Want to control your Samsung TV with your Alexa device?
Well, you can! With the help of the Alexa app for Samsung TVs, you can control your TV in a variety of ways, including changing the channel, turning it off, and more.
I will take you through how to connect your Samsung TV to Alexa and include a couple of Alexa voice commands that you can use to control your Samsung TV.
Check it out!
What’s Required
- Active and Stable Wi-Fi Connection
- Compatible Samsung TV
- Amazon Account
- Android/iOS Smartphone or Tablet
- Amazon Alexa (Echo/Dot)
How to Connect your Samsung TV to Alexa?
If you have one of the newer Samsung TVs (post late 2020), you will have Alexa built into the TV in the form of an app and you can speak directly to the TV or remote to control the TV.
Whereas older Samsung TVs (2019 and earlier) do not have a built-in Alexa app, but they can still be connected to Alexa by pairing the TV with an external Alexa device with the help of the Alexa smartphone app.
This guide will show you how to connect your Samsung TV to Alexa regardless of whether you have a new model Samsung TV or an older model.
How to Connect your New Samsung TV to Alexa - Models Post 2020
There are two ways you can connect your new Samsung TV to Alexa, one is by selecting your voice assistant during the initial setup process and the second is by manually setting up Alexa on the TV if you’ve missed doing so during the initial setup.
In order to use Alexa voice assistant on your new Samsung TV:
- While setting up your new Samsung TV, you will be prompted to configure your voice assistant.
- Select Alexa from the list and then proceed to sign into your registered Amazon account.
- If you’re using the smartphone app to setup Alexa, scan the QR code that’s displayed on the TV screen
- If you’re using a laptop, login to Amazon’s official device page and add a new device by entering the code mentioned on your TV.
- Now that you’ve logged into your account, go through the privacy permissions and if you agree with the terms and conditions, click on Allow to connect your Amazon account to your TV.
- You will receive two options, choose one based on how you’d like to use Alexa
- Do you want your Samsung TV remote to continuously listen for the wake word
- Do you want your Samsung TV to listen only when you press the microphone button on the remote
- Now that you’ve made your selection, you will be able to verbally command Alexa to change the channel, increase or decrease the volume and even turn off the TV.
How to Connect an Older Samsung TV to Alexa - Models 2019 and Earlier
Samsung TVs made in 2017, 2018 and 2019 do not have Alexa built-in and you will be able to use Amazon Alexa voice commands if you have an external Alexa device with you.
The steps mentioned below will show you how to connect your external Alexa device with your Samsung TV regardless of whether you own an iOS or Android device.
- Start by downloading the Amazon Alexa app and the Samsung SmartThings app on your phone.
- Connect the Alexa device and your Samsung TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Enable your Samsung TV on the SmartThings app.
- To do this, switch on your TV and go to Settings > General and then tap on System Manager followed by Samsung Account.
- Sign into your Samsung Account on your TV
- Now, login to your Samsung Account on the SmartThings app and then tap on Devices.
- Click on the “+” to add the TV to the app.
- Now open the Alexa app and proceed to enable SmartThings skill and then sign into your Samsung Account, the same account that you’re logged into on your TV and SmartThings app.
- By logging into the right account, your TV and Alexa device will automatically pair and you can begin using voice commands through your Alexa device to control the TV.
Popular Alexa Commands that Work with Samsung TVs
Not all Alexa voice commands work with every model of Samsung TV out there.
Since the new TVs come with Alexa built-in, the voice commands you can use are extensive.
Whereas, older Samsung TVs will have a limited number of voice commands since you’d be using an external Alexa device to control the TV.
Alexa Voice Commands for Older Samsung TVs without Alexa Built-in
- “Alexa, turn on/off the TV”
- “Alexa, volume up/down on the TV”
- “Alexa, change the channel to (number) on the TV”
- “Alexa, change the input to HDMI/USB/Composite on the TV”
- “Alexa, play/pause/stop/resume on the TV”
Alexa Voice Commands for New Samsung TVs with Alexa Built-in
- “Alexa,, open XYZ app” - (Alexa, open Prime Video)
- “Alexa, play XYZ show on XYZ app” - (Alexa, play Narcos on Netflix)
- “Alexa, search for XYZ” - (Alexa, search for Hugh Jackman)
- “Alexa, play the new XYZ album” - (Alexa, play the new BTS album)
- “Alexa, switch to XYZ input” - (Alexa, switch to Composite input)
Troubleshooting Alexa on Samsung TV
There are a number of reported incidents where Alexa does not work on a Samsung TV or there’s an issue with either the pairing process or controlling the TV.
This section will cover some of the most commonly faced issues and i’ll list out quick fixes that you can try yourself.
Alexa won’t turn on my Samsung TV Fix
If you’re using a Samsung TV that was made before 2018, then there’s most likely an issue with your SmartThings app.
What you can do here is to reinstall the SmartThings app and follow the steps listed above under the “How to Connect an Older Samsung TV to Alexa'' to find out how you can pair the TV with the SmartThings app on your iOS and Android devices.
If you’re using one of the new Samsung TVs that were made post 2020, you can restart your Samsung TV and smartphone to fix the problem.
If the problem still persists, logout of the Samsung account on your TV, re-pair the SmartThings app and try again.
Alexa on Samsung TV keeps Talking Fix
Newer Samsung TVs come with a built-in feature called Voice Guide where Amazon Alexa will keep talking and will say everything you do on the TV.
To stop this feature, simply press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote and then navigate to Settings.
Tap on General and then click on Accessibility.
From here select Voice Guide and then disable the feature by clicking on Voice Guide Settings and then Voice Guide.
Alexa does not Change the Channels on a Samsung TV Fix
If Alexa is unable to change the channel on your TV then resolving the issue depends on the model of Samsung TV you own.
If your Samsung TV was made post 2018, you will be able to change the channel using Alexa voice commands.
However, if the Samsung TV is an older model, then you will have limited control over the Alexa app and commands like changing the channel will not work.
Samsung TV not Connecting to Alexa Fix
If your Samsung TV does not connect to Alexa then chances are that the TV and Alexa are running on different Wi-Fi networks.
To fix this you will need to make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Restart the TV and press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings. Tap on General followed by Network and then select Wi-Fi from the list.
Proceed to connect the TV to the same Wi-Fi that your Alexa device is connected to and then try connecting the Alexa device to your TV once again.