Smart TV technician helping fix Samsung TV Bluetooth not pairing

Steve H.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Samsung Smart TV, Bluetooth soundbars & headphones, game controllers, TV firmware, Wi-Fi & network settings, HDMI ARC/eARC

Samsung TV Bluetooth not pairing, not finding devices, or not working after an update

Technician avatar Technician
Hey! Let’s track down why your Samsung TV Bluetooth is not pairing and what to check first so you don’t waste time guessing.
A few quick details so I can give exact steps:
• Exact Samsung TV model and year (for example QN90A, AU8000, The Frame)?
• What Bluetooth device are you trying to connect: soundbar, headphones, speaker, game controller, or phone?
• What do you see on the TV — “No devices found”, “Unable to pair”, “Bluetooth not available”, or it just keeps searching?
• Did this start after a software update, TV reset, or you just set up the TV for the first time?
We’ll go step-by-step through why a Samsung TV is not finding Bluetooth devices and how to get your soundbar or headphones to connect reliably.
Customer
It’s a 2021 Samsung Smart TV. I’m trying to pair a Samsung soundbar and some Bluetooth headphones. Both pair to my phone fine, but the Samsung TV can’t find Bluetooth devices. It either shows “No devices found” or when something appears, it says “Failed to connect”. I think this started after a recent software update.
Technician avatar Technician
Got it, thanks — that helps a lot. This is a classic situation where a Samsung TV Bluetooth keeps searching but won’t pair after an update.
Usually it’s one (or more) of these:
• The TV’s Bluetooth menu changed after a firmware update and the TV is using the wrong Bluetooth list.
• The soundbar/headphones are already paired to your phone, so they don’t show up when the Samsung TV searches for Bluetooth devices.
• The TV’s Bluetooth device list is full or has a “stuck” entry for that soundbar/headphones.
• Short-term glitch in the TV’s Bluetooth module that a proper power cycle or reset fixes.

We’ll:
1) Confirm the TV supports Bluetooth and open the correct pairing screen.
2) Put your soundbar/headphones into pairing mode so they’re discoverable to the TV, not your phone.
3) Clear old entries and re-add them if your Samsung TV Bluetooth is not working because of old pairing data.
Once we do that, we’ll also cover what to try if it still fails at “Pair and connect”.
Customer
Where exactly do I check Bluetooth on the TV? I only see Sound Output. I don’t see a big “Bluetooth” setting, so I’m not sure I’m in the right place to fix this Bluetooth not pairing issue.
Technician avatar Technician
Perfect question — Samsung hides Bluetooth under the Sound Output menu on many models.
Step 1 — Check if your Samsung TV supports Bluetooth
On the TV remote:
1) Press Home → go to Settings (the gear icon).
2) Choose All Settings (if shown), then go to Sound → Sound Output.
3) Look for an option called Bluetooth Speaker List or Bluetooth under Audio Output.
• If you see “Bluetooth Speaker List”, your TV is Bluetooth-capable and this is the right menu for pairing.
• If it’s not there, the model may only support Bluetooth for remotes or accessories, not audio — we can double-check by model number.

Step 2 — Put the TV into pairing mode
• With Sound Output open, select Bluetooth Speaker List → the TV starts scanning for Bluetooth audio devices nearby.
Now we need to put your soundbar/headphones into pairing mode so they show up when the Samsung TV searches for Bluetooth devices.
Customer
I do see “Bluetooth Speaker List”. When I open it, the TV just spins on “Searching…” and then shows no devices, or only shows the soundbar sometimes. The headphones almost never show up, even though they’re on. They’re probably still paired to my phone.
Technician avatar Technician
Great, so Bluetooth is supported — now we fix the discoverability problem. A Samsung TV not finding Bluetooth headphones or soundbars is almost always because they’re still “loyal” to another device.
Step 3 — Free the devices from your phone
1) On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings.
2) Find the soundbar and headphones in the list of paired devices and tap Forget or Unpair for both.
3) Turn Bluetooth off on the phone for now, so it doesn’t immediately grab them again.

Step 4 — Put the soundbar/headphones in pairing mode
• Soundbar: usually press and hold the Pair / Bluetooth button on the remote or bar until you see “BT PAIRING” or a blinking Bluetooth icon.
• Headphones: hold the power or Bluetooth button until the LED flashes in the “pairing” pattern (often blue/red).

Then on the TV, with Bluetooth Speaker List open, wait 10–20 seconds. Your devices should appear by name. Select each and choose Pair and connect. This usually fixes “Samsung TV Bluetooth keeps searching but finds nothing”.
Customer
After forgetting them on my phone, the soundbar finally showed up in the Bluetooth Speaker List. But when I select it, the TV tries to pair and then says “Failed to connect to Bluetooth audio device”. The headphones act similar. So the Samsung TV sees Bluetooth devices but won’t connect.
Technician avatar Technician
Good progress — discovering is fixed, pairing is the last hurdle. When a Samsung TV won’t pair with a Bluetooth soundbar or headphones like this, it’s often a small software glitch.
Step 5 — Properly power-cycle TV and devices
1) Turn the TV off and unplug it from power for 30–60 seconds (this fully resets the Bluetooth module, not just puts it to sleep).
2) While the TV is unplugged, turn the soundbar and headphones off as well.
3) Plug the TV back in, power it on, wait until all apps and menus load.

Step 6 — Try pairing again, one device at a time
• Open Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List.
• Put only the soundbar in pairing mode and wait until it appears, then select Pair and connect.
• Once that’s stable, repeat for the headphones later.

Step 7 — Check for software update
• Go to Settings → Support → Software Update → Update Now.
If your Samsung TV Bluetooth is not working after an update, sometimes a follow-up patch or full power cycle like this is what finally makes it behave.
Customer
After the full power-off, the soundbar finally connected and works. The headphones paired too. Can I keep both paired and just switch between them, or will that confuse the Samsung TV Bluetooth?
Technician avatar Technician
That’s perfect — if both are paired, you’re over the main hurdle of Samsung TV Bluetooth not pairing.
• The TV can remember several Bluetooth devices (soundbar, headphones, speakers, sometimes controllers).
• It will normally connect to one audio device at a time.

To switch quickly:
1) Go to Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List.
2) You’ll see both the soundbar and the headphones listed.
3) Highlight the one you want (for example “Samsung Soundbar” for movies, headphones for late-night viewing) and select it to connect.

If at some point your Samsung TV Bluetooth audio keeps disconnecting, we can tweak energy-saving settings on the soundbar/headphones and TV to stop them going to sleep mid-movie.
Customer
It all works now, but sometimes after I turn the TV off and on, it switches back to TV speakers. Is that normal? I don’t want to redo everything every time there’s another update or when Bluetooth stops working.
Technician avatar Technician
Some switching back to TV speakers is normal, but we can make it much less annoying so you’re not constantly fixing Samsung TV Bluetooth not working.
Preventive setup
• If you mainly use the soundbar, keep it powered on when the TV is on — the TV will often auto-select the last Bluetooth audio device it used.
• Avoid pairing the same soundbar/headphones to lots of phones and laptops; this can confuse which device they connect to first.
• Keep the soundbar/headphones within a few metres of the TV with a fairly clear line of sight; thick walls, metal racks or Wi-Fi routers right next to the TV can cause interference.
• After a big firmware update, quickly check Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List and reconnect once if needed, instead of factory-resetting everything.
These steps usually stop recurring “Samsung TV Bluetooth keeps disconnecting” issues.
Customer
When would I actually need to reset the TV? I see options like “Reset” and “Self Diagnosis”. I’m a bit afraid to press them in case I lose all my apps and sign-ins just because of a Bluetooth problem.
Technician avatar Technician
Totally fair to be cautious — a full reset is the last resort for Samsung TV Bluetooth not pairing.
Milder option: Reset sound settings
1) Go to Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis (or Device Care on some models).
2) Choose Reset Sound if available.
This refreshes audio/Bluetooth without wiping apps and accounts.

Full TV reset only if:
• Bluetooth used to work and now never connects to any device, even after power-cycling and forgetting devices.
• Other features are glitchy too (apps crashing, menus freezing, Wi-Fi dropping).

If we ever decide a full reset is needed, we can walk through backing up or listing your apps first and then step-by-step re-setup in chat, so you’re not stuck midway.
Customer
Understood. For now, just doing the proper power-off and removing them from my phone fixed it. The Samsung TV Bluetooth pairs with the soundbar and headphones without errors now. Thanks for the help!
Technician avatar Technician
Summary: when a Samsung TV Bluetooth is not pairing, first confirm the TV supports Bluetooth and open Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List. Put your soundbar or headphones into pairing mode, forget them on phones so they’re free to connect, then pair again from the TV. A full power-off (unplugging the TV) and a software update often clear glitches when a Samsung TV can’t find Bluetooth devices. Still stuck on a “Failed to connect” error or not sure where things are in your menu? Open the chat and an expert will walk through it with your exact model.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when Samsung TV Bluetooth is not pairing: open Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List, make sure the TV sees your soundbar or headphones in pairing mode, and remove them from your phone or other devices so they are discoverable. Then power the TV off and unplug it for 30–60 seconds, plug it back in, and use Pair and connect on the TV. This usually resolves cases where a Samsung TV is not finding Bluetooth devices or keeps failing at the connection step.

Why Samsung TV Bluetooth is not pairing or not finding devices

Most Samsung TV Bluetooth connection problems come down to discoverability and software. If the TV does not see your soundbar or headphones at all, the devices are usually still paired to a phone, tablet, or laptop. In other cases, a firmware update changes menus or temporarily glitches the Bluetooth module so the Samsung TV keeps searching but won’t pair. Older models may only support Bluetooth remotes, not Bluetooth audio, and some TVs limit how many devices can stay in the paired list before you need to remove old entries.

How to test if your Samsung TV Bluetooth connection is really fixed

Once the Samsung TV successfully pairs with your Bluetooth soundbar or headphones, leave the TV on for a while and switch between apps, HDMI inputs, and live TV. Change the sound output between TV speakers and Bluetooth and make sure the connection remains stable. Turn the TV off and on again and check whether it auto-reconnects to the last Bluetooth device. If audio cuts out, stutters, or reverts to TV speakers frequently, there may still be interference, power-saving settings on the devices, or another nearby device trying to grab the Bluetooth connection.

Samsung TV Bluetooth not working — quick troubleshooting tips

Most cases are fixed by using the correct Bluetooth menu, freeing devices from phones, and power-cycling the TV.

Quick path: confirm your Samsung TV has Bluetooth Speaker List under Sound Output, then put your soundbar or headphones into pairing mode and forget them on phones so they do not auto-connect there first. Pair them directly from the TV, update the TV software, and fully power the TV off by unplugging it if Bluetooth keeps searching without connecting. If your Samsung TV Bluetooth still will not pair after these steps, a reset of sound settings or a full TV reset may be needed.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your Samsung TV model, firmware version, and Bluetooth devices, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before making decisions.

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FAQ

Why is my Samsung TV not finding Bluetooth devices?

If your Samsung TV can’t find Bluetooth devices, they are often still paired to a phone or laptop and not in pairing mode. Forget the soundbar or headphones on other devices, turn those devices’ Bluetooth off, then open Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List on the TV and search again while your audio device is actively in pairing mode.

How do I put my Samsung TV in Bluetooth pairing mode?

On most models, press Home → Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Speaker List. When that list opens, the Samsung TV starts searching for Bluetooth devices. Put your soundbar or headphones into pairing mode and select them from the list when they appear.

How do I fix Samsung TV Bluetooth not pairing with my soundbar or headphones?

If Samsung TV Bluetooth is not pairing, first forget the audio device on your phone, then power-cycle the TV by unplugging it for 30–60 seconds. After it restarts, open Bluetooth Speaker List, put the soundbar or headphones into pairing mode, and choose Pair and connect. If it still fails, update the TV software and reset sound settings from Self Diagnosis.

When should I reset my Samsung TV to fix Bluetooth problems?

Try power-cycling the TV, forgetting and re-adding devices, and resetting sound settings first. If Bluetooth on your Samsung TV never connects to any device and other features are glitchy, a full TV reset may help — but it will sign you out of apps and reset picture and network settings, so use it only as a last resort.

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