Fixing DirecTV App Not Working on Samsung TV - Try these 11 Solutions

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Fixing DirecTV App Not Working on Samsung TV - Try these 11 Solutions

With DIRECTV APP on your Samsung smart TV, you can easily Watch your favorite entertainment, news, and live sports anytime and from anywhere. This service is also available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.

However, some users report that the DirecTV app is not working or loading on their Samsung TV.

Here at Smart Home Apt, We shall look into a few effective tips you can try to fix the DirecTV app not working on your Samsung smart TV.

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1 How to fix DirecTV App Not Working on Samsung TV ?

How to fix DirecTV App Not Working on Samsung TV ?

1. Ensure that Your Samsung TV Is Compatible With DirecTV

The DirecTV Stream app is compatible with Samsung smart TV models from 2017 or later, which operate using the Tizen OS. If you want to confirm the year and version of your Samsung TV, you can visit their website here.

If your TV is from before 2017, replacing it may be expensive, so a streaming stick is a more cost-effective and simpler solution.

You can watch DirecTV on any TV (smart or otherwise) by connecting a Fire TV Stick or a Roku streaming stick. Both of these devices are user-friendly and feature the most popular streaming applications.

2. Restart or Power Cycle Your Samsung TV

If your app is experiencing issues, it is likely due to a software glitch. The most effective way to resolve this is to restart the device.

To restart Samsung TV apps, the best way is to completely turn off the TV by pressing and holding the power button on the remote for at least five seconds. This allows the TV to completely shut down and restart all active apps.

Two methods exist for restarting a Samsung TV.

To Restart your TV using the remote:

Ensure that your TV is not in standby mode.
Press and hold the power button on your remote until the TV powers off, then keep it pressed until the power comes back on.
After this, press the Home button, and open DirecTV app that you had attempted to restart.

To Restart your TV manually:

Disconnect the power cable of your TV from the electrical outlet or surge protector.
Allow two minutes to pass.
Reinsert the power cable and turn on the TV.
Press the Home button.
Find and open DirecTV app you intended to restart.

3. Test the Speed of Your Internet Connection

Buffering issues and even disconnects from DirecTV servers can be caused by slow internet speeds. In some cases, your internet may be too slow or unreliable to support a connection to the DirecTV servers.

You can check the speed of your internet connection on your computer or phone by performing an Internet Speed Test. To ensure accurate results, make sure the device you're using is connected to the same network as your TV, and that your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and not mobile data.

In order to stream standard video, you must have a minimum speed of 3-4 Mbps. To stream HD video, your internet speed must be at least 5-8 Mbps. If your internet connection is slower than this, you will need to take the below actions:

Examine possible causes of interference (e.g., a large number of walls between the router and TV).
Reboot the router and Modem (see the next fix).
Reach out to your internet service provider to ascertain if any network issues are present and if an upgrade is necessary.

4. Restart Your Router and modem

If you are having issues with the DirecTV Stream app, the problem may not be with the TV or the app itself, but with your local Wi-Fi network.

Rather than spending time and effort attempting to identify and fix all potential network issues, it's simpler to just restart your network. Doing so on a regular basis, such as once a month, can help keep your network running optimally.

Before starting, ensure that no one in your house is currently using the internet. This process will temporarily disconnect all network and internet connections for about five minutes during the reboot.

Alright, let's begin.

Disconnect the power cable from your router and modem.
Allow 30 seconds to pass.
Reconnect the power cables.
Wait a few minutes for your modem and router to start up.

When your TV has reconnected to the network, give the DirecTV Stream app a try. Additionally, if you had previously conducted a test and found your network speeds to be slow, you can run another test. Restarting your router may increase your speeds temporarily, however, this will not fix all underlying issues.

5. Perform Samsung TV Firmware Update

Firmware updates can be a solution for any issues you may be having with your TV apps, similar to how app updates often solve problems.

Samsung Smart TVs have the capability to update automatically, yet also offer the option to manually trigger a firmware update. This is not typically necessary, but provides a helpful back-up in case the automatic updates fail without alerting you.

To proceed with updating your Samsung TV:

Press the Home button on the remote control to open the smart hub.
From there, select Settings and the Software Update tab.
After clicking Update Now, wait for the download to finish.
Then follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.

After updating the firmware, attempt to use the DirecTV Stream app again.

6. Clear the DirecTV App Cache Data

Rather than Reinstalling the app again, Samsung TVs enable you to clear the cache of an app. This is the same as wiping the cookies from your web browser, and often it resolves any random issues with the app.

To clear the cache on the DirecTV app on your Samsung TV:

Press the Home button on the remote control to open the Smart Hub.
Then, select Settings in the Smart Hub menu and click the Apps tab.
After selecting the System Apps option, find and select the DirecTV app and click Clear Cache. Lastly, press OK to confirm.

7. Delete and install the DirecTV App again

If a simple cache clear doesn't fix your app's glitches, you may need to delete it and reinstall it. Doing so will give you a fresh start and often resolves the issues.

To delete the DirecTV App on your Samsung TV:

On the remote control, press the Home button and select Apps from the on-screen menu.
Then, click Settings.
Navigate to the DirecTV App, and select Delete.
Finally, press Delete in the pop-up to confirm.

To install DirecTV on your Samsung TV:

Press the Home button on the remote.
From the on-screen menu, select Apps and then the Search icon (the magnifying glass).
Type in DirecTV in the search box and press the Install button.

Try to use the DirecTV app again. This time, you will have to input your login details, since they will not transfer from the prior installation.

8. Turn Off Your VPN if applicable

If you are using a VPN, this step applies to you. Otherwise, you can ignore it. If you are unsure what a VPN is, it's likely that you don't have one.

Most video applications and streaming services attempt to block VPN traffic, so if you're using a VPN that DirecTV has managed to restrict, you're likely to be denied access to your streaming content.

To confirm this, the simplest way to test is to turn off the VPN and try reconnecting.

9. Give DirecTV a Try on Another Device

If you're having trouble getting DirecTV to work on your TV, try opening it on your computer or other devices on your network.

If it works on those devices but not your TV, then it's time to reach out to Samsung support for assistance.

If DirecTV is not functioning properly on your various devices, it could be due to an issue with your DirecTV account or a server issue with the service itself.

10. Find out the Status of DirecTV Servers

Most of the time, DirecTV outages are local and quickly fixed. Checking Downdetector can help you determine if other users in your area are experiencing similar issues.

If you can't find anything on Downdetector, it's probably time to contact DirecTV support or check their Official Support Twitter account for a more up-to-date information.

11. Perform Samsung TV Factory Reset

It's time to attempt a final solution: a factory reset. This will clear all of your television's settings, including those for the DirecTV app. Although this will wipe away the settings and application information, it could help resolve the streaming issues.

To do this:

Press the Home button on your Samsung TV's remote control to access the Smart Hub.
Then, navigate to the Settings menu and click on the General tab (or Support -> Self Diagnosis on some TVs).
Once there, select the Reset option and enter your pin or the default of 0000 if prompted.
Finally, confirm the reset process by clicking OK.

Give the DirecTV app another go; this should have resolved any software or firmware problems that were preventing it from working properly on your Samsung TV.

Summary

In fact, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to fix issues with the DirecTV app not working properly on your Samsung TV.

With patience and by working through these steps one by one, you should be able to get your DirecTV app loading and streaming properly on your Samsung smart TV again.

Hopefully, your favorite shows and live channels will be back up and running on your Samsung TV screen in no time!

Here are 8 possible causes to check for issues with the DirecTV app not working:

Outdated Software: Outdated Samsung TV operating system software or an outdated version of the DirecTV app itself could prevent it from streaming content. Be sure to check for updates to your TV software and the latest version of the DirecTV app. Installing updates is one of the first steps to fix streaming issues.
Network Connection Problems: The DirecTV app requires a stable internet connection through either a Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable connection. Streaming cannot function properly without a solid network connection to your Samsung TV. Check that other connected devices are streaming content as expected to determine if there are any network disruptions. You may need to restart your router and modem to refresh the connection.
Account Issues: If your DirecTV subscription account has expired or is no longer active, the DirecTV app will not stream any content. Be sure to check that your account credentials are correct, your subscription is up to date and entitlements for streaming to the app are enabled on your account. You may need to log out and back into the DirecTV app on your Samsung TV.
Hardware Malfunction: There could be an issue with your Samsung TV's hardware connectivity that is preventing the DirecTV app from functioning correctly. Other HDMI connected streaming devices may have connectivity problems as well. You'll need to test streaming with other input sources or have the TV checked by a technician.
Samsung TV Software Glitch: A software glitch or bug with your Samsung TV's operating system could disrupt communication between the TV and the DirecTV app, preventing streaming. A factory reset of your Samsung TV may be required to clear any software corruption and glitches to get the DirecTV app connecting properly again.
Incorrect App Installation: There may have been an error during installation or an update of the DirecTV app on your Samsung TV that caused streaming features to malfunction. Uninstalling and reinstalling the latest version of the DirecTV app can fix installation issues.
Wi-Fi Interference: Congestion from nearby wireless networks could interfere with your Samsung TV's Wi-Fi connection, disrupting the DirecTV app. Changing your router's Wi-Fi channel to a clearer channel may help eliminate interference and allow streaming functionality to resume.
DirecTV Service Issue: DirecTV's streaming service itself could be experiencing an outage or technical issue preventing streaming through their app on Samsung TVs and other devices. Check DirecTV's status page to see if there are any reported issues with their streaming service before troubleshooting your local setup. You may need to wait until DirecTV resolves any technical issues on their end.

The most common fixes are:

1. Restart your Samsung TV and DirecTV app. A simple restart can refresh the system and software.

2. Check for software updates for your Samsung TV. Outdated software could prevent the DirecTV app from loading.

3. Check for updates to the DirecTV app. Ensure you have the latest version of the app for your Samsung TV device installed.

4. Reinstall the DirecTV app. Remove the app and download the latest version again to refresh its installation.

5. Reset your Samsung TV to factory default settings. This hard resets your smart TV to fix software issues and then you'll need to re-set up the TV and reinstall the DirecTV app.

6. Ensure your Samsung TV has a strong network connection either through Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable. The DirecTV app needs a fast, stable internet connection to function properly.

7. Check if other streaming services and apps work on your Samsung TV. If they do work fine, it could indicate an issue specifically with the DirecTV app.

8. Make sure your DirecTV subscription and account are active and up to date. If your account has expired or is no longer valid, the app will not stream content.

9. Try logging out of the DirecTV app on your Samsung TV and logging back in. This can reset your login credentials if there was an issue authenticating your account.

10. Unplug additional devices like streaming sticks or Blu-ray players from your Samsung TV's HDMI ports. Sometimes other connected devices can interfere with smart TV apps.

11. Check if the DirecTV app works on other streaming devices to isolate the issue to your Samsung TV. If it works on other devices, it points to a TV software or hardware problem.

12. See if the DirecTV app works with a different streaming device connected to your TV like a Roku or Fire TV stick. The Samsung TV itself could have an issue with the DirecTV app integration.

13. Try a different HDMI input port on your Samsung TV for the device you're using the DirecTV app on. A bad HDMI port could disrupt the signal.

14. Update your router firmware to the latest version. Outdated router software could be preventing your Samsung TV from communicating properly with streaming apps and services.

15. Reboot your internet router by unplugging it for 15 seconds. Restarting your router can refresh the network connection to your smart TV and DirecTV app.

16. Reset your router to factory default settings. If firmware updates did not work, resetting the router can fix software issues preventing streaming to your devices. You'll need to re-setup your wireless network.

17. Try connecting another device such as a Blu-ray player or streaming stick directly to your router to determine if the router is working properly. If it is, then the issue may be isolated to your Samsung TV.

18. Try changing your router's Wi-Fi channel to a less crowded channel. Interference from other wireless networks could disrupt streaming connectivity to your Samsung TV.

19. Check the DirecTV public status page to see if there are any reported technical issues with the streaming service that could be impacting app functionality.

20. Contact Samsung technical support at https://www.samsung.com/us/support/contact/ for further help troubleshooting issues between your smart TV and the DirecTV app. They can check for software bugs and troubleshoot advanced settings.

21. Contact DirecTV support at https://www.directv.com/support/ to report issues with streaming to your Samsung TV. They may need to check your account status, reset streaming entitlements or troubleshoot the app integration for Samsung devices. Their engineers may have additional steps you can try to fix connectivity and streaming problems.