Netflix not working on your Samsung smart TV? Here's what to do

There’s nothing better than relaxing and catching up on the latest Netflix shows at the end of a hard day. You can tap into a nearly endless well of content, and it all looks great on a crisp Samsung smart TV. Even though Samsung’s smart TVs feature a dedicated Netflix app, the two don’t always play well together. Are you having issues with Netflix not working on your Samsung Smart TV? Get it back up and running in no time with these tips!

See also: Netflix: Pricing, content, and everything else you need to know

Is Netflix down?

Netflix not working on Samsung Smart TV devices could be due to an outage. There’s a chance Netflix services are down for everyone, so it’s best to check that before anything else. Netflix has its own status page, where you can see if Netflix is up or down. Additionally, you might want to check out a third-party website like DownDetector.com. This page tracks customer reports and tells you whether a site is up or not. It even has a map to check if there are any local outages.

If Netflix is down, all you can do is wait it out.

Unplug your Samsung Smart TV

Well, it never hurts to give the old “turn it off, turn it back on again” method a try, right? The only problem is that simply turning your TV off doesn’t really shut it off; it’s more like putting it on sleep mode. Instead, go all out, unplug your Samsung Smart TV for about two minutes, and then plug it back in.

This essentially works like a soft reset would on a smartphone. That means all your applications will close, and your device should clear its RAM. Once again, you’ll have to unplug your Samsung smart TV for at least a minute, though you’ll also want to hold the power button for at least five seconds. After the prescribed period, plug your TV back in and open Netflix.

Sign out of Netflix

Another easy way to fix Netflix on your Samsung smart TV is to log out of your account and log in. Better yet, you can almost put the old Konami code back into action. From the Netflix home screen, you’ll have to enter the following sequence: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Up, Up, Up, Up. Yes, we’ve tried it, and it still works in 2022.

If you can access your Netflix profiles, you can also use your remote to navigate the options on your screen’s left side. From there, head down to the Get help menu, and select the log out button. You can also use this menu to restart your session or deactivate your account.

How to sign out of Netflix using the Konami code:

1. Open the Netflix app on your Samsung smart TV.
2. From the Netflix home screen, press the following sequence on your remote: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Up, Up, Up, Up.

How to sign out of Netflix using settings:

1. You can also navigate to your Netflix profiles section.
2. Go into the options on the left side of the screen.
3. Select Get help.
4. Pick Log out.

Uninstall Netflix

Uninstalling an app and redownloading it often works on smartphones, so it’s also worth a try on your TV. To remove Netflix from your Samsung smart TV, press the Home button on your remote. Then navigate to the Apps tab and select the Settings cog. Now locate Netflix from your list of apps and select Delete.

How to uninstall Netflix on your Samsung smart TV:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Go into the Apps tab.
3. Select the Settings cog.
4. Find Netflix.
5. Select Delete.

To reinstall the app, head back to the Smart Hub screen and navigate to the magnifying glass. Search Netflix either with the keyboard or voice button and select Install.

See also: Got a new Samsung smart TV? Here are the best apps to download

Disable Samsung Instant On

We all love a TV that fires on all cylinders the second you hit power, but it could be the source of your woes. Samsung Instant On is a speedy feature when it works properly, though it has previously caused problems with select apps. If you disable it, you may get your Samsung smart TV back in order simply by making it not work as hard. To do so, head to the Settings cog and enter the General section. Then find Instant On and toggle it to Off.

How to disable Samsung Instant On:

1. Go to the Settings cog and select it.
2. Go into the General section.
3. Find Instant On.
4. Toggle the option Off.

More: These are the best movies on Netflix

Check for updates

Running slightly older versions of the app or OS is usually not an issue, but applications can have problems once they get significantly older. You may want to check if the Netflix app and Samsung Smart TV are running their latest software.

Check for Netflix app updates:

1. Go into the Settings.
2. Hit Support.
3. Select Software Update.
4. Click on Update Now.

Check for Samsung Smart TV update:

Most apps should update automatically, but you should check, just in case.

1. Press the Smart Hub button.
2. Select Featured.
3. Look for the Netflix app. Highlight it, and then press and hold the Enter button.
4. A sub-menu will appear. Go into Update apps.
5. Hit Select All.
6. Select Update.

Is your internet working?

Netflix not working on your Samsung Smart TV could be due to your internet connection. For starters, you need a stable enough data connection. Netflix recommends at least 1Mbps to operate, but that is for streaming in SD resolution. You’ll need 5Mbps for 1080p, or 15Mbps for 4K streaming. You may consider upgrading your internet if your network can’t handle that. Here’s a list of the best internet providers in the USA.

Also, make sure the internet is working overall. You should try using other internet-hungry apps and see if they work. A simple Google search works too. Also, see if other devices within the same Wi-Fi network are working. If nothing else works, then you know it’s your internet that’s down.

Go ahead and restart your router. This usually fixes local network bugs. There’s usually a dedicated restart button, but unplugging the router and plugging it back also works. It might also check to get some devices out of your Wi-Fi network. Routers can get congested, and getting near (or surpassing) your router’s connection capacity could slow down your whole network.

It might also be your router. Most basic routers we usually get for free are not powerful enough. Performance goes down once you start connecting too many devices to them. Check out our list of the best routers for some upgrade recommendations.

Is your Netflix plan active?

Talking about paying bills, did you check if your Netflix plan is active? While these payments are automatic, banks and credit cards sometimes decline transactions for many reasons. Go into your Netflix.com account to see if your plan is active.

Netflix might be blocked

There are three main reasons why Netflix might be blocked. For starters, Netflix isn’t available in every country, which could be a reason for Netflix not working on Samsung Smart TV units. Countries where Netflix is not supported are very few now, but there’s still a chance you’re affected by this. Netflix isn’t available in China, Crimea, North Korea, Russia, and Syria.

Also, some of you might be using a VPN for security reasons. Geo-restricted services tend to dislike virtual private networks, and they often block services to those who try to mask their locations. Turn off the VPN if you’re using one.

Another reason why Netflix might not be working on your Samsung Smart TV could be because the network administrator blocked Netflix. After all, it’s a common service to turn off for parents. Check with your Wi-Fi router admin and see if this is the case. If it is, all you can do is ask to have Netflix whitelisted again.

Reset your Smart Hub

If Netflix is still not working on your Samsung smart TV, the last method you can try is to reset your Smart Hub. This is essentially the heart of your TV, so this method is on the extreme side. It will log you out of all of your apps and remove them from your TV, so you’ll have to go back and reinstall everything. You probably only want to do this as a last resort. If you’ve hit this point, here are the steps to follow.

How to reset your Samsung smart TV Smart Hub:

1. Press the Home button on your Samsung smart TV remote.
2. Using the directional ring, head to the left to the Settings tab.
3. Navigate down to the Support section.
4. Enter the Device Care menu.
5. Choose the Self Diagnosis option.
6. Use the directional ring again to select the bottom option, Reset Smart Hub.
7. Enter the PIN for your TV; it should be set to the default of 0000.

Next: Watch free movies legally

If all else fails, your last resort is to get in touch with Samsung and seek professional help. Thankfully, it’s a major brand with plenty of help available, as well as solid warranties.