Netflix Not Working on your Samsung Smart TV? Here’s What You Can Do.

If you are a long-time Netflix subscriber then I’m pretty sure you know that, like most apps out there, it has its own set of issues. If you use it on your mobile device like a tablet (e.g., iPad, iPhone, etc.), you will have encountered some of its unpleasant quirks (e.g., buffering issues/slow loading content, app crashing or won’t connect to the server, etc.), and while they aren’t really considered serious issues (as long as they they don’t happen frequently), they can still be quite annoying when they occur.

Well, Samsung’s smart TVs aren’t immune to Netflix issues and below we discuss some of the reasons why and look at the possible fixes.

First things first: Check your Internet connection

Before proceeding with any other steps in fixing ANY issues with your Netflix app on any Samsung devices, the very first item you need to check (and fix) is your connection. Some problems are merely a result of connectivity issues.

If your Samsung Smart TV is using wi-fi to connect to the Internet and you are having issues with Netflix, try to connect your TV via an ethernet cable to your modem or router. If your Netflix app loads and works properly after doing this, then we know the problem is in the wi-fi connection. The video below discusses how to fix some of the most common issues caused by faulty or slow Internet connections, especially for cases where Netflix is getting choked or is having buffering issues.

Issue #1: Netflix does not work in any network

If you’ve confirmed that your Internet connection is working fine and that Netflix seems to be not working on any type of Internet connection (e.g., wi-fi, ethernet cable, mobile hotspot, etc.), then you may try looking into the IP Settings of your Samsung Smart TV. Changing the DNS settings to use alternate DNS servers sometimes work. You can do this by accessing the TV’s Network Settings and changing the DNS Settings to use 8.8.8.8 (which is the Google Public DNS Server address) may be effective in fixing these issues so it is definitely worth the try (Source: https://www.samsung.com/au/support/tv-audio-video/netflix-app-not-working/). If in doubt, please refer to your Samsung’s documentation to find out how to access the network settings of your specific TV.

Issue #2: Netflix ending support for older Samsung Smart TVs

If Netflix is currently not working properly or you are seeing a message saying “Netflix will no longer be available on this device” on your Samsung Smart TV, the very first check you should do is to ascertain if your device is still supported. Samsung recently announced that Netflix will stop working on models manufactured before 2012, i.e., models on or before 2011 will no longer be supported. This announcement was done on Samsung’s US support website but I have seen the same announcement for other countries so it is safe to assume this is a universal update that affects old models of Samsung Smart TVs. You may also visit this Netflix page to find out if your device is still up to specs.

I am pretty sure this is unwelcome news to owners of old Samsungs but this is not totally unexpected with electronic gadgetry and their inevitable obsolescence. The great thing about Netflix is that you can use a variety of other devices to run it as it is a cross-platform app so you may want to look into that if you are currently unable to replace your Samsung.

Issue #3: Netflix app stuck on the Netflix loading screen

If the Netflix app is not proceeding from its loading page and is stuck, the suggested solution is to reinstall the app. Below are the steps on how to do this.

On your Samsung remote control, press the Home button and then click on Apps. Note that these may appear as icons on the remote and the screen. For example, Home button may look like, while the Apps icon should look like . Please refer to your Samsung documentation for more information.
After clicking on Apps, you will be taken to a page containing a list of apps that are available for download. Find the Settings icon at the upper right corner of the screen.
You will enter another page where you can choose the Netflix icon where a drop down menu will appear containing the “Reinstall” function. Some models may have the capability to auto-update and you should see it here and be able to activate it .

Issue #4: Netflix app not loading

If the app is not even loading at all, go to the Apps page and try to delete the Netflix app and then reinstall. Note that models from 2015 and earlier may allow un-installation of the Netflix app. Newer models from 2016 on-wards will not allow this as the app comes pre-installed in these models.

You may also access the Netflix settings via the Samsung TV’s Smart Hub interface and delete the app from there. If the Netflix app will not work via this route, you need to check if the TV’s firmware needs updating. Refer to this page in Samsung’s website to learn the steps in updating the firmware on your Samsung Smart TV.

Samsung Smart TV Reset/Reboot

At any point in the troubleshooting process, you can proceed with resetting the TV and the apps installed in it.

Smart Hub Reset – when this is performed, all installed apps are re-initialized, which clears user accounts and any user-specified settings. Hence, this is akin to a factory reset of the unit. Follow the following steps:
1. Press the Home icon on the remote control. This brings up to the Smart Hub screen. Select Settings .
2. Find the Support icon by scrolling down and click on it. Once in, select “Self Diagnosis” in the menu listing.
3. On the Self Diagnosis page, select “Reset Smart Hub“. You will be asked for a PIN to proceed.

Turning Off & Unplug – This can be performed at any point and should probably one of the default steps before performing anything somewhat drastic like the Smart Hub Reset indicated above.
1. Turn off and unplug the TV and wait for a few minutes before turning it back on. Check if the Netflix is now working.
2. For Samsung Smart TV models manufactured in 2017 – 2019, press and hold the Power button on the remote control for about 30 seconds. This forces a TV reboot which fully exits and closes any app that is running. Sometimes issues are fixed by performing this reboot.

Contact Samsung Support

If all of the above fails, then it might be time to contact product experts for a consult. Refer to your product documentation regarding this service or go to Samsung’s website: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/televisions-home-theater/tvs

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