Samsung TV Self Diagnosis: run the picture, sound, HDMI, signal and remote tests

Where the tests are

Samsung TVs have a built-in Self Diagnosis menu that tests the picture, the sound, HDMI connections, the TV signal and (on newer TVs) the remote. It’s under Support in the Settings menu, not under All Settings:

Your TV’s menu	Path to Self Diagnosis
Settings → Support has no Device Care item (2017–2019 TVs: M, N and R series)	Home → Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis
Settings → Support → Device Care (2020–2021 TVs: T and A series)	Home → Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis
Home shows a Menu item (2022 B-series TVs)	Home → Menu → Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis
Left directional button opens the menu (2023–2026 TVs)	Home → left directional button → Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis

Each test checks one part of the TV. If a test looks normal, Samsung’s advice is usually to look at the connected device, the cable or the signal next.

Which tests your TV has

The names and the list changed over the years. Samsung’s manuals list these:

Your TV’s Self Diagnosis menu	Picture	Sound	HDMI	TV signal	Remote
No Device Care step (2017–2019 TVs)	Start Picture Test	Start Sound Test	none	Signal Information	none
Under Device Care (2020–2021 TVs)	Video Test and Picture Test	Sound Test	HDMI Troubleshooting	Signal Information	none
2022 B-series TVs, Samsung’s US manuals for 2023–2024 TVs and the UK manual for some small and budget models (such as the UE32H5000F)	Video Test and Picture Test	Sound Test	HDMI Troubleshooting, HDMI Signal, HDMI-CEC Check	Broadcast Signal	Remote Control
The UK manuals for C-, D-, F- and H-series TVs and the US manuals for 2025–2026 TVs	Video Test and Picture Test	Sound Test	HDMI Test	Broadcast Signal	Remote Control

The budget 2020 T-series manual (TU7xxx, T4300 and T5300) lists Picture Test but no Video Test. Every list also has a Smart Hub Connection Test for the network, and the 2022–2026 lists add checks for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, the microphone and sensors, plus the software version. For the network, see the Samsung Wi-Fi guide.

Picture Test and Video Test

What they check: the TV’s own screen. Picture Test shows test photos and Video Test plays test videos. Samsung describes both as checking for problems with the screen. Samsung says to run the Picture Test to find out whether a picture problem is caused by the TV itself, before you look at anything else.

How to run it: select the test in Self Diagnosis. In the 2020–2022 manuals’ walk-through, select OK when a message appears and follow the on-screen instructions. The 2020 manuals then show Picture Test Complete with a Close button.

Reading the result:

• The test picture looks normal, or the problem disappears during the test: the TV’s screen is probably fine. Samsung says to check the connected device and its connections, then the TV signal (see Signal Information below).
• The test picture doesn’t appear, or shows noise or distortion: the 2017–2021 manuals say the TV may have a problem and to contact Samsung.

For a screen that keeps dimming or flickering, the Picture Test is one step in a longer fix: see Samsung TV screen keeps dimming or flickering.

Sound Test

What it checks: the TV’s own speakers. It plays a test melody (test sounds, in the 2022–2026 manuals).

Reading the result:

• The melody plays without distortion: the TV’s speakers are working. Samsung says the problem may then be the external device or the broadcast signal’s strength.
• The test reveals a problem: the 2022 manual’s next step is Reset Sound, under Sound → Expert Settings, which returns the sound settings to their defaults.

The full no-sound procedure, including Sound Output and the external device checks, is in Samsung TV has picture but no sound.

HDMI checks

These check a device connected by HDMI, such as a console, streaming stick or set-top box:

• HDMI Troubleshooting (the 2020–2021 lists, and the lists that also have HDMI Signal): select the HDMI port, and the TV checks whether the HDMI cable is connected properly. Samsung says it takes about 2 minutes. In the UK C-, D-, F- and H-series manuals and the US 2025–2026 manuals, it’s only in the Connection Guide; see the HDMI guide linked below for that path.
• HDMI Signal and HDMI-CEC Check (2022 B-series, US 2023–2024 and the UK small and budget manual): check the device’s signals, signal history and connection, and look for an HDMI-CEC connection that isn’t working properly.
• HDMI Test (UK C-, D-, F- and H-series manuals and US 2025–2026 manuals): Samsung says it checks the device’s signal, the signal history and the HDMI cable connection, and looks for an HDMI-CEC connection that isn’t working properly.

The 2017–2019 manuals have no HDMI test.

If the device shows no picture, “Mode Not Supported” or no HDR, see Samsung TV no picture from HDMI. If a device doesn’t appear in Anynet+ or doesn’t follow the TV’s power, see Samsung Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).

Signal Information and Broadcast Signal

What it checks: the strength and condition of the TV signal from your aerial or cable connection. It’s called Signal Information in the 2017–2021 manuals and Broadcast Signal from 2022.

It only works on a digital channel. If you can’t select it, switch to a digital TV channel first. Samsung says it’s only available for digital channels, so run it while watching TV through the TV’s own aerial or cable connection.

How to use it:

• With an aerial: Samsung says you can use the signal strength reading to adjust the aerial for better reception.
• “Weak or No Signal”, or no channels: if you watch through a set-top box or cable box, Samsung says to check that box’s own signal or network connection instead; the TV’s signal check doesn’t cover it.
• Some channels are missing: check that the aerial or cable is plugged firmly into the TV. Samsung’s next step is to scan for channels again with Auto Tuning, found under Broadcasting in the TV’s settings (inside General & Privacy on newer TVs; it’s called Auto Program on US TVs). Samsung says you don’t need it if a cable or satellite box supplies your channels. On US TVs, Samsung warns that Auto Program deletes the saved channel list and replaces it with the channels it finds. The manuals don’t describe the scan itself, and the options can differ by model and region.

Samsung also uses this check after the other two tests. If the Picture Test looks normal, or the Sound Test melody is clean but programmes still look or sound wrong, a weak signal is the next thing to check.

Remote Control

What it checks: the Samsung Smart Remote’s connection to the TV and its buttons. It’s in the 2022–2026 lists only. Samsung notes it may not be supported on every model.

You’ll need a way to reach the menu while the remote isn’t working, such as a phone already set up as a remote. To re-pair the remote, charge it or check its battery, see Pair a Samsung Smart Remote.

If a test shows a fault

• Write down what you saw (the test name and what went wrong) and your TV’s model code. Samsung’s 2020–2022 manuals ask you to pin down exactly what is wrong with the screen, for example blocks, lines or white dots.
• Contact Samsung support if the Picture Test or Sound Test itself fails. Apart from Reset Sound after a failed Sound Test, the manuals don’t offer a home fix for a failed test.
• Don’t start with a factory reset. It doesn’t repair hardware. In these troubleshooting steps, Samsung lists it only for missing channels and for sound problems that persist after the other checks. If you do decide on one, read how to factory reset a Samsung TV first, because it clears your settings.

Common questions

Picture Test or Video Test: which should I run?

Either checks the screen. Picture Test uses still test photos and Video Test plays test videos, and from 2020 most TVs list both. Samsung’s troubleshooting pages refer to the Picture Test.

Do the tests change any settings?

Samsung doesn’t say the tests change any settings. The Self Diagnosis menu also has Reset Smart Hub (and, on 2017–2018 TVs, Reset), except in the UK C-, D-, F- and H-series and US 2025–2026 manuals, where Reset Smart Hub is one level up, under Device Care. Those do erase settings, so don’t select them by mistake.