If your Samsung TV is acting up – freezing, showing a black screen, apps crashing, or Wi-Fi not working – a reset is usually the fastest fix. There are two levels: a soft reset that takes 30 seconds and a factory reset for persistent problems.

Soft Reset (Restart) – Start Here

A soft reset clears temporary memory without changing any settings:

1. With the TV on, press and hold the Power button on the remote for about 5 seconds.
2. The TV will turn off and restart automatically.
3. Alternatively, unplug the TV’s power cable from the wall, wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in.

This fixes the majority of temporary glitches including frozen apps, audio sync issues, and slow menu navigation.

Factory Reset Samsung TV

A factory reset erases all customised settings, downloaded apps, and account information, returning the TV to its original out-of-box state.

Method 1: Via Settings Menu

1. Press the Home button on the remote.
2. Go to Settings (gear icon).
3. Select General (or General and Privacy on newer models).
4. Select Reset.
5. Enter your PIN (default is 0000 if you have not changed it).
6. Select Reset to confirm.
7. The TV will restart and show the initial setup screen.

Method 2: Via Support Menu

1. Press Home, go to Settings, then Support.
2. Select Device Care (or Self Diagnosis on older models).
3. Select Reset Smart Hub (resets only the Smart Hub and apps) or scroll to find a full Reset option.

Method 3: Without Remote (Buttons on TV)

1. Find the physical buttons on your Samsung TV (usually on the back or bottom edge).
2. Press and hold the Menu button (or the control stick) for 5-10 seconds.
3. On some models, holding Power + Volume Down on the TV body initiates a reset sequence.

Reset Smart Hub Only (Apps and Streaming)

If only your streaming apps are misbehaving, you can reset just the Smart Hub without losing TV picture settings:

1. Go to Settings, then Support, then Device Care.
2. Select Self Diagnosis, then Reset Smart Hub.
3. Enter your PIN (default: 0000).

This reinstalls all Smart Hub apps and clears their cached data without touching your picture or sound settings.

After the Factory Reset

The TV will walk you through the initial setup again: language, network connection, and account sign-in. Re-download your preferred streaming apps from the Samsung app store. Your Samsung account can restore some preferences if you sign in with the same account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default PIN for Samsung TV reset?

The default Samsung TV PIN is 0000. If you have changed it and forgotten it, contact Samsung support for a PIN reset procedure specific to your model.

Will a factory reset fix a black screen on Samsung TV?

A factory reset can fix software-caused black screens. If the black screen is caused by a hardware issue (failed backlight, bad panel connection), a reset will not help and the TV needs a service repair.