It’s the weekend and you are looking forward to relaxing at home after work. You turn on your Samsung television and see that your DirecTV app is not working.
The DirecTV app not working on Samsung TV is a common occurrence for a variety of reasons. So what do you do?
There are other options available to you besides waiting around. Here are a few things you could try before calling customer support.
In this article, I will show you 9 fixes for common issues with DirecTV on your Samsung TV.
- Related Article: Why are Samsung TV Apps Not Working
1. Soft Reset or Cold Reboot the Samsung TV
Corrupted settings can affect your Samsung TV and could prevent your DirecTV streaming app from working properly.
A power cycle, or soft reset, will shut down the TV completely and stops all the background processes and apps that could be causing problems with the DirecTV app.
There are two common methods to do a restart and a cold reboot to your Samsung TV.
Method 1 – Follow these steps to soft reset a Samsung TV:
- Unplug the TV’s power cable from the wall outlet for 60 seconds.
- Plug the power cable back into the surge protector or power outlet.
- Then wait for the TV to finish restarting.
Method 2 – To cold reboot the Samsung TV:
- Unplug the Samsung TV’s power cord.
- On the Remote Control, Find, Press, and Hold the Power button for 30 seconds.
- Plug the TV back into the wall outlet.
- Wait for the TV to finish starting up.
2. Check for Samsung TV Firmware Updates
If you’re using an outdated Samsung TV, then you may need a software upgrade before you can use the latest version of the DirecTV app. It is important to do regular software updates on your Samsung TV.
New software upgrades will be released periodically by Samsung to address any issues. You should always check for updates and download them when they become available. Upgrading to the latest version of your TV firmware and software may be able to fix some issues related to your streaming services such as the DirecTV app.
You can get the latest firmware update for your Samsung TV by going into its Settings menu. You can also download an updated version of the software from the manufacturer’s website.
Follow these steps through the TV menu to update the Samsung TV firmware:
1. On the Samsung TV remote control, locate and Press Home.
2. Select Settings
3. Choose Support.
4. Select Software Update.
5. Choose Update Now.
6. The TV will automatically reboot for the new firmware to fully install and take effect.
You can also download a new version of the Samsung TV software from the Internet and install it onto a USB drive. Follow these steps:
- On your computer or laptop, go to the Samsung download page and in the search bar, look for your TV model.
- Download the most recent firmware version to your computer.
- Extract the files and move them to a USB drive.
- Insert the USB drive into one of the USB ports on the TV.
- On the TV remote, Press Home.
- Select Settings.
- Choose Support.
- Select Software Update.
- Start the Software Update Process on the TV.
- The TV will reboot and use the new firmware on the USB drive. Make sure not to unplug the USB stick until after the TV has completely booted up again.
3. Remove and Reinstall App
If DirecTV stops working properly on your streaming devices, such as your Samsung TV, then there could be an app issue causing the problem. Try uninstalling it and reinstalling it. This might be able to fix the issue.
But if there’s an available update for DirecTV, then you can try installing that instead of uninstalling the current version. If things aren’t working out you might want to delete and reinstall.
Before you remove DirecTV from your Samsung TV, be sure you have access to your current password information for your account so you don’t lose it. You will be logged out of the application and will be required to log back in.
Follow these steps on How to uninstall and reinstall DirecTV on a Samsung TV:
1. Find and Press Home on the remote control.
2. Navigate to Apps.
3. Select Settings.
4. Navigate to the DirecTV App.
5. Select Delete. If Delete is grayed out, it can’t be deleted because it’s a recommended app. Instead, Select Reinstall.
6. Press Return on the Remote.
7. Select Search.
8. In the search box, enter the DirecTV App Name.
9. Select to Install the DirecTV App.
- Find and Press Home on the remote control.
- Navigate to Apps.
- Choose Settings.
- Navigate to the DirecTV App.
- Select Delete. If Delete is grayed out, it can’t be deleted because it’s a recommended app. Instead, Select Reinstall.
- Press Return on the Remote.
- Select Search.
- In the search box, enter the DirecTV App Name.
- Select to Install the DirecTV App.
4. Slow Internet Connection
If you experience the DirecTV app freezing or having any other stream issue, it may be because of low network speed while watching on-demand content in high-definition (HD).
When streaming from DirecTV in HD video you will need at least a download speed of 5 Mbps. Meanwhile, if you want to stream 4K video, you will need a minimum internet connection speed of 50+ Mbps.
There may be several factors that cause a slow Wi-Fi connection. Here are some of the most common causes and solutions.
1. Weak Wi-Fi Signal to the Samsung TV
If the WiFi signal is poor between the Samsung TV and wireless router, then there’s a chance that internet access might sometimes fail and disconnect. This can cause some technical difficulties with your stream app.
Make sure the Wi-Fi signal from your wireless router to the streaming device is strong enough. To check whether the Wi-Fi connection is strong enough, follow these steps.
- On the Samsung TV remote, Press Home.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose General.
- Select Network.
- Select Open Network Settings.
- Choose Wireless.
- On the list of wireless connections, see how many signal bars each Wi-Fi connection has. If there are fewer than 3, then your connection is weak.
The distance between your Wi-Fi network and your Samsung TV can be the primary cause of poor Internet connectivity and inconsistent network connections.
One reason why weak WiFi signals might be present is that there could be several obstructions between the TV and the wireless router, like walls of buildings or obstacles, which can block the Wi-Fi connection.
It’ll be easier for you to move the router closer to the TV. Shortening the distance between the TV and the router will improve the quality of your Wi-Fi connections.
If moving both devices isn’t an option, then you’ll need a WiFi repeater that helps connect them together.
WiFi repeaters are also known as WiFi extenders. We picked the best ones for you and work well in smart homes. They can be found on Amazon:
2. Soft Reset the Wi-Fi Router
There could be issues with your Wi-Fi router if it hasn’t been restarted after a certain period of time. You might experience slow Internet speed or disconnects during use.
If you’re experiencing issues with your internet connection, power cycling and restarting your modem or router may be able to fix them.
To soft reset the modem or WiFi router, follow these steps:
- Unplug the Wi-Fi Router from the wall outlet and leave it unplugged for at least 60 seconds.
- Plug the Wi-Fi Router back into the wall outlet.
- Turn On the Router if there’s an On/Off switch.
- Wait a few minutes for the Router to boot up and connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
3. Try a Wired Connection
You might need to check if your router is having trouble sharing the internet through the wireless network. Wired connections are more dependable than wireless connections, and they’re easier to fix.
You will need to use a wired Ethernet cable to connect your Samsung smart TV. While using a wired connection, you can test your internet connection from your router.
Follow these simple steps to connect and use a wired internet connection with your Samsung TV:
- Plug the ethernet cable from the LAN port on the back of the Samsung smart TV to a LAN port on the router or modem.
- On the Samsung TV remote control, Press Home.
- Choose Settings.
- Select General.
- ChooseNetwork.
- Choose OK for the TV to use the wired network to access the internet.
If you have an internet connection, the Wi‑Fi wireless function from your Wi‑Fi routers may be having issues. If none of these things don’t work, then you might have to update the firmware, perform a factory restore, or change the Wi-Fi adaptor.
4. Disconnect Other Devices from the Wi-Fi Network
Connecting multiple devices to a single wireless router can cause them to slow down the overall speed of the network.
If you have four smartphones, 3 tablets, and 3 laptops connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the internet speeds for each device will be extremely slow and cause streaming issues.
That’s especially true if all of them are streaming HD video content from different streaming platforms.
Older Wi-Fi routers and modem models often struggle when it comes to handling multiple simultaneous connections.
To get faster speeds on your Samsung TV, turn off any other devices connected to the Wi-Fi router. Then connect your Samsung TV back to the Wi-Fi connection again and see if you get better speeds.
So if this solves your slow internet issues, then it means that it was actually a network issue caused by an outdated Wi-Fi router. Consider buying a new wireless device that can handle multiple connections at once.
5. Change DNS Server
Sometimes unstable network connections can cause issues while streaming content on the Samsung television. The issues can be caused by incorrect DNS configuration settings from the ISP.
The Samsung smart TV will usually use the DNS settings from your internet provider, but you can modify them to other DNS servers that might be better. This way, you can have a better and faster browsing experience.
If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has its own DNS server, you may experience issues when trying to access DirecTV services. However, you can use Google’s Public DNS service which is a popular option for a more reliable internet connection.
To manually set up the DNS settings and change it to Google’s Public DNS service, follow these steps:
- On the Samsung TV remote control, Find and press Home.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose General.
- Select Network.
- Select Network Status.
- Select IP Settings.
- Choose DNS Setting.
- Choose Enter Manually.
- Select DNS Server.
- Input 8.8.8.8.
- Reopen and reconnect to the DirecTV app again.
6. Reset Smart Hub on Samsung TV
Another app that you’re signed into on your Samsung Smart TV could be interfering with DirecTV and causing an issue.
Resetting the smart hub on the Samsung TV may be able to resolve the issue by signing out of all of the applications. Before performing a smart hub reset, it’s important to ensure you have all the login credentials for each app stored somewhere safe. After the reset, you will be prompted to log back in again.
For more recent Samsung Smart TV models made after 2020, follow these steps:
- On the remote control, Find and press Home.
- Select Settings.
- ChooseSupport.
- Choose Service Care.
- Choose Self Diagnosis.
- Select Reset Smart Hub.
For more older Samsung TV models made before 2020, follow these steps:
- On your remote control, Press Home.
- Choose Settings.
- Select Support.
- Select Self Diagnosis.
- Choose Reset Smart Hub.
If the Samsung TV prompts you to enter a new PIN code to restart, use the default PIN (0000). But if you change the PIN code, use your recent PIN code instead.
You might also need to redownload the DirecTV app again after the reset.
DirecTV Not Working on Samsung TV Final Thoughts
There are several issues that can go wrong with DirecTV or even other online streaming services on your Samsung TV. Most issues with the DirecTV app not working on Samsung TVs can be resolved by following the steps above. But if none of them work you can always contact customer service for help.
Here are some different apps that can have issues working on a Samsung TV:
- Samsung TV and Apple TV App Not Working
- Samsung TV and HBO Max App Not Working
- Samsung TV and Paramount Plus App Not Working
Image source: samsung.com
