Software or firmware updates bring new features, improvements, and bug fixes for better performance. Samsung keeps rolling out software updates to add new features and fix bugs. Keeping the software of your TV up to date is very important. The best way to update the firmware on a Samsung Smart TV is to turn the auto-update feature on. However, if the automatic software update is unavailable, you can download the update package for your TV and install it via a USB flash drive.
Remember, the steps to update the software on Samsung TVs might differ from Series to series and model lineup. Depending on the year your Samsung TV was manufactured, the Smart Hub and Settings UI or appearance of the menus may vary. A software update might reset your TV’s settings to default.
Steps to Enable Auto Software Update
The screenshots attached below have been taken on the Samsung Q60R series Smart TV from the 2020 lineup.
- Press the Home button on your TV’s remote to bring up SmartHub.
- Go to Settings and click it.
- When the Settings menu is launched, select Support, highlight the Software Update option, and click it.
- On the next screen, click the Auto update option to enable automatic software updates on your Samsung TV.
- To check if there is an update available for your TV, go to Update Now and select it.
- Your TV will start checking for updates and prompt you to install it.
- Since I enabled Auto Update during the initial setup after I purchased my TV, it’s already on the latest version.
Updating TV Firmware Update via USB
If your Samsung TV doesn’t update the software automatically, you can download the latest firmware update for your TV model and install it locally using a USB flash drive.
Warning: Do not turn off your TV or unplug the USB memory drive while the new software is installed. Doing so may cause a firmware error or serious damage to the mainboard of your TV.
- Visit the Samsung Download Center page on your computer.
- Click TV and Home Theater under Select your product type or click Enter Model Number and fill in your TV’s model number there. You can find the model number of your TV in the manual that came with it. You can also find it by going to Settings > Support > About this TV. Check Model Code under Product Information. In my case, it is QA55Q60RAXXL.
- On the Samsung Download Center page, click on TVs and select your TV type. I selected QLED TVs.
- You will be asked to select the TV model number and line up. Alternatively, you can also enter the model number of your Smart TV.
- When you have selected the Year Line Up and model number, the CONFIRM button will be highlighted. Click on it.
- You’ll be taken to the Manuals and Downloads page.
- To know about the details of the firmware such as the compatible model numbers and changelog, click ‘?‘.
- Now click the download button to initiate the firmware download for your Samsung TV.
- When the file has finished downloading, locate the downloaded ZIP file, and extract it.
- Open the unzipped folder. You’ll find another folder inside it.
- Copy this folder to a USB flash drive. Please don’t copy the folder inside some folder on the USB drive otherwise your TV won’t find it.
- Turn off your TV and plug the USB flash drive into a USB port at the back panel of your TV.
- Turn on the TV.
- Now press the Home button on the remote, navigate to Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now, and select Yes.
- Select the USB option when prompted. Your TV will scan the USB flash drive for the availability of the software update package. You’ll see a ‘Scanning USB’ notification on the screen.
- When the software package is detected, follow the on-screen instructions.
- The whole software update process takes just a few minutes to finish and when it is completed your Samsung Smart TV will restart automatically.
In case you want to confirm the update, Go to Settings > Support > About this TV and compare the Software version mentioned there with the one shown on the firmware download page.
Steps to Update Samsung TV Apps
Samsung does not allow sideloading apps on its TVs (Android TVs are exceptions). You can install apps from the Samsung App Store via the Apps section. However, you can easily delete installed apps on your Samsung TV and enable the auto-update feature so that the apps you use stay up to date. Do the following to update apps on a Samsung Smart TV.
- Press the Home button on the Samsung TV remote.
- Navigate to Apps and click it.
- Now, highlight the Settings icon on the top-right corner of your TV screen and click it.
- On the next screen, highlight the Auto update button and click it to enable auto-update for apps on your Smart TV.
