As I sat down to enjoy a movie on my Samsung TV, I noticed that the audio was coming from the TV’s speakers instead of the connected Bluetooth speakers.
First, I tried turning the speaker off and on, but nothing happened.
Thinking the TV’s Bluetooth might have turned off, I went to the TV’s settings to turn it on. However, that’s where I had the biggest shock.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find the Bluetooth options on my Samsung TV.
This was strange because alongwith the speaker, I also had my headset connected to the TV. And yes, they both worked fine till yesterday.
The only thing that had changed in between was that the TV had gone through a software update last night. Assuming that the Bluetooth options may have been shifted somewhere in the update, I sat down to read the update notes. Unfortunately, there was no mention of Bluetooth there.
Frustrated, I started searching for solutions over the internet. That’s when I came across the secret menu of Samsung TVs.
Once I was able to open the menu, all I had to do was toggle some options on and Bluetooth was back up on my Samsung TV.
To enter the secret service menu on your Samsung TV, turn off your TV, and press the Mute-1-8-2-Power On buttons in the correct sequence on your remote. Once the service menu opens, go to Options–>MRT Options and turn on BT Support, Voice Recognition, and Samsung Smart Control. Then, go to Engineer Options in the service menu and turn on the BT_Audio_On_Off.
Access the Service Menu on Your Samsung TV
The service menu on a Samsung TV is a secret hidden menu that provides access to advanced settings and diagnostic tools for the TV.
The service menu is typically used by the technicians while repairing the TV. But you too can use the service menu to access hidden options like Bluetooth on your Samsung TV.
However, you need to be extremely cautious while using the service menu. Any incorrect changes can lead to malfunction or other issues with your TV.
Note: Accessing the service menu can void your warranty or cause permanent damage to the TV.
Access Service Menu Using the Old Samsung Remote
If you have a Samsung remote with a numeric keypad on it, accessing the service menu becomes an easy task.
To access the service menu using the old Samsung remote:
- Turn off your Samsung TV.
- Press the buttons Mute – 1 – 8 – 2 in this sequence.
- Press the Power On button to turn on your TV.
Your Samsung TV will now turn on with the service menu opened on the screen. In case it doesn’t work the first time, keep trying it multiple times.
Note: The sequence of buttons to enter the service menu may vary depending on the model and firmware.
If the above sequence of buttons doesn’t work, you can try other sequences. The common button sequences to access the service menu on Samsung TV are:
- Mute – 1 – 8 – 2 – Power On
- Mute – 1 – 1 – 9 – Power On
- Info – Menu/Settings – Mute – Power On
Access Service Menu Using Samsung Smart Remote
Generally, you need to press a sequence of numbers to enter the service menu on a Samsung TV. However, the Samsung smart remotes do not have a numeric keypad. So, the numeric sequences don’t work for those Samsung TVs.
To access the service menu using a smart remote:
- Turn on your Samsung TV.
- Press Home on your remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Go to Sound Settings.
- Ensure that it is set to TV Speaker.
- Press the buttons in the sequence Mute – Up – Down – OK – Mute
The service menu should now open on the screen.
In case you are not able to access the service menu using the Samsung smart remote, you can download the Samsung SmartThings app on your phone to use it as a virtual remote. The SmartThings app is available for free for both iOS and Android devices.
After you pair your Samsung TV with the SmartThings app, you can then use the keypad in its virtual remote to access the service menu using the traditional way.
Turn on Bluetooth on Your Samsung TV Via the Service Menu
Once you open the service menu on your Samsung TV, you can use the Arrows, OK, and Return buttons on the remote to navigate through the service menu.
There are four different options that you need to turn on in the service menu to enable Bluetooth on your Samsung TV.
To turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung TV:
- Open the service menu on your TV.
- Go to Options.
- Scroll down to MRT Options.
- Set BT Support to ON.
- Set Voice Recognition to ON.
- Set Samsung Smart Control to ON.
- Press Return to go back to the service menu.
- Go to Engineer Options.
- Set the BT_Audio_On_Off option to On.
Once you turn on the required settings, turn off your TV to exit the service menu. Now, when you turn your Samsung TV back on, you will be able to access the Bluetooth options in your TV’s settings.
You can now start using your Bluetooth devices with your Samsung TV.
Connect a Bluetooth Device to Your Samsung TV
You can connect a number of different Bluetooth devices like headphones, speakers, game controllers, and others to your Samsung TV.
Connecting a Bluetooth device to your Samsung TV enhances your viewing experience and gives you more freedom to control your TV.
Depending on the type of device you are trying to connect and the model of your Samsung TV, the steps for connection will vary.
Connect Bluetooth Headphones, Speaker, or Soundbar to Samsung TV
Samsung TV Models | How to Connect a Bluetooth Device |
2014 Smart TVs | Menu → Sound → Speaker Settings → TV Sound Output → Bluetooth Device |
2015 Smart TVs | Menu → Sound → Additional Settings → Bluetooth Audio |
2016 Smart TVs | Home → Settings → Sound → Expert Settings → Wireless Speaker Manager → Bluetooth Audio Devices |
2017, 2018, 2018 Smart TVs | Home → Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List |
2020 and later Smart TVs | Menu → Settings → All Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List |
Connect Bluetooth Keyboard, Mouse, or Gamepad to Samsung TV
Samsung TV Models | How to Connect a Bluetooth Device |
2014 and 2015 Smart TVs | Menu → System → Device Manager → Mouse/Keyboard/Gamepad Settings → Add Bluetooth Device |
2016 Smart TVs | Settings → System → Input Device Manager → Add Bluetooth Device |
2017 Smart TVs | Settings → General → External Device Manager → Add Bluetooth Device |
2018-2021 Smart TVs | Settings → General → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Bluetooth Device List |
2022 Smart TVs | All Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Bluetooth Device List |
2023 Smart TVs | Menu → Settings → All Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Bluetooth Device List |
No Bluetooth? Don’t Worry, You Can Still Connect Devices to Your Samsung TV
Many times, the Bluetooth options in a Samsung TV are hidden inside the service menu. If you are able to access and enable them, you can easily connect Bluetooth devices to your Samsung TV.
However, sometimes, your Samsung TV may not have Bluetooth compatibility altogether. You can always check the technical specifications of your TV to know whether it has Bluetooth or not.
In case your Samsung TV does not have Bluetooth, you can still connect devices like headphones or speakers to your TV. For this, all you need to do is connect a Bluetooth Adapter to the audio port of your Samsung TV. Once connected, you can set your device in pairing mode and it will automatically connect with your TV.
Similarly, you can also connect wireless keyboards to your Samsung TV to improve your browsing experience on TV.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I disconnect a Bluetooth device from my Samsung TV?
To disconnect a Bluetooth device from your Samsung TV, access the Bluetooth settings menu and select the connected device. Then, click on the option to disconnect or unpair the device.
I can’t find a specific setting in the menu. What should I do?
If you’re having trouble finding a particular setting in the menu of your Samsung TV, try using the search function within the menu. Look for a search icon or a magnifying glass symbol and enter relevant keywords to search for the setting you need.
Can I improve the picture quality of my Samsung TV through the service menu?
The service menu does offer some picture calibration options that can potentially impact the picture quality. However, it’s important to note that adjusting these settings without proper knowledge and calibration tools may lead to undesirable results. It’s recommended to use the standard picture settings and, if needed, seek professional calibration services.