Compatibility & scope
Based on Samsung's EU English e-manuals for M- to H-series TVs (as listed on Samsung UK support pages) and the US English 2023 e-manual, with the 2022 and 2024 US manuals checked for the key table. Manuals are shared by many models; the covers don't list every model. The key mapping follows the manual for the TV's software, not the model year: the 2023 US manual and every later manual list F1 as power, while the 2022 manuals list F1–F4 as colour buttons. UK C-series TVs are covered only by a 2025 revision of their manual, which uses the newer mapping. Samsung says keyboard, mouse and gamepad support may vary by model, region, app and device, and doesn't list which apps ignore them. The gamepad list is summarised, not reproduced. Documentation reviewed; no TV, keyboard, mouse or gamepad tested for this article.
In this guide
What you can connect
You can control a Samsung smart TV with a USB or Bluetooth keyboard. Plug a USB keyboard into a USB port on the TV, or pair a Bluetooth one from the TV’s Bluetooth device list. The keyboard moves around the menus, and the F keys work as remote buttons. What else you can use depends on your TV’s menu layout:
| Your TV’s menu | Keyboard | Mouse | Gamepad |
|---|---|---|---|
| External Device Manager has Keyboard Manager (2017 M-series TVs) | Yes | Not documented | Not documented |
| External Device Manager has Input Device Manager, under Settings → General (2018–2021 TVs: N, R, T and A series) | Yes | Pointer only in the Internet app | From the 2019 R-series manual onwards |
| Home shows a Menu item (2022 B-series TVs) | Yes | Pointer only in the Internet app | Yes |
| Left directional button opens the menu (2023–2026 manuals) | Yes | Internet app and Workspace only in the 2023 manual; from the 2024 manuals it works more widely, but not in some apps | Yes |
The biggest difference for keyboard users is F1, and it follows the TV’s software and the manual written for it, not the model year. In the manuals for 2022 (B-series) and older TVs, F1 to F4 are the red, green, yellow and blue colour buttons. In the 2023 US manual and every later manual Samsung lists, F1 turns the TV on or off and F2 to F4 do other jobs (see Keyboard shortcuts). In these manuals, every TV whose menu opens with the left directional button uses the newer mapping. Samsung notes that keys may behave differently in some apps.
Connect a USB keyboard, mouse or gamepad
Plug the cable into a USB port on the TV. There is nothing to pair.
On 2019 and later TVs, Samsung’s manuals point to an on-screen guide for input devices. On newer menus it’s at Home → left directional button → Connected Devices → Connection Guide → Input Device. Older menus reach the Connection Guide from Source (2019–2021) or Menu → Connected Devices (2022).
Pair a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse or gamepad
- Put the keyboard, mouse or gamepad into pairing mode. Samsung refers you to the device’s own manual for this step.
- On the TV, open the Bluetooth list for your menu layout (table below).
- Select your device when it appears.
- If it doesn’t appear, move it close to the TV and select Refresh (Scan on the newest menus). The TV searches again.
| Your TV’s menu | Where to pair |
|---|---|
| Settings → General → External Device Manager has Keyboard Manager (2017) | Home → Settings → General → External Device Manager → Keyboard Manager → Add Bluetooth Keyboard |
| Settings → General → External Device Manager has Input Device Manager (2018–2021) | Home → Settings → General → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Bluetooth Device List |
| Home shows a Menu item (2022) | Home → Menu → Settings → All Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Bluetooth Device List |
| Left directional button opens the menu, and All Settings has no Advanced Features | Home → left directional button → Settings → All Settings → Connection → Bluetooth Device List (Bluetooth devices in the 2024 manuals) |
| Left directional button opens the menu, and All Settings has Advanced Features | Home → left directional button → Settings → All Settings → Connections → Bluetooth |
The fourth layout is in Samsung’s US manual for 2023 TVs, the 2024 US manual and the UK manual for some small and budget models (such as the UE32H5000F and UE24F6000F). The fifth is in the UK manuals for C-, D-, F- and H-series TVs and the US manuals for 2025–2026. The 2017 manual only covers Bluetooth keyboards, and says this isn’t available on every model in every region.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Older mapping (2017–2022 manuals) | Newer mapping (2023 US manual and later) |
|---|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move the focus | Move the focus |
| Enter | Select the highlighted item | Select the highlighted item |
| Esc | Go back | Go back. On the newest menus (with Advanced Features), press and hold to close what’s running |
| Windows key | Open the TV’s settings | Not listed |
| Number keys | Not listed | Enter numbers |
| F1 | Red colour button | Turn the TV on or off |
| F2 | Green colour button | Cycle through the Settings menu, number pad and Option pad (and the SmartThings app, from the 2024 manuals) |
| F3 | Yellow colour button | Play/Pause |
| F4 | Blue colour button | Open the Settings screen |
| F5 | Home screen | Home screen |
| F6 | Source screen | Sources screen |
| F7 | Channel List | Channel List |
| F8 | Mute | Mute |
| F9 / F10 | Volume | Volume |
| F11 / F12 | Channel | Channel |
| Page Up / Page Down | Scroll a web page in the Internet app | Scroll a web page in the Internet (Browser) app |
Samsung lists F9/F10 and F11/F12 as pairs for volume and channel without saying which key goes up or down. The column you need follows the TV’s software, not the year on the box: the 2022 manuals still list the colour buttons, and every manual from 2023 on lists power. UK C-series (2023) TVs are documented only in a 2025 revision of their manual, which uses the newer mapping.
Using a mouse
- 2018–2022 menus: the mouse pointer works only in the Internet app. A USB mouse can also be used for Remote Access (2019–2020), PC on TV (2021) or Workspace (2022). In the Internet app, left-click opens a link, and right-click offers Open, Open Link in New Tab and Enable Scroll Mode.
- 2023 US manual: still the Internet app and Workspace only.
- 2024–2026 manuals: left-click selects and runs an item, though Samsung says this doesn’t work in some apps. Right-click brings up shortcut buttons such as Return and Home; which ones appear depends on the screen.
Change keyboard and mouse settings
You can set the keyboard language and type, and the mouse’s primary button and pointer speed (plus pointer size, from the 2024 manuals).
| Your TV’s menu | Where the settings are |
|---|---|
| 2017 (Keyboard Manager) | Home → Settings → General → External Device Manager → Keyboard Manager (keyboard only) |
| 2018–2021 (Input Device Manager) | Home → Settings → General → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Keyboard Settings or Mouse Settings |
| Home shows a Menu item (2022) | Home → Menu → Settings → All Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager |
| Left directional button, no Advanced Features | Home → left directional button → Settings → All Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager |
| Left directional button, with Advanced Features | Home → left directional button → Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Keyboard and Mouse |
Using a gamepad
Samsung supports gamepads in XInput mode, by USB or Bluetooth. The 2021 and later manuals add:
- Up to four gamepads at once, however they’re connected.
- From the 2022 manuals: with one Bluetooth audio device connected (such as headphones), up to two Bluetooth gamepads; with two, Samsung recommends USB gamepads.
- A supported-controller list that includes Xbox, PlayStation (DualShock 4 and DualSense), Logitech, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Luna and others, with Nintendo Switch Pro and Joy-Con controllers from the 2023 manuals. Some controllers are supported only by USB or only by Bluetooth, so check the list in your TV’s e-manual.
- Xbox controllers may need a firmware update. The controller’s 3.5 mm audio jack doesn’t work with the TV.
- A controller connected over Wi-Fi (for cloud gaming) can’t move around the TV’s menus.
The 2021–2026 manuals map the controller like this:
| On the gamepad | On the TV |
|---|---|
| Left stick or D-pad | Move around |
| Right stick | Up/down: volume. Left/right: channel. Press: mute |
| A (Cross on PlayStation) | Select |
| B (Circle on PlayStation) | Back; press and hold to exit |
| Home | Smart Hub home, or the Gaming Hub where available (2022 and later) |
| X (Square on PlayStation) | Number buttons |
| Left and right sticks held together | Turn the TV off (it can’t turn the TV on). The newest manuals say some models go into Art Mode instead |
If it doesn’t work
- The Bluetooth device isn’t listed: check it’s in pairing mode, move it close to the TV and select Refresh or Scan. Samsung says Bluetooth input devices may not be supported on every model or in every region.
- It works in the menus but not in an app: Samsung says keyboards, mice and gamepads may not be supported by some apps, and keys can behave differently. The manuals don’t list which apps.
- The mouse pointer does nothing outside the web browser: on 2018–2022 menus (and in the 2023 US manual), that’s expected. The pointer works only in the Internet app.
- F1 switched the TV off instead of pressing the red button: your TV uses the newer key mapping. Use the remote’s colour buttons instead; Samsung lists no colour-button keys in that mapping.
- A fifth gamepad won’t connect: the limit is four. Disconnect one first.
Sources & scope
Pages 40–44
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for the QE65QN70HAU and other H-series TVs. Consulted: Controlling the TV with a Keyboard, Mouse or Gamepad, the keyboard and mouse key table, Using the Gamepad, Using the controller and Setting up the input devices. Path icons and the right-click shortcut icons checked visually on pages 40–41; controller table checked on page 43.
Pages 38–42
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for C-series TVs such as the UE85CU7110K. Same paths and key table as the H-series manual. The UK manual for D- and F-series TVs (BN81-27185C-660, pages 38–42) matches it.
Pages 31–35
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for small and budget models such as the UE32H5000FK, UE24F6000FK and QE40Q5FAA. Input Device Manager under Connection; Bluetooth pairing under Connection → Bluetooth devices; F1 = power. Path icons checked visually on page 31. The 2024 US manual (BN81-25561A-820, pages 31–36) matches it.
Pages 33–35, 38
View sourceSamsung US download for the QN65QN90CAFXZA. The first manual in this set with F1 = power and the new F2–F4 keys (no SmartThings app on F2 yet). Mouse still limited to the Internet app and Workspace. First gamepad list with Nintendo controllers.
Pages 40–44
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for B-series TVs such as the QE50LS03BGU. Paths start Home → Menu. F1–F4 are still the colour buttons. Path icons checked visually on page 40. The 2022 US manual (BN81-22795A-690, page 45) has the same key table.
Pages 31–34
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for A-series TVs such as the UE50AU9070U. First manual in this set with the four-gamepad limit, the supported gamepad list and the controller button table.
Pages 33–35
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for T-series TVs such as the QE55Q90TAT. The budget T-series manual (KT2DVBEUT-2.4.0, pages 20–22) matches it. Path icons and the colour-button key row checked visually on pages 33–34.
Pages 46–48
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for R-series TVs such as the UE50RU7410U. First manual in this set that mentions gamepads (XInput USB gamepads).
Pages 52–54
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for N-series TVs such as the QE65Q7FNAT. Keyboard and mouse only; Input Device Manager. The small N-series manual (KSFDVBEUN-1.2.0, pages 32–33) matches it.
Pages 39–40
View sourceSamsung UK download listed for M-series and some N-series TVs. PDF page numbers; the printed page numbers are 6 lower (33–34). Keyboard only, through Keyboard Manager. Colour order of F1–F4 (red, green, yellow, blue) checked visually on page 39.
These instructions are based on manufacturer documentation. They have not been device-tested for this guide.
Based on Samsung's EU English e-manuals for M- to H-series TVs (as listed on Samsung UK support pages) and the US English 2023 e-manual, with the 2022 and 2024 US manuals checked for the key table. Manuals are shared by many models; the covers don't list every model. The key mapping follows the manual for the TV's software, not the model year: the 2023 US manual and every later manual list F1 as power, while the 2022 manuals list F1–F4 as colour buttons. UK C-series TVs are covered only by a 2025 revision of their manual, which uses the newer mapping. Samsung says keyboard, mouse and gamepad support may vary by model, region, app and device, and doesn't list which apps ignore them. The gamepad list is summarised, not reproduced. Documentation reviewed; no TV, keyboard, mouse or gamepad tested for this article.
