How to Turn On Samsung TV Without Remote

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Updated on: April 28, 2025
Time to read: 5 minutes
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Your Samsung TV is your gateway to all your favorite movies, TV shows, and video games, but it is nothing more than a black mirror if you can’t turn it on. Losing your remote doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a useless screen. There are several ways you can turn on Samsung TV without remote, which we will explain in detail for you here.

Table of Contents

Use the Power Button on the TV

Even after the TV remote became the standard, the power button never went away but Samsung TV buttons have become harder to find. They are no longer big, bright buttons on the front of your screen but hidden in one of a few common places.

The most common place to find the power button is directly underneath the Samsung logo along the bottom edge of your screen. If you slide your finger under the front, you should be able to feel it.

Power button of the Samsung TV

If the button isn’t there, the next most common place is on the back on either the bottom right or left corner. Again, you may need to feel around for it but it shouldn’t be hard to find.

The last common Samsung TV button location is right on the front as a touch control button. These will be indicated with a power button icon that you simply need to tap to power on your TV.

Use a Smartphone as a Remote Control

Smartphones are a fantastic alternative to a traditional free remote control. You are far less likely to lose your smartphone, and the various apps can offer even better control. With the right app, you can turn on your TV right from your phone.

There are multiple free remote control app options, including SmartThings and Remote for Samsung TV Plus, that you can use to control your TV, including turning it on, navigating apps, adjusting volume, changing channels, and more.

Screens of the Remote for Samsung TV Plus app

Keep in mind, though, that you will need to turn your TV on another way in order to connect to whichever app you choose. Your smartphone and TV will also need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, so this option will not work if you do not have access to a stable internet connection.

Try a Universal Remote Control

Universal remote controls are handy because they work with any TV, not just Samsung. But, just like with using a smartphone remote app, you will need to connect a new universal remote to your TV before it can be used to turn it on.

The setup process is a little different depending on what remote and TV you have, but all involve navigating your TV menu to the Devices menu and following the prompts to connect a new remote.

Connected Devices option on Samsung TV

Once done, this universal remote can power on your TV without issue. The downsides to using a universal remote are the same as any other remote. Losing the remote, running out of batteries, or the remote itself breaking can all put you back to square one.

Use External Devices with HDMI-CEC

One sneaky way to turn on Samsung TV without remote is through an external device hooked up to it via HDMI. If you have a device that supports HDMI-CEC, which includes things like current game consoles and streaming devices, then you can already take advantage of this method.

Settings of the Samsung TV with HDMI CEC option

The most common HDMI-CEC-enabled devices you might have include:

  • PlayStation 5
  • PlayStation 4
  • Xbox Series X/S
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Roku
  • Fire Stick
  • Apple TV

 

By default, most external devices will automatically have HDMI-CEC enabled but you can check that by going to their Settings menu and finding the option in the HDMI, TV & AV, or Remote settings.

Once hooked up, all you need to do is power on your connected device and it will turn on your TV automatically.

Conclusion

Losing your remote can feel like the end of the world when you are sitting down to relax in front of your Samsung TV and can’t even turn it on. Thankfully, there are more than enough simple and free ways to turn on your TV in just a few seconds.

The power button is the fastest option for most, but won’t serve you well in the long term. If you need a more permanent solution, downloading a remote app for your smartphone will let you turn your TV on and control it with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Samsung TV on button can appear in a few different places depending on your model. Most are located under the bottom edge, on the back right corner, or on the front right corner as a touchpad.

Yes, there are several apps you can download to turn on your Samsung TV, but not right away. You need to be able to turn your TV on another way, such as the power button, in order to set the app up first.

Yes, all Samsung TVs do come with a power button. The location is different depending on what model you have, but you can find one under the bottom, on the back, or as a touchpad on the front.