As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases made via links on our website.

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases made via links on our website.

HomeGuidesHow to change input on Samsung TV

How to change input on Samsung TV

You can watch videos from a variety of sources:

  • HDMI ports: Your TV can have up to 4 of these ports. You can connect a computer, laptop, or streaming device such as a Chromecast, FireStick, or Roku to your TV.
  • Antenna input: You can receive terrestrial or cable TV.
  • SAT (satellite): In Europe, TVs also have a built-in satellite tuner.
  • AV (analog video): An ancient port, but you can connect a video player or other digital device that does not have a digital output to your TV through this port. On Samsung TVs, this can be a standard round connector, Scart or EXT RGB (this is a modern reduced connector for modern slim TVs.
  • Component (analog video): Obsolete but present in older Samsung TVs.
  • Mirror: Mirror the smartphone screen on the TV. 
  • USB: You can connect a USB flash drive or external storage device to the TV and watch the recorded video. 

In modern TVs, you will also find the possibility of connecting to Samsung’s SmartThings innovative home program in the Source section. 

The name of the source setting on the Samsung TV

If you want to switch between connected devices on your Samsung TV, you should be aware of a slight nuance in the input source settings on TVs.

  • Until 2022, the setting to change the input signal on your TV is called “Source.”
  • Starting in 2022, this setting on Samsung TVs will not be called “Source” but “Connected Devices.”

So you’ll find Connected Devices on TVs like the BU7000, QN60B, and Q60B – these are 2022 TVs. The CU7000, QN60C, and Q60C are 2023 and all OLED TVs. This is an incomplete example of TV mods. There will also be slight differences in settings depending on the type of remote control.

Source button on Samsung remote

On your Samsung remote control, the Source button (sometimes labeled “Source” or with a square icon with an arrow inside) is used to switch between the input signals on your TV. Pressing this button opens a menu that shows all available input sources, such as HDMI ports, component and composite inputs, USB, and other connected devices or network sources.
To select a source, you can press a button to select the source one by one or use the left and right arrows. Confirm your selection with OK.

However, in the latest generation of Samsung smart remotes (One remote) from 2016 onwards, there is no source button on the remote. To switch to video reception from another input, you need to use the menu, TV buttons or voice control.

 Change Source on Samsung TV with remote

If you want to switch to the HDMI input, you must change the signal source; the antenna source is always selected on the TV by default. To change the input on your Samsung TV using the remote control that has a source button, follow the steps below:

  1. Turn on the TV: Make sure your Samsung TV is turned on.
  2. Connect an external device to the TV’s HDMI and turn it on.
  3. Locate the source button: On the Samsung remote control, locate the button labeled “Source,” “Input,” or the icon that represents a square with an arrow pointing inward.
  4. Open the Source menu: Press the Source button. The source menu appears on the TV screen with a list of all available input sources.
  5. Select the source you want: Use the arrow keys on the remote to scroll through the list of sources. These can be HDMI ports, AV inputs, component inputs, USB, and sometimes network sources for Smart TVs. Find the HDMI port you want.
  6. Confirm your selection: Press the Enter or OK button on the remote to confirm your selection.
  7. Exit the menu: If the menu is still displayed on the screen after selecting the source, press the ‘Exit’ button on the remote to close it.

The Samsung TV screen will now display the content of the selected source. 

Changing the input on the Samsung TV 2022-2023 using the Smart Remote

After the OS update 2022 in Samsung TVs, the source selection was called the connection of devices; this is probably more in line with reality. Since the video to the TV must come from somewhere, for example, through SmartThinks, you can connect to surveillance cameras. 

If you have a 2022 or later TV, look for the Connected Devices setting. The setup can be accessed through the menu:

  • Press the home button. 
  • Press the left button on the control circle; a sidebar will appear on the left side of the screen.

Using the down button, select Menu 

  • Press OK on the remote control, and a mini menu will open with settings and Connected Devices

If you want, you can rename the name of the signal sources; for example, you can name the HDMI 1 port Chromecast and HDMI 2 PS5. You do not need to remember what device is connected to a particular port; open and settings, and it says PS5.

Changing the input on the Samsung TV 2016-2021 using the Smart Remote

The new models of Smart TVs have more powerful processors, so the menus are more animated. The order of source selection itself is slightly different, and the One remote that comes with Samsung TVs from 2016 onwards (that’s the K, M, N, R, T, A, QLED series) no longer has a Source button. If you have a remote, press the Source button and get to the Source selection menu. If you have a TV with a Smart remote (remote One), you need to do the following:

  • Press the Home button on the remote One, you’re taken to the home menu.
  • Using the Circle Pad control on the One, select Source.
  • First press the Enter Button. You will see a menu of available sources.
  • Select the desired source.
  • Press the Apply button, the TV will switch to receive the signal from the selected source.

Some models in Samsung Smart TVs have animated source states; for example, you can see the HDMI port in a blue or red circle. This is an animated input status so you can orient yourself to whether there is a signal on the port. If the HDMI port is in a red circle, no HDMI signal is detected the port is inactive.

Signal source selection for older 2011-2015 Samsung Smart TV models.

In the first Samsung Smart TVs, the appearance of the remote control changed almost every year. And those remotes had a source selection button – usually on the top, labeled with a square arrow or logo, and easy to find. Pressing the button on the remote brings you to the source selection menu; the menu may look a little different depending on the software version. But you’ll quickly figure out how to change the signal source. Of course, you can also change the input via the menu, but it is easier to use the standard button on the remote.

How to change source on Samsung TV without remote


Here are five ways to change the signal source on a Samsung TV without using the remote control, along with detailed explanations for each method:

  1. Using the TV’s Buttons or Joystick:
    • On some models, particularly budget ones, there are control buttons located usually on the side of the TV. You can switch the signal source by pressing the source or menu button.
    • Newer TVs often come with a joystick, typically located at the bottom of the TV, often near the logo. To change the signal source using the joystick, press it to open the TV menu (similar to pressing the menu button on the remote), move the joystick left to select the signal source mode in the menu, press the joystick to open the list of external sources, select the desired source, and finally press the joystick to confirm.
  2. Enabling HDMI CEC (Anynet+):
    • HDMI CEC (Anynet+) allows for automatic switching to an HDMI source when a signal is detected. This feature works exclusively with HDMI connections.
  3. Using Your Smartphone as a Remote:
    • You can use your smartphone as a remote control by downloading and setting up the appropriate app (such as Samsung’s SmartThings app).
  4. Using Bixby for Voice Control on Supported TVs:
    • On TVs that support voice control, you can use Bixby to change the signal source by giving voice commands.
  5. Using Voice Assistants Like Alexa or Google Assistant:
    • You can also use external voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to control your TV, including changing the signal source.

It’s important to note that while direct control on the TV is a backup option and might seem unusual at first, it’s handy in situations where the remote is not available. However, starting from 2020 models, Samsung has limited the access to the menu via buttons on the TV. You can only switch the source or read the electronic manual, but you cannot fully control the TV or change its settings through these buttons.

Auto HDMI selection on Samsung TV (Anynet+)

Televisions have always been used to watch TV programs over the air or cable. However, this has changed: many people no longer need an antenna or TV cable. Video now comes from streaming devices that broadcast TV channels using the Internet as a medium, such as FireStick. In this case, the video signal is delivered to the TV via HDMI. It is expected that the HDMI input will need to be adjusted to watch TV. The TV remembers the settings of the source until you disconnect it from the power supply. If this happens, you need to re-configure. You can watch the video through HDMI for months and then turn on the TV and find a “no signal” message because the TV has automatically switched to receive a signal from the antenna.

TVs have an HDMI-CEC setting, which Samsung calls Anynet+. This automatically activates devices and switches to the active input. If you enable this setting, the TV will automatically switch to receive a signal via HDMI when you turn on a streaming device connected via HDMI.

You can set the TV to receive a signal via HDMI instead of an antenna by default. To do this, you need to use the service menu. However, using this menu requires some skill.

How to set default HDMI on Samsung TV you can learn from the article, it is a working way but be careful when setting up, so as not to break the TV.

Switching the input source on your Samsung TV using your smartphone

Changing the input source on your Samsung TV using a smartphone is straightforward and handy, mainly when the physical remote control is unavailable or you prefer a digital option. Your TV and smartphone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to do this. Here are the steps:

  1. Install the Samsung SmartThings App:
    • Firstly, install the Samsung SmartThings app on your smartphone. This app is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms.
  2. Connect Both Devices to the Same Wi-Fi:
    • Ensure that your smartphone and Samsung TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network for seamless connectivity.
  3. Setting Up SmartThings App:
    • Launch the SmartThings app on your smartphone.
    • If you don’t have a Samsung account, the app will guide you to create one.
    • Once logged in, tap ‘Add Device’ and choose your Samsung TV from the list of devices.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the pairing process.
  4. Using Your Smartphone as a Remote:
    • After connecting your smartphone to the TV via SmartThings, you can use your phone as a remote.
    • Open the SmartThings app, select your TV, and tap the remote control icon to access a virtual remote.
  5. Changing the Input Source:
    • In the virtual remote interface, tap the ‘Source’ button. This action will bring up the input source menu on your TV screen.
    • Select the input source you wish to use (such as HDMI1 or HDMI2) using your smartphone.
  6. Using Alternative Remote Control Apps:
    • If you prefer, other remote control apps are available for smartphones that can be used to control Samsung TVs.

By following these steps, you can easily switch the input source on your Samsung TV using your smartphone, adding convenience to your viewing experience.

Voice control of your TV, changing the signal source

Voice control of modern TVs, including the ability to change the signal source, is an increasingly common feature that enhances the user experience. This feature is typically available on Smart TVs equipped with voice recognition. Most TVs support this feature via a microphone in the remote control, but some models have a built-in microphone that needs to be activated with a physical on/off switch for privacy.

Voice control must be enabled, then you can say.
“Switch to HDMI1” or “Switch the source to HDMI2”.
The specific phrase may vary depending on the TV’s voice recognition system. For example, on a Samsung, you can say, “Enable HDMI One,” and the TV will switch to that input.

This method can only be used temporarily if the microphone is always on, it can react to external sounds, and the TV can switch everything by itself, and constantly running to the TV to turn it on or off is impractical. You should know you can control the TV input this way, but you won’t.

Change the source on your Samsung TV using Alexa or Google Assistant

Changing the signal source on your Samsung TV using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant is a handy feature that lets you control your TV without using the remote. Here’s how you can do it:

Connecting your TV to Voice Assistant:

Make sure your Samsung TV is compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant. Generally, Samsung TVs after 2020 are compatible.
You must download Samsung’s SmartThings smart home software and set up Alexa or Google Assistant. You’ll need to add your TV or TVs and give them a name to control the suitable TV. Link SmartThings to Alexa or Google Assistant to broadcast commands to the TV.

You can then control your TV using voice assistants.

Discuss

  1. In the picture above, the menu of available sources are shown. Just above are circles with TV, HDMI etc. What does it mean to have the blue or red circle with a line in the HDMI circle? When it appears on our tTV, we cannot select HDMI to get back to cable.

    • HDMI is in a red circle, your TV does not recognize the HDMI signal. There could be many reasons, bad cable connection, out of sync because of a bad HDMI cable. When HDMI is not active, you cannot select it.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles