In case you have never run into this situation, let me tell you how frustrating it can be. All you want to do is sit and watch some of your favorite content on the Samsung smart TV you so meticulously purchased, but all you get to see is “can’t connect to server” on your screen.
For example, when you’re watching a video on your smart TV and receive an error message that reads “Unable to connect to Samsung server. Please try again later (189)”. The TV is not loading the content you want to see.
When you get error code 189 on a Samsung Smart TV, it means that the TV can’t connect to the Samsung server. This is often due to a problem with your home network.
If you’re having trouble connecting to the Samsung server, there are a few things you can try. First, check to see if the Samsung server is offline and if this is affecting your connection. If the Samsung server is running well, close any open applications that use your internet connection and then restart your computer. If restarting your TV doesn’t work, you may need to update your device’s security software or contact Samsung for more help.
For instance, you are encountering an error 198 while using the server. This means that there is no connection between your internet and the server — or there is something wrong with your home network.
If you have ever seen the ‘Unable to connect to the Samsung server’ error message, you are certainly not alone. This problem is one of the most common problems with Samsung Smart TVs and users around the globe like you have found this guide extremely helpful.
Unable to Connect to Samsung Server – Troubleshoot and Diagnosis
If you have an internet connection, odds are you can connect to the Samsung server. The Samsung TV can have a lot of reasons why it can’t connect to the server. Some of them are:
- SmartHub Password Issue: If you’re experiencing problems with your smart hub, try changing your device’s password. Many users have had success doing this — it can’t hurt.
- Wrong DNS: Modern smart TVs are equipped with different types of TV DNS settings, which is why they offer the possibility to adjust them to any website or service. For example, if you have set up incorrect DNS address on your TV, you might come across an error message. You can solve this by setting up the correct address on your smart TV.
- Firmware needs to be Updated: Some users report that older firmware is the root of their problem, as it can make smart TVs incompatible with the latest streaming media protocols. However, newer versions are generally easier to use, and they tend to be more stable than older ones.
- Corrupted Data: Internal data corruption is often caused by bugs of the smart hub — If you have a smart hub, make sure it’s up-to-date! If you’ve experienced loss of smart hub data, then back up all your information immediately and try to restore it.
- Slow/Unstable Internet Connection: Slow internet connection may have been the reason why you got the error message. To get rid of this problem, you can change to a faster internet connection or use the internet on another device.
- The server is Offline: You’re likely getting this error when the Samsung Smart TV server is offline — you’ll be unable to access any streaming services or apps until the service comes back online.
When you experience Samsung TV error code 189 on your Samsung Smart TV, there is no need to panic. You can troubleshoot the issue with a few tips and tricks.
Solution 1: Check Internet connection
If your Samsung TV is not able to connect to the internet or if it is taking ages to access the web, the reason could be a weak WiFi signal or a faulty WiFi router. Try using a different WiFi connection or a wired Ethernet connection.
If the internet connection issues are only with the television, try connecting to another device (e.g., a phone or laptop). If the internet works just fine on other devices, then the problem is not related to the internet connection or your router. The TV might be having problems connecting to the server and can be fixed by reconnecting to WiFi and restarting it.
Solution 2: Do a Soft Reset
Soft resetting your smart TV is super easy, and it’ll save you a lot of frustration in the future. If your screen stays black or won’t display anything or it is not able to connect to the internet, soft resetting is the way to go. It’s fast and easy. It’s a fix that has worked for millions of people all over the world — do it first before you begin troubleshooting further.
Soft resetting resets your device just like a hard reset, but without having to unplug it or worry about loosing any data. It’s generally used when your device freezes or a program crashes.
When the TV is malfunctioning, you can perform a soft reset by following these instructions:
- Press and hold the power button on the Samsung television remote.
- Release the power button when the television reboots.
- Once the television returns to normal, check if the issue no longer exists.
Solution 3: Sign Out and Sign in From SmartHub
If you’re having trouble with your Samsung Smart Hub, try signing out of your account and then signing back in again. This may resolve the issue by restarting the sync process between your TV and the Smart Hub. For some reason, you might be logged in but the two separate apps aren’t syncing with each other.
It’s also possible that your account is syncing with multiple smart hubs or TV apps — signing out and signing back in will tell the platform which account to sync with. So to do this:
- Navigate to the “Settings” section in the menu, then go to the General tab.
- Once there, select “Samsung Account“, then “My Account.” Finally, press the “Select” button on the remote to highlight your account and then “Sign out.”
- After resetting your smart hub, re-sign into your account by highlighting it and agreeing to all terms and conditions.
Once you’ve done that, wait 10 – 15 minutes for the TV to sync with your Samsung Account. Then, go back to the section where you were experiencing the issue, and check if it’s still there.
Solution 4: Change DNS Server
To fix the problem, we have to update your TV’s DNS server number. To check your network, first tap on the Menu button on your TV remote. Then, select Network and see if it’s connected to a known wireless network or is off-line.
You cannot connect to the Internet even though you’re connected to the wireless network. This is likely due to your connection issues and you should see a pop-up that says you’re connected to the wireless network but not the Internet.
In order to fix this, you need to edit your DNS server settings. To do this, click on the “IP Settings” link found at the bottom of this pop-up. Then scroll down and find the “DNS Server” option. If your DNS server is not set to 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4, change it to one of those.
Solution 5: Reset Router/Modem
If you have issues with your router or modem, it could affect the connectivity of your Samsung TV to the Internet.
All you have to do is unplug the router for a few seconds, plug it back in and it should be able to connect to the Internet again.
If there’s no picture on your Samsung TV, your internet connection may be down (but this is usually a rare occasion). If this is the case, try running an internet connection test. You can also attempt to move your router closer to the TV or hold each end of the cable in turn and see if that makes a difference.
Sometimes, you have to reset your router when things go wrong. In fact, you may find that you need to keep doing it every couple of weeks, or even more often if there are a lot of people in your household with devices that generate a lot of traffic. A hard reset should solve any minor glitches that would otherwise prevent your router from properly connecting to the Internet or carrying out its normal functions.
Depending on the router/modem, this can be done with a button that you press in with a paper clip or ball-point pen. If you are not sure how to do this, consult the manual that came with your device.
Solution 6: Update TV Firmware
If the error persists, you can check for firmware updates by following these instructions:
- Go to Settings > Support > Software Update and enable Auto Update.
- Go to Settings > System > About Device > Update Now.
- By updating now, your TV will check for updates and install if there is an update available.
The TV may reboot during the update process. Wait for it to finish rebooting, then check if the error is gone.
Solution 7: Reset Samsung SmartHub
Smart Hub is the customizable app store for your TV. The Smart Hub allows you to access apps and entertainment on your TV. You can also browse available apps, download them, and automatically update your Smart Hub, as well as many more benefits.
A factory reset is a last resort for troubleshooting and restoring your smart home to a functional state. If you’re running into issues with your smart home device, you can use the Smart Hub to perform a factory reset and start with a clean slate. This will delete all of your saved in-app settings and personal preferences.
To reset the Smart Hub on your Samsung TV:
- Press Settings (the button on the remote with a gear icon)
- Select Support
- Select Self Diagnosis
- Click Reset Smart Hub
- Enter your TV’s four-digit PIN (this will be “0000” unless you’ve changed it previously).
After this step is complete, your Smart Hub should be reset. Now, you can connect your Samsung TV to the internet again by clicking on the “Connect Device” button in the Home Screen Menu.
Most of the time, Samsung unable to connect to server issues are due to the fact that the TV hasn’t been synced with a Samsung account. But, this issue can be prevented by regularly connecting your TV to the Internet or logging into your Samsung account.
If the problem persists, contact Samsung for assistance.
Hi there! I’m Sam Hendricks, and I’m a repair technician and expert. I created this website to help people like you save money and time by fixing your own appliances.
Over the years, I’ve seen people spend a lot of money on unnecessary repairs or replacements. That’s why I decided to share my expertise and create easy-to-follow guides for fixing appliances on your own.