
9. Try out your remote control.

HOW TO FIX THE BLINKING RED LIGHT AND THE SAMSUNG TV REMOTE NOT WORKING?

1. Try re-pairing the remote with your TV

Almost always, the root of the problem is that your remote isn’t communicating properly with your TV. There is, in fact, a message being sent, but something is being lost in translation. So, in this case, the only thing to do is re-pair them.

Simply press the up and back buttons on your remote at the same time, making sure to hold them down for at least ten seconds. You should have noticed that the red light has stopped flashing by this point. After that, hopefully, the remote will resume normal operation. If not, let’s move on to the next point.

2. Change out the batteries

Even if you have only recently changed the batteries, we recommend that you do so. Simply remove the remote’s casing and replace the batteries. While you’re changing out the batteries, make sure they’re not loose in any way.

As a general rule, it is always worthwhile to spend a little more and choose batteries from a well-known brand. They will last much longer and will most likely save you money in the long run.

However, choosing rechargeable batteries makes a lot of sense because they have less of an impact on the environment and only need to be purchased once.

3. Make sure you are not too far away 

Without a doubt, Samsung televisions are among the best available. Even so, you must ensure that you are using the remote while you are close enough to the television. Furthermore, you must ensure that nothing is in the way of the signal.

Another thing to consider is that you might be inadvertently holding your finger over the top of the remote, preventing the signal from passing through. On the topic of interference, there are also some unseen factors that can be jamming the signal.

Keep an eye out, for example, to ensure that there are no other wireless devices in the way. These will emit signals that will interfere with those sent out by your remote. So, remove any of these devices from the equation before re-pairing the remote and the TV.

As a general rule, you should always be within 30 feet of the TV when attempting to use the remote. After that, the remote will most likely stop working and may even unpair entirely. If everything is in order, it is time to move on to the next step.

4. The remote may just be broken

If you’ve made it all the way to this point without making any changes, you should consider yourself extremely unlucky. There really isn’t anything else you can do at this point. The most likely cause of the issue you’re experiencing is that some internal components have worn out over time.

Though it is possible to have a remote repaired, we recommend purchasing a new one to increase longevity. Whatever you do, make certain that the remote is the one that it is supposed to be. Don’t accept substitutes or a universal remote.

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 almost always indicates a communication problem. Sometimes the problem with transmission is as simple as an object blocking the path of the Samsung remote. This is a quick and simple test.

1. Locate the infrared (IR) sensor on your Samsung TV. It is frequently found below the screen on the bottom right or bottom middle of a television.
2. Check that the IR sensor is clean and that there are no objects between the remote and the IR sensor.
3. Make sure the remote sensor is clean. Although this is uncommon, your remote may be exceptionally dirty, or a thin layer (glue, tape, or food residue) may prevent the sensor from performing its function.

YOU MIGHT BE TOO FAR AWAY

Samsung TVs and remotes are excellent products, but they are not without flaws. A Samsung remote has a maximum range of about 10 meters (30 feet). This is undoubtedly greater than the dimensions of most rooms in most homes, but under certain conditions, you may exceed this distance.

Furthermore, the remote sensor must have a clear view of the entire room. It is possible that areas of a large room will have zones on either side of the television where the remote control will not work. Stand directly in front of the TV and point the remote control at the remote sensor on the front of the television to test its functions.

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.

CONCLUSION

When you see a blinking red light on any of your modern technological devices, it is infuriating. When you see this blinking red light on your Samsung TV remote, you can be fairly certain that there is a communication problem.

The blinking light appears most frequently when your Samsung Remote needs to be paired to the TV again. If this isn’t the case, try power-cycling, replacing the batteries, and checking for any 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.

FAQs About Samsung Remote