Wondering why the Samsung TV source not working? Well, here we’ll help you identify the nature of the source issue and of course, a bunch of quick and easy solutions to attempt!
When your Samsung TV is not responding to pressing the “Source” button on the remote control, the remote should be inspected ahead of everything.
In case the input source on your Samsung TV is not working, then the cable, port, and source should be checked.
Let’s unwrap this further!
Why Is HDMI Source Not Working On Samsung TV?
When your Samsung TV fails to detect the HDMI-connected device, this is probably an issue with the HDMI port, improper HDMI cable, or a problem with the source device.
Stay with us in the following solution guide since all steps below also apply to HDMI source issues.
Here are the reasons why the Samsung TV source is not working:
- Power issues with the Samsung TV
- Issues with the TV remote control
- A fault with the connected cable
- Outdated Samsung TV firmware
- Faulty input on the Samsung TV
- Potential app/software conflicts
Important:
When an external/third-party device is connected to your Samsung TV, the source menu allows the user to shift the broadcasts shown on the display.
You can cycle through the inputs and see the input feed of your connected devices when they are working and respectively, connected.
8 Solutions When Samsung TV Source Not Working?
Notice: Check if you would still get the same problem, by selecting all available inputs!
1. Cycle the Power of the Samsung TV
A standard entry solution is to perform a power cycle on the Samsung TV that won’t change the sources.
If there’s a temporary fault with the device, this is the best way to address the problem currently.
A power cycle on your Samsung TV is completed this way:
- Shut down the TV using the remote control.
- Wait for the Samsung TV to power off.
- Unplug the power cord of the TV.
- Wait for about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Reconnect the Samsung TV.
Tip: Long-Press the Physical Power Button
Most Samsung TVs have a panel power button that allows for turning the device ON/OFF without using a remote control.
Situated in the bottom-right or left corner of the screen, hold the button for 30 seconds while the television is unplugged to discharge the device faster!
2. Change Source via Controller!
Samsung TVs have “Source” buttons both on the remote and on the side of the TV panel, allowing the user to cycle through the inputs.
When the Samsung TV Source button not working on the remote, there is an alternative way to change the input source!
How to Find the Controller Button?
The controller/source button of your Samsung TV is usually on one of these three places:
- Check the back panel of the Samsung TV
- Check under the front panel to the middle
- Check under the front panel to the side
How to Adjust the Source Via the Controller?
- Press the controller button on the TV once.
- Single press to move along the TV menu.
- Highlight “Connected Devices” and long-press the controller.
Info: The controller button functions are: Single Press - bring up the TV menu, Long Press - select the highlighted option.
3. Hard-Reset the Samsung Remote!
In case the “Source” button on the Samsung TV remote is not working, perhaps the problem is directly related to the remote only.
The simplest method to attempt is to hard reset the remote control which is a technique that will reset the power and potentially fix the “Source” button.
Here’s how to discharge your Samsung TV’s remote in easy steps:
- Place the remote with the buttons laying down.
- Push the remote’s removable cover downwards.
- Expose the batteries inside of the remote device.
- Take out the batteries from your Samsung remote.
- Hold the power button of the remote for 10 seconds.
- Reinsert the batteries of the remote back into place.
Notice: Change the Batteries!
If discharging the remote didn’t help, perhaps replacing the batteries will restore the device’s functionality of the “Source” button.
Samsung remotes typically use triple-A batteries (AAA), widely available in stores and online so ensure that you only insert fresh batteries!
4. Inspect the Used Video Cable
If you’re not allowed to preview a specific broadcast from the Samsung TV Source Menu, chances are that there’s a problem with the used video cable.
The equipment used for the external devices must be validated, in order for the source on the TV to display the feed.
- Inspect the video cable, connected to the Samsung TV input!
The most reliable choice for video cable that transfers both audio and video at the same time is the HDMI cable.
In case you have an HDMI device connected to the Samsung TV but nothing appears when you select the source, perhaps the cable is faulty or the TV port is obstructed.
5. Use a Different Source Input
In case you’re unable to see the feed on your Samsung TV screen from your HDMI-connected device, feel free to plug it into a different source.
For example, many Samsung TVs have up to 3 HDMI inputs (HDMI 1,2 and ARC) for connecting three external HDMI devices.
- In order to change the source input, access the Source Menu!
Here’s how to install your external device in another input:
- Unplug the HDMI cable from the Samsung TV.
- Find another HDMI input on the back panel.
- Connect the device to the new input.
- Note, which: HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3 input.
- On your Samsung TV, open “Connected Devices”.
- Ensure that your source device is working.
- Select the respective HDMI source input from the menu.
Info: If you’ve connected your device to an HDMI input, look for the “HDMI 1,2 or SIDE/ARC” in the source menu of the Samsung TV.
6. Upgrade Samsung TV’s Firmware
We can’t proceed further without updating the Samsung TV and then checking whether the source buttons and source menu would work normally.
It’s only important to know that your Samsung TV requires an internet connection in order to perform updates!
Here’s how to update the Samsung TV firmware:
- Navigate to the TV Settings.
- Enter the “Support” tab.
- Click on “Software Update”.
- Enable the “Auto Update” option.
Info: If you had kept the “Auto Update” feature disabled, your Samsung TV will keep queuing up the available updates.
The television should start updating shortly, after enabling this setting.
7. Inspect the Source Device
When Samsung TV source not working, it’s also important to check the source device and whether the issue comes from there.
In case the Samsung TV source appears blanc, perhaps the source device is not working, or something else went wrong. Let’s explore:
- Check the Source Power
Ahead of everything, you must verify that the source device is connected to power and is turned on. If the source device has not been yet turned on, the source of the device will remain black.
- Check the Video Cable
The video cable plugged into the source device must also be in proper condition. Verify that the cable is plugged all the way in on both your Samsung TV’s end and the video source device.
- Test With Another Device
To check if there’s a problem with the particular external device, use the same input to plug in another compatible device. Feel free to use a console, computer, laptop, or even smartphone!
Info: Most source devices (consoles, TV boxes, and streaming sticks) have a power LED light that blinks whenever the device is turned on!
8. Factory Reset the Samsung TV
The final and ultimate step is to factory reset your Samsung TV, to eliminate the possibility of a software issue with the device.
This type of reset is going to erase all information stored on your device with settings, applications, and other configurations included.
Follow these simple instructions to factory reset your Samsung TV:
- Open the Settings on your Samsung TV.
- Navigate to the “General” tab on the device.
- Scroll down and choose the “Reset” option.
- Enter the parent pin (“0000” is the default).
- Select “Reset” and wait for 1-2 minutes.
Info: After you’ve confirmed the reset using the parent PIN, your TV will take the next several minutes to reboot automatically.
Once the device reboots, you’ll be back at the initial setup.
Quick Recap:
We’ve learned that the best solution when Samsung TV source not working, is to reset the power and then try using the controller button to choose a source.
In addition, the source device and the video cable should be checked as well as the Samsung TV reset.
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