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You may be able to set up a Samsung Smart TV without its remote by using the TV’s physical button or control stick, or by following a SmartThings phone-setup option shown on the screen. Which method works depends on the TV model and region. If neither can control the setup screen, check the model number and get a compatible replacement remote.
Start with the TV’s built-in controls
Some Samsung TVs have a physical button or control stick that provides basic control. Check along the bottom edge, front or side bezel, and underside of the TV; the location and functions vary by model. Use the control to turn on the TV and see whether it can move through the setup screen.
Samsung’s guidance for controlling a TV without a remote describes onboard controls, but it does not mean every model can navigate every initial setup screen this way. If the controls cannot select the options you need, try the smartphone setup option if the TV offers it.
Use SmartThings if the setup screen offers phone setup
Samsung documents smartphone setup through SmartThings for supported setup flows. Read the TV screen first: if it presents a phone, pairing, or QR-code option, open or install SmartThings on your phone and follow the prompts shown by the TV and app. Samsung’s U.S. guidance says the phone should already be connected to the Wi-Fi network you intend to use for the TV.
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Samsung’s U.S. TV setup instructions describe smartphone setup as an alternative to remote-based setup and note that prompts can vary. The flow may ask you to add Wi-Fi details or sign in to a Samsung Account. Follow the current on-screen instructions rather than expecting a particular sequence on every model.
Understand the difference between setup and phone-as-remote
SmartThings can also provide remote-control functions, but that is not the same as using a phone to complete first-time setup. Samsung’s phone-control instructions describe adding a TV that is powered on to SmartThings, then choosing Remote Control in the app. They do not guarantee that a brand-new, unconfigured TV can be added before setup is complete.
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If your TV is already available in SmartThings, use the app’s Remote Control feature to navigate. If it is not discoverable during initial setup, return to the options actually offered on the TV screen and use the onboard controls or a compatible remote as needed.
Choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet for the network step
For Wi-Fi setup, you will need the network name and password. Samsung also documents Ethernet as a wired connection option: connect an Ethernet cable from the TV’s LAN port, or the One Connect Box where applicable, to your router or modem. See Samsung’s internet connection instructions for the connection choices.
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Ethernet can provide network access, but it does not navigate menus or replace an input control. If the setup screen requires a selection and the TV’s onboard controls or phone setup cannot make it, a wired connection alone will not get you past that screen.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Try a keyboard or mouse only if your model supports it
A USB or Bluetooth keyboard or mouse may work with some Samsung TVs. Samsung Gulf says most Samsung TVs from 2014 onward support external keyboards and mice, while advising users to verify support for their specific model. Its keyboard and mouse guidance does not guarantee that these devices can operate the initial setup screen, so treat them as an optional experiment rather than a dependable replacement for the remote.
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Get the right replacement remote if the controls are not enough
If the setup flow requires input the TV’s available controls cannot provide, the practical fallback is a replacement Samsung TV remote confirmed compatible with your exact model. Find the model number on the TV’s label or in its documentation, then check compatibility before buying. Avoid assuming that any universal remote will work; compatibility and setup requirements differ.
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When the on-screen steps do not match
Samsung notes that setup order and interface can differ by model and geographical area. Its Australia setup page applies to Australian products and likewise flags regional variation. Use the support page for your region and the manual for the exact model if you see different prompts, cannot locate a physical control, or need to verify support for an input device.
Samsung’s Australian Smart TV setup guidance illustrates why a single universal sequence is unreliable: the available steps can change across models and regions.
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