To pair a Samsung TV remote to a soundbar, you do not need a separate Bluetooth pairing process. Instead, the remote automatically controls the soundbar's volume and power once you have connected the two devices with the correct cable and configured your TV's settings. If you own a different brand, you can pair a Vizio remote to a soundbar using its dedicated universal control menu. This guide covers the exact steps for connecting a soundbar via HDMI ARC or optical cable and setting up your Samsung TV to hand over control.
Connect your soundbar with an HDMI or optical cable
Begin by physically connecting your soundbar to your Samsung TV. For the best experience, use an HDMI cable. Connect one end to the HDMI OUT (TV ARC) port on your soundbar and the other end to your TV's HDMI (ARC) port. If your TV lacks an ARC port, or you prefer a simpler setup, use a digital optical cable. Connect it from the soundbar's optical port to your TV's optical port, removing any plastic protector caps from the ends. After connecting the cable, set the soundbar to D.IN mode by pressing the Source button on the soundbar remote or on the soundbar itself. When using an HDMI connection, the soundbar's source should automatically change to TV ARC after approximately 2 seconds. If you use a different TV provider, you may also need to pair a DIRECTV remote to a soundbar for unified volume control.
Configure your Samsung TV's sound output
- Press the Settings button on your Samsung TV remote.
- Navigate to Sound, then select Sound Output.
- From the list of available devices, select your Samsung soundbar.
- Choose Close to confirm the selection.
After this setup, your TV will route audio through the soundbar, and your Samsung TV remote should be able to adjust the soundbar's volume, mute it, and turn it on and off with the TV.
Enable Anynet+ for automatic power control
To ensure your soundbar turns on and off automatically with your TV, activate the Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) feature. Go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) and enable it. This setting works with HDMI connections to synchronize power control. If you are using an optical cable, the Auto Power Link feature handles this automatically and is usually on by default. To manually activate or deactivate Auto Power Link, press and hold the left directional button on the soundbar remote.
Test the connection with your Samsung TV remote
After completing the steps above, test the connection by using your Samsung TV remote to adjust the soundbar's volume, press mute, and turn the TV off and on. The soundbar should respond to each command, confirming that the remote is now controlling the soundbar directly.
Troubleshooting: remote still not controlling the soundbar
If your Samsung TV remote is not controlling the Samsung soundbar, first ensure the soundbar is powered on. Then, press and hold the WOOFER button on the soundbar remote for about 5 seconds until ON - TV REMOTE appears on the soundbar's display. This enables the soundbar to accept commands from the TV remote. For some Samsung TVs, especially with optical connections or if direct control fails, use the Universal Remote setup feature on the TV. Access the Universal Remote setup via the TV's Home menu, then navigate to Connected Devices or Sources. Within the setup, select New Device, then Home Theater System, and choose Optical for the input. This will allow your TV remote to learn the soundbar's commands and regain full control.
