TV setup
Samsung’s official TV remote app is SmartThings: how to use it
Samsung’s current phone remote is part of SmartThings rather than a standalone app. Add the TV to SmartThings once, then open the TV from the device list to get a remote with volume, channels, mute, Home, Back, Guide and a navigation pad. Samsung requires a Samsung account and an internet connection, and says the buttons on offer vary by TV.
By TV Remotely · Updated · Sources and testing policy
Set up SmartThings as your Samsung remote
Install SmartThings on your phone and sign in with your Samsung account.
The app opens to your home and its device list.
Samsung Australia lists Android 10 or later with at least 3 GB of RAM, or iOS 15 or later. An older phone may not be able to install the current app.
With the TV switched on and connected to your home network, add a new device in SmartThings and choose your TV.
The TV appears as a device in SmartThings. Depending on the model, the TV may show a PIN or a prompt to accept.
Check that the phone is on the same network as the TV and that the TV is signed in to the internet. Samsung’s support page says the TV must be added as a device before the remote works.
Tap Menu, then All devices, and select the TV.
An on-screen remote appears.
If the TV is listed but shows as offline, wake it with its own remote or button and try again.
What the SmartThings remote can do
Samsung says volume and channels work the same way as on a normal remote, and lists Mute, Home, Back and Guide buttons. You move around menus and apps with the arrows, or by swiping on the grey pad at the bottom, and tap it to select. Samsung also notes that the options on the remote depend on the device, so a projector or an older TV may show a shorter set.
SmartThings is free to download, so it is worth setting up as a backup remote before the physical one goes missing: adding the TV is much easier while you can still press buttons on it. Samsung also notes that some regions and models do not support the mobile remote, so if it is missing, check your country’s Samsung support page for your model.
The catch: a Samsung account and the internet
SmartThings is a cloud service. Samsung’s US support page says a Samsung account and an internet connection are required to use it with the TV. It also says that without a Samsung account sign-in, the TV itself is limited to HDMI devices and antenna TV, because its network-based smart services need the account.
If you would rather not use an account, or you want one remote for a Samsung and other brands, a local network remote is the alternative. TV Remotely connects directly to Samsung Tizen TVs from 2016 onward over your home network, with no account. The TV shows an Allow prompt the first time. In the app’s analytics for 23 to 30 October 2026, 44 of 81 people who tried a Samsung TV connected, and most failures were a missed or declined prompt. It cannot use Samsung’s Search or e-Manual buttons, or The Frame’s Art Mode controls.
Continue with your Samsung setup
Sources for these instructions
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Samsung TV remote app free?
- Yes. SmartThings, which contains Samsung’s phone remote, is free to download. You need a Samsung account and an internet connection to use it with the TV.
- Can I use the Samsung remote app if my TV is not in SmartThings?
- No. Samsung requires the TV to be added to SmartThings as a device before its remote appears. A local network remote app can connect without SmartThings if the TV is on your home network.