(7 Fixes) Samsung TV Red Light Blinking (2023 Guide) (2024)

Don’t panic.

The red blinking light doesn’t mean your Samsung TV’s a goner.

Take a deep breath.

And…

Read on to find out:

• Why your Samsung TV’s blinking a red light.
• 7 easy-to-understand ways to fix your blinking red light issue.
• How to effectively check your power outlets and cords to diagnose the problem.
• What a multimeter is (and how it can help you troubleshoot your TV’s condition).
• And so much more…

Why is my Samsung TV blinking red light?

Your Samsung TV’s blinking a red light due to a power supply issue. A storm surge, burnt wire/outlet, or outage causes this. Another reason is connection issues with your HDMI cable or a software glitch. Lastly, a blinking red light can mean a faulty power board and LED light or a swollen capacitor.

Samsung TV red light blinking: 7 ways to fix it

#1: Restart your Samsung TV

Let’s start with the easiest fix.

In most cases, a simple restart can solve your red light blinking issue.

Why?

Because the red light can simply mean your TV has a software glitch.

“How long does it take to restart my Samsung TV?”

Don’t worry. It doesn’t take a minute to do.

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Press the power button on your Samsung TV remote.
2. Wait for 30 seconds.
3. Turn your TV back on and see if it solves the problem.

#2: Do a power cycle reset

If a simple restart didn’t solve your issue, don’t worry.

The next best step is to do a power cycle or soft reboot.

How does it work?

First, you drain all the power from your TV by unplugging it from your outlet.

Then, after an hour, you plug it back in to jumpstart all your TV’s nerves and turn it back to normal.

You know the feeling you get when you take a cold shower after waking up?

Your body feels alive and alert, right?

The purpose of a soft reboot follows a similar concept.

Waking your TV up just might fix its glitchy red light blinking issue.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Unplug your TV.
2. Leave it unplugged for 1 hour.
3. Plug your TV back into its power source.
4. Check if the red light’s still blinking.

If it isn’t anymore, great!

But if not, don’t fret.

This means the issue may lie with your TV’s connection ports.

Read also:

#3: Disconnect your HDMI cable

When you have a gaming console like Xbox or PlayStation hooked to your TV, let’s just say…

Things can get a little complicated.

How so?

Put it this way.

If you recently played a game on your Xbox and didn’t switch back to your TV’s source input after…

This can lead to a connection issue.

Say, for instance, your Xbox uses the HDMI 2 source input, while your TV uses HDMI 1.

After using your gaming console…

You forget to switch back to your TV’s HDMI 1 source.

And as a result, the next day, a red blinking light might appear.

Now, you’re probably wondering how this is possible.

Well…

The red blinking light also means your TV isn’t in the right source.

Related read: 7 Easy Ways To Change Input On Samsung TV

However, this isn’t the only reason.

Sometimes, it could mean your HDMI cable’s faulty or damaged.

And if that’s the case, you need to buy a new cable to fix your red blinking light problem.

Alternatively, you can also do this:

1. First, disconnect your HDMI cable.
2. Plug it back in after a few seconds.
3. Select the source your HDMI cable’s plugged into.
4. Check if the red light is still blinking.

#4: Plug your Samsung TV into another outlet

In times of a storm surge or power outage, your outlets take considerable damage.

Worst case, your outlet blows up and you’ll see black marks around it.

What does that mean?

Put simply, it indicates your outlet’s fried to a crisp like chicken on a Henny Penny fryer.

As mentioned earlier, the red blinking light on your Samsung TV is mostly due to a power supply issue.

That means it’s important to check your outlets for any damage too.

In other words…

Is your outlet supplying electricity to your TV?

Here’s how to check whether or not it is:

Note: You can use an extension cord for this.

1. Plug your TV into another power outlet.
2. Turn it on.
3. Check if the red light’s blinking.

If your TV works fine, it means your original power outlet needs repairing.

Basically, the wires inside your outlet are damaged and can’t supply electricity to your TV.

“What if my TV still shows a red blinking light?”

In that case, mi amigo, it could be your TV’s hardware that’s causing the issue.

Or, it could be an external device like a plug or cable that’s faulty.

Not to worry, though.

The next section will go over this thoroughly.

#5: Use a multimeter to check your shorted TV parts

For this fix, you’ll need a multimeter.

What it does is it helps you identify if your power outlet or device is functioning properly.

How does it work?

By measuring the electrical value of your devices or outlets.

For example, you can use a multimeter to get a reading of your laptop’s power cord.

Most of these cords should have at least 120V to prove they’re functioning properly.

Using your multimeter, you can tell if your power cord supplies 120V or…

If it’s dead, you should get a reading below the expected output or 0V.

In this scenario, we’ll use a multimeter to get a reading of your TV’s power cord.

This way, you should be able to tell which TV component is damaged or not.

You might also like: (13 Fixes) My Samsung TV Keeps Turning Off Every 5 Seconds

How to use a multimeter to check your TV’s power/AC cord

First things first.

I recommend using either of the 2 multimeters below for first-time users:

• Fluke 117.
• Fluke 17B+.

From here, make sure to set your multimeter to its continuity function.

The function is represented by a sound wave symbol.

It’s also located beside the Ohm symbol (Ω) in your multimeter.

“Wait – what does continuity mean?”

I’m glad you asked.

Put simply, the continuity function tells you if…

Your outlet or component (cord/cable) is open or short-circuited.

A short circuit translates to no electricity.

In other words, your outlet or component needs to be replaced or repaired.

Now, let’s proceed to the steps:

1. Insert the red cable into one of the prongs of your TV’s power cord.
2. Attach the black cable to your plug (make sure it touches the metal part).
3. Check your multimeter reading.
4. If there’s an electrical connection passing through, you’ll hear a beep.

No beeping sound? it means your power cord’s the issue.

And in that case, you have to replace your TV’s cord.

To check your power board and LED backlights, you’ll need to remove your TV’s back panel.

You can use this video as a guide to help you check if your power board’s working:

However, if you don’t have technical experience, it’s better to call an electrician.

From here, you should be able to get an accurate assessment of whether…

• The TV power board is damaged.
• Your LED lights need to be replaced.

Check out: 9 Easy Ways To Fix Samsung TV Black Screen of Death

#6: Replace your surge protector

If all your TV’s components are fine, then it might be your surge protection device (SPD).

What does it do?

Basically, an SPD protects your devices from voltage spikes and power surges.

It’s also called a surge protector.

Without it, any excess voltage or surge can cause permanent damage to the device along with:

• Reduced lifespan.
• Burnt wiring or outlet.

To check if your surge protector’s working properly, follow these steps:

1. Plug another device into your surge protector.
2. Check if it operates properly or turns on.
3. If it doesn’t, buy a new surge protector.

#7: Contact Samsung support

If none of the fixes above worked, you need to call Samsung.

In the event your warranty hasn’t expired, you can ask for a replacement easily.

However, most TV warranties only last for a year.

Then again, if you have Samsung Care+, you’d pay a lot less be it a repair or replacement.

In addition, it’s useful after your manufacturer warranty expires.

Imagine your TV breaks down after 1 year.

By this time, your warranty’s no longer active.

But if you have Samsung Care+, think of it like an extended warranty package.

“Wait – how does it work?”

Put it this way.

Samsung Care+ allows you to get better access to:

• Repairs.
• Replacements.
• Shipping perks.

To be more specific, Samsung covers the shipping of any damaged device.

As for the repairs and replacements, you still pay a service fee, however…

The overall charged fees are much cheaper.

If there’s a VIP club for getting 24/7 support for Samsung, this is it.

And in times where your TV’s damaged due to a storm surge, well…

It’s quite possible that Samsung will even replace that for free.

But don’t take my word for it.

It’s best to read more about what Samsung Care+ offers and at the same time…

What their service technician says about your TV’s condition.

“Do I really need to call Samsung?”

If you have technical background or experience with TVs and soldering, then…

You can inspect the inside components of your TV yourself.

However, for those without any experience, the worst that could happen is you…

• Tamper with the other internal components, which voids your warranty.
• Forget the proper placement when re-assembling your TV, causing further damage.

Now, in some cases, the repair costs might be steep.

In effect, it’s much better to buy a new Samsung TV rather than spend a ton of repair and service fees.