How to Update a Samsung Smart TV

To update a Samsung TV, go to Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update and choose Update Now while the TV is connected to the internet. No internet at the TV? Download the update on a laptop, copy it to a USB stick and install it from the same menu.

Samsung smart TVs run Samsung’s own system, Tizen. For Hisense, LG, TCL and Android TVs, see how to update a smart TV.

Update over the internet

1. Connect the TV to Wi-Fi or a LAN cable (connecting a smart TV to Wi-Fi).
2. Press Home on the remote and open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update.
3. Choose Update Now. The TV checks, downloads and installs.
4. Turn on Auto Update so future updates install while the TV is on standby.

On older models (roughly before 2016), press Menu and go to Support > Software Update > Update Now, or Smart Hub > Software Update on very old sets.

Don’t switch the TV off or unplug it during an update. It restarts by itself when finished, and some picture and sound settings may return to default.

Update with a USB flash drive

This is handy when the TV’s Wi-Fi is weak or you’d rather not use a hotspot bundle on a large download.

1. Find the exact model code on the sticker at the back or in Settings > Support > About This TV (for example UA55…).
2. On a laptop, go to Samsung’s support site for your region, search the model code and open Manuals & Downloads. Download the firmware (Upgrade File USB type).
3. Unzip the file and copy the extracted folder to the top level (root) of an empty USB stick formatted as FAT32. Don’t put it inside another folder.
4. Plug the stick into the TV and go to Support > Software Update > Update Now. The TV searches the USB stick; choose OK when it finds the update.
5. Wait. Remove the stick only after the TV restarts.

Older models that no longer get updates

Samsung stops releasing updates for older TVs after several years. Once that happens, Update Now just says you have the latest version, and some apps may eventually stop working.

You can still use the TV: a cheap streaming stick plugged into HDMI gives you updated apps. If the TV is laggy rather than out of date, try the fixes for a slow smart TV.

Update failed: fixes

• Software Update greyed out: switch the source to TV (live TV) or the home screen, not HDMI, then try again. Also check the TV is online.
• Download fails: unplug the TV for a minute, restart the router and try again, or use the USB method.
• USB not detected: reformat the stick as FAT32, use a smaller stick (32 GB or less) and make sure the folder is at the root, not in a subfolder.
• “No update found” on USB: the file is for a different model; check the code again.
• TV stuck on the update screen for a long time: leave it at least 30 minutes, then contact Samsung support.

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