The two ways to reset your Samsung TV

A Samsung TV reset clears all your settings, apps, and login information and returns the TV to the state it left the factory. There are two paths: a soft reset, which restarts the TV without erasing anything, and a factory reset, which wipes everything. Most problems — freezing, apps crashing, remote not responding — clear up with a soft reset. A factory reset is what you do before selling the TV, giving it away, or when the TV has become so slow or buggy that a restart did not help.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung TV made in the last five years or an older model, and whether you have the remote. If you have lost the remote, you can still reset the TV using the buttons on the back or side of the set itself.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft reset (power off and on) fixes most temporary problems and takes less than a minute; a factory reset erases all your settings and apps and should only be done when you plan to sell the TV or when soft reset did not work.
  • With a remote, you can factory reset most Samsung TVs by going to Settings, then Support, then Reset, and entering your PIN (usually 0000 by default).
  • Without a remote, press and hold the power button on the TV itself for 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes black, then wait 30 seconds before turning it back on.
  • A factory reset takes 5 to 10 minutes and the TV will restart several times; do not unplug it during this process.
  • After a factory reset, you will need to set up the TV again from the beginning, including connecting to Wi-Fi and signing into streaming apps.

Soft reset using the remote

The fastest fix for a frozen or sluggish TV is a soft reset. Press the power button on your Samsung remote to turn the TV off completely. Wait 30 seconds — this matters, because the TV needs time to fully discharge. Then press power again to turn it back on.

That is the entire process. A soft reset does not erase anything. Your apps stay, your logins stay, your picture settings stay. It straightforward clears the TV's temporary memory and stops any process that was stuck. Most remote problems, app crashes, and picture glitches resolve after a soft reset.

Soft reset without a remote

If your remote is lost or broken, you can soft reset using the buttons on the TV itself. These buttons are usually on the back or the bottom right of the TV. Look for a power button or a button marked with a circle.

Press and hold that button for 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes completely black. The TV will power off. Wait 30 seconds, then press the button again to turn it back on. The TV will restart normally.

Factory reset with the remote (2019 and newer)

To factory reset a newer Samsung TV, use the remote to navigate to the home screen. Press the Home button (usually marked with a house icon) or the Menu button. Look for Settings — it is typically in the top right corner of the menu.

Once in Settings, scroll down and select Support. Then select Reset. The TV will ask you to enter a PIN. The default PIN on most Samsung TVs is 0000. If that does not work, check the back of your TV or the manual for a custom PIN you may have set.

After you enter the PIN, the TV will warn you that all settings, apps, and accounts will be erased. Select Yes to confirm. The TV will restart and begin the reset process. This takes 5 to 10 minutes. The screen may go black several times and the TV may restart on its own. Do not unplug it. When the reset is complete, the TV will show the initial setup screen, as if it just came out of the box.

Factory reset on older Samsung TVs (2018 and earlier)

On older models, the path to reset is slightly different. Press Menu on the remote. Navigate to System or Setup (the exact name varies by model year). Look for an option called Reset or Factory Reset.

Select it and enter your PIN if prompted. The TV will ask you to confirm. Select Yes. The reset will begin and take several minutes. Do not turn off the TV during this time.

Factory reset without a remote

If you have lost your remote and need to factory reset, the process depends on your TV model. Some Samsung TVs have a small reset button on the back or bottom — look for a button labeled Reset or a tiny hole that requires a paperclip or pin to press. Hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. The TV will reset.

If your TV does not have a reset button, you will need to use the power button on the TV itself to navigate the menu. This is slow but possible. Press the power button once to turn the TV on. Then look for volume up and down buttons or left and right arrow buttons on the TV. Use these to navigate through the menu to Settings, then Support, then Reset. Press the power button to select options. Once you reach Reset, confirm with the power button. The reset will begin.

If your TV has neither a reset button nor navigable buttons, you will need a replacement remote or a universal remote that works with Samsung TVs.

What happens after a factory reset

When the reset finishes, your TV will look exactly as it did when you first bought it. All your apps are gone. All your logins are gone. All your picture, sound, and channel settings are gone. The TV will show the initial setup screen and ask you to select your language and connect to Wi-Fi.

Go through the setup as you did when the TV was new. Connect to your Wi-Fi network. Sign into your Samsung account if you have one. read your streaming apps again from the Samsung App Store. Sign into each app with your account information. Adjust your picture and sound settings to your preference.

When to soft reset versus factory reset

Use a soft reset first. It takes one minute and fixes most problems. Use it when the TV is slow, an app is crashing, the remote is not responding, or the picture looks wrong.

Use a factory reset only when a soft reset did not work, or when you are preparing to sell or give away the TV. A factory reset is permanent and takes time. There is no undo button. Make sure you want to erase everything before you start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset fix a TV that won't turn on?

No. If your TV will not turn on at all, the problem is hardware-related — a power supply issue, a failed component, or a bad power cord. A factory reset only works on a TV that turns on. Check that the power cord is plugged in firmly, try a different outlet, and wait a few minutes. If the TV still will not turn on, the TV likely needs repair.

Can I stop a factory reset once it starts?

No. Once you confirm the factory reset, it cannot be stopped or undone. The TV will erase all data and restart. Do not unplug the TV during this process, as it can corrupt the system. Let it finish, even if it takes 10 minutes and restarts multiple times.

What is the default PIN for Samsung TV reset?

The default PIN is usually 0000. If that does not work, you may have set a custom PIN when you first set up the TV. Check your TV manual or the back of the TV for the PIN. If you have completely forgotten it, you will need to contact Samsung support or use a remote app on your phone if your TV supports it.

Do I need Wi-Fi to factory reset my TV?

No. A factory reset does not require an internet connection. However, after the reset is complete, you will need Wi-Fi to read apps and sign into streaming services. The TV will ask you to connect to Wi-Fi during the setup process.

Will a factory reset remove malware or viruses from my Samsung TV?

A factory reset will remove any apps or files that were installed after the TV left the factory, which includes most malware. However, if the TV's system software itself is compromised, a factory reset may not fully remove the threat. In that case, contact Samsung support for a system software update or repair.