Connect Bluetooth headphones to a Samsung TV (2020–2026 menus)

Where Bluetooth headphones pair on a Samsung TV

Samsung TVs pair Bluetooth headphones from Bluetooth Speaker List, under Sound Output. The list’s name says “speaker”, but Samsung uses it for all Bluetooth audio devices, including headphones and soundbars. Put the headphones in pairing mode, open the list, and select them.

Bluetooth audio isn’t available on every model or in every region. If Bluetooth Speaker List isn’t in your Sound Output menu, your TV can’t pair Bluetooth headphones this way.

Pair your headphones

1. Put the headphones into pairing mode, following their own instructions. Being switched on isn’t always the same as being ready to pair.
2. Bring them close to the TV.
3. Open Bluetooth Speaker List using the path for your TV’s year.
4. Select the headphones when they appear, then follow the prompts on the TV.
5. Play something and check that the sound comes through the headphones.

If the headphones don’t appear, move them closer to the TV and select Scan (2025–2026 TVs) or Refresh (2020–2024 TVs).

Reconnect them next time

When you switch on headphones that are already paired, the TV detects them and shows a pop-up. Use it to switch the headphones on or off as the TV’s audio output.

On 2025–2026 TVs, Auto-Connect Bluetooth (All Settings → Connections → Auto-Connect Bluetooth) reconnects the last Bluetooth audio device you used. The EU e-manual calls it Auto-Con. Bluetooth. It isn’t on every model.

Hear the TV speaker and headphones together

To let one person use headphones while others listen to the TV speaker, use Multi-output Audio. It plays sound from both at once, and the headphone volume can be set higher than the speaker. On 2023–2026 TVs it’s at All Settings → General & Privacy → Accessibility → Multi-output Audio. Not every model supports it.

Some 2022–2026 models can also connect two Bluetooth audio devices at once. Samsung notes the TV may limit Bluetooth audio to one device for a stable game service.

If the headphones won’t connect

1. Check that the headphones are in pairing mode and close to the TV.
2. Select Scan or Refresh again.
3. On 2022–2026 TVs, run the TV’s Bluetooth check: Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → Bluetooth. It checks whether the TV’s Bluetooth module is working. It doesn’t test whether a particular pair of headphones is compatible.

If the TV’s check passes and the headphones still won’t pair, contact the headphone maker or Samsung support. Have both model numbers ready.

If sound breaks up or lags behind the picture

Samsung lists distance, obstructions such as walls, and interference from devices on the same frequency band (microwave ovens and wireless networks, for example) as causes of dropouts. Move closer to the TV and clear the line between you. Using several Bluetooth audio and input devices at the same time can also make sound choppy.

Bluetooth can also cause lip-sync errors. If a delay persists, Samsung recommends a wired connection instead: the optical (DIGITAL AUDIO OUT) port or HDMI (eARC/ARC), which may mean using a soundbar or wired headphones rather than Bluetooth headphones. For HDMI audio problems, see Samsung HDMI ARC has no sound.

Common questions

Can I use Galaxy Buds with my Samsung TV?

Yes, like other Bluetooth headphones. On 2024–2026 TVs, Samsung adds that if a call comes in, the Buds switch to your phone and the TV mutes. They reconnect to the TV after the call, but only when the TV and phone use the same Samsung account.

Can the TV speaker play at the same time as the headphones?

Only with Multi-output Audio, on models that support it. Samsung describes it as the option that turns on both the TV speaker and Bluetooth headphones at once.