How to turn on a Samsung TV without the remote

Press the Controller button on the TV itself. On most Samsung TVs it sits under the middle of the screen, near the small red light, or on the back in the bottom right corner. One press turns the TV on. If nothing happens, press and hold it for a few seconds.

Where the button is

1. Under the middle of the screen, by the Samsung logo and the red standby light. Feel along the underside of the frame.
2. On the bottom edge to the right, seen from the front.
3. On the back, in the bottom right corner: a small stick you can press in and push in four directions.
4. The spot and the shape vary by model. Your TV's manual shows where it is.

Once the TV is on

Press the button once to open the Control menu at the bottom of the screen. Press again to move through it, and press and hold to choose. That's enough to change the volume, switch the source and turn the TV off.

Samsung says the button has limited functions, and some settings need a remote. If the screen looks dim, peel off any protective film left on the Samsung logo or the bottom edge. (Samsung’s guide)

Turn it on from your phone

A phone can wake a Samsung TV over Wi-Fi when Power On with Mobile is on. You'll find it under Settings › All Settings › Connection › Network › Expert Settings (on 2017–2021 models: Settings › General › Network › Expert Settings). Samsung says it works on selected TVs from 2017.

• SmartThings, Samsung's own app: sign in with a Samsung account and add the TV while it's on (TVs from before 2020 show a PIN to type). Then the power button in the app turns it on. Samsung’s guide
• Fjernbetjening: no account. Connect to the TV once while it's on. After that, Turn on the TV in the app wakes it from standby. It works with Samsung TVs from 2016 and newer, and with LG, Roku and Google TV.

The first time a phone app connects, the TV asks on screen whether to allow it. Answer with the remote while you still have it. Already lost it? Try moving to Allow with the Controller button: press to move, hold to choose.

Other ways

• A game console or streaming box on HDMI: with Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) on, turning it on can turn the TV on too.
• A new remote: an original Samsung remote for your model, or a universal remote that supports Samsung. The model number is on the back of the TV.

Still dark?

Unplug the TV from the wall for a minute, plug it back in and press the Controller button. If the TV still shows no sign of life, check the socket and the power cable.

Your iPhone can't find the TV? See Samsung TV not found. And here's how to use your iPhone as a TV remote for other brands.

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