How to Change the Input on a Samsung TV

Ever notice how some things don’t seem like a big deal, until you can’t find the solution online? Like setting the timer on your washing machine, or downloading your heart-rate numbers from your Fit-Bit. Another good example of a classic simple-but-difficult problem comes with your Samsung TV. Changing the input should be simple enough, but sometimes it isn’t, and there are very few online articles covering the issue. For that reason, here’s the solution for all you people out there having trouble.

Why Are There Very Few Articles Online About This Subject?

The fact is that the Samsung TV input/source problem isn’t something people write about. In most cases, people find solutions wherever they can, carry out said solution, and then they forget all about it.

Ever played a game like X-Com where there’s a massive installation problem, but nobody online, not even the publishers, are offering solutions. So, you have to trawl the forums to find the one kind soul who’s uploaded a solution?

The Samsung TV problem is very similar. There are a few solutions out there, and your best bet is to search the online forums, try one solution, fail, try another, fail, and so on until you get it right. Luckily for you, this article features all the known solutions to the problems, including those relating to the recent 4K smart edition.

If there is now a lingering hope that either Samsung will stick to the most recent source/input method and stop changing it, or that they’ll make the source/input solution a little clearer in their future TV operating manuals.

How to Change the Source for Your Samsung TV

You have various inputs for your Samsung TV. When you use the Samsung TV menu, these are also known as sources. There’s a good chance that you have more than one input/source. For example, many people have a USB input, and many have HDMI ports. It’s also possible to select your video and audio inputs as different devices.

For example, let’s say that you have your PlayStation plugged into your HDMI and an external hard drive plugged into your USB. It’s actually possible to have the visual piped in from your PlayStation, while having the audio piped in from your external hard drive. This isn’t so uncommon either. For example, some people play console games while having their podcasts playing on their TV rather than having the video game audio playing.

Method 1 – The Source Button

Some Samsung TVs have a “Source” button at the top of the remote. In some cases, this is the only way a Samsung TV may change its source. In other cases, it may only be possible to access the source menu through either the source button, or by plugging something into the TV so that the source menu appears automatically.

Method 2 – Plug Something Into Your TV While It Is on

This method is fairly self-explanatory. While your TV is switched on, you plug in your device into one of the input ports. In most cases, this will cause the input/source menu to appear on its own. In other cases, when you plug something into your TV, it will switch automatically to that source.

For example, if your games console is turned on, and you plug it into your TV, then your TV will probably switch right to that games console’s feed. In addition, if your games console was already plugged into the TV, and then you turned on your console, then the TV would automatically switch to the console’s feed. There are also times when you may turn on your console, then turn on your TV and the TV has already set itself up on your console’s feed.

Method 3 – Source Is Selectable via the Menu

In many cases, especially with modern TVs, you’re able to simply select the source via the regular menu. You start up the menu using your remote, or a combination of simultaneous button presses on your TV. Once the menu is up, you can scroll to the option that says “Source”. Select this option and it will show you all the sources/inputs that your TV has right now, and may even show you which connections are missing.

You may also label your inputs if you wish, which is just another way of renaming them. It’s only useful if you have two of something, such as you’re using the same two gaming consoles for whatever reason. In most cases, there’s a menu for labeling/renaming your inputs. For example, with the Samsung Q7, you have to select the input and press up.

Change the Input on Your Samsung Q7 Qled UHD 4k Smart TV

Grab your remote and hit the “Home” key. Doing this will bring up a menu bar that usually runs along the bottom of the screen. On the menu, scroll left until you get to the word “Source”.

Select “Source” and it takes you to the input screen. From here, you’re able to select your input. You may also rename these sources too, if you so desire. Simply select the input icon and press up, and this will bring up the edit option. You can edit your HDMI sources, but you can’t rename apps.

Conclusion

Will Samsung finally create a standard for their inputs/source issue? And when they create future TVs, are they going to find new ways to change the input, or will they keep changing things up? The decision is ultimately theirs, but it’s a little unfair that they keep changing things up and making life more difficult for their customers. Not a good business strategy. Nevertheless, are you still having trouble with your Samsung TV? Did our suggested methods work, or have you found your own way to change the input on your Samsung TV? Let us know in the comments section below.