Quick answer
- Open a text field on the TV, open the keyboard in your Samsung TV remote app, type and send.
- Works in TV apps that use the Samsung on-screen keyboard. Some streaming apps use their own keyboard: there, use the touchpad or arrows.
- Alternatives: a USB or Bluetooth keyboard, voice search or QR-code sign-in.
To use a Samsung TV keyboard from your phone, select a search or text field on the TV, open the keyboard in a Samsung TV remote app on your Android phone, type the text and send it. It replaces dozens of arrow presses with a few seconds of normal typing.
Anyone who has entered a long Wi-Fi password with a TV remote knows the pain. Here is how to type on a Samsung TV with your phone, where it works, and what to use when it doesn't.
How to type on a Samsung TV with your phone
- Connect your phone to the TV with Samsung TV Remote (same Wi-Fi, pick the TV, select Allow).
- On the TV, select the field you want to fill in, such as the YouTube search box. The Samsung on-screen keyboard appears.
- In the app, open the keyboard. Your phone's own keyboard pops up.
- Type the text, including capitals, numbers and symbols, and send it. It appears in the TV field.
The phone keyboard uses your normal Android keyboard, so autocorrect, voice typing and your password manager's suggestions work as usual on the phone side.
Where phone typing works (and where it doesn't)
Phone typing works on 2016 and newer Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen), in TV apps that use the standard Samsung on-screen keyboard: the TV's own search, settings, the web browser, YouTube and many other apps. Older Samsung TVs don't accept text from a phone; there, use the touchpad or a USB keyboard. See the compatibility guide for details by year.
Some streaming apps draw their own keyboard instead. Text from the phone can't reach those custom keyboards.
Tip: in apps with their own keyboard, switch the remote app to touchpad mode and swipe across the letters. It is still much faster than pressing arrow keys. Many streaming apps also let you sign in by scanning a QR code or entering a short code on your phone.
5 things that get faster with a phone keyboard
- Search YouTube on a Samsung TV faster: type the full title instead of spelling it letter by letter.
- Enter a Wi-Fi password on a Samsung TV (once the TV is on a network): long passwords with symbols take seconds instead of minutes.
- Sign in to apps: email addresses and passwords, ideally pasted from your password manager on the phone.
- Type web addresses in the TV browser, then use mouse mode to click links.
- Rename things: devices, profiles and playlists in TV menus that ask for text.
Other ways to type on a Samsung TV
USB or Bluetooth keyboard
Samsung Smart TVs accept USB keyboards, and most recent models pair with a Samsung TV Bluetooth keyboard too. Settings are usually under Settings > General > External Device Manager > Input Device Manager. A keyboard makes sense if you browse the web on the TV a lot, but it is one more device on the coffee table.
Voice search
If your Samsung remote has a microphone button, you can speak short searches like a movie title. Voice is quick for titles but unreliable for passwords, email addresses and links.
QR-code sign-in
Many streaming apps show a QR code or a short code on the TV during sign-in. Scan it with your phone and log in there. It avoids typing the password on the TV at all.
Comparison
| Method | Speed | Setup | Works in every app? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone keyboard (remote app) | Fast | Two minutes, no hardware | Apps using the Samsung keyboard |
| USB or Bluetooth keyboard | Fast | Buy and connect a keyboard | Most apps |
| Voice search | Fast for short titles | Remote with a microphone | Search only |
| On-screen keyboard with arrows | Slow | None | Yes |
Conclusion
Using a Samsung TV keyboard from your phone is the easiest upgrade to everyday TV use: no extra hardware, your own keyboard and text that stays on your home network. Keep a touchpad or QR sign-in for the few apps with their own keyboard. To set up everything else on your phone, read how to use your Android phone as a Samsung TV remote, and compare options in our SmartThings alternatives guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the phone keyboard type in Netflix?
Some streaming apps, Netflix among them on many TVs, draw their own on-screen keyboard instead of using the Samsung keyboard. Text sent from the phone can't reach those custom keyboards. Use the touchpad or arrow keys there, or the app's sign-in with a code or QR on your phone if it offers one.
Why is my Samsung TV keyboard from the phone not working?
Check three things. The text field on the TV must be selected, so the Samsung on-screen keyboard is open. The TV must be a 2016 or newer model. And the app on the TV must use the Samsung keyboard, not its own. If all three are true, close the keyboard in the remote app, select the field on the TV again and retry.
Can I use voice instead of typing?
Many Samsung remotes have a microphone button for voice search with the TV's assistant, which is fine for short titles. For passwords, email addresses and web links, typing is more reliable than voice.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. With Samsung TV Remote, the text goes from your phone straight to the TV over your home network. The app has no account, collects no data and does not send anything to the internet.
Can I use a Bluetooth keyboard with a Samsung TV?
Yes, most recent Samsung Smart TVs pair with Bluetooth keyboards, and USB keyboards work by plugging them into the TV. Keyboard settings are usually under External Device Manager > Input Device Manager. It is a good option if you type a lot in the TV browser.