Robert R. WoodwardTable of Contents
Watching movies and TV shows on Prime Video is a great way to relax and unwind. But when you sit down on your couch ready to stream the latest episode of your favorite show and get an error message instead, it can be incredibly frustrating. If you are trying to use the Prime Video app on your Samsung TV but it’s not working, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try to get it up and running again.
Common Issues with Prime Video Not Working on Samsung TVs
There are a few common issues that can occur when trying to watch Prime Video on Samsung smart TVs:
Black Screen or Content Not Playing
You open the Prime Video app on your Samsung TV but either just get a black screen, or content like the Prime Video home screen loads but videos themselves won’t play. This is likely an issue with the connection between the app and Prime Video’s servers.
Error Messages When Opening App
Sometimes when you attempt to open the Prime Video app on your Samsung TV, you may get an error message like “This app is currently unavailable” or “Unable to connect to Prime Video.” This usually indicates a network connectivity issue between your TV and Amazon’s servers.
Buffering or Video Quality Issues
If you can get videos on Prime Video to play on your Samsung TV but they are constantly buffering, pixelated, or very low quality, your TV’s internet connection speed could be too slow for HD streaming.
Luckily, there are a number of things you can try yourself to troubleshoot Prime Video problems before calling for help.
Quick Fixes to Try First
If you’re experiencing Prime Video issues like the ones described above, start with these basic troubleshooting steps first:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
The most obvious cause of Prime Video issues is an internet connectivity problem. Ensure that your Samsung TV is properly connected to your home WiFi. Go to your TV’s settings to confirm that the WiFi connection is strong.
If you don’t have a strong WiFi signal near your TV, consider using an ethernet cable for a wired internet connection instead. This will provide the fastest, most reliable signal.
2. Restart the Prime Video App
Sometimes the Prime Video app may glitch or get “stuck.” Force stop the app completely and then open it again from your home screen. This simple reboot is an easy fix that often gets the app communicating properly with Amazon’s servers again.
On your Samsung TV’s home screen, highlight the Prime Video app icon > select Options > “Close app” to force stop it. Reopen it after a few seconds.
3. Restart Your TV
If force stopping the Prime Video app doesn’t work, try restarting your Samsung TV completely. As with computers, rebooting can clear any stuck processes on smart TVs.
To properly restart a Samsung TV, unplug it from power completely for 10-15 seconds, then plug back in. After it boots up, open Prime Video again to see if that resolved the issues.
These first basic steps resolve many common Prime Video problems on Samsung TVs. But if you still have issues after trying them, continue on for further troubleshooting tips.
Checking Your Internet Speed
Slow internet speeds are usually the root cause of most Prime Video errors. HD videos require a lot of bandwidth, so a slow connection can lead to buffering and video quality issues.
Use a speed test website to check the internet speeds that your Samsung TV is receiving. For smooth HD streaming, your download speeds should be at least 25 Mbps. If your download speed is under 25 Mbps, this likely explains frequent buffering or pixelation while watching Prime Video.
To boost speeds, move your WiFi router closer to your TV, clear space between the router and TV, or connect your TV directly to your router with an ethernet cable. Still getting less than 25 Mbps? Contact your internet provider about options to upgrade your internet plan.
Is Amazon Prime Video Down or Having Server Issues?
Sometimes when Prime Video has an outage, it’s not an issue on your end with your Samsung TV at all. Check sites like Downdetector to see if other users are commonly reporting Prime Video problems. Sites like this aggregate user reports of real-time outages for various apps and websites.
If there’s a spike in Prime Video problems being reported, it’s likely a temporary issue on Amazon’s end. Try Prime Video again in a little while after their technical team has had time to address any server problems.
Checking Your Samsung TV Software
A software bug introduced in a recent Samsung TV update could sometimes be the culprit behind why Prime Video isn’t working properly.
Go through your TV’s settings and ensure you are running the latest Samsung software version. If an older version has a known Prime Video glitch, updating to the newest firmware can resolve app issues.
- Select “Settings” (cog icon) > “Support”
- Select “Software Update” > “Update Now”
- Follow on-screen prompts to check for and install the latest system software.
Once updated, force stop and reboot the Prime Video app as explained earlier. This should load a fresh, glitch-free version of the app suited for your TV model and version.
Does Prime Video Work on Other Devices?
To help narrow down the issue, it’s useful to check if Prime Video works properly on other devices using the same Samsung TV account and internet network.
Try streaming Prime Video successfully on one or more of these devices:
- Another mobile device like a smartphone or tablet
- A laptop or computer
- Video game consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, etc. connected to the same WiFi
- Streaming boxes like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.
If Prime Video has problems across all your devices, an issue with your home internet connection itself is most likely. But if it works fine on other devices sharing the same network, the problem is isolated to just your Samsung TV. Time to turn your attention to possible hardware or software issues with the TV itself.
Basic Samsung TV Prime Video Troubleshooting
If you’ve made it through all the quick fixes and isolated the issue to your Samsung TV hardware or software, here are a few extra things to check:
- Update the Prime Video app itself through your TV’s app store. A clean reinstall can clear any software bugs.
- Confirm your Samsung TV model number supports Prime Video. In rare cases, an older or non-Prime Video compatible model can be the issue.
- Power cycle the TV (unplug completely for ~10 seconds) then open Prime Video. Clearing any temporary memory issues can help.
- Uninstall then reinstall the Prime Video app from your Samsung TV’s app store. Wipe the saved user data as well. This will clear any corrupt data.
Still no luck getting Prime Video working after all this? Then it’s likely time to contact someone for assistance.
Contacting Support to Fix Prime Video Not Working on Samsung TV
If you’ve worked through all troubleshooting suggestions with no resolution to your Samsung TV Prime Video issues, contact an expert for additional help.
Call Samsung TV technical support and inquire about any known Prime Video app issues or incompatibilities with your specific model. See if they have any suggested fixes you haven’t tried yet.
You can also contact Amazon Prime Video’s customer service team. Explain the ongoing troubleshooting steps you’ve tried and see if they can walk you through any other Prime Video and Samsung-specific fixes.
As a last resort, get in touch with your TV’s original seller or manufacturer. Discuss repair or replacement options if an isolated hardware or software defect on the TV itself appears to be the root issue stopping Prime Video from working properly only on that device.
Getting Prime Video up and reliably running again on your Samsung TV may require some patience and diligent troubleshooting steps. But taking a methodical approach to isolate the issue paired with assistance from customer support can get you streaming your favorite movies in no time. Never hesitate to reach out for help from Prime Video or Samsung’s dedicated technical teams if needed – explaining your detailed troubleshooting steps will assist them in resolving those stubborn issues. Plus, take them up on any extended warranty options to potentially save on repair costs. In most cases, there is a solution, it just takes some dedicated effort to uncover it!
So there you have it – a rundown of the most common Prime Video errors reported on Samsung TVs along with their most probable causes and fixes. Follow the troubleshooting process patiently and reach out for Samsung or Prime Video customer support if needed. In most cases you’ll be happily streaming again soon!
FAQs: Common Prime Video Errors on Samsung TVs
Still struggling after trying all the troubleshooting steps to get Prime Video working on your Samsung TV? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about common Prime Video errors experienced on Samsung smart TVs.
Why does the Prime Video app keep crashing on my Samsung TV?
Frequent crashing or freezing of the Prime Video app on Samsung TVs is often caused by a network connectivity issue or buggy app software.
Try deleting and reinstalling the latest version of the Prime Video app from your Samsung TV’s app store hub. Be sure your TV has the newest firmware update as well.
Force stopping the app and rebooting both your TV and router can also help clear any software bugs causing repeated app crashes.
Why does Prime Video keep buffering on my Samsung Smart TV?
Constant buffering and video quality issues when streaming Prime Video likely means your internet connection speed is too slow for HD streaming.
Run an online speed test and confirm you have at least 25 Mbps download speeds for smooth video streaming. If not, try moving your router closer, running an ethernet cable to your TV, or upgrading your WiFi plan.
What are some common Prime Video error codes on Samsung TVs?
Some specific Prime Video error codes reported on Samsung TVs include:
- Error 8301 – Problem connecting to Prime Video server
- Error 8853 – Network connectivity or DNS lookup failure
- Error 3003 – App having trouble authenticating account credentials
Carefully note the exact error message and code, then try force quitting the app, rebooting your TV, and rechecking WiFi settings to clear it.
Geo-restrictions can cause the Prime Video app to report content being unavailable if you are traveling and trying to stream outside your home country or normal streaming region.
There may also be specific shows/movies limited by region or licensing restrictions. Using a VPN connection can help bypass geo-blocks so restricted content can play.
Why does Prime Video keep loading on my Samsung TV?
If the Prime Video app loads but gets stuck perpetually loading or buffering content, there may be an internet connectivity issue or problems with specific shows/episodes.
Ensure you have a strong 25+ Mbps WiFi signal and reboot both the app and your Samsung TV. Also try force stopping the app and clearing cached data/temp files through app or TV system settings.
Why does Prime Video playback freeze on my Samsung TV?
Playback freezing can be frustrating and is usually caused by:
- Poor network connection and intermittent WiFi signal dropping
- System resource issues on an older, underpowered Samsung smart TV model
- Out of date Prime Video and TV firmware causing app glitches
Try all the reconnectivity troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide first. For older TVs, unfortunately the hardware may just be too slow to smoothly stream modern HD video from Prime Video.
