We have a new QLED Samsung that out of the box the remote would not pair with. Without that, we can't complete initial set up the TV. I'm posting here in the really longshot that someone has run the traps on this.

Alternatively if someone has an old 'droid phone from this list on the shelf they aren't using and would consider sharing, I'd be happy to pay round trip postage. I might be able to make this work. Would use to connect to local wifi, download Samsung app, then run through setup using phone and its IR signal.

The TV is new and was undamaged on arrival. As mentioned, included remote did not pair when turned on as normal. We charged the remote both on cable and solar, no change.

I brought another new Samsung remote that was working from home (new TV is in cabin a state away). No luck. Had also bought universal Samsung remotes that supposedly pair out of the box. No luck.

On all of these, have got through the process of pairing with TV on and pressing return/Play, that doesn't work. Unplugged TV to reset, redo, nothing. Tried holding down power button 10+ seconds, nothing. That's about the extent of good ideas on the web.

Thought we might be able to use the Samsung app to complete initial setup, but that won't work because the TV isn't connected to wifi, and our iPhones don't have an IR transmitter. Thus, the list above of old android devices.

We are well and truly stuck with a 75" TV on the wall that won't work. Without initial setup can't get to menu options, inputs, etc. You are stuck on the power-up screen with option to set up with remote or phone.

I've reached out to seller via Amazon, haven't heard back from them on other ideas. I can return it as defective, but packing that back up is going to be a major PITA, plus having the go-'round of having it picked up as we have no way to get to a UPS store without renting a truck.

Any other ideas from someone who has dealt with this? Again, longshot I know.

TIA

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Alternatively if someone has an old 'droid phone from this list

I believe I have a functional S4 Mini on the desk at home -- will check for you this evening.

Georgeair, I would call Samsung customer service. I had an dead pixel issue with a DLP TV (this was 19 years ago) and they sent out a repair guy to deal with it. And it was a real actual repair guy. After a second visit for a dead HDMI output, they shipped me the latest model and picked up the other one. Way more than I expected from them.

I'd give 'em a shot.

It's either a programming error or a bad TV

I have had several Samsungs and all the remotes worked in some manner with each other including going back several years.

I have a 2 year old one on third remote, 1 I broke and 1 the dog broke after mistaking it for a chew toy.

I used my phone app when I was without a remote.
Bought the remotes off Amazon.

My concern is that the TV IR receiver is bad and that shit will haunt you forever.

I think you gotta suck it up and return it

Youtube is your friend.

Had this problem exactly, 65 inch Samsung and the remote just stopped working, Samsung CS sent us a new remote, it would not pair either.

The problem was an internal board in the TV that was not functioning and would not allow the remote to connect.

Samsung CS kept telling me to run updates, which as you found out, requires a working remote, therefore we couldn't do the updates multiple calls to them with long waits and absurd menus to get to someone that wasn't qualified to understand the issue.

Lucky we bought it from Costco, and I contacted their concierge service and the two months of sending us remotes, refusing to come out were solved in a matter of hours and we had a tech on the way with a new board.

I would try Samsung CS and get them to send out a tech hope you have better results with them direct, I won't buy another TV without getting it at Costco simply based on the concierge service's power with vendors.

My opinion of Samsung CS is, they suck.

Amazon is also helpful, once you dig through all the firewalls hiding their direct connection to CS.

Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I believe I have a functional S4 Mini on the desk at home -- will check for you this evening.

I do have an S4 Mini -- I'm charging it now to check for function. It's yours if you want it; I could ship it tomorrow.

That is very kind of you, I sent an email to your registered address.

Thank you for the heads-up! It ended up in the spam folder somehow, so I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. I'll be back to you shortly.

I just bought a new Samsung 65" 4K OLED TV. The manual states that if your remote doesn't pair when turning on the TV, to simultaneously press the Return button with the (>||) Fast Forward/Pause button.

I have 3 Samsung TVs with one of them just replaced. Both the one that was replaced (75") and the replacement (85") were not the same model as the other two.

So why am I saying this? 1) I didn't have to do any pairing when I got them out of the box. 2) They left me the remote control of the replaced TV and it works with either of the old TV.

Have you tried unplugging the TV and then pugging it back in after a minute?

Also, if your remote is solar powered or if it has a USB-C charging port on the bottom, have you tried charging the remote first?

That's all I got. Good luck.

Thanks to all for the suggestions, and to hoky for the offer of an old Samsung phone to try. I’m not sure if that’s going to work either, since those instructions seemed to indicate you need a working remote at the same time.

The remote working out of the box is exactly what we experienced on an earlier Samsung, and did not happen here. When first trying to use the remote after mounting the TV, the red light that indicates it’s trying to pair was flashing. Quick research indicated that this might also be due to a discharged battery, so we recharged both using a cable and solar at the same time. Also tried unplugging the TV for 10 to 30 minutes and then starting over, no joy. Instructions above on how to pair remote are exactly what we have tried with now three separate remotes.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
It's either a programming error or a bad TV

I have had several Samsungs and all the remotes worked in some manner with each other including going back several years.

I have a 2 year old one on third remote, 1 I broke and 1 the dog broke after mistaking it for a chew toy.

I used my phone app when I was without a remote.
Bought the remotes off Amazon.

Good to know they're replaceable.
Our original remote on our Series 8 [2017] had had all the buttons rub off & the battery cover falls off pretty easily.

Phone as remote [Smart Things] isn't an option, for whatever reason it won't pair, even though it's linked to my acct.

But, it's also a 7yr old unit & has some hotsopt streaks at the bottom of the screen, so it may be due for replacement in the not distant future.

Brown Truck Santa is headed your way, Mr. George.

I don't know this is an option, but my Samsung phone keeps finding Samsung TVs that it wants me to 'pair to' as I'm out and about.

I've never done so - seemed odd/inappropriate to grab control of someone else's TV - but I always wonder what it would let me do.

If you happen to have a Samsung phone handy, maybe get it close to the TV see if that opens up options?

The other thing is I'd be tracking any deadlines to be able to return for a full refund. If I were in this situation and that deadline were approaching, I'd terminate the debugging and start the return process. Hopefully you have some time to keep trying.

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:
If you happen to have a Samsung phone handy, maybe get it close to the TV see if that opens up options?

See above, one of our members came through and I'll be able to try this Friday. It seems you have to have a functioning remote to set this up, and of course all signs point to the IR received on TV being the issue.

quote:

1. Using your TV remote, select Smartphone and then scan the QR code with your phone. If you have a Samsung phone, this will automatically open SmartThings, and if not you will be asked to download SmartThings before continuing.

This you can't do without the ability to hit center-bottom Enter on remote. I think.

And yes to the return. Calling original seller to see if they want to send someone to diagnose or want their TV back. Either way, plan to have this wrapped up by Monday which will be 7-10 days before return deadline.