The Samsung smart TV virtual keyboard appears automatically on your screen whenever you select a text input field, such as a search bar or login box. You can then use your remote's directional pad to highlight characters and press the OK button to select them, making typing straightforward without any extra setup.
How the Samsung smart TV virtual keyboard works
The virtual keyboard on your Samsung Smart TV is designed to appear automatically when you tap into any text field within an app, search bar, or settings menu. The layout you see depends on your TV's model year. Newer Samsung Smart TVs from 2022 onward, running Tizen 6.5 or newer, support an ABC style keyboard layout. Older models (up to Tizen 6.0) primarily use the QWERTY layout. In both cases, the keyboard is ready to use as soon as you select a place to type.
How to access the virtual keyboard with your remote
To use my Samsung smart TV remote to bring up the keyboard, simply navigate to any text field on the screen using your remote's directional pad. Once the field is highlighted, press the OK or Enter button. The virtual keyboard will appear. From there, use the directional pad to move between characters and press OK to select each one. If your remote isn't responding, you may need to connect remote to Samsung smart TV first. This method works on all Samsung Smart TV models and does not require pressing a specific number or symbol button, the keyboard appears naturally when a text field is active.
How to use the SmartThings app as a keyboard
If you prefer typing on your phone, the SmartThings app turns your smartphone into a keyboard for your TV. Follow these steps:
- Download the Samsung SmartThings app on your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Ensure your smartphone and Samsung Smart TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the SmartThings app and select your TV from the list of available devices.
- Navigate to the "Remote Control" section within the app.
- Tap the virtual keyboard icon in the remote control area.
- The virtual keyboard will appear on your TV screen, and you can now type using your smartphone's keyboard.
This method is especially useful if you need to type longer text, as your phone's keyboard is often faster and more familiar than navigating with a remote.
How to connect a USB keyboard for typing
For a physical typing experience, you can plug a USB keyboard directly into your Samsung Smart TV. Locate an available USB port on the back or side of your TV and insert the keyboard's USB connector. The TV will automatically recognize the keyboard, and the virtual keyboard will appear on screen. You can then type instantly using the physical keys. To exit, simply unplug the USB keyboard. This method requires no pairing or software setup.
How to fix a Samsung smart TV virtual keyboard that won't appear
If the virtual keyboard does not show up when you select a text field, try these troubleshooting steps in order:
- Cold boot the TV. Press and hold the Power button on your remote until the TV turns off and back on. Alternatively, unplug the TV from power for 2 minutes, then plug it back in.
- Reset your remote. For a standard remote, remove the batteries, press the Power button for 8 seconds, then reinsert the batteries. For a Samsung Smart Remote, press and hold the "Return" and "Enter" (center of the navigation pad) buttons for more than 10 seconds. After resetting, you may need to pair a Samsung smart TV remote by holding "Return" and "Play/Pause" simultaneously near the TV for at least 5 seconds until a connection message appears.
- Update TV software. Go to Settings > Support > Software Update and install any available updates. Outdated firmware can interfere with input functions.
- Check remote batteries. Ensure your remote has sufficient battery power and is within effective range of the TV. Weak batteries can prevent the keyboard from appearing.
If you need to get capital letters on smart TV, simply press the Shift or Caps Lock key on a USB keyboard, or use the directional pad to select the shift key on the on-screen keyboard. For situations where you need to setup Samsung smart TV without remote, the SmartThings app provides full control, including access to the virtual keyboard, as long as your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
