How to Connect Your Phone or TV to a Samsung Soundbar

The Basic Steps to Pair a Samsung Soundbar

Most Samsung soundbars connect using Bluetooth, which means your phone, tablet, or TV sends audio wirelessly to the speaker. The pairing process takes about two minutes and only needs to happen once — after that, the soundbar remembers your device and connects automatically when you turn it on.

Start by turning on your Samsung soundbar and making sure it is in pairing mode. On most models, press and hold the Bluetooth button on the remote or the soundbar itself for about three seconds until you see a blue light blinking on the front panel. This tells you the soundbar is ready to receive a connection.

On your phone or tablet, go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on. Your Samsung soundbar should appear in the list of available devices — it will show up with a name like "Samsung Soundbar" or a model number. Tap it to connect. Within a few seconds, you should hear a confirmation sound from the soundbar, and the light will stop blinking and stay solid blue.

Key Takeaways

Put your soundbar in pairing mode by holding the Bluetooth button on the remote or soundbar for three seconds until the light blinks blue.
Turn on Bluetooth in your phone or tablet settings and select your Samsung soundbar from the list of available devices.
For a TV, use the TV remote to navigate to Sound settings and select your soundbar from the Bluetooth menu, or use an HDMI cable if your TV supports it.
Once paired, your soundbar will reconnect automatically the next time you turn it on — you do not need to repeat the pairing process.
If pairing fails, restart both devices and make sure they are within 10 feet of each other with no large metal objects between them.

Pairing a Samsung TV to Your Soundbar

If you are connecting a Samsung TV to your soundbar, the process is similar but uses the TV remote instead of your phone. Turn on both the TV and the soundbar, then press the Menu button on your TV remote. Navigate to Sound or Audio settings — the exact path depends on your TV model, but it is usually under Settings > Sound > Speaker Settings or Sound > Bluetooth Speaker.

Select "Bluetooth Speaker" or "Connect Bluetooth Device" from the menu. Your TV will search for nearby devices, and your Samsung soundbar should appear in the list. Select it, and the TV will pair automatically. You should hear a confirmation tone from the soundbar within a few seconds.

Some Samsung TVs also support connection through an HDMI cable, which can be more stable than Bluetooth if your soundbar has an HDMI input port. Check your soundbar's back panel for an HDMI port labeled "HDMI In" or "HDMI ARC." If it has one, you can plug an HDMI cable directly from your TV to the soundbar instead of using Bluetooth. This method often provides better sound quality and does not require pairing at all.

Using HDMI ARC for a Wired Connection

HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a feature that lets your TV send sound to the soundbar through the same HDMI cable that carries the picture. This is more reliable than Bluetooth and eliminates the risk of the connection dropping during use. Not all Samsung soundbars have HDMI ports, so check your soundbar's manual or the back panel first.

If your soundbar has an HDMI port, connect an HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC port on your TV to the HDMI In port on your soundbar. The HDMI ARC port on your TV is usually labeled "HDMI 3" or "HDMI 4," but check your TV manual to be sure. Once the cable is connected, go to your TV's Sound settings and select the soundbar as your audio output device. You may need to enable HDMI ARC in the TV's settings menu.

HDMI ARC works best when both your TV and soundbar support the feature. If you are using an older TV or soundbar, Bluetooth is usually the more straightforward option. HDMI ARC also means you do not need to switch inputs when you want to use the soundbar — it will automatically receive sound from whatever you are watching on the TV.

Troubleshooting When Your Soundbar Will Not Pair

If your soundbar does not appear in the Bluetooth list or the connection keeps dropping, start by restarting both devices. Turn off your soundbar completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Do the same with your phone or TV. Then try the pairing process again from the beginning.

Make sure your soundbar and the device you are pairing are within 10 feet of each other and that there are no large metal objects or thick walls between them. Bluetooth signals can be blocked by microwaves, cordless phones, and some types of metal furniture, so move the soundbar away from these items if possible. Also check that your soundbar is not already paired to a different device — if it is, it may not show up as available for a new pairing. Unpair it from the old device first by going to that device's Bluetooth settings and selecting "Forget" or "Remove."

If the soundbar still will not pair, check that it has enough battery power if it is a wireless model, or that it is plugged in if it is a wired model. Some soundbars have a reset button on the back that you can press with a paperclip to restore factory settings — this erases all previous pairings and can fix connection problems. Check your soundbar's manual for the location of the reset button and instructions on how to use it.

Switching Between Multiple Devices

Once your soundbar is paired with one device, you can pair it with additional phones, tablets, or TVs. The soundbar will remember all of them and can switch between them, though it will only play sound from one device at a time. To pair a new device, put the soundbar back into pairing mode by holding the Bluetooth button for three seconds, then follow the same pairing steps on the new device.

When you want to switch which device is playing through the soundbar, straightforward start playing audio on the device you want to use. The soundbar will automatically disconnect from the previous device and connect to the new one. If this does not happen automatically, go to your device's Bluetooth settings and manually select the soundbar from the list.

Some Samsung soundbars have a limit on how many devices they can remember — usually between 5 and 10. If you reach this limit and want to pair a new device, you will need to unpair an old one first. Go to your phone or TV's Bluetooth settings, find the soundbar in the list, and select "Forget" or "Remove."

Adjusting Volume and Sound Settings After Pairing

Once your soundbar is paired and playing audio, you can control the volume using the soundbar's remote, the buttons on the soundbar itself, or sometimes your phone or TV remote. Most Samsung soundbars have physical buttons on the front or side for volume up and down, and a dedicated remote that comes in the box.

If you are using your TV remote to control the soundbar volume, you may need to enable this feature in your TV's settings. Go to Sound settings and look for an option like "Control External Speaker" or "Speaker Management." Enabling this option lets your TV remote adjust the soundbar volume without having to switch to the soundbar remote.

Many Samsung soundbars also have a mobile app that lets you adjust volume, switch between sound modes, and update the soundbar's software from your phone. Search for "Samsung Audio" or your specific soundbar model in the app store on your phone to see if an app is available. The app connects over Bluetooth or your home WiFi network, depending on the model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my soundbar keep disconnecting from my phone?

Bluetooth disconnections usually happen when your phone moves too far from the soundbar, when another device is trying to connect, or when the soundbar's battery is low. Keep your phone within 10 feet of the soundbar and make sure no other devices are attempting to pair. If you have multiple phones or tablets in the room, turn off Bluetooth on the ones you are not using.

Can I use my soundbar with multiple TVs at the same time?

No, your soundbar can only play audio from one TV at a time. However, you can pair it with multiple TVs and switch between them by selecting the soundbar from each TV's Bluetooth menu. The soundbar will connect to whichever TV you are actively using.

Do I need WiFi to pair my soundbar with Bluetooth?

No, Bluetooth pairing does not require WiFi. Bluetooth is a separate wireless technology that works independently of your internet connection. However, if you want to use certain features like voice control or firmware updates, you may need to connect your soundbar to WiFi separately.

What if my soundbar has no Bluetooth button?

Some Samsung soundbars use the remote control exclusively for pairing. Look for a Bluetooth or pairing button on the remote — it may be labeled with a Bluetooth symbol or the word "Pair." Hold this button for three seconds to put the soundbar in pairing mode, then follow the same steps on your phone or TV.

Can I pair my soundbar using a cable instead of Bluetooth?

Yes, if your soundbar has an HDMI port, you can use an HDMI cable to connect it to your TV. Some soundbars also have optical audio ports or 3.5mm audio jacks for wired connections. Check your soundbar's manual to see which ports are available and which method works best for your setup.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.